Hot Summer Package: 9-Day Azerbaijan Tour (Baku, Sheki, Gabala, Lahij)
Nine days across Baku, Sheki, Gabala, Oghuz, Lahij, and Gobustan. UNESCO sites, mountain villages, fire mountains, and mud volcanoes in one trip.
9 days / 8 nights · Baku & Sheki & Gabala & Lahij · from 924 USD/pp
By Emin Abdulalimov · Page updated September 2026
- Duration
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Cities
- Baku · Sheki · Gabala · Lahij
- Group size
- 1–15 people
- Departures
- Dates on request
- From
- $924/ person
- UNESCO heritage
- Mountains
- Villages
- Mud volcanoes
- Crafts
Your 9-day route
Day
01
BakuArrival in Baku
Airport pickup, hotel check-in, then a panoramic evening drive across Baku with stops at the Flame Towers viewpoint and luxury shopping centers.
- Airport meet & greet
- Panoramic Baku
- Boulevard sunset
- Meet & greet at Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) and private transfer to hotel
- Hotel check-in and rest
- Evening panoramic tour of Baku and shopping centers
- Overnight
- Baku (hotel by package tier)
Day
02
BakuFull-day Baku city tour
Highland Park, UNESCO Old City (Maiden Tower, Shirvanshahs' Palace), Caravanserai, Boulevard, Flag Square, Carpet Museum, and the Heydar Aliyev Center.
- UNESCO Old City
- Heydar Aliyev Center
- Carpet Museum
- 09:30 hotel lobby pickup
- Highland Park (360° city panorama)
- Icherisheher walking tour: Maiden Tower, Shirvanshahs' Palace, Caravanserai, mosques, baths
- Lunch break in the Old City
- Boulevard drive, Flag Square, Carpet Museum (folded-carpet building), House of Government, Magomayev Philharmonic
- Heydar Aliyev Center
Photo: AlixSaz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized. Destination reference, not a Birtour departure. · BY-SA/4.0 - Meals included
- B
- Overnight
- Baku (hotel by package tier)
Day
03
Baku → Sheki → GabalaBaku to Sheki to Gabala
Long but rewarding day: drive to Sheki for the Khan's Palace, Caravanserai, and the Albanian church, then continue to Gabala for the night.
- Sheki Khan's Palace
- Albanian Church
- Drive to Gabala
- Check out from Baku hotel after breakfast
- Drive to Sheki (approx. 5 hours, with comfort stops)
- Lunch in Sheki: regional dishes (piti, sheki halva)
- Sheki Khan's Palace, Caravanserai, Albanian Church
- Drive to Gabala (approx. 1.5 hours)
- Hotel check-in in Gabala
Photo: Urek Meniashvili, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; cropped and resized. Destination photo; not a Birtour tour departure. · BY-SA/3.0 - Meals included
- B
- Overnight
- Gabala (hotel by package tier)
Day
04
GabalaGabala: Tufandag cable car
Cable-car ride on the operating Tufandag route for mountain views, with a café stop where available, then a relaxed afternoon at the hotel.
- Tufandag cable car
- Caucasus mountain views
- Breakfast at hotel
- Drive to Tufandag base station
- Cable-car ride on the operating line or lines
- Café stop where available and free time in the mountains
- Return to hotel for free afternoon and evening
Photo: Fanti Salms, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; cropped and resized. Destination photo; cable-car operation is confirmed for the travel date. · BY-SA/4.0 - Meals included
- B
- Overnight
- Gabala (hotel by package tier)
Day
05
Gabala → Oghuz → GabalaGabala to Oghuz and back
Day trip to Oghuz, often called the Switzerland of Azerbaijan. Lunch of fresh trout at the Farel restaurant in Khalkhal recreation zone.
