Karabakh Tour from Baku – Shusha & Khankendi Day Trip

The city is entered through its historic walls. Shusha Fortress was begun in 1752 by Panah Ali Khan, founder of the Karabakh Khanate, who chose the site for its natural defences — a plateau protected by cliffs on three sides. Long stretches of the wall and several of the gates survive, and your guide explains how the fortifications shaped the city that grew inside them.

Jidir Duzu, the "Plain of Riding", is a flat expanse on the edge of the plateau that was historically used for horse racing and public festivals. It is best known now for the view: the ground simply ends, dropping into the Dashalti gorge with the mountains of Karabakh rising beyond. This is the photograph everyone takes.

Molla Panah Vagif was an 18th-century poet who also served as vizier to the khan — a rare combination of literary and political importance. His work shaped the direction of Azerbaijani poetry, moving it towards everyday language. The mausoleum stands on high ground near the edge of the plateau.

The Govhar Agha Mosque is the main historic mosque of Shusha, built in the 19th century in its present form by the architect Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi and named after Govhar Agha, the khan's daughter who funded it. Its twin brick minarets, decorated with patterned tilework, are among the most recognisable structures in the city.

Khurshidbanu Natavan was a 19th-century poet and the daughter of the last khan of Karabakh. She is remembered both for her poetry and for public works in the city, including the water supply she funded. The house museum covers her life, her writing and the literary circle that formed around her.

The route continues to Khankendi, the largest city in the region. The tour drives through the centre and past the main landmarks, including the Parliament Building and the Nana Baba monument, with commentary from your guide along the way.

Lunch is not included, but the group stops at a local restaurant where you can order and pay for your own meal.