Candy Cane Mountains
Striped red-and-white hills on the road to Shahdag, coloured by iron-rich sedimentary banding.
Included in 3 tours
Recommended
Mountains, Fire & Silk Road
Mountains, ancient fire sites & Silk Road heritage in one journey
- Duration
- 2 Days / 1 Night
- Overnight stays
- 1 nights
- Stops
- 11
Our recommended itinerary, and the most varied thing we run for its length: two days taking in the Greater Caucasus at Shahdag, the prehistoric rock art at Gobustan, the fire sites of the Absheron Peninsula, and the Silk Road town of Sheki.
It is an ambitious route for two days, and that is the point. Most two-day itineraries pick one theme; this one deliberately covers mountains, deep prehistory, fire worship and Silk Road trade, on the reasoning that the contrast between them is what makes Azerbaijan memorable.
Day two at Sheki is the highlight for most people. The Khan's Palace has shebeke windows built from thousands of hand-cut pieces of coloured glass assembled without nails or glue, and the caravanserais show exactly how Silk Road trade actually worked.
Who this tour suits
- Visitors with limited time who want maximum variety
- Second-time visitors who have already done Baku
- Anyone choosing between the mountain and the heritage itineraries: this covers both
- Travellers comfortable with an early start and a full day
On pace: Genuinely full. Day one covers Shahdag, Gobustan and the fire sites before an overnight in Gabala, which means significant driving. If you prefer a slower pace, the Mountain Escape or Valley & Vineyard packages cover similar ground with more breathing room.
What's included
- Complimentary airport pickup & drop-off
- Quba & Shahdag Tour
- Gobustan & Absheron Tour
- Gabala → Sheki (Silk Road town)
- 1 Night Stay (Out of Baku)
Itinerary
-
Day 1
- Candy Mountains, Five Finger Mountain, Quba Forest
- Shahdag Ski Resort, cable car, zipline, activities
- Gobustan National Reserve & Open-Air Museum (petroglyphs)
- Ateshgah, Fire Temple & Yanardag, Fire Mountain
- Overnight in Gabala
-
Day 2
- Sheki Khan's Palace
- Sheki Caravanserai, ancient Silk Road trading post
- Sheki Old City Bazaar & Albanian Old Church
- Return to Baku & airport drop-off
Places you'll visit
Each stop has its own guide, what it is, how long to allow, and what to expect.
Five Finger Mountain
A five-pronged limestone outcrop rising beside the northern highway, and a long-standing pilgrimage site.
Included in 3 tours
Quba
Northern apple-and-carpet region, gateway to Shahdag and to the Candy Cane Mountains.
Included in 3 tours
Shahdag
Azerbaijan's flagship mountain resort. Winter skiing, and cable cars, ziplines and paragliding the rest of the year.
Included in 3 tours
Gobustan National Park
UNESCO-listed prehistoric rock art. Over 6,000 petroglyphs across a semi-desert landscape south of Baku.
Included in 3 tours
Ateshgah Fire Temple
A pentagonal caravanserai-temple built around a natural gas vent, used by Zoroastrian, Hindu and Sikh worshippers.
Included in 3 tours
Yanardag, Fire Mountain
A hillside that has burned continuously for centuries, fed by natural gas seeping through the sandstone.
Included in 3 tours
Gabala
Forested foothills resort town in the Greater Caucasus. Cable cars, waterfalls, lakes and wine country nearby.
Included in 5 tours
Sheki
UNESCO-listed Silk Road town in the Caucasus foothills, famous for the Khan's Palace and its stained-glass shebeke windows.
Included in 2 tours
Sheki Khan's Palace
An 18th-century summer residence famous for shebeke. Stained glass assembled without nails or glue.
Included in 2 tours
Sheki Caravanserai
A surviving Silk Road merchants' inn, with stables and storerooms below and lodgings above.
Included in 2 tours
Pricing
Choose the class that fits your group. We quote per trip rather than publishing a rate card, so the price reflects your dates, group size and route.
| Vehicle | Capacity | Airport transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | 3 Adults + 1 Child | Complimentary |
| SUV | 4 Adults + 1 Child | Complimentary |
| Van | 7 Adults | Complimentary |
You book the whole vehicle, not a seat, the price is the same whether one person travels or the vehicle is full. Tell us your dates and group size and we will quote for your trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is this itinerary too rushed for two days?
It is a full two days and we would rather say so plainly. Day one in particular covers a lot of ground. If you want the same regions at a gentler pace, the Mountain Escape or Valley & Vineyard packages are better suited, or we can extend this to three days.
Why is this the recommended package?
Because it covers the widest range of what makes Azerbaijan distinctive. Mountains, 40,000-year-old rock art, burning ground and Silk Road heritage, in the shortest time. For visitors who cannot commit five days, it is the best single choice.
Can it be extended to three days?
Yes, and we often recommend it. An extra day removes the pressure from the Sheki leg and allows more time at Shahdag. Ask us and we will price it.
Other packages
Baku Explorer
Perfect for short-stay visitors
- Duration
- 1 Day
- Stops
- 9
1 Day Private, per vehicle
View package
Fire & Rock Adventure
Baku city + ancient fire sites & rock art
- Duration
- 2 Days
- Stops
- 7
2 Days Private, per vehicle
View package
Mountain Escape
Candy Mountains, Five Finger Mountain & Shahdag ski resort
- Duration
- 2 Days / 1 Night
- Stops
- 5
2 Days / 1 Night Private, per vehicle
View packageReady to plan your trip?
Tell us your dates and group size and we will put together the right itinerary and vehicle.
Or call +994 77 199 17 55 , 08:00 to 20:00, 7 days a week