- Oghuz region
- Trout lunch in Farel
- Khalkhal recreation zone
- Breakfast at hotel
- Drive to Oghuz region (approx. 1 hour)
- Lunch at Farel: fresh-caught trout, river-side seating
- Khalkhal recreation zone: forest walks, river views
- Drive back to Gabala
- Free evening
Photo: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized and converted to WebP. · BY-SA/4.0 - Meals included
- B
- Overnight
- Gabala (hotel by package tier)
Day
06
GabalaGabala: Nohurgol, Gabaland, Shooting Club
Half-day exploration of Gabala's family attractions: Nohurgol Lake, Gabaland entertainment center, and the Gabala Shooting Club if you want to try clay pigeon shooting.
- Nohurgol Lake
- Gabaland
- Shooting Club (optional)
- Breakfast at hotel
- Nohurgol Lake walk
- Gabaland Entertainment Center
- Optional Gabala Shooting Club visit (extra fees on-site)
- Free afternoon and evening at hotel
Photo: Grandmaster, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized and cropped. · BY-SA/3.0 - Meals included
- B
- Overnight
- Gabala (hotel by package tier)
Day
07
Gabala → Lahij → BakuGabala to Lahij to Baku
Mountain road to Lahij village in Ismayilli region, famous for copper craftsmanship, the suspension bridge, and Haji Pasha's house. Drive on to Baku in the evening.
- Lahij copper craftsmen
- Suspension bridge
- History & Ethnography Museum
- Check out from Gabala hotel after breakfast
- Drive to Lahij (approx. 2 hours on a mountain road)
- Visit Suspension Bridge, Haji Pasha's house, History & Ethnography Museum
- Walk through the copper-workshop street and pottery quarters
- Lunch in Lahij
- Free time until 18:00
- Transfer to Baku (approx. 3.5 hours)
- Hotel check-in in Baku
Photo: Gulustan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized. Destination reference, not a Birtour departure. · BY-SA/3.0 - Meals included
- B
- Overnight
- Baku (hotel by package tier)
Day
08
Baku & AbsheronAbsheron: Ateshgah, Yanardag, Gobustan, mud volcanoes
The signature day. Ateshgah Fire Temple, Yanardag fire mountain, the Gobustan rock-art UNESCO site, and the mud volcanoes by 4x4. Caspian boat tour in the evening.
- Yanardag fire mountain
- Gobustan UNESCO petroglyphs
- Mud volcanoes (4x4)
- Caspian boat tour
- 09:00 hotel lobby pickup
- Ateshgah Fire Temple in Surakhany
- Yanardag fire mountain (a hillside of continuously burning natural gas flames)
- Lunch break
- Drive to Gobustan (approx. 1 hour from Baku). The reserve gate closes at 17:00, so this is the hard anchor in the day
- Gobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve: the museum and the UNESCO-inscribed rock-art site (engravings up to 40,000 years old)
- Mud volcano excursion by 4x4 (Azerbaijan has around 300, the highest concentration in the world)
- Evening free time in Baku, optional Caspian boat tour and Ferris wheel (weather permitting)
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized, display crops applied. · BY/4.0 - Meals included
- B
- Overnight
- Baku (hotel by package tier)
Day
09
BakuDeparture
Breakfast, hotel check-out, private transfer to Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
- Breakfast at hotel
- Hotel check-out
- Private transfer to Heydar Aliyev International Airport
- Meals included
- B
.jpg){kind=link}
Choose your comfort level
All packages cover the same itinerary, guide, transport, and entries. Only the hotels change. Prices are per person in USD.
Econom Package
Solid 4★ properties in both cities. Best price tier for families and small groups.
Hotels
Price per person (USD)
| Group | SNG | DBL | TRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01-03 | $1,760 | $1,209 | $1,115 |
| 04-06 | $1,266 | $1,117 | $1,069 |
| 07-10 | $1,217 | $1,058 | $1,010 |
| 11-15 | $1,122 | $973 | $924 |
SNG = single · DBL = double · TRP = triple
Deluxe Package
Courtyard Marriott in Baku, Gabala Garden 5★ in Gabala. Step up in room size and dining.
