Cultural Tours in Azerbaijan: Crafts That Are Still Being Practised
Azerbaijan's cultural interest is not mainly in museums. The copper workshops of Lahij, the silk dyers of Basqal and the shebeke window-makers of Sheki are working businesses, and watching them is different from reading a label about them.
The crafts and where they live
Lahij, at 1,200 m on a cobbled mountain street, has hammered copper for centuries; the workshops open onto the road and you hear them before you see them. Basqal makes kelagayi, the block-printed silk headscarf UNESCO listed in 2014. Sheki makes shebeke — stained-glass lattice assembled from thousands of pieces without nails or glue.
All three are on the western corridor out of Baku, which is why that route carries more cultural weight than any other in the country.
Language, food and the less obvious layers
Khinalug at 2,350 m speaks a language with no close relatives, kept alive by isolation. Lahij has its own Tat dialect. Red Village near Guba has been a Mountain Jewish community for centuries. These are not exhibits; they are places where people live, and visiting them asks for a different manner than a monument does.
Food belongs in this category too: dolma-making is itself on the UNESCO intangible list, which is why a cooking session in a family home in Balakhani counts as cultural heritage rather than an activity.
Tours covering this route
Guba, Khinalug & Candy Cane Mountains Tour
This full-day journey takes you from Baku deep into the majestic mountains of the Guba region in northern Azerbaijan, where colourful geology, ancient villages and breathtaking Caucasus scenery come together in a single route. Along the way you'll pass the striped pink-and-white Candy Cane Mountains, the legendary Besh Barmag (Five-Finger) peak, the dense Gechresh Forest and the deep Gudialchay Canyon. The highlight is Khinalug village, perched at 2,335 metres — one of Europe's oldest and highest continuously inhabited settlements, with its own language, architecture and thousands of years of history. On the way you'll also visit the Red Village, considered the only entirely Jewish town in Europe. Comfortable transport, hotel pick-up and a professional guide are all included. It's the ideal route for travellers who want to see nature, history and a truly unique culture in a single day.
- The striped pink-and-white Candy Cane Mountains
- Khinalug at 2,335 m — one of Europe's oldest villages
- The legendary Besh Barmag peak and Gudialchay Canyon
Shamakhi, Lahij & Gabala Tour
In a single day, this full-day journey links three of the most beautiful corners of north-western Azerbaijan — Shamakhi, Lahij and Gabala — in one route, bringing together history, craftsmanship and mountain scenery. Setting out from Baku, you'll pause at the 15th-century Diri Baba Mausoleum carved into a cliff face, visit the historic Juma Mosque in Shamakhi, one of the country's oldest cities, and then climb mountain roads to Lahij, a village famed for its cobbled streets and coppersmiths. The trip continues towards Gabala: the forest-ringed Nohur Lake, the cable car at the Tufandag mountain resort, and the Seven Beauties Waterfall in Vandam village. Comfortable air-conditioned transport, hotel pick-up and a professional guide are all included — the ideal route for travellers who want to experience history, culture and nature in a single day.
- The cliff-carved 15th-century Diri Baba Mausoleum
- The historic Juma Mosque in Shamakhi, one of Azerbaijan's oldest
- The mountain village of Lahij, known for cobbled streets and coppersmiths
Sheki Tour
This full-day journey takes you out of busy Baku and into Sheki, a Silk Road town nestled at the foot of the Greater Caucasus. Along the way you'll stop in Shamakhi at the Juma Mosque, regarded as the first mosque in the Caucasus, before reaching the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Sheki, with its blue rooftops, stone lanes and mountain backdrop. You'll wander through the Sheki Khan's Palace, the khans' summer residence famous for its shebeke stained-glass windows, soak up the Silk Road atmosphere in the courtyard of a medieval caravanserai, and climb to the mountain village of Kish to see its ancient Albanian church. For lunch you'll sample Azerbaijani cuisine at a local restaurant and have the chance to taste the celebrated Sheki halva. Comfortable air-conditioned transport, hotel pick-up and an experienced guide are all included. Because Sheki lies far from the capital, the day is long and full — an ideal route for travellers who want to see northern Azerbaijan in a single day.
- The UNESCO-listed historic centre of Sheki and the famous Sheki Khan's Palace
- The Juma Mosque in Shamakhi, said to be the first mosque in the Caucasus
- The mountain village of Kish and its ancient Albanian church
Baku Old City Walking Tour
Set out on a guided walking tour through the ancient heart of Baku — Icherisheher, the UNESCO-listed Old City of Azerbaijan's capital. This experience is made for travellers who want to understand the city beyond the surface: its fortress walls, narrow stone streets, medieval monuments, mosques, bathhouses, colourful artistic corners, and the stories shaped by centuries of trade and culture. You'll pass through the Double Gates of the fortress, see the elegant historical buildings around Icherisheher, walk by the vivid workshop of artist Ali Shamsi, drop in on small cultural stops such as the Museum of Miniature Books, and explore the surroundings of the city's two most iconic landmarks — the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. Ideal for first-time visitors, culture lovers and families, this relaxed half-day walk offers a deep introduction to Baku's history in a short time.
- Walk inside the centuries-old fortress walls of Icherisheher, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Explore the surroundings of Baku's icons — the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs
- Historical interpretation from a professional guide at every stop
Basqal Heritage Experience | Shamakhi, Ancient Caves & Hidden Azerbaijan
Starting from Baku, this full-day journey takes you into a lesser-known side of Azerbaijan's heritage — from the ancient caves around Shamakhi to the cobbled streets of the historic village of Basqal. You'll explore the atmospheric caves of Nerman Village and the sacred Prophet's Cave, then visit the 8th-century Shamakhi Juma Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the Caucasus, and the Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum of the Shirvan Khans. After a taste of traditional Azerbaijani cuisine, you'll head to Basqal, home of the Kelaghayi silk headscarf recognised by UNESCO — walking among a restored historic bathhouse, a centuries-old cemetery, a 700-year-old plane tree, the ruins of a two-storey mosque, the Galabashi viewpoint and crystal-clear mountain springs. Comfortable air-conditioned transport and hotel pick-up in Baku are included.
- The ancient caves of Nerman Village and the sacred Prophet's Cave
- The 8th-century Shamakhi Juma Mosque, one of the oldest in the Caucasus
- The Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum of the Shirvan Khans
Baku Local Life Experience | Balakhani Village & Home Cooking
Escape the busy streets of Baku and spend a day in the historic village of Balakhani. Walk through its charming stone lanes, visit a welcoming local family, prepare traditional Azerbaijani dishes together, and enjoy a homemade lunch in a peaceful courtyard. This authentic cultural experience offers a unique opportunity to discover local traditions, hospitality, and the true flavors of Azerbaijan.
- Walk through the historic stone streets of Balakhani village
- Cook traditional Azerbaijani dishes with a local family
- Homemade family-style lunch in a peaceful courtyard