Route Builder on the Map

Choose places

Baku

Icherisheher (Old City)The walled historic core of Baku, with fortifications dating from 1138–1139 according to the reserve administration. Together with the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. Its lanes hold mosques, bathhouses and around ten small museums. UNESCO World HeritageHistory On site: 3–4 h 🏛 Palace of the ShirvanshahsThe 15th-century palace complex of the Shirvanshah dynasty, with nine buildings on three terraced courtyards: the palace, the Divankhana, the family mausoleum, a mosque with its minaret, a bathhouse and the Murad Gate (1585–86). It is now a museum-reserve, and the ticket includes the treasury. UNESCO World HeritageHistory On site: 1–1.5 h Maiden TowerBaku's emblem: a cylindrical stone tower of eight levels, roughly 28–31 m high, rising at the old Caspian shoreline. Inside is a museum on the city's history, and the roof terrace looks over the Old City and Baku Bay. Its date is debated, with completion usually placed in the 12th century. UNESCO World HeritageHistoryViewpoint On site: 45 min – 1 h 🛠 Azerbaijan National Carpet MuseumFounded in 1967, the museum moved in 2014 into a seafront building shaped like a rolled-up carpet, designed by the Austrian architect Franz Janz. Its collection holds more than 10,000 items. It is a good introduction to the carpet-weaving traditions of the regions further along the route. CraftsHistory On site: 1–1.5 h Heydar Aliyev CenterA cultural centre designed by Zaha Hadid and opened in 2012, which won the Design Museum's Design of the Year 2014 award. It houses a museum, exhibition halls and "Mini Azerbaijan", a display of models of the country's historic monuments. History On site: 1–1.5 h Ateshgah Fire TempleA 17th–18th-century temple courtyard in Surakhani, built over a natural gas seep. Its 21 inscriptions, mostly in Devanagari with some in Gurmukhi and Persian, mark it as a place of worship for Indian Hindu and Sikh communities. A central fire altar stands inside a pentagonal ring of 24 cells. ReligionHistory On site: 45 min – 1 h Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain)Natural gas seeping from a hillside burns continuously, with flames running about 15 m along the foot of a 200 m scarp. Since 2007 the site has been a state reserve near the village of Mammadli on the Absheron Peninsula. A small museum and an amphitheatre opened after the 2017–2019 renovation. Nature and reservesViewpoint On site: 30–45 min Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (Gobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve)A rocky plateau south-west of Baku with more than 6,000 rock engravings, caves and settlements from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages. Near Boyukdash is a 1st-century AD Latin inscription left by the Roman Legio XII Fulminata under Emperor Domitian, described as the easternmost Latin inscription known. A petroglyph museum has operated at the entrance since 2011. UNESCO World HeritageHistoryNature and reserves On site: 2–2.5 h Gobustan Mud VolcanoesA field of active mud volcanoes near Gobustan. According to Wikipedia, about 300 of the world's roughly 700 mud volcanoes are found in this area and the adjacent Caspian Sea. They are usually visited together with the Gobustan rock art. Nature and reserves On site: 1.5 h

Shamakhi

🏛 Diri Baba MausoleumA two-storey mausoleum-mosque built partly into a natural rock cavity on a mountain slope. An inscription dates it to 1402 (805 AH), commissioned by Shirvanshah Ibrahim I. It has drawn pilgrims since the 17th century, and the surrounding caves are still regarded as a holy site. HistoryReligion On site: 30–45 min Juma Mosque of ShamakhiShamakhi's main mosque, founded in 743/744 (126 AH). It was damaged and rebuilt many times, after the 1859 earthquake and the 1918 clashes among others, and was restored in its original form in 2009–2013. It is an active mosque. HistoryReligion On site: 30 min 🏛 Yeddi Gumbaz (Seven Domes) MausoleumA cemetery with domed tombs of the family of Mustafa Khan, the last khan of Shamakhi, about 1.5 km south of town. The earliest tomb is dated 1810 by inscription and the latest 1865–1867; three of the seven domes survive. History On site: 30 min Meysari Winery (Shirvan Wines)The Shirvan Wines estate in Meysari village, opened in 2018, makes the Meysari brand, the first EU-certified organic wines in Azerbaijan. Visits include a vineyard and cellar tour with tasting in the Abgora restaurant, plus a small museum and a guesthouse. The Grape and Wine Festival is held on its grounds every September. Food and wine On site: 1.5–3 hOpen Monday to Saturday; on Sunday by arrangement only. 🏛 Shamakhi Astrophysical ObservatoryA working observatory at 1,435–1,500 m in Pirgulu, founded in 1959 and named after the 13th-century astronomer Nasir al-Din Tusi. Its 2-metre Carl Zeiss Jena reflector has operated since 1966, and the site has an astronomy museum. Day and night visits with telescope viewing are offered. HistoryNature and reservesViewpoint On site: 1–1.5 h 🌲 Pirgulu State ReserveA nature reserve on the eastern edge of the Greater Caucasus, next to the observatory, created in 1968 to protect mountain forests; it covers 15.21 km². Forests and hiking trails. Nature and reserves On site: 1–2 h

