Items | Private Full Day Sheki Heritage and Silk Road Tour
Private Full Day Sheki Heritage and Silk Road Tour
(3) Reviews
Shamakhi
Important Information
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Public transportation options are available nearby
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Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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Guests must to be ready at the arranged meeting point 15 minutes prior to the scheduled pick up time.
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General tour duration is 12 hours, but can take 13-14 hours in order to give you an unforgettable experience along the way.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
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Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
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If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
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This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
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Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
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A Full Day Historical Sheki Tour offers a journey through Azerbaijan’s oldest mosques, 18th-century palaces, Silk Road caravanserais and ancient Christian churches. Explore the architectural brilliance of Juma Mosque, a landmark of early Islamic design in the Caucasus. Witness the grandeur of Sheki Khan Palace with its intricate frescoes and shebeke stained-glass artistry. Examine the strategic and trade-driven ingenuity of the Medieval Sheki Caravanserai. Discover the Kish Albanian Church, a site of continuous worship spanning millennia. This tour combines historical depth, architectural mastery and cultural significance into a single immersive experience across Azerbaijan’s most iconic her...
Highlights
10 hours and 12 minutes
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
10 hours and 12 minutes
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
English speaking tour guide
Comfortable private vehicle for pick-up, drop-off, and all scheduled tour locations
Private Full Day Sheki Heritage and Silk Road Tour
(3) Reviews
Shamakhi
About
A Full Day Historical Sheki Tour offers a journey through Azerbaijan’s oldest mosques, 18th-century palaces, Silk Road caravanserais and ancient Christian churches. Explore the architectural brilliance of Juma Mosque, a landmark of early Islamic design in the Caucasus. Witness the grandeur of Sheki Khan Palace with its intricate frescoes and shebeke stained-glass artistry. Examine the strategic and trade-driven ingenuity of the Medieval Sheki Caravanserai. Discover the Kish Albanian Church, a site of continuous worship spanning millennia. This tour combines historical depth, architectural mastery and cultural significance into a single immersive experience across Azerbaijan’s most iconic her...
Highlights
10 hours and 12 minutes
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
10 hours and 12 minutes
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
English speaking tour guide
Comfortable private vehicle for pick-up, drop-off, and all scheduled tour locations
A bottle of water per person
Sheki Khan Palace
Kish Albanian Church
Anything not mentioned in the inclusions
Itinerary
1
Juma Mosque
Pick up from any designated address or arranged meeting point within Baku and depart toward Shamakhi. The first stop is the Juma Mosque, approximately 120 minutes from Baku. Dating back to 744 CE, it is the oldest mosque in Azerbaijan and one of the earliest in the Caucasus. Established under the Arab Caliphate during Maslam ibn Abd-al-Malik’s governance, the mosque introduced Islamic architecture to the region. Its rare three-hall layout includes a large central dome and two smaller lateral domes, each with a separate mihrab and entrance. The mosque remains active and integrates historical significance with ongoing worship. Travelers spend here 30 minutes with detailed guided interpretation.
30 minutes
2
Palace of Shaki Khans
The journey continues with a 3 hours drive to Sheki Khan Palace, an 18th-century masterpiece built bin 18th century. The two-story palace features a central hall, surrounding rooms adorned with frescoes and ornate woodwork and shebeke stained-glass windows constructed without nails. Crafted from local stone and timber, it exemplifies regional craftsmanship and architectural sophistication. UNESCO recognized the Historic Centre of Sheki, including the palace, as a World Heritage Site in 2019. Travelers spend approximately 60 minutes exploring the site with expert guidance.
1 hour
3
Sheki Karvansaray
A brief transfer brings visitors to the Medieval Sheki Caravanserai, a key 18th-century Silk Road hub. The Upper Caravanserai spans 6,000 square meters with 300 rooms, strategically positioned near the Gurjan River for commercial and defensive purposes. The site reflects trade-driven urban design and architectural ingenuity. A focused 30-minute examination reveals the caravanserai’s architectural mastery and historical significance.
30 minutes
4
Church of Kish
The final stop is the Kish Albanian Church, approximately 15 minutes from the Caravanserai. Also known as the Church of Saint Elishe, it is one of the oldest Christian sites in the Caucasus. Founded in the 1st century AD, archaeological evidence shows continuous worship and cultic use dating back to 3000 BCE. The current 12th-century structure exemplifies Caucasian Albanian ecclesiastical architecture. 30 minutes are dedicated to guided exploration and detailed interpretation.
The tour concludes with a 5 hour return to Baku. The complete itinerary spans 12–13 hours, combining transit, historical exploration and guided interpretation for a comprehensive cultural and architectural experience.
