Gabala-Gakh Tour

Shamakhi city is the ancient capital of the medieval Shirvanshah state. In Shamakhi guests will have an excursion to the Juma Mosque - one of the centers of Azerbaijani poetry and viticulture. Guests will find themselves in the walls of a grandiose architectural structure made according to ancient antiseismic technology. A visit to the first Muslim temple in the Caucasus, built in 743, will introduce tourists to the history of Islam in Azerbaijan and the history of the mosque itself. After that, they will go further along the road that stretches like a ribbon along the Mugan mountain Pass, classic for the Greater Caucasus, and leads to the northwest of Azerbaijan to Ismayilli.

After visiting the Juma Mosque, we drive through the Ismayilli Forests, known as the green heart of Azerbaijan. Here grow mighty oaks and maples, while rare plants give the forest a mysterious atmosphere.

The Ismayilli Forests are a place where you can find harmony with nature and feel its power and beauty. The landscapes here leave unforgettable impressions and an irresistible desire to return again.

Later, we will stop at a restaurant located on an elevation with a breathtaking view of a vast blooming valley, where you can take beautiful and memorable photos of the North Caucasus hills. Here, you can enjoy your time and feel a true connection with nature. The tour of Gabala and Gakh offers you countless opportunities, and tasting traditional food can be just as important a part of immersing yourself in Azerbaijani culture as exploring the landmarks of Gabala and Shamakhi. That is why, during our cultural tour in Azerbaijan, we will introduce you to several delicious Azerbaijani dishes. After a delightful lunch, we will continue to the second part of our journey, which is no less exciting. Let us board our bus and head to the charming city of Gabala.

The Seven Beauties Waterfall, or Yeddi Gözəl in Azerbaijani, is a peaceful and scenic natural site located near Vandam village in the Gabala region. The waterfall is made up of seven separate streams flowing from the forested slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Its name comes not only from the number of cascades but also from the famous 12th-century poem Seven Beauties by Nizami Ganjavi, reflecting the cultural background of the area. During a day trip in Azerbaijan, this stop gives visitors a chance to experience quiet nature. While the first two cascades are easily accessible, reaching the remaining five requires a walk up wooden stairs built into the hillside. The climb is moderately challenging but manageable for most people and highly rewards climbers with breathtaking views of the untouched forest and the serene ambiance created by the cascading waters . The dense canopy overhead ensures the area remains cool and shaded, offering a refreshing retreat during the warmer months. In spring and summer, local teahouses dot the path, providing traditional Azerbaijani tea accompanied by regional jams, enhancing the cultural experience.

The Gabala-Gakh tour package takes our guests to visit a colorful mountain lake. This peaceful spot can be described in one word – calming. Whether you ride a catamaran on its clear waters or walk along its wooded shore, it will lift your spirits and show you the beauty of the world. This place can bring anyone a sense of tranquility, all worries put aside as you walk along the shore, enjoy the views of mountain slopes shining beside the lakes surface and feel the clean air and gentle wind.

The city Gabala is the capital of the Gabala district. The city, which was in ancient times the capital of Caucasian Albania, and today is known as a ski resort, will welcome tourists on the territory of the most famous hotel in the region "Tufandag". Ski trails are located here and cable car lines are stretched over them, from which magnificent views of the mountains and the central part of the city open. The highest point of this exciting attraction is the peak of the Sleeping Beauty Mountain (Yatmysh Gezel), located at an altitude of about two thousand meters above the level of the world ocean.

After arriving in Sheki, guests check in at one of the most popular hotels in the city. The evening is yours to spend as you please, offering a perfect opportunity to explore the local culture and hospitality. Our company representatives ensure you have ample free time on our Gabala-Gakh cultural tour, knowing Azerbaijan is one of the safest countries in the world. The people of Sheki, renowned for their high hospitality, warmly welcome all visitors. The evening of this Azerbaijan two-day tours promises a memorable experience. Explore the charm of Sheki heritage, before embarking on your next adventure in the morning.

In Sheki we start the day with the breakfast at the hotel. After that, together with a professional English-speaking guide, they go to the neighboring Gakh region by car of the Republic of Azerbaijan along the road, one of the sections of which passes through the bridge over the Shin River, the length of which is more than a kilometer.

