Places that you will visit during the Sheki tour:
Shamakhi Juma Mosque: On the way to Sheki, you will stop to see the most ancient mosque that was built in the Caucasus.
Historical Museum
House of Hand Crafts: where you can buy original handmade works for a very reasonable price.
The Sheki tour will start with taking you off from your hotel or any desired place.
Excursion to Sheki is a Sheki tour of the picturesque places in one of the old cities of the South Caucasus, where various handicraft production was concentrated, where beautiful silk products were produced and a brisk trade was developed. The city is rich in history and many monuments of the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan.
Sheki tour excursion program in the city of Sheki:
Sheki’s pearl is the Palace of the Sheki Khans, built in the 18th century without a single nail. The unique in its beauty the two-story building of the palace amazes with the magnificence of its decoration, both external and internal. The facade of the palace is richly painted with plot drawings depicting hunting and war scenes, as well as intricate geometric and floral patterns.
In front of the palace, at one time a marvelous garden was divided; sixteen tall Italian poplars arranged symmetrically divided it into four alleys. On the sides of this garden – when the outbuildings were located, in which the court, the Khan’s wives lived, their servants followed them a big terrace of one and a half human height. A small two-story building used to be part of a vast complex and was the summer residence of the Sheki Khans. The entire palace is painted with beautifully preserved drawings, in the center of the building there is a large, stunningly beautiful stained-glass window made of multicolor glass mosaic. The palace is under the protection of UNESCO and is among the most valuable architectural monuments of Azerbaijan.
Near the palace, remains of the fortress wall are preserved.
You will see the Caravanserai, one of the attractions of Sheki during the Sheki tour. Caravanserais were built in the form of locks with a closed courtyard, with one gate, which closed in case of danger, resulting in an impregnable fortress. The complex consists of two caravanserais, called “Yukhary” (Upper) and “Ashagy” (Lower). Their construction dates back to the XVIII-XIX centuries. Part of the caravanserai is now used as a hotel.
Then you walk along the streets of the city, admire the panorama of the city from the mountainous part. You will get acquainted with the manufacture of stained-glass windows “shebeke,” visit craft workshops and pastry shops with Sheki sweets. There is also Sheki Bazar where you can find high-quality honey, nuts, and dried fruits, which are must-try items for any traveler.
Transfer to the village of Kish (12 km). Visit the ancient Albanian Christian church (I-IV centuries) in our Sheki tour. The village of Kish is beautiful for its extraordinary nature, traditions, and rich past. It is proud of its main attraction – the ancient Christian temple. The construction of the temple went from the I-IV century, and it was rebuilt until the XII century. The temple has value not only as an architectural monument but also has an outstanding historical significance. The excavations confirmed that this is the most ancient temple in the Caucasus in the I century laid by the apostle Elisha.
This tour was on my fourth day in Azerbaijan, and my third tour with Guided Azerbaijan - Nurlan was such a great guide that I was happy he took this one too. The day started with hotel pickup and about an hour drive to Juma Mosque. From there we headed north into the Caucus mountains and went to Sheki to see the palace and the caravansarie. Sheki was a very important stop on the Silk Road trade route because the climate of the area is perfect for the growth of mulberry trees, which happen to the perfect home for silk worms. In fact, silk production is still an industry in this area. We stopped in Sheki at the halva shop - and that stuff is phenomenal! I brought back treats for my friends back home and they are still talking about it - it’s just that good. We left Sheki and went to Kish to see the Christian church there. Nurlan once again was fantastic and full of information that really made it come alive for me. It’s lovely and peaceful and nearly unadorned. It’s a museum now and there are relics housed there from its past life. I loved this little spot, it touched my heart. Make no mistake, this is a LONG day. In fact, they offer this as a two day tour and if I’d had the time I’d have stretched it into two days so I could have appreciated it more. Also, as a note to less experienced travelers, the further you get from Baku, the less… luxurious… things become. Bring a few packets of travel Kleenex and be prepared for the squat style toilets. It’s an adventure.
Sheki was my favourite place in Azerbaijan, I like the green mountains feel so refreshing. Our tour organisers Fuad had great team who can help in exploring more natural beauty and explain the place in detail.
Took this tour with our guide Ulkar. She was super insightful and went at our pace. It’s a long drive to Sheki but well worth the drive. Make sure you stop in to the sweet shop in Sheki and get some goodies. Thank you again Ulkar for a great tour
My wife and I took the day tour to Sheki, Shamakhi and Ismailiyi with Ms Chinara. It was a delightful experience and we learned so much about Azerbaijani history and even had a yummy lunch in Sheki! Highly recommend!
The trip was absolutely wonderful. The transport was very convenient and both the driver and tour guide were extremely friendly, helpful and well informed. They went out of their way to make it a wonderful day and a memorable experience.