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Horse Riding near Baku: One Hour Riding, Then Tea
- Half day (about 3 hours, 1 hour riding)
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Sheki from Baku: The Khan's Palace, the Caravanserai and the Silk Road
A silk town under the Caucasus, and a summer palace whose windows are made of thousands of pieces of glass held together without glue or nails.
- 5.0 1 review
- Approx. 13 hours
- Max 18
- English, Russian, Turkish
- DurationApprox. 13 hours
- Live tour guideEnglish, Russian, Turkish
- GroupGroup of up to 18
Highlights
- The road north-west
- Arrival in Sheki
- The Khan's Palace
- The caravanserai and the craft quarter
- Return to Baku
Overview
Sheki is 300 km from Baku and the longest of the classic day trips north-west. It was a silk town on the caravan route, it has been rebuilt uphill after floods more than once, and it is the one place in the country where the old craft quarter still works as a quarter rather than a museum.
The Khan's Palace
Built in 1797 as a summer residence, and the reason most people come. The facades are covered in painted plaster and the windows are shebeke — lattices assembled from thousands of pieces of coloured glass and wood, cut to fit and held together without glue or a single nail. It is on the UNESCO list together with the historic centre.
The caravanserai
Two survive; the upper one still takes guests. Thick walls, a courtyard, stables below and rooms above — the shape every stop on the route once had.
The town
Sheki is known for silk, for halva made in flat layered sheets, and for the shebeke workshops where the windows are still made the same way. The old streets are steep and cobbled, and the Caucasus ridge stands directly behind them.
What the day is like
About thirteen hours, of which six or seven are driving. The route usually passes Shamakhi and the Gabala road, so the day is as much about the landscape as the town at the end of it. Groups are capped at 18.
Where else this road goes: Gabala and Shamakhi in One Day from Baku, or Lahij from Baku: A Copper Village Above the Girdiman Gorge. Everything we run is on the day trips page.
UNESCO World Heritage listing: Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan's Palace
Getting there on your own: 305 km from Baku by road. How to Get from Baku to Sheki compares a car with a driver, the intercity bus and a guided day.
- Duration
- Approx. 13 hours
- Max Group Size
- Group of up to 18
- Language
- English, Russian, Turkish
- Pickup
- Azerbaijan Avenue 1, Baku (parking)
More on this area: Sheki Tours from Baku · Day Trips from Baku
Itinerary
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The road north-west
Out through Shamakhi and along the foot of the Caucasus. Three hours or so before the first proper stop.
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Arrival in Sheki
Up into the old town, which sits above the river on the site the town moved to after the floods.
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The Khan's Palace
The summer residence of 1797 — painted facades, and the shebeke windows that are the single best-known thing in Azerbaijani craft.
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The caravanserai and the craft quarter
The upper caravanserai, the silk and halva shops, and the workshops where the lattice windows are still assembled by hand.
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Return to Baku
Three and a half hours back, arriving in the evening.
Meeting point
Azerbaijan Avenue 1, Baku (parking)
Frequently asked questions
How far is Sheki from Baku?
About 300 km — three to three and a half hours each way, which is why the day runs to thirteen hours.
What is shebeke?
A window lattice built from thousands of small pieces of wood and coloured glass, cut so precisely that they hold together without glue or nails. The Khan's Palace has the best surviving examples.
Can the palace be photographed inside?
Photography inside the palace is restricted, and the rule is enforced. The exterior and the courtyard are fine.
Is one day enough?
For the palace, the caravanserai and the old streets, yes. If you want more time in Sheki than one long day allows, our 4-day route gives it a whole day.
What is the best season?
April to June and September to October. The town sits under the ridge and can be wet, so a light waterproof is worth having in any month.
How long does the Sheki tour take?
The tour takes approximately 13 hours.
Where does the tour depart from?
The tour departs from Azerbaijan Avenue 1, Baku (parking).
What languages is the tour available in?
The tour is available in English, Russian, Turkish.
How much does the tour cost?
Pricing starts at ₼ 79 per person. The final price depends on your group size and the date you choose.
How do I book this tour?
You can book directly on this page — choose your date and number of travellers and confirm. Our team will then reach out to confirm the details.
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Reviews
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5.0
· 1 review
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ААртём · Baku City, Москва
Тур интересный, хорошо все организовано. Потратили весь день, но думаю, что поездка того стоит.
