This Gabala Sheki 2-day tour from Baku joins Azerbaijan's green mountains and its greatest Silk Road town into one unhurried trip. Day one follows the classic Shamakhi–Gabala route — an old Caucasus mosque, forest roads, a mountain waterfall and a cable car to 2,000 m. Then, instead of the long drive home, you spend the night in the historic centre of Sheki and give the UNESCO Khan's Palace a full, unrushed morning before returning to Baku.

Why do it over two days

Gabala and Sheki are the two highlights of north-west Azerbaijan, but they sit too far apart to enjoy both in a single day from Baku. Splitting the trip over two days — with a night in Sheki in between — means neither is rushed: you see Gabala's lakes, waterfall and mountains on day one, sleep in the old town, and walk into the Khan's Palace in the morning light before the day coaches arrive.

Seven Beauties waterfall and the green mountains of Gabala on the Gabala Sheki 2-day tour
Gabala's forested mountains and waterfalls — day one of the tour

Day 1 — Shamakhi, Ismayilli & Gabala

  • Shamakhi Juma Mosque — a stop at one of the oldest mosques in the Caucasus, on the road north-west out of Baku.
  • Ismayilli — the Zernava suspension bridge over the Girdimanchay river and the road through the green Ismayilli forest.
  • Lunch in Gabala — a break at a mountain restaurant with a choice of Azerbaijani dishes.
  • Seven Beauties Waterfall (Yeddi Gozel) — a multi-tier waterfall in the forested hills above Gabala.
  • Gabala & Tufandag — the town's central park, then the Tufandag cable car up to around 2,000 m for the wide mountain view (weather permitting).
  • Evening: transfer to Sheki — check in to a hotel in the historic centre of Sheki for the night.

Before we leave the Gabala area, season and access permitting we stop at the beautiful Nohur Lake in Vandam — a mirror-still mountain lake framed by forested hills. Some sites can be subject to seasonal access, so we confirm the final stops before your trip and offer the best available alternatives.

Overnight in Sheki

You stay in the old heart of Sheki — the same streets you'll explore in the morning, under the wooded slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Waking up here is the whole point of the two-day format: the Khan's Palace and the caravanserai are a short walk away, quiet and cool before the coaches arrive.

The UNESCO Palace of the Sheki Khans with its shebeke stained glass on the Gabala Sheki 2-day tour
The Palace of the Sheki Khans — day two, in the morning light

Day 2 — Sheki & the road back

  • Palace of the Sheki Khans — the UNESCO-listed summer residence and its shebeke stained-glass windows, assembled from thousands of hand-cut pieces of wood and coloured glass without a single nail.
  • Upper Caravanserai & old town — the 18th-century Silk Road merchants' inn and the craft streets where Sheki halva is made.
  • Panoramic park — the wide viewpoint over Sheki and the surrounding foothills.
  • Church at Kish — the village above Sheki and its round-towered church, one of the oldest Christian sites in the Caucasus.
  • Piti lunch in Kish — the mutton-and-chickpea soup baked and served in its own clay pot, the dish Sheki is known for.
  • Return to Baku — the drive back in the afternoon, arriving in the evening.

What's included

  • Transport from Baku and back in an air-conditioned vehicle
  • Professional guide in English, Russian or Turkish
  • All driving across both days

Not included

  • Entrance tickets (Khan's Palace, Kish church, Tufandag cable car)
  • Meals and drinks
  • One night's hotel accommodation in Sheki (not included in the price; we can arrange it for you upon request)
  • Personal expenses

Good to know

  • Duration: 2 days / 1 night, round trip from Baku.
  • Pace: easy — short walks at each stop, no hiking.
  • Languages: English, Russian, Turkish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do we spend the night on the Gabala Sheki 2-day tour?

In the historic centre of Sheki, so the second morning starts on foot in the old town — you reach the Khan's Palace before the day coaches from Baku.

Is two days enough for Gabala and Sheki?

Yes — two days is the shortest comfortable way to see both. Each is around four to five hours from Baku, so a single day forces a choice between them.

What is shebeke?

Shebeke is the latticed stained glass of the Sheki Khan's Palace — thousands of hand-cut pieces of wood and coloured glass fitted together without nails or glue. Sheki is the only place in Azerbaijan where you can see it in its original setting.

Can it run as a private tour?

Yes — private departures are available on request, with the pace adjusted to you.

Keep planning

Prefer to see Sheki in a single long day? The Sheki day trip from Baku covers the palace, caravanserai, Kish and a piti lunch without the overnight. For background before you go, read what to do in Sheki, and browse all tours from Baku.

Book with confidence: confirmation is instant and there's no payment today. Questions first? Tap the green WhatsApp button — our Baku team replies within minutes.

This tour is part of our Gabala tours from Baku collection.

Prefer horses to Silk Road palaces on day two? Compare the Gabala horse riding 2-day tour, which spends its night in Gabala and its second morning on the Laza trails.