Hotels
Price per person (USD)
| Group | SNG | DBL | TRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01-03 | $2,264 | $1,617 | $1,508 |
| 04-06 | $1,769 | $1,525 | $1,462 |
| 07-10 | $1,710 | $1,466 | $1,403 |
| 11-15 | $1,625 | $1,381 | $1,318 |
SNG = single · DBL = double · TRP = triple
Lux Package
★ premiumHilton Baku, Qafqaz Riverside Gabala. Five-star throughout, with the best breakfast spreads and pool/spa.
Hotels
Price per person (USD)
| Group | SNG | DBL | TRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01-03 | $2,910 | $2,091 | $1,984 |
| 04-06 | $2,396 | $2,009 | $1,938 |
| 07-10 | $2,326 | $1,950 | $1,879 |
| 11-15 | $2,251 | $1,765 | $1,794 |
SNG = single · DBL = double · TRP = triple
- Rates are per person in US Dollars (USD).
- Itinerary, guide, transport, and entries are identical across all three packages. Only the hotels change.
- Guests on the same tour can split across different hotel tiers if they want.
- SNG = single occupancy, DBL = double, TRP = triple. Triple rooms are typically a double room plus a third bed or sofa bed.
- Airport-hotel-airport transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- 8 nights total: 4 nights in Baku, 4 nights in Gabala (bed and breakfast)
- Accommodation in single, double, or triple rooms with breakfast
- All-day air-conditioned transport for the full 9-day program
- Entry fees: Maiden Tower, Shirvanshahs' Palace, Heydar Aliyev Center, Carpet Museum, Sheki Khan's Palace, Albanian Church, Tufandag cable car, Gabaland, Ateshgah Fire Temple, Yanardag, Gobustan Museum
- Mud volcano tour by off-road 4x4
- Caspian Sea boat tour, Ferris wheel ride (weather permitting)
- 1 bottle of drinking water per person, per day
- All tours and transfers listed in the program
- English-speaking guide for the full tour
- International flights
- Lunch and dinner (except where listed)
- Travel insurance
- Azerbaijan tourist visa (e-visa available online)
- Anything not listed in the included section
- 1-2 pax
- Standard sedan with English-speaking driver-guide
- 3-6 pax
- Minivan with English-speaking driver-guide
- 7-15 pax
- Mercedes Sprinter with driver, plus separate English-speaking guide
- Under 2 yrs
- Free of charge by land. Insurance cost: 25 USD.
- Under 6 yrs
- 50% of the adult rate.
- 7-11 yrs
- 75% of the adult rate.
- 12+ yrs
- Full adult rate.
- Travel dates, seasonal activities and availability are confirmed with your quote.
- Need a different date or a custom version? We will build a tailor-made program and re-price it.
- The dated offer and booking agreement state any required deposit, balance deadline and cancellation terms before confirmation. An enquiry does not hold rooms.
- Prices are package-only. We do not break down or sell components separately at the rates above.
- If a listed hotel is not available on your booking dates, we will arrange a similar property in the same category. A higher category is also available at additional cost.
- Extra bed sizing in triple rooms varies by hotel.
- Triple rooms (2 beds + extra bed) are smaller than doubles, and the third bed is typically smaller than standard.
- Double + child rooms may not have a separate bed for the child.
- Hotel check-in is from 14:00, check-out by 12:00. Early check-in is subject to availability.
- Panoramic city tours do not include museum entry fees unless those museums are listed in the inclusions.
- Our guide may reschedule the order of city tours if needed (e.g. due to weather or museum closures).
- Birtour assists with visa application planning and requirements. Visa issuance is decided by the relevant authorities.
- Check the passport-validity rule for your entry route. The official ASAN e-visa conditions require the travel document to remain valid at least three months beyond the e-visa expiry date.
