Sheki Day Trip: Ancient Silk Road City with Meals Included

Watch artisans fit colored glass into wooden patterns without glue or nails

A full-day guided tour of Sheki, a historic city on the ancient Silk Road, departing from Shamakhi with stops at caravanserais, craft workshops, the Khan's Palace and the old quarter — all three meals included. The 12- to 14-hour itinerary covers ground between multiple sites, so you'll see the range of what the city holds rather than lingering long at any one place. An English-speaking guide travels with the group throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sheki day trip and sightseeing

• Enjoy traditional breakfast in Shamakhi
• Tea stop in Ismayilli forest
• Visit 17th-century Sheki caravanserai
• Explore old shops and taste Sheki sweets
• Tour the 18th-century Palace of Sheki Khans
• Visit ABAD arts and crafts center
• Watch shebeke glass art demonstration
• Stroll through Yukhari Bash historic quarter
• Take in views from Highland Park
• Have lunch with traditional Piti stew
• Visit ancient Christian church in Kish village

The Experience

The day starts before dawn with a traditional Azerbaijani breakfast in Shamakhi — scream-eggs with tomatoes cooked over an open flame, tandoor bread, cheese, honey and tea — then a drive into the forests of Ismayilli for a tea stop and a local sweet called "Three Ears." By mid-morning you're in Sheki proper, first at a 17th-century caravanserai, the kind of merchant hotel that once lined the Silk Road. The stops that follow let you move through layers of the city: old shops selling Sheki silk and sweets made by families of halva masters; the Khan's Palace from the 18th century, where the windows are built in shebeke style — tiny pieces of colored glass fitted into wooden frames with no glue or nails; and ABAD, a working hub where you can watch potters and painters at their craft.

Shebeke is the craft that anchors the afternoon. You'll see it demonstrated — the way artisans cut and fit each piece of glass by hand, a technique passed down for centuries — and then walk through Yukhari Bash, the historical quarter with stone lanes, old homes and vintage street lamps that still feel like a merchant city from another era. Highland Park sits on a hilltop above Sheki with views across the landscape and a World War II memorial. Lunch is Piti, a stew of lamb, chickpeas and spices slow-cooked in individual clay pots for hours. The tour ends in the village of Kish, where one of the oldest Christian churches in the Caucasus sits in the mountains — a spiritual site from the time of Caucasian Albania.

The pace is steady because the itinerary covers distance: you're moving between Shamakhi, the forests, Sheki's center, the villages beyond it, and back. A professional guide in English narrates the route and the history. The vehicle is air-conditioned. Dinner is included at the end of the day, though the exact timing depends on when the group finishes at Kish and the drive back begins.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• traditional Azerbaijani breakfast in Shamakhi with eggs, tandoor bread, cheese, honey and tea.
• tea ceremony in the Ismayilli forest with the local sweet "Three Ears".
• lunch of Piti stew in individual clay pots.
• dinner at the end of the day.
• entry to the caravanserai, Khan's Palace, ABAD craft hub, Yukhari Bash quarter and Highland Park.
• demonstration of shebeke glass-fitting technique.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ATI

Is this one for you?A 12- to 14-hour commitment means you'll see the breadth of Sheki — the palace, the old quarter, the craft workshops, the villages beyond — but not linger long at any single stop. If you want a full immersion in one site or a leisurely pace, a shorter, focused tour would suit better; this one packs the range of what the city holds into a single day.

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Top questions

What is the shebeke craft I'll see in Sheki?

Shebeke is a centuries-old art form where artisans cut tiny pieces of colored glass and fit them precisely into delicate wooden patterns — all without glue or nails. You'll watch the technique demonstrated at ABAD and see finished examples in the windows of the Khan's Palace, where the intricate designs are assembled into the most complex ornaments.

How much time do I spend driving versus walking and looking around?

The tour runs 12 to 14 hours total, with multiple stops across Sheki and the surrounding villages. You'll walk through the old quarter of Yukhari Bash and spend time at each site — the caravanserai, the palace, the craft workshops, Highland Park — but the itinerary covers ground between them, so expect a mix of driving and on-foot exploration rather than a deep dive into any single place.

Are the three meals included in the price, or do I pay separately?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in the tour price. Breakfast is a traditional spread in Shamakhi; lunch is Piti, Sheki's signature stew cooked in clay pots; and dinner is served at the end of the day.

Can I visit the Albanian Church in Kish, or is that a separate cost?

The Albanian Church in Kish is an optional add-on at checkout. The tour passes through the village and you'll see the church, but entry is a separate fee if you want to go inside.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English and Russian and travels with the group throughout the entire day.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit, or if I have young children?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants must sit on an adult's lap during the drive. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need an alternative to the full itinerary.