Lahij

Lahij (Lahic, Lagich)A mountain craftsmen's village on the Girdiman river, protected as a historical-cultural reserve since 1980, with river-stone cobbled streets and stone-and-timber houses. The pedestrian main street, N. Huseynov Street (the old Bazaar Street, just over 1 km long), is lined with working copper workshops, shops and cafés. Lahij copper craftsmanship is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list. UNESCO intangible heritageCraftsHistory On site: 2–3 h 🛠 Lahij copper workshops, Huseynov StreetThe main street holds the village's copper workshops and shops, where coppersmiths still hammer and engrave by hand. Lonely Planet names a working forge at No. 82 and a photogenic coppersmithy with an antique corner at Nos. 43–45. Visitors can try a chasing masterclass. UNESCO intangible heritageCrafts On site: 1 h 🏛 Lahij History and Ethnography MuseumA small local museum with about 1,200 exhibits, including 2,000-year-old pottery and 18th-century bellows used for copper smelting. It was long housed in the 1914 Aghaoglu mosque and moved in May 2020 to the Lahij Community Center, where part of the collection is shown. HistoryCrafts On site: 30 min · No exact point on the map yet ⛪ Badoyun MosqueA neighbourhood mosque of Lahij built in 1791 and restored with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, as reported in November 2021. ReligionHistory On site: 15 min

Sheki

Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan's PalaceA historic Silk Road town at the foot of the Greater Caucasus, rebuilt on higher ground after a mudflow in 1772. Its high-roofed houses, gardens, water channels and silk-trade buildings show a mix of Safavid, Qajar and Russian influences. The UNESCO site includes the Khan's Palace, the fortress, caravanserais, mosques and old neighbourhoods. UNESCO World HeritageHistory On site: 2–3 h Palace of Shaki Khans (Sheki Khan's Palace)The 18th-century residence of the Shaki khans, set inside the town fortress. Its facade is famous for shebeke, wooden lattice windows with coloured glass assembled without nails or glue, and its rooms are covered with original murals. Visits are short, and photography is not allowed inside. UNESCO World HeritageHistory On site: 45 min – 1 h 🛠 Shebeke WorkshopA shebeke (wood-and-glass lattice) workshop inside the fortress, a short walk from the Khan's Palace. Visitors watch local craftsmen at work and can try assembling a small piece themselves. UNESCO World HeritageCrafts On site: 1 h 🏛 Shakikhanovs' House (Shekikhanovs' House)An 18th-century residence of the Shakikhanov family with six rooms, murals of scenes from Nizami's poems and stalactite-style decoration. Today it is a small museum run by the Yukhari Bash reserve, quieter than the Khan's Palace. UNESCO World HeritageHistory On site: 30 min · No exact point on the map yet Upper CaravanseraiOne of Sheki's two great Silk Road caravanserais, with about 300 rooms around an arcaded courtyard. Today it works as a hotel with a restaurant, and non-guests can visit the courtyard. UNESCO World HeritageHistory On site: 30 min 🏛 Lower Caravanserai (Ashaghy Caravanserai)Sheki's second great caravanserai, even larger than the Upper one, with gates on four sides and more than 240 rooms. A travel blog reports it closed for restoration, so plan to see it from outside. UNESCO World HeritageHistory On site: 10–15 min ⛪ Juma Mosque of ShekiSheki's main Friday mosque, built in 1900–1914, with a 28.5 m minaret. It is an active place of worship, with a madrasa next door since 1993. UNESCO World HeritageReligion On site: 15–20 min 🛠 Shaki Silk Factory; Amiraslan Shamilov's Kelaghayi WorkshopKelaghayi, the silk headscarf decorated with block-printed patterns, is UNESCO-listed intangible heritage made mainly in Sheki and Basgal. At the Shaki Silk Factory visitors can watch silk production and buy scarves, and at Amiraslan Shamilov's workshop they can see kelaghayi being printed and decorated. UNESCO intangible heritageCrafts On site: 45 min – 1 h · No exact point on the map yet 🍇 Sheki Halva (Sheki Pakhlava)Sheki's signature sweet: layers of lacy rice-flour "rishta" filled with hazelnuts, cardamom and coriander, topped with saffron and soaked in syrup. It is made by professional halva makers, and some workshops offer year-round masterclasses where you prepare, decorate and taste your own. Food and wineCrafts On site: 15 min – 1.5 hTry it at: Ağ Qaya restaurant, Sheki 🍇 Sheki PitiA rich lamb soup with tail fat and chickpeas, slow-cooked for 8–10 hours in individual clay pots. It is eaten in two stages: first the broth with crumbled bread, then the mashed meat and chickpeas, often with raw onion. Food and wine On site: 1 hTry it at: Ağ Qaya restaurant, Sheki 🌲 Gurjana WaterfallA two-tier waterfall in the forested hills 4.6 km from the Khan's Palace. The marked trail starts at the palace and climbs into the mountains, and the path down to the lower cascade is steep. Nature and reserves time on site: no data 🏛 Church of Kish (Kish Albanian Church)A Caucasian Albanian church in Kish village, about 5 km north of Sheki, with the present building dated to about 990–1160 AD and much older cult layers below the altar. Restored in 2000–2003 with Norwegian support, it now houses a museum with archaeological finds and glass-covered graves. HistoryReligion On site: 45 min – 1 h 🏛 Gelersen-Gorersen FortressRuins of an 8th–9th-century hilltop fortress above the Kish river, about 4 km from Sheki. Its name means "come and see". From Kish village you cross the river and walk the last 1.5 km up to the ruins. HistoryViewpoint On site: 1.5–2 h

