Accomodation: Nemi Hotel or similar.
After breakfast, we move to Khinalug early morning. Khinalug is an ancient (5000 years) Caucasian village going back to the Caucasian Albanian period. It is located high up in the mountains of Quba Rayon, Azerbaijan. We will have lunch on the way before reaching the village. It is one of the highest settlements in the world. The village standing at 2350m above sea level. Khinalug was included on the World Monuments Fund's 2008 Watch list. After visiting the Khinalug Museum we will drive to the hiking start point.
Our 8 km hiking will take us from the Galaykhudat village to another ancient Griz village. On the way to Griz, you will enjoy the views on the edge of the creek and canyon. You will be admired the summits which 3000m and 4000m above sea level, flowing rivers, small waterfall Gur-gur, and landscape.
3 visited different mountain villages will provide a wide range of information connected with the daily and cultural life of these areas. We will have dinner on the way to the hotel.
Accomodation: Qalaaltı Hotel&Spa or similar
Meals: breakfast in hotel
Activity level: Easy
Accomodation: Nemi Hotel or similar
Meals: breakfast in hotel
Activity level: Easy
Azerbaijan is known as the country with the most mud volcanoes in the world. The mud volcanos do not produce lava and are not necessarily driven by magmatic activity. The Earth continuously exudes a mud-like substance, which may sometimes be referred to as a mud volcano. Mud volcanoes may range in size from merely 1 or 2 meters high and 1 or 2 meters wide to 700 meters high and 10 kilometers wide.
After lunch, we will have Baku sightseeing tour. We will walk to the Shirvanshahs Palace complex, we will see the eight-story fortress Maidens Tower which located in the Baku Old City – Icherisheher.
Accomodation: Nemi Hotel or similar
Meals: breakfast in hotel
Our second stop will be Demirci village which was famous for its blacksmiths in ancient times. An asphalt mountain roads will take us to Lahic bypassing Pirsaatchay riverbed, the Lahıc pass (2060m above sea level), the Girdimanchay riverbed. Lahij is a notable place in Azerbaijan, with its authentic handicraft traditions, particularly related to copper. The village's carpet and rug crafts are also well known in Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus. Lahij has an old sewage system (some experts claim that it was built 1000–1500 years ago). After lunch, we will visit the Lahic Museum of Local History. During free time you can walk to this ancient village of artisans. Their workshops are on the main street of the village, you can buy handmade souvenirs, sweets, ethnic clothing, etc.
Accomodation: Lahic Guesthouse or similar
Meals: breakfast in hotel
Accomodation: Shaki Palace Hotel or similar
Meals: breakfast in hotel
Activity level: Medium
The most famous sight in Sheki is the Sheki Khans Palace. The Khans Palace, has been inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List. The majestic architectural monument, Shaki Khans Palace, takes a special place among the countrys historical and architectural attractions. With its magnificent wall paintings and colorful windows mosaic, the palace is considered one of the most prominent and unique monuments of medieval architecture. This cultural site is also one of the rare pearls of Azerbaijani painting and folk applied art.
The Kish village located approximately 5km north of Shaki. Walking the quiet cobble-stoned streets, you d never guess that Kishs story is one of ancient history and of great regional importance. The village is well known for its unique ancient Albanian temple - the mother of Alban churches. This ancient monument of Azerbaijani-Albanian architecture is believed to be the oldest church in the Caucasus, founded in the 1st century by the Apostle Eliseus. For centuries, the church functioned as a spiritual center and place for enlightenment for people of the East.
Gelersen Gorersen is a fortress of the Middle Ages, ruins of which remain on the coast of the Kish River. The fortress located on the summit of Garatepe (Black Hill) Mountain. Construction of the fortress is dated back to the 8th or 9th century. Gelersen-Gorersen was thoroughly consolidated and was used for defense. In translation from Azerbaijani language, the name of the fortress means will come-will see.
We will drive to Qax city at the end of the day.
Accomodation: El hotel or similar
Meals: dinner and breakfast in hotel
Activity level: Easy
The offroad is operated by local professional offroad tour company. Today will continue in accordance with this program: Instruction; Start; Ilisu bath; Saribash village; photo session, leisure time, horseback riding; Mamirli waterfall, walking, photo session; Lekit Kotuklu; dinner at Balli (Honey) Spring; reaching the starting point. We are sure that you will have a day full of adventures.
Accomodation: El hotel or similar
Meals: breakfast in hotel
Today is the last day of our tour. After breakfast, we leave the hotel and return to Baku. On the way back we will visit the Gabala Archeological Center. Gabala Archaeological Center was built in the territory of the capital city of Albania. The old Gabala was the capital of Caucasian Albania for 800 years. The ruins of the ancient city of Gabala are considered as Chukhurkabala (Chukhur Gabala) surrounded by two fortress walls located 2 km from the present Gabala city. Gabala was mentioned as “Kabalaka” in Pliny’s historical writings and as “Khabala” in Ptolemy’s works. During excavations that show that the city of Gabala belonged to the ancient period, it was revealed that the bottom layer of the city as belonging to the 3rd millennium BC.
Accomodation: Nemi Hotel or similar
Meals: breakfast in hotel