Azerbaijan Group Departure – Baku & Gabala Tour

On arrival at the international airport, pick up a local SIM card, exchange currency, and head toward Gabala. Along the way, stop at Shamakhi Vineyard, a state-of-the-art winery known for producing some of the country's better wines, before continuing to Nohur Lake — sitting 700m above sea level, stretching nearly 2km in length, and reaching depths of up to 24m. Check in at your Gabala hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight: Gabala

After breakfast, head to the Gabala Cable Car at Tufandag Mountain Resort — the full ride takes around two hours and is genuinely one of the longest cable car journeys in the world, with views over Gabala's mountains that are worth every minute. From there, visit the Seven Beauties Waterfall, tumbling down from the Caucasus peaks in Vandam village. Overnight: Gabala

Check out after breakfast and head to Baku. Once you've arrived, there's time for a shopping tour — including the option to explore Baku's pubs, clubs, and casinos if that's your scene — before checking into your hotel and having some free time. Nizami Street, one of Baku's best-known shopping and dining strips, is worth a wander too. In the evening, after dinner, head out on the Baku Night Tour — a walk along the city boulevard taking in both the old city and the modern skyline, with the Flame Towers and bay views making for a genuinely memorable evening. Overnight: Baku

After breakfast, head out to Gobustan to see the mud volcanoes — a strange, almost lunar landscape of pale hills and barren soil with no trees or grass in sight, unlike anywhere else you'll likely visit. Return for lunch, then start the city tour proper: the Flame Towers, Upland Park for panoramic city views, a stroll through Boulevard Park along the Caspian shore, the Carpet Museum, and the Miniature Books Museum. The day wraps up with a photo stop at the Heydar Aliyev Center, Zaha Hadid's flowing, futuristic architectural landmark and one of Baku's most photographed buildings. Overnight: Baku

A full day out to Shahdag, a popular destination for skiing, snowboarding, and mountain activities set deep in the Greater Caucasus range. En route, stop at Chanlibel Lake, a quiet, lesser-known spot in the Quba region that makes for a peaceful break amid the mountain scenery. Overnight: Baku

After breakfast, visit the Baku Ateshgah — often called the "Fire Temple of Baku" — a castle-like religious site in Surakhani. From there, head to "Little Venice" on Baku Boulevard, a small canal town built in the 1960s and expanded since, complete with stone bridges and gondolas gliding through its waterways. Round out the day with a ride on the Baku Funicular, the country's only funicular system, connecting Neftchilar Avenue to Martyrs' Lane. Overnight: Baku

After breakfast, check out and use the remaining time for some last-minute shopping before transferring to Baku International Airport for your flight home.