The history of Shamakhi starts from 5th century BC, and is popular with its landscape and literature in Azerbaijan. In the 9th -16th centuries it was the capital of Shirvan Empire, and in the mid-18th century it used to be the center of Shamakhi Khanate. The first mosque of all Caucasus and Azerbaijan - the Juma Mosque is in Shamakhi. It is additionally called the City of Literature since it was the native land of many Azerbaijani poets. Present day Shamakhi is a recognized center of carpet weaving and winemaking.   Located in Upper Caucasus, Lahij was built in 5th century BC, and in 1980 was announced as Historical-Cultural Reserve of Azerbaijan. Tat - the dialect of Old Persian - remains to this day the primary language in the village. Lahij has preserved its culture and trade, and is considered as craft center of the Great Silk Road up to now.   There is a large collection of Lahij products in the Azerbaijan Museum of National History, which reflects the many different and richly made items produced by the Lahij craftsmen. Many similar items are also to be found in the Russian Museum of Ethnography (Saint-Petersburg) and the Museum of Eastern Peoples (Moscow). The Louvre Museum in France also has a collection of items from Azerbaijan, which include a copper pot manufactured in Lahij. The Museum of Bern has a collection of firearms and weapons of cold steel, manufactured in Azerbaijan, which includes rifles, swords and sabres, richly decorated with ornamental patterns and inlaid work.

You will depart from your hotel in Baku in the early morning. On the way, you will visit the Diri Baba Mausoleum in Maraza. Continue on to Shamakha and see the historical Juma Mosque, Yeddi Gumbez Mausoleum, and the Shirvan Shah's family graveyard. Afterwards, drive through the Girdimanchay River Canyon to visit Lahij, a 5th Century village rich in its historic and architectural values. Lahij is an ancient village with charming eye-catching sidewalks inlaid with stones. It is famous for its medieval water supply and sewage systems, as well as traditional jewellery, copperware, carpets, pottery, daggers, and iron tools workshops.

Departing from Baku, visit the Silk Road towns of Lahij, Sheki, and Ganja over two days. An expert tour guide will show you around each town, teach you about the German roots of this area, and guide you towards the best home-grown wines. At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, these cities are some of Azerbaijan's most picturesque. Filled with cobbled streets and medieval architecture, they're a refreshing retreat from the more arid south. On your first day, you'll be picked up from Baku and drive to Lahij, where you can explore the city for an hour before enjoying lunch in a local restaurant. Travel to Sheki in the afternoon to see the sights of this UNESCO-listed city. Explore the Sheki Khan Palace, a unique architectural monument of the Khanate, and visit a stained-glass workshop. After a full day, have a restful night in an 18th-century caravanserai, the Yukhari Karavansaray Hotel. On day two, you'll visit the Goygol Winery, where you can taste some of Azerbaijan’s finest wine straight from the barrel and paired with local snacks. In the afternoon, visit Ganja, the second-largest city in the country. Take in the eclectic architecture that reflects the city's various rulers throughout history. Finally, visit a unique quirk of the city: the Ganja House of Bottles, a private residence made entirely of glass bottles. In the evening, you'll be transferred back to Baku for an arrival time of approximately 7:30 PM.