Lankaran Tour: Mir Akhmad Khan House & Hirkan Park

Travel two hours south to subtropical forests and museums that hold Azerbaijan's hidden history

A private tour from Baku to Lankaran, a coastal region on the Caspian Sea, with a licensed guide and air-conditioned vehicle. You visit the Mir Akhmad Khan House Museum, the historic prison where Stalin was held before his escape through an underground tunnel to Mayak Lighthouse, the Hazi Aslanov House Museum, and Hirkan National Park, where subtropical forest shelters leopards, lynxes and 150 endemic plant species. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The tour runs 11 to 12 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lankaran's history and nature

• Visit Mir Akhmad Khan house museum
• See Stalin's secret tunnel and Mayak Lighthouse
• Tour Hazi Aslanov House Museum
• Explore Hirkan National Park

The experience

Lankaran sits just two hours south of Baku by road, but the rhythm shifts the moment you leave the capital. The new highway cuts through green fields toward the coast, and the landscape itself changes: subtropical climate makes the vegetation different here, and the air feels warmer. Your guide meets you at your hotel and drives you south in an air-conditioned vehicle, handling the route so you can watch the terrain transform.

The tour centers on three house museums that tell Lankaran's story. The Mir Akhmad Khan House Museum preserves the home of a descendant of the last ruler of the Lankaran Khanate, which existed between 1747 and 1828. The exhibits range from period furnishings and national clothes to carpets and paintings. A second stop is the historic prison where Joseph Stalin was held, M. Rasulzadeh, founder of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, helped him escape through a secret underground tunnel that led to Mayak Lighthouse and then to the Caspian Sea. The Hazi Aslanov House Museum honors a prominent military commander and the only Azerbaijani nominated twice for Hero of the Soviet Union. The museum holds 2,040 exhibits, including 306 of Aslanov's personal documents and items, and was renovated for the 100th anniversary of his birth in 2010.

Hirkan National Park closes the day. Located in the Talysh Mountains, the park is covered mostly in subtropical forest that dates back 60 million years and shelters leopards, lynxes, martens and brown bears. The forest contains 150 endemic plant species (chestnut oak, figs, ironwood), and the park preserves itself as wilderness: no camping areas, cafes or restaurants interrupt the natural landscape. Your guide leads you through this protected terrain before the drive back to Baku.

What’s included

• Professional licensed tour guide fluent in English or Russian.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full journey.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Baku.
• entry to the Mir Akhmad Khan House Museum, Hazi Aslanov House Museum and Hirkan National Park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (4 to 14 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Guided Azerbaijan

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel with your own guide and driver rather than joining a group, which suits anyone who wants to move at their own pace or prefers to discuss the history in detail without other travelers. The 11 to 12 hour commitment covers the full round trip from Baku, including the two-hour drive each way, so plan for a full day away from the capital.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the Mir Akhmad Khan House Museum, and what can I see there?

The Mir Akhmad Khan House Museum is the preserved home of a descendant of the last ruler of the Lankaran Khanate, a province that existed between 1747 and 1828. Exhibits include period furnishings, national clothes, carpets and paintings of Mir Akhmad Khan and his wife, Tughra khanym.

How did Stalin escape from the historic prison in Lankaran?

M. Rasulzadeh, founder of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, helped Stalin escape through a secret underground tunnel that led to Mayak Lighthouse and then to the Caspian Sea.

What wildlife and plants are found in Hirkan National Park?

Hirkan National Park's subtropical forest is home to leopards, lynxes, martens and brown bears. The park contains 150 endemic plant species, including chestnut oak, figs and ironwood, and preserves a natural wilderness dating back 60 million years.

How long is the drive from Baku to Lankaran?

The drive from Baku to Lankaran takes about two hours on the new road that links the capital to the coast.

Does the tour include meals or drinks?

Meals and drinks are not included in the tour. You can arrange these separately during the day.