Azerbaijan & Nakhchivan Uncovered Group Tour

Depart London LHR on a flight to Baku. 

This morning, the group is set to arrive in Baku at 07:20. After landing in Azerbaijan's capital, you'll be met and taken to your hotel, where your room will be ready for immediate check-in (with breakfast available if you'd like). The hotel is yet to be confirmed but is expected to be Winter Park Hotel, Shah Palace, or a similar option. After checking in, you can spend the rest of the morning relaxing or freshening up from your trip.

Around 12:30, meet your guide in the hotel reception for a traditional welcome lunch at a nearby restaurant. After lunch, you'll start a tour of Baku and its Old Town, including stops at the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, Hillside Park for a city view, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Maiden Tower, the Baku Museum of Miniature Books, and the Juma Mosque. To mix in some modern elements, you'll also ride Baku’s Soviet-era Metro System. In the late afternoon, return to the hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure. (B,L)

Start the day with more sightseeing in Baku, including a visit to the City Bazaar. Late in the morning, head to the Absheron Peninsula for lunch before touring the area. The tour will include a drive through the oil fields, a visit to Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain), the Atashgah Fire Worshippers’ Temple, and the Gala State Historical-Ethnographical Preserve. After returning to Baku, you’ll have some time to freshen up at your hotel before heading out for a traditional dinner. (B,L,D)

This morning, check out of your hotel early to catch the 'fast' train to Ganja from Baku’s railway station at 08:45 (times may change). You’ll arrive in Ganja, Azerbaijan’s second city, around 13:00. Enjoy lunch before a brief tour of the city, which is often overlooked by tourists. The tour will include the Bottle House of Ganja, the Nizami Monument, and a walk around the city centre. After the tour, drive 150 km to Sheki and check into your hotel (most likely the Shekisaray, Sheki Palace, or similar) for the night. Dinner will be at or near the hotel.

Note: The tour vehicle will leave early to reach Ganja in time to meet the group. If you prefer to travel light on the train, arrange with the guide/driver to load any larger bags onto the tour vehicle on the evening of Day 3. We hope to travel in First Class on the train, but this cannot be guaranteed (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)

After leaving the hotel, we’ll spend most of the day traveling back to Baku, with stops in the ancient village of Lahij, known for its copper crafts, and the town of Shamakhi. Once back in Baku, take an evening flight to Nakhchivan (time to be confirmed). Upon arrival, transfer to the Tabriz Hotel (or similar) and check in for a three-night stay. (B,L)

Enjoy the morning sightseeing in Nakhchivan City, with visits to the Heydar Aliyev Museum, Noah’s Tomb, the 12th century Momina Khatun Monument, the house of Rahim Khan, the Tomb of Yusif Ibn Kuseyir and the Nakhchivan History Museum. This afternoon, head out of the city to visit the village of Garabaghlar to see the 12th-14th century Garabaghlar Mausoleum. The last visit of the day will be to the Dusdagh Salt Mines’ Hospital. (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)