Our 7-day tour covers the northern loop well, but it moves — most nights are single-night stays, and the pace, while not rushed, doesn't leave much slack. Ten days changes the rhythm rather than just adding sights: Baku gets a third day, Sheki and Gabala both pick up a second night, and the extra time funds a genuine detour south to Lankaran, a region most shorter itineraries skip entirely.
Lankaran is a different Azerbaijan from the Caspian-and-Caucasus version most visitors see — subtropical, humid, covered in tea plantations, and home to Hirkan National Park's ancient forest, with tree species that predate the last Ice Age. It's a genuine change of scenery, not just another stop on the same loop.
Some travelers prefer Ganja — Azerbaijan's second city, with the Nizami Ganjavi mausoleum and Shah Abbas mosque — over the longer drive south to Lankaran. This swap works well if you're more drawn to history and architecture than nature, and shortens the overall driving time slightly. Mention your preference when booking.
Licensed by the Azerbaijan Tourism Board. Fluent in English, Russian, and Arabic. Specialist in regional Azerbaijani culture — comfortable across both the Caucasus highlands and the southern coast.