Mamirli Waterfall is one of the most beautiful places during the Gakh Tour. Mamyrly waterfall is located in the mountain forest of the subtropical climate zone near the village of Lekit, Gakh region. There are many waterfalls on the territory of Azerbaijan, but the Mamyrli waterfall has its own peculiarity - for centuries, water flowing down the rocks formed massive thickets of moss on their surface. This influenced the name of the waterfall: the word "moss" is translated into Azerbaijani as "mamyr". Its bright green color with fragments of brown and orange hues, a mysterious cave and myriads of splashing drops of breaking streams of water sparkling in the reflections of the sun make the waterfall picturesque and peaceful.

The tour to Gakh includes two temples, the first of which is the Church of St. George the Victorious located in the city of Gakh. The Church of St. George the Victorious is an active place of worship that belongs to the Georgian Orthodox Church. Founded in the middle of the 19th century. Since the beginning of the period of Soviet Power, it has not functioned as a church. Its religious significance was restored in 1997.

It is located in a cozy park with centuries-old oaks and thickets of magnolias and orchids. There is also a bell tower and a small historical churchyard.

The Gakh tour also includes lunch and looks like it's time to eat. On the banks of the Kurmukchay River (Kürmükçay), guests will have lunch at the Yeni Baki restaurant (New Baku). The peculiarity of the meal is the cuisine typical for the Gakh region. As a main dish, guests will taste the national thick soup "surfullu" (or also surfullu). Its base is dumplings with lamb dressing, previously dried according to a special recipe with local herbs. And for a snack, guests will try Girz, a meat dish that can be compared with Slavic dumplings.

Our company also takes into account special gastronomic preferences, therefore, vegans and vegetarians will be offered thick red lentil soup instead of "surhullu", and the filling of "girz" in this case is not meat, but greens or Azerbaijani salted cottage cheese "Shor".

Ulu Bridge constructed in the 18th across the river Kurmuk (or Kyurmyuk). It is located near the village of Ilisu in the gorge of the Uludag mountain range, which belongs to the Great North Caucasian Range.
Majestic peaks covered with dense forest and a mountain river are the classic romance of the Caucasus, and a photo session on this bridge will inspire and give warm memories for a long time to come.

The next stop on the tour is the historical Cathedral Mosque. "Cathedral" is a translation from the Arabic word "Juma", which is also called the Friday day of the week, which is sacred for Muslims. In every city of the Islamic world there is a mosque (and sometimes more than one) with this name. The city of Gakh was no exception, where in the interval of the XVII-XVIII centuries. this temple was founded.

The Juma Mosque is located not in the central part of the city, but in the suburbs, the picturesque village of Ilisu, which can be called a classic Caucasian village, cozy, tidy, with clean streets. Physical cleanliness and tidiness is one of the foundations of the religion of Islam, and the population of Ilisu is mostly devout Muslims.

The Sumug-Gala tower is known to all lovers of Soviet cinema. The culminating scene of Yuli Gusman's cult musical "Don't Be Afraid, I Am Here For You" was filmed on it and in its vicinity. The film became one of the first Soviet ones, where martial arts were demonstrated in stunt scenes. It was on this tower that Polad Bul-Bul ogly sang the magnificent battle hymn "How we lived, fighting ...". It was here that the hero of Lev Durov, along with his improvised army of fugitive convicts, hurried to help his friends. It was here that the performers of their roles, the taekwondo fighters of the Savalan sports club, showed their mastery in their martial art.

Tower built in the 17th century. served for military purposes: signal, guard, defensive. It got its name in honor of the Ilisu Sultan Sumu Khan, who ordered it to be built in due time.

The way back from the city of Gakh towards Sheki passes through a very interesting sight, in which both history and nature converged. The ancient temple of Caucasian Albania (Kurmukh Church of St. George), named after the nearby river Kurmuk. It was founded on a high rocky cliff on the slope of a majestic mountain range in the 4th century BC.
The pedestrian ascent to the Kurmuk temple is an inspiring walk through a natural forest tunnel, where the crowns of deciduous trees converge low over the heads of travelers. And from the edges of this forest and from the very cliff, where this ancient church of the Albanians rises, a breathtaking view of the Alazani Valley opens with delight. Local Christians revere this cliff as a sacred, mystical place.

The return journey is a blur of happy exhaustion. We hop on the bus, the rhythm of the wheels a lullaby after our whirlwind Gabala-Gakh tour. A quick stop in Shamakhi breaks up the ride, giving us a chance to stretch our legs and maybe grab a sweet Shamakhi halva as a souvenir. But by the time Baku's lights twinkle into view, it feels almost like coming back home. The city, once new and exciting, now feels strangely dear to heart.