Silk Road Heritage & Mountain Scenery – Sheki Tour

Sheki Tour

The Sheki tour lets you discover the mysterious city of Sheki which is full of historical and cultural background. Sheki is an ancient historical city, located in the southern foothills of the Greater Caucasus, 300 kilometers northwest of Baku.

Archaeological evidence suggests that Sheki could be considered one of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus, many findings on its territory date back more than 2500 years old. The majority of architectural buildings built between the 16th and 19th centuries were well preserved. For centuries Sheki was the center of silkworm breeding and silk production center and was located on the Silk Road. Due to its very soft climate, the soil of Sheki is very good for different kinds of fruits and vegetables. The city is also very famous for its very rich cuisine and sweets not only among the locals but tourists also.

During the Sheki tour, you can also have a chance to try a special soup called “Piti“ that is cooked for 8-9 hours, from night till morning with a significantly small amount of fire. You definitely should try sweets also like baklava, tel halva, babies, and others.

HIGHLIGHTS

Juma Mosque, Shamakhi

Juma Mosque of Shamakhi or Friday Mosque of Shamakhi (Azerbaijani: Şamaxı Cümə Məscidi) is a mosque in the city of Shamakhi, Azerbaijan. The construction date of the mosque is dated from the governance period of Caliphate’s vicar in the Caucasus and Dagestan, Arabic commander Maslam ibn Abd-al Melik, brother of Umayyad caliph Valil I (705-715), by whom Shamakhi was chosen as the residence. In these years Arab governors, strengthening the towers of this ancient city with its rich cultural heritage, began the construction of new structures in its territory. Arabs attached great importance to Shamakhi, which is visible from the great architectural appearance of the Friday Mosque.

Sheki Khans Palace

The palace itself was built in 1762 as a summer residence for the Khan (King) of Sheki. During the construction of the building, no single nails or glue were used. From the inside, all the walls of the Palace are full of paintings in which each painting has its own philosophical meaning. In the garden outside of the palace, you will discover 2 plane trees that both are 500 years old.

Caravansarais (Ancient Hotels)

There are 2 caravansarais that are called Upper and Lower Caravansarais both dating back to the 18th century. Due to the city’s location on the main trade road from East to West, Caravansarais were making resting and trading places for merchants who were passing from the city.

Albanian Church in Kish Village

In the Kish village, you will visit an Albanian church that dates back to the 1st century AD. People of the Northern part of Azerbaijan were mainly Christians before Islam.

At the end of the Sheki tour, the guests will be transferred to Baku and dropped off at their hotel.

PRICE OPTIONS