Birtour is a Baku-based DMC offering this 9-day route from $924 per person NET on the Econom tier (group of 11–15, triple-share). The listed itinerary covers Baku, Sheki, Gabala, Oghuz, Lahij and Gobustan. Day 8 proposes Yanardag, Gobustan and a mud-volcano visit, subject to the day's operating hours and road conditions. Three hotel tiers are available. Travel dates are available on request.
Why run the 9-day instead of the 6-day?
Compared with the standard 6-day group itinerary, the 9-day adds Sheki (Khan's Palace and the church at Kish), Oghuz (trout lunch), Lahij (copper-craft village), and a planned Gobustan and mud-volcano day. A separate 6-day solo proposal also offers Gobustan and the mud volcanoes; compare the selected version rather than assuming every 6-day package is identical.
Here is how the two standard group itineraries compare. The six-day solo variation mentioned above differs from the group itinerary.
| 6-day Baku & Gabala | 9-day Hot Summer | |
|---|---|---|
| Nights | 3 Baku, 2 Gabala | 4 Baku, 4 Gabala |
| From (Econom, triple-share) | $699 | $924 |
| Sheki and Kish | not included | Day 3 |
| Oghuz and Khalkhal | not included | Day 5 |
| Lahij copper quarter | not included | Day 7 |
| Gobustan rock art | not included | Day 8 |
| Mud volcanoes by 4x4 | not included | Day 8 |
| Tufandag cable car | Day 2 | Day 4 |
| Yanardag and Ateshgah | Day 5 | Day 8 |
| Longest single drive | 3.5 hrs | 5 hrs (Baku to Sheki) |
Sheki is where most people first realize how old the Caucasus actually is. The Khan's Palace was built in 1762 with no nails, stained-glass shebeke windows assembled from thousands of pieces of wood and colored glass; the historic centre around it was inscribed by UNESCO on 7 July 2019 and the palace gate runs 09:00 to 19:00, which is a wide window by Azerbaijani museum standards. The church at Kish stands on ground where worship goes back roughly 5,000 years; the stone church itself is radiocarbon-dated to around the 12th century. These places sit outside the standard Baku itinerary and they reframe the trip.
Lahij is the most physical day of the tour. The mountain road takes about 45 minutes off the highway, and once you arrive you walk the copper-workshop street where the same families have been hammering pots since the 13th century. Most guests buy something here.
How do we build Day 8 around Gobustan's closing time?
Gobustan closes at 17:00. Ateshgah runs to 20:00. That asymmetry, not the map, is what sets the running order of the Absheron day: we take Ateshgah and Yanardag in the morning, lunch, then reach the Gobustan reserve with real margin before the gate shuts.
The mud volcanoes are planned after the rock-art reserve, subject to daylight, weather and access-road conditions. The standard 9-day group route includes this stop, while the standard 6-day group route does not; a separate 6-day solo proposal can include it. Tell us which version you want when requesting a quote.
One pricing note while we are on Absheron. A walk-in foreign visitor pays 15 AZN at Yanardag, the Ateshgah band tops out at 15 AZN, and Gobustan runs a 1 to 15 AZN band. All three are inside your package. The reserves now sell dated, timed QR sessions rather than open paper tickets, which is why the guide holds your slots instead of queueing on the morning.
What this tour does not include
Lunch and dinner are not in the price, apart from the meals written into the program such as the Sheki and Lahij lunches. Flights, tips and personal spending also sit outside. Everything else in the day-by-day, meaning the guide, the vehicle, the Tufandag cable car and every listed entry fee, is already paid for in the tier price you see.
Baku and Gabala both have good restaurants at 15-40 USD per person, and we would rather guests pick where they eat than be locked into a hotel buffet. The guide gives recommendations every day. Most guests fly into Heydar Aliyev (GYD) via Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, or Moscow. Tips are at your discretion (local norm: 5-10 USD per day for the guide, 3-5 USD per day for the driver). Personal expenses, optional shooting at the Gabala Shooting Club, the paid Tufandag summer activities at the base station, alcohol, and souvenirs are on your own account.
Do you need a visa, and can you arrive overland?
