Azerbaijan & Nakhchivan Uncovered Group Tour

Depart London Heathrow on your international flight to Baku.

This morning, arrive in Baku at 07:20 and transfer to your hotel — expected to be Courtyard by Marriott or similar — for immediate check-in, with breakfast available. After time to rest, meet your guide at 12:30 for a traditional welcome lunch at a nearby restaurant. Then explore Baku’s Old Town, visiting the Carpet Museum, Hillside Park, Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Miniature Book Museum and Juma Mosque. Ride the Soviet-era Metro before returning to your hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure. (B, L)

Begin with a visit to Baku’s lively City Bazaar before heading to the Absheron Peninsula. After lunch, tour the region’s highlights, including the famous oil fields, Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain), the Ateshgah Fire Temple and the Gala State Historical-Ethnographical Preserve. Return to Baku in the late afternoon with time to freshen up at your hotel. This evening, enjoy a traditional Azerbaijani dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)

Check out early and head to Baku Railway Station for the fast train to Ganja, departing at 08:45 (subject to change). Arrive around 13:00 and enjoy lunch before a short tour of Azerbaijan’s second city, including the Bottle House, Nizami Monument, and city centre. Continue by road to Sheki (150 km) and check into your hotel — expected to be the Shekisaray, Sheki Palace or similar. Dinner will be served at or near the hotel.

Note: The tour vehicle will depart early to meet the group in Ganja. If you’d prefer to travel light on the train, you can arrange for your main luggage to be sent ahead with the driver the evening before. (B,L,D)

This morning, check out of your hotel and spend most of the day sightseeing in Sheki, a city with a history of 2,700 years. You'll visit the Sheki Khan’s Palace, the Old Caravanserai, and one of the city's well-known Halva shops (a popular Azeri dessert). Afterwards, drive to Qabala and check into the Qafqaz Karvansaray Hotel (or similar) for an overnight stay. (B, L ,D)

Depart your hotel and travel to Baku, stopping first in Lahij to explore its famous copper crafts. Continue to Shamakhi, a town rich in history, before arriving in Baku. In the evening, take a flight to Nakhchivan (time to be confirmed). On arrival, transfer to the Tabriz Hotel (or similar) for a three-night stay. Enjoy breakfast and lunch during the day. (B, L)

Spend the morning exploring Nakhchivan City’s highlights, including the Heydar Aliyev Museum, Noah’s Tomb, the 12th century Momina Khatun Monument, Rahim Khan’s house, the Tomb of Yusif Ibn Kuseyir, and the History Museum. After lunch, travel to the village of Garabaghlar to visit its 12th–14th century mausoleum, then stop at the Dusdagh Salt Mines’ Hospital before returning to the city. (B, L)

After breakfast, start the second full day of sightseeing in Nakhchivan with a train ride to Julfa, a small city near the Iranian border. From there, visit the 13th century Gulustan Mausoleum. Next, travel to Ordubad, Nakhchivan's second-largest city with around 10,000 residents, where we’ll see the Geysariya Museum and Old Mosque. After lunch in Ordubad, visit the Alinja Fortress, over 2,000 years old and often called ‘the Machu Picchu of Azerbaijan.’ It’s a highlight of the region. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Note: Exploring the fortress involves climbing steep steps and navigating uneven terrain. Those who prefer not to tackle this can stay at the museum at the base of the fortress or explore as far as they wish. (B, L)

Check out of your hotel and head to Batabat in the Shahbuz Plateau, a largely uninhabited region with forests, mountains, and lakes. Also visit Ashabi-Kahf, a sacred site in a natural cave mentioned in the Quran. Return to Nakhchivan City for lunch. Depending on the flight schedule (to be confirmed), you may have some time for final sightseeing, shopping, or relaxation before catching your domestic flight back to Baku. Upon arrival in Baku, check into your hotel for a two-night stay and enjoy the evening at your leisure. (B,L)

Today, take a morning excursion south along the Caspian coast to the Gobustan State Reserve, where you'll see rock carvings and petroglyphs dating back up to 20,000 years. You'll also visit the Mud Volcanoes in the reserve. Return to Baku in time for lunch (not included), and then enjoy the rest of the day and evening to explore Baku on your own. (B)

This morning, check out of the hotel and enjoy final sightseeing with visits to the House Museum of the Nobel Brothers and the Heydar Aliyev Center. Afterward, have a farewell lunch at the nearby Mama Meri Restaurant. Then, transfer to the airport in time to check in for our Azerbaijan Airlines flight back to London Heathrow. (Note that flight times are still to be confirmed; if we have extra time for sightseeing, we will adjust the schedule accordingly.) The expected flight departs at 19:05 and arrives in London at 21:05. (B,L)