Lahij tour from Baku: UNESCO village, copper crafts & picnic
A village frozen in the medieval Caucasus, where copper workers still carve by hand the way they did 1,200 years ago.
An eleven-hour guided tour from Baku through four UNESCO and historic sites ending in Lahij, a mountain village where artisans craft copper vessels using techniques unchanged since the 15th century. The day includes Diri Baba Mausoleum carved into rock, Shamakhi's Juma Mosque, and the Zarnava suspension bridge spanning the Girdmanchay river, followed by a picnic of grilled kebabs, salads and local wine in the Ismailli countryside.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Lahij village and surroundings
- Start at Gosha Gala Tower or accommodation
- Visit Diri Baba Mausoleum
- See Juma Mosque in Shamakhy
- Explore Lahij village and crafts
- Walk across Zarnava suspension bridge
- Discover İsmailli countryside and picnic
- Return to starting point
What’s included
- Professional guide service in your choice of English, Russian, Japanese or Turkish.
- transportation in a brand new SUV or Mercedes minivan sized for your group.
- hotel pickup and drop-off from your Baku accommodation.
- lunch of Azerbaijani national dishes including grilled kebabs, salads and local wine.
Times
- Every day 09:00
Before you book
Operated by AZP Travel company
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
Eleven hours takes you through the Caucasus foothills from Baku to four stops that anchor Azerbaijan's medieval past. You start at Gosha Gala Tower or your hotel, then drive to Diri Baba Mausoleum, a 15th-century tomb built into the rock face with a vaulted chamber and carved stone passages that pilgrims have climbed since the 17th century. The mausoleum sits suspended against the cliff, and narrow passages lead deeper into caves where the holy man is said to be buried: the inscriptions on the walls grow older as you climb.
Shamakhi's Juma Mosque comes next, one of the largest in Azerbaijan and built over 1,200 years ago after the Arab occupation of the Caucasus. From there the road climbs into rolling countryside to Lahij, a UNESCO-protected village where cobblestone streets and stone houses have remained untouched since medieval times. Copper workers still occupy the main lanes, hammering and carving vessels with the same techniques their ancestors used: the Vienna World Exhibition of 1873 displayed Lahij copper work as a masterpiece of the Caucasus. You can spend hours watching artisans at their benches and browsing hand-carved copper, knitted goods, wood and leatherware, and souvenir knives.
The Zarnava suspension bridge crosses the Girdmanchay river in the Ismailli district, a 28-meter iron span built in 1969 that serves as the main pedestrian path to the village of Zarnava. Ismailli itself is known for honey, dairy and wine production across its rolling hills. The day ends with a picnic that includes grilled lamb, kofte, chicken and vegetables, fresh salads, and local homemade wine. A professional guide speaks English, Russian, Japanese or Turkish, and transportation is by brand new SUV or Mercedes minivan depending on group size.
Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Baku means you don't need a car or local transport to reach the starting point. The guide collects you and returns you at the end of the eleven hours, so the day works whether you're staying in the city center or elsewhere in the capital.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Russian, Japanese and Turkish.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What is Diri Baba Mausoleum and why is it built into the rock?
Diri Baba Mausoleum is a 15th-century tomb carved into a cliff face where a holy man is buried in an undisclosed location within the rock. The entire complex is built inside the stone, creating the impression from outside that the tomb is suspended in the air. Pilgrims have visited since the 17th century, and climbing to the second floor reveals a vaulted chamber with stone carvings and narrow passages leading to caves deeper inside.
What can you see and do in Lahij village itself?
Lahij is a UNESCO-protected medieval village where cobblestone streets and stone houses remain unchanged from centuries past. Copper artisans work openly along the main lanes, hammering and carving vessels with traditional techniques. Their work was exhibited at the Vienna World Exhibition in 1873. You can browse hand-carved copper goods adorned with oriental ornaments, knitted and woven textiles, wood and leatherware, and souvenir knives made by local craftspeople.
How long is the Zarnava suspension bridge and what does it cross?
The Zarnava suspension bridge is 28 meters long and spans the Girdmanchay, a fast-flowing river in the Ismailli district. Built in 1969, it serves as the main pedestrian path to the village of Zarnava and is one of the most notable river crossings in Azerbaijan.
What is included in the picnic at the end of the tour?
The picnic includes a mix of grilled kebabs with pieces of lamb, kofte and chicken, grilled vegetables, fresh salads, and local homemade wine from the Ismailli region, which is known for wine production.
Lahij tour from Baku: UNESCO village, copper crafts & picnic
11h · EN +3
from US$ 156.85 per person
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