Check your passport and travel purpose against the current visa-free, visa-on-arrival and e-visa rules. Azerbaijan's inbound passenger road borders remain restricted, currently through 2 January 2027, so the ordinary start of this tour is an air arrival at GYD. For a Baku-to-Tbilisi extension, confirm the actual road-exit permission and crossing before selling that leg; official sources differ on the requirement.
On the visa itself: Saudi, Omani, Bahraini and Kuwaiti passports went visa-free on 15 February 2026, Japanese and South Korean on 1 July, Singaporean and Bosnian on 1 August. Each is a one-year trial giving three entries of up to 30 days, and each expires on its anniversary in 2027. Türkiye, the UAE, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan hold standing 90-day reciprocal entry. If a visa is required, check the official ASAN eligibility list before applying. The official portal listed USD 20 state fee plus USD 9 standard service fee on 24 September 2026; confirm the current amount and application timing before travel.
The Baku to Tbilisi night train came back on 25 May 2026 with Stadler sleepers, 23:10 out and 08:41 in, and it looks like an elegant way to end a Caucasus trip. It is not, for most of our guests. Ticketing is restricted to Azerbaijani citizens and to nationals of visa-free countries, so a UK, US, EU, Australian or New Zealand passport cannot board. Do not build a two-country product on that train until the rule lifts.
What we would not recommend
- Treating the Lahij road as guaranteed. The Ismayilli to Lahij stretch is a repeat mudflow and rockfall closure across seasons, cleared reactively. Check the road close to departure and agree a direct Gabala–Baku route with a Shamakhi stop as a possible fallback. Confirm any price difference in the written proposal.
- Bolting Khinalig onto the nine days. The village is an ordinary excursion; the treks above it are not. Those need three permissions, from the State Border Service, Shahdag National Park and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, on roughly a 30-day runway. Ask early or not at all.
- Adding Shahdag as a day trip from Gabala. It is a different valley and a different drive. Shahdag runs its own summer programme with lifts 09:00 to 17:00 and pedestrian gondola tickets at 22 AZN, and it deserves its own nights. That is what our 7-day Baku, Gabala and Shahdag family route is for.
- A Nakhchivan hop inside a fixed 9-day frame. Baku to Nakhchivan was suspended twice in 2026 for weather. It is a route to price with a contingency, not a routine domestic leg, and a cancelled flight there costs you two days of a nine-day trip.
How do you book, and what happens next?
Send your preferred dates, guest count and package tier for a dated proposal. Review the available rooms, price, deposit, balance deadline and cancellation terms in the written offer and booking agreement before paying. An enquiry or sample itinerary does not reserve rooms.
Before travel, confirm the airport pickup point, assigned guide and working language, and the on-trip contact plan in writing. Ask who handles changes outside normal office hours and whether a WhatsApp group will be used for this booking; the actual coverage arrangement belongs in your confirmation.
If nine days feels long, the 6-day Baku and Gabala version is the same backbone without Sheki, Lahij and Gobustan. For buyers comparing the three hotel tiers before they lock a date, our Azerbaijan tour package pricing sets them side by side, and the best season guide for groups covers what June looks like against late September.
For autumn travel, compare the nine-day autumn programme.
Questions travelers ask
- How is the 9-day Hot Summer Package different from the 6-day Baku & Gabala tour?
- The standard 9-day programme adds Sheki (Khan's Palace and the church at Kish), Oghuz and Lahij to the Baku–Gabala route. It also includes Gobustan and a mud-volcano visit in its listed itinerary. Those stops are not in the standard 6-day group programme, although a separate 6-day solo proposal offers a Gobustan variation. Compare the exact selected version before booking.
- Can I see Yanardag and Gobustan in the same day?
- Day 8 proposes Yanardag, Gobustan rock art and a mud-volcano excursion in one day. The final order and whether every stop fits depend on opening hours, daylight, road conditions and the group's pace; confirm the timed route in the dated proposal.
- What is the road like to Lahij village?