Gakh and Ilisu

🏛 Kurmukhi (Kurmuk) Church of St GeorgeChurch of St George near the Kurmuk river in Gakh district, believed to date back to the 12th century and rebuilt in the 1890s. It remains a pilgrimage site with the Kurmukoba feast in May and November. Since October 2026 it is temporarily closed to tourists for archaeological research and restoration. HistoryReligionNot in the ready-made routes time on site: no dataClosed to tourists from October 2026 for about a year (research and restoration). Not included in the ready-made tours. 🏛 IcheribazarThe "Inner Bazaar" quarter in central Gakh, with stone walls, gates and two-storey houses with balconies, plus a small open-air theatre used for summer concerts. Craft workshops (wood carving, weaving) and a souvenir shop line the street. Especially lively on summer evenings. HistoryCrafts On site: 45 min 🏛 Gakh History and Ethnography MuseumFounded in 1981, first housed in a 19th-century church and in its current building since 1991. About 11,500 items in eight sections cover archaeology, ethnography, tools, textiles and traditional dress of the district. HistoryCrafts On site: 45 min ⛪ St George's Church, Gakh (Gakh-Ingiloy)An active Georgian Orthodox church of the local Ingiloy community, built in the mid-19th century (1855 per one source), white with a stone bell tower and a brightly painted interior. Services are held year-round, and the courtyard has mountain views. ReligionHistory On site: 30 min 🏛 Ulu Körpü (Great Bridge), IlisuA stone bridge about 15 m long over the Kurmukchay river at the approach to Ilisu, now closed to traffic. Sources disagree on its age: 17th century or late 19th/early 20th century, attributed to a local mason named Omar. HistoryViewpoint On site: 15 min 🏛 Sumug-gala TowerA four-storey defensive "family" tower of river stone and brick at the entrance to Ilisu village. Inside is a small ethnographic exhibition (a branch of the Gakh history museum) with traditional clothing and tools. The top is sealed, so there is no viewing platform. History On site: 30 min IlisuA mountain village (about 1,200–1,600 m) on the Kurmuk and Hamamchay rivers, once capital of the Ilisu Sultanate (founded in the 16th century, annexed by Russia in 1803). Stone houses, defensive towers, a mosque and an old bridge make it the historic highlight of Gakh and a base for hikes and jeep trips. HistoryNature and reserves On site: 3–4 h 🏛 Ulu Mosque, IlisuA former Sunni Friday mosque of the 18th century in the lower village, with a three-nave prayer hall, pointed arches and a portico. It is abandoned and partly ruined but protected as an architectural monument of national importance. HistoryReligion On site: 15–20 min 🌲 Ilisu Waterfall (Ram-Rama)A waterfall of about 25 m falling from the cliffs of the Greater Caucasus above Ilisu. Reaching it takes about an hour of steep uphill walking, or a ride in a local UAZ jeep along a rough track between the rocks. In winter it freezes into an ice fall. Nature and reserves On site: 2–3 hCars stop at the edge of Ilisu village; from there a local UAZ jeep or about one hour on foot. 🌲 Ilisu State Nature Reserve / Ilisu National ParkA state nature reserve founded in 1987 on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, home to around 500 plant species, roe deer, wild boar and chamois. In July 2025 Ilisu National Park (13,966 ha, Gakh and Zagatala districts) was created, with hiking, wildlife and bird watching. Visitors usually experience it via the marked trails from Ilisu village. Nature and reserves On site: 2–8 h 🌲 Ilisu – Gashgachay TrailA marked 16 km trail (about 9 h 10 min) from Ilisu through forests and summer pastures to the Gashgachay river, climbing 1,450 m to a high point of 2,280 m. It is long and physically demanding; no permit is required. Good to do May–September, with a car pick-up at the far end. Nature and reservesNot in the ready-made routes On site: 9 hA full day (16 km). Not included in the ready-made tours. 🏛 Lekit Church (round temple)Ruins of a round tetraconch church from the 5th–7th centuries (Caucasian Albania period), 2 km northeast of Lekit village. Only wall fragments survive, hidden among hazelnut groves, so a local guide is needed to find it. HistoryReligionNot in the ready-made routes On site: 1 hA local guide is needed to find it. Not included in the ready-made tours.

Photo: xiquinhosilva / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Avisadehh / Wikimedia Commons, CC0; Emin Allahverdi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Zigływidły / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Radosław Botev / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 PL; Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Asif Masimov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Emin Allahverdi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0