Shamakhi & Lahij Group Tour from Baku – Juma Mosque & Lahij Village

The Juma Mosque in Shamakhi was founded in 743 AD, which makes it one of the oldest mosques anywhere in the Caucasus. Its history is also a history of the city's earthquakes: the building has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, most recently restored and reopened after long reconstruction work. The present structure keeps the original three-hall plan — an unusual layout that predates most surviving mosque architecture in the region — under a pair of tall minarets. Your guide explains how Shamakhi served as the Shirvanshah capital and why so little of the medieval city survives above ground.

The approach to Lahij is memorable in itself: a narrow road cut into the side of the Girdiman gorge, with the river far below. The village sits at roughly 1,200 metres, and its main street is paved with river stones worn smooth by centuries of use. Beneath them runs a medieval drainage and water system that still functions — one of the reasons Lahij village in Azerbaijan is considered such an intact example of a mountain settlement.

Copper is what the village is known for. Workshops open directly onto the street, and the sound of hammering carries along it; the craft has been passed down through families here for generations and is inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Alongside the coppersmiths you will find carpet weavers, leather workers and knife makers, along with tea houses and small museums. There is free time to walk the alleys, watch the workshops and shop directly from the makers.

Lunch is not included, but the group stops at a local restaurant where you can order at your own cost. The mountain kitchen here leans towards grilled meat, dovga and fresh bread baked in a tandir.