5-day Azerbaijan: Sheki, Gabala & The Khinalug Mountains

Discover the heart of Azerbaijan on a five-day road trip through ancient

Silk Road towns, alpine villages, and Caucasus mountain passes - with a

local licensed driver who knows the country inside out.

We start from Baku and follow the old caravan route north into the

mountains. In Khinalug - one of the highest and oldest continuously

inhabited villages in the world (2,200m) - you'll walk stone alleys

where families still speak their own ancient language, share tea in a

shepherd's home, and watch the sun set over the Caucasus range.

The journey continues through Quba's apple orchards to Sheki, a UNESCO

World Heritage town of cobblestone streets, old caravanserais, and the

breathtaking Khan's Palace - every wall painted by hand, every window

made of thousands of stained-glass pieces fitted without a single nail.

In Gabala we slow down: alpine lakes, waterfalls, forest trails, the

cable car up Tufandag, and long lunches of fresh river trout. On the

way back we stop at the mud volcanoes and 40,000-year-old petroglyphs

of Gobustan, where human history is literally written into stone.

What makes this trip special is the freedom. The route flexes around

what you love - extra day in Sheki, a detour to a family wine cellar

in Ismayilli, a photo stop at every roadside pomegranate stand. You

set the pace; I handle the road, the language, and finding the places

no guidebook will tell you about.

Best for couples, solo travelers, and small groups who want comfort,

authenticity, and depth - not a rushed tourist bus. Private vehicle,

air-conditioned, full insurance, officially licensed driver. English

and Russian spoken. Accommodation, meals, and custom itineraries can

all be arranged.