Azerbaijan 6-day tour — Baku, Shamakhi, Gabala

6 days • 5 nights • Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan 6-Day Tour: Baku, Shamakhi and Gabala

Baku between its Old City walls and modern towers, then the green nature of Gabala and the Tufandag cable car, passing through historic Shamakhi.

Baku → Shamakhi → GabalaFamilyCitiesNature

About the program

Tourism in Azerbaijan combines a modern city on the Caspian Sea with green countryside in the foothills of the Caucasus. On this 6-day tour we discover Baku, with its UNESCO-listed Old City and the famous Flame Towers, then head to Gabala (Qabala) via Shamakhi and its historic Friday mosque. Azerbaijan is a Muslim-majority country with many mosques and halal restaurants, and many locals understand Turkish, which makes communication easier for visitors coming from Istanbul.

The flight from Istanbul to Baku takes about three hours, and the familiar culture and food make Azerbaijan a comfortable destination for families. We split your stay between three nights in Baku and two nights in Gabala, with private-car tours and free time for shopping and strolling along the boulevard. The tour can be extended to visit Quba and the Shahdag resort. We also leave you time to taste Azerbaijani cuisine, rich in grilled meats and rice dishes, in a balanced tour that suits a first visit.

Trip highlights

  • Old City Icheri Sheher, the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs
  • Flame Towers view from Martyrs' Lane and Highland Park
  • Heydar Aliyev Center and its unique architecture
  • Juma Mosque in Shamakhi, one of the oldest mosques in the Caucasus
  • Tufandag cable car, Lake Nohur and the Seven Beauties Waterfall in Gabala
  • Yanar Dag (the Burning Mountain) and the Ateshgah Fire Temple
  • Evening stroll along Baku Boulevard on the Caspian Sea

The program day by day

  1. Day1

    Arrival in Baku

    We meet you at Heydar Aliyev International Airport and transfer you to the hotel. After some rest, we stroll along Baku Boulevard on the Caspian Sea, where the Flame Towers light up the city sky. You can end the day on Nizami Street, with its shops and cafés.

    • Heydar Aliyev International Airport
    • Baku Boulevard
    • Nizami Street
  2. Day2

    Old and New Baku

    We start in the walled Old City (Icheri Sheher) and visit the Maiden Tower, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and its stone lanes. Then we go up to Martyrs' Lane and Highland Park for views over the bay and the Flame Towers. In the afternoon we visit the Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, and finish with a walk through Little Venice on the boulevard.

    • Old City (Icheri Sheher)
    • Maiden Tower
    • Palace of the Shirvanshahs
    • Martyrs' Lane and Highland Park
    • Heydar Aliyev Center
    • Little Venice
  3. Day3

    From Baku to Gabala via Shamakhi

    We head west toward Gabala on a road where the scenery changes from plains to green mountains. We stop at the Diri Baba Mausoleum, built into a rock cliff, then visit the Juma Mosque in Shamakhi, one of the oldest mosques in the Caucasus. We reach Gabala in the afternoon to check in and relax in the fresh mountain air.

    • Diri Baba Mausoleum
    • Juma Mosque in Shamakhi
    • Gabala
  4. Day4

    A Day in Nature in Gabala

    We take the Tufandag Resort cable car for wide views over the Caucasus mountains and forests, then visit peaceful Lake Nohur, surrounded by mountains. We continue to the Seven Beauties Waterfall (Yeddi Gozel), with its walkway among the trees. For children, there is also fun to be had at the Gabaland amusement park.

    • Tufandag cable car
    • Lake Nohur
    • Seven Beauties Waterfall
    • Gabaland
  5. Day5

    Back to Baku and the Fire Sights

    We return to Baku in the morning. On arrival we visit Yanar Dag, the hillside where fire burns naturally from gas escaping the ground, then the Ateshgah Fire Temple on the outskirts of the capital. The evening is free for shopping at a mall or one last stroll along the boulevard.

    • Yanar Dag (the Burning Mountain)
    • Ateshgah Fire Temple
    • Shopping malls in Baku
  6. Day6

    Departure

    Breakfast at the hotel and free time according to your flight, then a transfer to Heydar Aliyev International Airport for your flight back to Istanbul.

    • Hotel
    • Heydar Aliyev International Airport

Included in the program

  • Airport pickup and drop-off in Baku by private car
  • 5 nights with breakfast: 3 in Baku and 2 in Gabala
  • The tours and transfers listed, by private car with driver
  • Help applying for the e-visa for nationalities that need one
  • Follow-up and support on WhatsApp throughout the trip

Not included

  • Flights from Istanbul (can be added on request)
  • Official visa fees, if any
  • Cable car tickets and entrance fees to museums and sites
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned and personal expenses

Suggested accommodation

CityNightsSuggested
Baku34- or 5-star hotels near the boulevard or the Old City, within easy walking distance of restaurants and sights.
Gabala2A mountain resort or hotel in Gabala. Many families prefer resorts with green spaces and pools.
Visa: Holders of a Turkish passport enter Azerbaijan without a visa, and an e-visa is available through the official ASAN system for a number of other nationalities. Temporary exemptions have also been announced for some Gulf nationalities. These rules change, so we confirm the entry requirements for your nationality before booking, and the final decision rests with the Azerbaijani authorities.
Best season: May to October for Gabala's green landscapes and Baku's mild weather. In winter, Tufandag becomes a ski resort.
Baku is known for its sea breezes, so we recommend a light jacket for the evenings, even in summer.
The tour can be adjusted by staying entirely in Baku with day trips, or by adding a night in Quba and the Shahdag resort.

Book this program

Book the Azerbaijan 6-Day Tour

Add your arrival date, the number of travelers and the hotel level, and you will receive a written offer with the final price via WhatsApp.

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  • No payment before you approve the written quote
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Your message is ready in WhatsApp. Send it from the app and we will reply with a written quote — we reply daily from 9 AM to 11 PM (Istanbul time). WhatsApp didn't open? Or call +90 539 933 43 31

Questions & answers

Questions about the Azerbaijan 6-Day Tour

Is the Azerbaijan visa electronic?

Yes. An e-visa is available through the official portal for a number of nationalities and is usually issued within a few working days, and some nationalities are already exempt. We confirm your nationality's status and the current fees when you request your tour, and approval is the decision of the authorities alone.

Where do we stay: in Baku or in Gabala?

Baku is the modern capital on the Caspian Sea, and Gabala (also spelled Qabala) is a green mountain region about 220 km away. We suggest 3 nights in Baku and 2 nights in Gabala to combine city and nature.

How much does a trip to Azerbaijan cost?

The cost depends on the season, the hotel category, the number of travelers and flight tickets. Send us your dates and the number of people on WhatsApp and we will send you a detailed offer with no obligation.

Georgia or Azerbaijan: which suits my family better?

Azerbaijan offers a modern city, Islamic landmarks and a familiar culture, while Georgia is richer in mountain scenery and villages. You can also combine the two in one trip. See our Georgia 7-day tour as well.

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