Day 1

Meeting at Balakan in the morning and transfer to Sheki by a mini-bus to Karavan Saray Hotel.  Balakan is a border point in Azerbaijan close to Lagodekhi in Georgia.  Lunch.  Rest in the hotel.

Then about at 13:00-14:30 after lunch start your tour in Sheki. Sheki is one of the most famous and ancient places of Azerbaijan. Situated 700m above sea level like an amphitheatre surrounded by mountains and forests of oak trees this ancient city was long famed as a silk centre and an important stop on the Great Silk Route. There is an assumption that the name of the town goes back to the ethnonim of the Saks, who reached the territory of Azerbaijan in the 7th century BC. Sheki is long famed as a silk centre and an important stop on the Silk Road. Sheki still has the site of a huge factory that was once the Soviet Union's largest silk plant (such a big factory was naturally named after Lenin...).Unfortunately this factory is closed now.

You will start your Sheki tour from visiting 18th century Khan's summer palace with magnificent frescos (one 24 m long) and exquisite stained glass work (northern part of the city). Sheki History museum with artifacts from several periods, but notorious for pieces relating to silk manufacturing and trade.

Also you will visit the Albanian church located in Kish village. Legend say that church was built in 78 AD, but the researchers place it a few centuries later.

Upon your return to the hotel and having a local style dinner you will have a free time with an opportunity to enjoy a scenic view of Caucasus mountains.

Day 2

After breakfast about at 09:00 transfer from Sheki to Baku. It takes about 5 hours to reach Baku from Sheki. Check inn at Absheron hotel. Lunch/Rest. After the lunch start the walking tour in Old Baku.

See the highlights of Icheri Sheher including the Palace of the Shirvans (the most striking example of the Medieval palace structures in Azerbaijan, dating to the middle of 15th century); the Maiden's Tower (the ancient, eight storey fortress originally built as a fire beacon),, visiting of Dzhuma Mosque, shops of antiques and carpets. Visiting Maiden Tower, Shirvanshakh Palace.  We hope they can see all this sites because the Maiden Tower and Shirvanshakh Palace usually is open till 18:00. Unfortunately the Carpet Museum is under reconstruction the last 2 months. If reconstruction is finished by the time of arrival this group they will also visit this museum.

Day 3

Breakfast. Transfer from Baku to Xinaliq by a mini-bus. Leaving Baku about 09:00 a.m. Arrival to Guba at 13:00. Lunch in the local cafe. After the lunch at about 14:00 start short sightseeing program in Guba and Krasnaya  Sloboda.

KRASNAYA SLOBODA Azerbaijan's obscure Mountain Jews endure. Over the years, they've clung to the broad outlines of their religion. Perhaps 40,000 remain. Over the years, they borrowed customs from their amiable Muslim neighbors, but never assimilated. Even as their knowledge of the rituals seeped away, they adhered to the broad outlines of Judaism, faithfully attending Sabbath prayers, scrubbing their homes on Fridays, baking their own matzo on Passover and eschewing pork.

After trip to KRASNAYA SLOBODA at 15:00 transfer to Xinalig settlement. Arrival at 17:00-17:30. Accommodation in village house. Rest and dinner.  There are no restaurants in Xinalig so dinner will be arranged in the local house. After dinner short sightseeing of Xinaliq  and its surroundings.

Day 4

After the lunch start the trekking in Shah Dagh Mountain area. Transfer to camp base by 2 or 3 Nivas. Coming back to Xinalig in the evening.

Day 5

After breakfast at 08:00 transfer from Xinalig to Guba then change the cars for mini-bus and transfer from Guba to Baku .Check inn. After lunch start your Baku tour: Martyr's Cemetery, located on the higher slopes of the city's west-end, this is the best place for viewing the city and the Bay of Baku. You will have a walk in Naberezhny park and along Baku Boulevard, the second largest one in the Europe.  On this day you will also be shown modern day Baku.

Day 6

Transfer to the airport.

Total cost of the package: 2300 USD for 4 persons (575$ per pax) and 3040 USD for 8 persons (380$ per pax)

Package includes:
Meeting and transfer services
Accommodation in hotels (3* Absheron hotel in Baku; Karavan Saray hotel in Sheki; and village house in Xinalig).
Local guides expenses
English speaking guides
Entrance fees to museums and historical sites
Breakfasts for 2 days in Xinalig
 
Not included:
Lunches and Dinners
Breakfasts in Karavansaray Hotel  and in Absheron hotel
Lunches
Dinners
Fees for taking photos in historical sites