Sheki Wonders From Khans Palace to the Silk Road

We begin the morning in the ancient city of Shamakhi, where you'll enjoy a traditional Azerbaijani breakfast in true countryside style. Expect eggs with tomatoes (a local favorite cooked over an open flame), freshly baked tandoor bread, cheese, honey, butter, cream, and piping hot tea. Simple, soulful, and deeply authentic.

En route to Sheki, we’ll stop at a forest restaurant in Ismayilli, where you'll be treated to tea and the local sweet “Three Ears.” Surrounded by nature’s sounds, mountains, and trees, you’ll enjoy a moment of perfect harmony — this is how the real Caucasus smells and feels.

Upon arrival in Sheki, we’ll visit the city’s crown jewel — the 18th-century Palace of the Sheki Khans. Its walls are adorned with intricate murals, wood carvings, and the iconic shebeke stained glass windows — handcrafted without a single nail or drop of glue.

Next, we’ll visit ABAD, a local center of arts and crafts. Watch potters, painters, and artisans at work — a living museum where heritage and creativity thrive in everyday life.

You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how shebeke stained glass is made — a painstaking process involving hand-inserting colored glass into wooden latticework without any adhesives. This ancient skill is a proud Sheki tradition passed down for generations.

Browse craft workshops offering unique handmade souvenirs: silk products, ceramics, wood carvings, and more. These are not just gifts — they’re pieces of the region’s cultural soul.

Wander the narrow cobbled streets of the Yukhari Bash architectural reserve. Time seems to stand still here — homes, lanterns, and alleyways preserve the spirit of Sheki’s merchant past.

Descending from the old town, we arrive at the historic caravanserai, once a bustling hub for traders and travelers on the Great Silk Road. Step inside, imagine the bustle of commerce and aroma of pilaf simmering in ancient pots

Next, we visit artisan shops within old merchant houses, where you can purchase handmade goods — and most importantly, taste the legendary Sheki halva, made using a centuries-old recipe in traditional copper cauldrons.

Enjoy a panoramic view of Sheki from the hilltop Highland Park, which also houses the World War II Memorial. This is a place where nature, memory, and silence come together.

For lunch, you’ll enjoy Sheki’s iconic dish: Piti — a hearty stew of lamb, chickpeas, and spices slow-cooked in a clay pot. Rich, aromatic, and full of the spirit of old Sheki.

The final stop on our journey is the village of Kish, home to one of the oldest Christian temples in the Caucasus. This sacred site — believed to be the first Christian church in the region — is nestled in the mountains and carries the soul of ancient Caucasian Albania.