Cycling in sunny Azerbaijan

Baku Sightseeing tour: Panoramic view of Baku city and Baku Bay from Highland Park - Martyrs Alley, marvelous view of Flame Towers. Later, visit Old city – Icheri Sheher: Entrance gates of Old Baku; fortification tower; Caravanserai complexes – Bukhara and Multan; Maiden Tower (under UNESCO protection); old mosques; bathes; Miniature Book Museum; Shirvanshahs’ Palace (under UNESCO protection); narrow small cobbled stone streets. Continue with Nizami Street – large pedestrian and shopping street in downtown Baku. Visiting National History Museum of Azerbaijan: the former mansion of Azerbaijani oil magnate and philanthropist H.Z.Tagiyev. Walking on Baku Boulevard, Boat Tour on windless weather. Back to the hotel. Overnight in Baku.

Cycling distance to Shamakhy city (109 km)

Start point 104 m high from sea level, end point 720 m

Ascent 1387 m, descent 761 m

Estimated cycling time – 7 hour

Terrain – hilly

Difficulty – medium

After the check – out passage to Baku – Shamakhy route: it is 20 minute drive to start point out of Baku City (14 km). Luggage will be carried with minivan. Lunch at local restaurant.

Arrival in Shamakhy: Check-in at hotel. Free time for leisure.

Visiting Juma Mosque in Shamakhy – first and the biggest mosque in VIII century (with car)

Overnight in Shamakhy.

Cycling distance to Gabala city (87 km)

Start point 720 m high from sea level, end point 764 m

Ascent 1413 m, descent 1383 m

Estimated cycling time – 6,5 hour

Terrain – hilly

Difficulty – medium to high

Passage to Shamakhy – Gabala route:

After leaving hotel 11,5 km cycling to Muganli Pass. Muganli Pass is one of the interesting parts of the route. 4,1 km cycling downhill (from 881 m to 511m); 4 km upward cycling (from 511 m to 779 m) – Terrain is very hilly on this part. But the rest of part is rolling. On the way photo stop in most picturesque places on mountains. Lunch at local restaurant. Arrival in Gabala: Check-in at hotel. Free time for leisure. Visiting Tufandag Mountain with Cable Car. Overnight in Gabala.

Cycling distance to Sheki city (83 km)

Start point 764 m high from sea level, end point 616 m

Ascent 599 m, descent 745 m

Estimated cycling time – 5 hour

Terrain – mostly flat

Difficulty - low

Passage to Gabala – Sheki route. Arrival in Sheki: Check-in at hotel. Free time for leisure.

Lunch at local restaurant. Sightseeing in Sheki with car: Visiting Kish village: the first church of Caucasus. Visiting Old Sheki: medieval fortress, The Palace of Shaki Khans – a summer residence of Shaki Khans, Historical Museum; Round temple; handicrafts workshop of Shebaka, national musical instruments’, takalduz. Continue with Sheki Caravanserai – a historical monument in Sheki. Overnight in Sheki.

Cycling distance to Mingachevir city (77 km)

Start point 616 m high from sea level, end point 22 m

Ascent 166 m, descent 759 m

Estimated cycling time – 4 hour

Terrain – mostly flat

Difficulty – low

Visiting local Eastern Bazaar of Sheki. Passage to Sheki – Mingachevir route.

Arrival in Mingachevir: Check-in at hotel. Free time for leisure. Lunch at local restaurant.

Visiting Mingachevir Water Reservoir; Boat Tour on Mingachevir River. Overnight in Mingachevir

Cycling distance to Ganja city (76 km)

Start point 22 m high from sea level, end point 447 m

Ascent 491 m, descent 89 m

Estimated cycling time – 4 hour

Terrain – mostly flat

Difficulty – low

Passage to Mingachevir – Ganja route. Arrival in Ganja city: Check-in at hotel. Free time for leisure. Lunch at local restaurant. Ganja sightseeing tour:

Visiting Bottle House (outside). Walking tour in Ganja city: visiting caravansary; Shah Abbas Mosque (XVII cc.); Javad Khan Mausoleum; Azerbaijan First Parliament Building (today Agriculture University); Khan’s Garden; Aleksandr Nevski church. Back to the hotel. Overnight in Ganja.

Visiting Helenendorf - former German colony settlement from Baden-Wurttemberg: German Lutheran Church. Back to the hotel. Overnight in Ganja.

Start point 447 m high from sea level, end point - 22 m

Ascent 239 m, descent 676 m

Estimated cycling time – 4 hour

Difficulty – low

Passage to Ganja – Baku Route: On the way visiting Mausoleum of Nizami Ganjavi.

Lunch at local restaurant. After some hour drive continue to Baku with transport.

Arrival in Baku city: Check-in at hotel. Free time for leisure. Farewell dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Baku.