- Lahij sits about 1,375 m above sea level and the last 30 km is a mountain road. It is paved but narrow and slow, taking around 45 minutes from the highway. Travelers prone to motion sickness should pre-medicate. The village itself is worth it: 700+ years of copper craftsmanship, still active.
- How hot does it get in Baku in July and August?
- Baku regularly hits 33-38°C in July and August, with humidity from the Caspian. Gabala stays around 25-28°C at altitude, which is why most guests find the Gabala days the most comfortable. For maximum comfort, choose June or early September.
- Are the mud volcanoes safe to visit?
- Mud-volcano conditions and access can change. We check the permitted route and suitable vehicle for your dates, and the guide should keep the group on the agreed visitor path. Do not approach vents or enter soft ground on an assumption that every area is safe. If access is unsuitable, the proposal should identify an alternative stop.
- Is there a vegetarian option at the Sheki and Oghuz lunches?
- Vegetarian meals can be requested, but no named restaurant or menu is confirmed for a new departure. Dolma and plov may contain meat, butter or meat stock, so specify whether eggs and dairy are acceptable and ask for ingredients to be confirmed. Send the group dietary and allergy requirements before booking; the dated proposal should state which restaurant can meet them and what alternative applies if it cannot.
- Can I extend with a few extra nights in Baku?
- Yes. Add nights at any of the package-tier hotels at the contracted per-night rate. We can also add experiences (helicopter to Khinalig, food walking tour, day trip to Lankaran) on a la carte basis. Ask in your inquiry.
- Do I need a visa for Azerbaijan?
- Check your passport against the official evisa.gov.az eligible-country list; not every nationality can use an e-visa. A standard application needs at least three working days before arrival, or at least three hours for an urgent application, subject to approval. The official portal listed USD 20 state fee plus USD 9 standard service fee on 24 September 2026. Birtour can help identify the published rule but does not issue visas.
- Which nationalities are visa-free for Azerbaijan in 2026?
- Saudi, Omani, Bahraini and Kuwaiti citizens have been visa-free since 15 February 2026, Japanese and South Korean since 1 July 2026, Singaporean and Bosnian since 1 August 2026. Each of those is a one-year unilateral trial giving 3 entries of up to 30 days, expiring in February, July and August 2027 respectively. Türkiye, UAE, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan hold standing 90-day reciprocal entry. Other travellers should check the official ASAN e-visa eligibility list; some need a consular visa instead.
- Can I arrive in Azerbaijan overland and join this 9-day tour?
- No. For a cross-border extension, confirm the passport, purpose and direction. Road entry is restricted, and official advice differs on road-exit permission. The visa-free rail exception is separate. Confirm the actual crossing before booking; see the entry and rail rules.
- Is there an airport at Sheki, or do we drive the whole way?
- There is no airport at Sheki. The nearest is Zaqatala (ZTU), roughly 90 km away, and the flight schedule from Baku is too thin to build a group itinerary on. We drive: approximately 5 hours from Baku to Sheki on Day 3, then 1.5 hours on to Gabala. Gabala does have its own airport (GBB), which we can use for a one-way leg on request.
- What happens if the Lahij mountain road is closed on our Day 7?
- The Ismayilli to Lahij road is a known mudflow and rockfall risk after heavy rain, and it has been blocked and cleared repeatedly across several seasons. The route should be checked close to departure. If it is shut, a direct Gabala–Baku transfer with a Shamakhi stop can be proposed; any price effect needs written confirmation for your booking.
tour package
Baku & Gabala 6-Day Tour: Old City, Tufandag, Yanardag
itinerary
Baku + Gabala + Shahdag 7-day family adventure
itinerary
Azerbaijan 4x4 self-drive expedition: 8 days, Talysh to Greater Caucasus
pricing
Baku ground package NET rates: a 5-day operator example
destination
Things to do in Sheki: the UNESCO old town, fortress and caravanserais
guide
Best time to visit Azerbaijan: month-by-month weather, routes and busy dates