Sheki (also spelled Shaki) is an old city in the north-west of Azerbaijan. It has the Khan’s Palace with colorful stained-glass windows, a caravanserai and many craft workshops. You can see Sheki in one day, or you can make the trip longer and add Gabala, Khal-Khal Waterfall and Gakh. Here you can choose and order one of 5 Sheki tours from Baku: from a one-day trip for $44 to a three-day route through three regions.
Quick facts: the road from Baku to Sheki takes about five hours, every tour has a Russian-speaking guide, and Shaki tours start from $44.
Sheki Excursion for One Day
If you want to see Sheki without an overnight stay and spend less, choose the one-day trip. These Sheki group tours from Baku are the cheapest way to see the city: you pay only for your own seat, and the program and the transport are already organized. Such group tours from Baku run on a schedule, so you need to choose the date in advance.
| Tour | Duration | Group size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheki: Palaces, Mountain Forests and the Silk Road Heritage | 12 hours | up to 17 people | $44 |
Sheki: Palaces, Mountain Forests and the Silk Road Heritage
This trip starts with breakfast in Shamakhi and a short tea stop in the Ismailli forests, and then you arrive in Sheki. You see the Khan’s Palace, the caravanserai, the craft quarter and a viewpoint over the city. You have lunch in the village of Kish, where they serve Sheki piti, and visit the Albanian church. The difference is that it is the shortest and cheapest way to see the main places of the city in one day.
Price: $44 · Order this excursion
Group Excursions to Sheki for 2–3 Days
If you do not want to hurry and want to see more, choose a trip with a night in Sheki. The second half of the route gives you time for waterfalls, mountain churches and the nearby regions. These are group trips for two and three days, and they run on a schedule.
| Tour | Duration | Group size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabala and Sheki: 2-Day Tour | 2 days | up to 17 people | $116 |
| Sheki and Khal-Khal Waterfall | 2 days | up to 17 people | $139 |
| Sheki and Gakh | 2 days | up to 17 people | $151 |
| Gabala, Sheki and Gakh: Three Regions | 3 days | up to 17 people | $174 |
Gabala and Sheki: 2-Day Tour
On the first day you drive through Shamakhi and Ismailli, have lunch in Gabala with a view of the mountains, visit the Seven Beauties Waterfall, take the cable car to Tufandag and arrive in Sheki. The second day is about the city: the palace, the caravanserai, the craft quarter, the panoramic park and lunch in Kish. The difference is that you see both mountain Gabala and old Sheki in one trip.
Price: $116 · Order this excursion
Sheki and Khal-Khal Waterfall
The first day is in Sheki: the Khan’s Palace, the caravanserai, a viewpoint and lunch in Kish. The second day starts at the Folk Applied Art Museum and the Khan’s Mosque, and then you drive to the Oguz district to Khal-Khal Waterfall. The difference is that you see nature near the city, and if you want, you can have trout for lunch at the waterfall for an extra fee.
Price: $139 · Order this excursion
Sheki and Gakh
On the first day you get to know Sheki and stay the night in the city, and the second day goes to Gakh: the bridge over the Shin river, Mamirly Waterfall, St. George’s Church and the village of Ilisu with the Ulu Bridge, the Juma Mosque and the Sumug-Gala tower. You have lunch on the bank of the Kurmuk river, and at the end you see a church from the 4th century. The difference is that the second half of the route is about churches and old bridges.
Price: $151 · Order this excursion
Gabala, Sheki and Gakh: Three Regions
This is the fullest route: Gabala with a waterfall and a cable car on the first day, Sheki with the Khan’s Palace and Kish on the second day, and Gakh on the third day. You spend two nights in Sheki. The difference is the coverage: in three days you see mountains, history and old villages without a rush.
Price: $174 · Order this excursion
How to Choose a Sheki Tour
If you want a cheap trip for one day, choose the one-day format: it is the simplest one. If you want to rest and see more, the two-day tours with Gabala, Khal-Khal or Gakh are a good choice. Khal-Khal and Gakh are for people who want unusual places: these unique tours in Azerbaijan show not only the city but also waterfalls and mountain churches. Group tours in Azerbaijan with a night in Sheki are better to order in advance, especially in summer. If you want to see three regions, choose the three-day route.
What to Know About the Trip
The road to Sheki goes through Shamakhi and the Ismailli forests and takes about five hours. In the tours with an overnight stay, the hotel is paid separately: a single room in Sheki costs about $61 per night, and a double room costs about $70. Tickets to the palace and the Albanian church, and lunches, are also paid on the spot.
You need your original passport when you check in to the hotel, so please take it with you.
General Questions
How much does a Sheki tour cost?
The one-day trip costs from $44 per person, the two-day tours start from $116, and the three-day route costs $174. For children aged 3–11 the one-day trip costs $29.
How long is the drive from Baku to Sheki?
About five hours one way, with stops on the road.
Is the hotel included in the price?
No. The hotel is paid separately: a single room from $61 per night, a double room from $70.
What do I pay for on the spot?
Entrance tickets (the Khan’s Palace and the Albanian church cost about $17), lunches and extra costs such as the cable car. You can find the details on the page of each tour.
Do I need a passport?
Yes. You need your original passport when you check in to the hotel, so take it with you on the tours with an overnight stay.
What is better: one day or two?
If you have little time, one day is enough to see the main places in the city. If you want to stay longer in Sheki and add Gabala, a waterfall or Gakh, choose a two-day tour.
You can see Sheki in one day, in two days with Gabala or a waterfall, or in three days through three regions. Choose your route and order one of our Sheki tours from Baku for a date that suits you.