The brick-patterned mausoleums and the spacious courtyards of the Khan Palace greet you the moment you arrive. In the quiet halls of the museums, a layered history unfolds, while in the bazaar the shine of copper and the scent of dried fruits and spices bring your journey to life. On your first evening, you ease into the city’s rhythm along stone-lined streets and tables generously laid with local delicacies.
When the route turns toward Duzdağ, you find a refreshing pause. The cool, salty air of the underground galleries deepens your sense of relaxation. On the way back, you stop at Ashab-ı Kehf, where prayer and the legend of the “Seven Sleepers” offer a sense of spiritual balance. Here, you feel how health and peace can meet on the same path.
If you seek a wider horizon, Alinja Castle rises ahead. With every step up the stone staircase, the view opens further, until a sweeping panorama of the Aras Valley unfolds at the top. The silence of the stone cells in the Hanegah Complex adds a quiet, introspective layer to your journey. Driving on to Ordubad, you slip into a different rhythm among narrow streets and high-walled courtyard houses.
In Ordubad’s historic center, you trace the marks of old trade routes as you stroll along streets lined with traditional mansions. A short walk to Pazmari Waterfall offers a cool and tranquil break. In the orchards, you taste pomegranates, apricots, and figs straight from the branch and experience the region’s fertility first-hand.
On the way to Julfa, the view widens toward the Aras River. At the Gülüstan Tomb, the refined language of carved stone greets you; at Darıdağ, mineral-rich thermal waters offer a brief yet powerful sense of renewal. Back in the city, local cuisine and shared memories bring this five-day itinerary to a satisfying close.
The accommodation plan is practical and enjoyable: the first two nights in the city, the next two in Ordubad, and the final night back in the city center. If you need to shorten your stay, the same flow can easily be adapted into a four-night program. For an even more personal touch, you can tie your own knot at a carpet workshop or learn the finer points of local flavors in a şekerbura or plov workshop. Your journey is then remembered not only for what you see, but also for the traces of your own handiwork.
