Northern route · 5 days / 4 nights · Private tour

Baku + Gabala + Shaki — the classic north

★★★★★ 4.9 / 5 (94 reviews)
· From $499 per person · ✓ No deposit required

Three of Azerbaijan's finest destinations in five days. The ancient walled capital, a mountain lake retreat, and a Silk Road city with a palace that took 50 craftsmen four years to build. City, nature, and history — perfectly paced.

5
Days
3
Regions
1
UNESCO site
$499
From / person

Day-by-day itinerary

All private. Your guide adapts the pace to your group's preferences each day.

Day 1
Arrival in Baku
ArrivalPrivate airport pickup — driver waiting at arrivals with name sign
AfternoonHotel check-in in central Baku, then first walk along the Caspian Boulevard
EveningWelcome dinner in the Old City neighbourhood — Azerbaijani cuisine, your guide's personal pick
NightFlame Towers light show from the waterfront — spectacular introduction to Baku after dark
🏨 Night 1: Baku
Day 2
Baku — Old City, museums & culture
MorningGuided tour of Icheri Sheher (UNESCO Old City) — Maiden Tower, Shah's Palace, caravanserais, ancient mosques
LunchTraditional lunch inside the Old City walls — piti, qutab, local bread
AfternoonAzerbaijan Carpet Museum + Heydar Aliyev Center (Zaha Hadid masterwork)
Late afternoonFunicular to the Upper City — best panoramic view over Baku and the Caspian Sea
EveningNizami Street stroll and farewell dinner in Baku before the northern journey begins
🏨 Night 2: Baku
Day 3
Drive to Gabala — mountain arrival
MorningDepart Baku after breakfast — 2.5-hour scenic drive northwest through the Shamakhi foothills
OptionalEn-route stop at Shamakhi Juma Mosque — one of the oldest mosques in Azerbaijan, with fine Caucasian architecture
AfternoonArrive Gabala — hotel check-in. Afternoon at Nohur Lake: boat hire, forest trails, lakeside lunch at a terrace restaurant
EveningTufandag cable car for sunset views over the Caucasus — the best panorama in the region
NightDinner at a mountain restaurant in Gabala — Caucasian cuisine with cool evening air
🏨 Night 3: Gabala (mountain lodge)
Day 4
Gabala to Shaki — waterfalls and the Silk Road
MorningYeddi Gozel (Seven Beauties) waterfall hike from Gabala — 2km forest trail to seven cascades through beech forest
MiddayDrive from Gabala to Shaki (1.5 hours) through increasingly dramatic mountain scenery
AfternoonCheck into Shaki hotel. First afternoon walk through the Old City walls and bazaar district
Late afternoonShaki History Museum — essential context before the Palace visit tomorrow
EveningDinner in Shaki — piti (clay pot lamb) is the essential local dish, found in every traditional restaurant
🏨 Night 4: Shaki (Upper Caravanserai optional)
Day 5
Shaki Khan's Palace & return to Baku
MorningGuided tour of Sheki Khan's Palace (1762) — the extraordinary shebeke stained glass masterpiece, frescoed halls, and palace gardens
MidmorningShaki Old Bazaar — silks, halva, pakhlava tasting, local spice vendors
OptionalKish village Albanian church — 7km from Shaki, 1st-century AD, one of the oldest churches in the world
LunchFarewell lunch in Shaki — your last meal in the Silk Road city
Afternoon3.5-hour drive back to Baku — direct to your hotel or straight to the airport
✈️ Return to Baku — hotel or airport drop-off

What's included

✅4 nights in vetted hotels (2 in Baku, 1 Gabala, 1 Shaki)
✅Private A/C vehicle with driver for all transfers
✅Airport pickup and drop-off in Baku
✅Local English-speaking expert guide throughout
✅Entrance fees — Old City, Carpet Museum, Khan's Palace
✅Tufandag cable car (Gabala)
✅Yeddi Gozel waterfall hike guide
✅24/7 WhatsApp support during travel
✗International flights
✗Azerbaijan e-Visa (we assist with application)
✗Meals (you choose restaurants with guide's help)
✗Travel insurance (strongly recommended)

Guest reviews

★★★★★ 4.9 / 5 (94 reviews)
★★★★★

"Shaki destroyed my expectations in the best way. The Khan's Palace is unlike anything I've seen — and the piti in the caravanserai restaurant that evening was the best meal of the whole trip."

Fatima Al-R. — Doha, Qatar · May 2025
★★★★★

"Nohur Lake at 7am, before anyone else arrived — just us, the mist, and absolute silence. Our guide knew exactly when to be there. That kind of local knowledge is irreplaceable."

James T. — Toronto, Canada · September 2025
★★★★★

"Five days felt perfectly paced — never rushed, never wasted. Baku gave us the wow, Gabala gave us the peace, Shaki gave us the soul. This tour is exactly the right combination."

Meera S. — Chennai, India · October 2025

Frequently asked questions

What does this tour include?+
4 nights in vetted hotels (2 in Baku, 1 in Gabala, 1 in Shaki), private A/C vehicle with driver, airport pickup and drop-off, local English-speaking guide throughout, and entrance fees to all listed attractions. Flights, visa, meals, and personal expenses are not included.
Can I combine this tour with Gobustan?+
Yes — this tour extends naturally into the 7-Day Azerbaijan Tour by adding Gobustan and Absheron on Days 3–4 before heading north to Gabala. Tell us on WhatsApp and we'll build the custom itinerary with updated pricing in minutes.
Is Shaki or Gabala the highlight?+
Both are exceptional but in different ways. Gabala rewards nature lovers — mountain lakes, cable cars, and waterfalls. Shaki rewards history and food lovers — the Khan's Palace stained glass and piti clay pot lunch are both extraordinary. Most guests say Shaki is the one that stays with them longest.
Is a deposit required to book?+
No deposit required. We confirm the booking with a signed itinerary. Full payment is made on arrival in Azerbaijan before the tour begins — completely risk-free for our guests.

Other tour packages

7-Day Azerbaijan Tour

Add Gobustan + Absheron to this route

From $699/person

3-Day Baku Explorer

Just the capital — city break

From $299/person

Azerbaijan Grand Tour

10–14 days — all six regions

From $1,199/person
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