One Last Road Trip Before Autumn: Azerbaijan in a BMW X6

There is a particular moment at the end of summer when the country seems to pause. The heat over the Absheron peninsula loses its edge, the light turns lower and warmer, and the mountains north-west of the capital begin to change colour. Nothing has closed and nothing has ended — but the rhythm of the season is clearly shifting.

It is the best possible reason to take one more journey out of the city before the routine of autumn settles in.

Azerbaijan rewards this kind of trip. Within a few hours of leaving Baku, the landscape moves from dry coastal plain to vineyards, then to forested foothills and finally to river valleys beneath the Greater Caucasus. You do not need a long holiday to see it. Three unhurried days are enough.

The road trip that belongs between two seasons

Late-summer travel in Azerbaijan has a distinct character. The mountain air is already cooler in the evenings, the villages are quieter than in peak season, and the roads out of the capital feel calmer than they do in July. Days are still long enough to drive comfortably, but the light softens earlier, which makes the viewpoints along the route more rewarding.

None of this means the country becomes less accessible afterwards. Azerbaijan is a year-round destination, and the same route looks entirely different under autumn colour or winter snow. What makes this particular window special is the balance: warm days, cool evenings and landscapes caught halfway between two seasons.

A journey like this works best with your own car. Schedules stop mattering. You stop where the view deserves a stop, not where a timetable allows one.

Why the BMW X6 fits this route

The BMW X6 G06 in the TORO Rent fleet is a 2022 car with an automatic transmission, petrol engine, five seats and all-wheel drive. Its 2999 cm³ six-cylinder engine produces 340 HP — not because the route calls for speed, but because effortless reserves make long-distance driving relaxed rather than demanding. Overtaking a slow vehicle on an open road, or climbing steadily towards Gabala, happens without the engine ever feeling strained.

Beyond the specification sheet, three things matter on this particular trip:

• The elevated seating position. On mountain approaches and long valley roads, a higher view simply shows you more — of the road ahead and of the landscape either side of it.
• Luggage practicality. Despite the coupé roofline, the X6 carries luggage for a small group comfortably. Two or three days of bags, jackets and camera equipment fit without compromise.
• Long-road comfort. Refined suspension, quiet cruising and supportive seats matter far more over three days than any performance figure.

And there is the presence. The X6 was the car that invented the coupé-SUV idea, and the G06 generation still carries it with confidence — a broad stance, the sloping roofline, full-width rear lights. Arriving anywhere in it feels considered. You can see the full specification and current availability in our fleet section.

Day 1 — Baku to Shamakhi

Leave Baku early. The city releases you faster in the morning, and the first stretch of the route is more enjoyable before the day warms up.

The road towards Shamakhi climbs gently away from the coastal plain. The scenery changes gradually rather than dramatically: scrubland gives way to open agricultural country, and then to the vineyards the region is known for. Shamakhi itself is one of the oldest towns in the country and a place where it makes sense to slow down rather than tick off sights.

Plan a relaxed lunch here and take time at one or two quiet viewpoints along the way. Park properly and completely off the carriageway before getting out for photographs — the best views are often on stretches where stopping demands a little patience.

Day 2 — Shamakhi to Gabala

The second day is the one most travellers remember. The road continues north-west along the southern flank of the Greater Caucasus, and the landscape becomes noticeably greener. Forest replaces open country, streams cross beneath the road and the air cools with altitude.

Gabala is the natural place to stay overnight. Evenings there are cooler than in Baku even at the end of summer, and the mountain setting makes the contrast with the capital feel complete. Keep the day short enough to arrive with daylight to spare — this is a drive to enjoy, not to compress.

This is also where the X6's all-wheel drive earns its place. Not for anything adventurous, but for the simple confidence it provides on wet mountain tarmac after a late-summer shower.

Day 3 — Sheki and the road back to Baku

Sheki sits against a forested backdrop and remains one of the most atmospheric towns in Azerbaijan, known for its historic architecture and craft traditions. Give it a proper morning rather than a passing hour.

The return to Baku is long but straightforward. Break it into two parts with a stop rather than driving it in one push, and time your departure so the final stretch into the city is not left until you are tired. Arriving back at the illuminated capital after three days in the mountains is a fitting way to close the trip.

What to pack before leaving the city

A trip like this needs very little preparation, but a few things make it easier:

• Check the weather forecast for the mountain sections before departure, not just for Baku.
• Start with a full tank and refuel in larger towns rather than waiting.
• Keep your driving licence, rental documents and ID accessible.
• Bring a phone charger or power bank, and download offline maps for the route.
• Carry water and a light jacket — evenings in Gabala and Sheki are cooler than on the coast.
• Allow more daylight than you think you need, and keep to paved main roads.
• Observe posted speed limits, drive to the conditions and rest before fatigue sets in.
• Confirm current road and weather conditions with our team before you set out.

Travel farther without making the trip complicated

The logistics should be the easiest part of the journey. TORO Rent delivers the BMW X6 to Heydar Aliyev International Airport, to your hotel, or to any agreed location in Baku, so the trip can begin the moment you arrive. Every rental includes insurance and unlimited mileage, which matters on a route of this length, and availability can be confirmed quickly over WhatsApp.

If you are still planning the wider itinerary, our Azerbaijan summer road trip guide covers the country's regions in more detail, and the complete 2026 guide to luxury car rental in Baku explains how to match the right car to the right journey. More routes and practical advice are collected in TORO Insights.

Reserve the BMW X6 for your Azerbaijan road trip

Summer does not have to end quietly. Three days, four towns and a car built for exactly this kind of distance are enough to close the season properly — and to see a side of Azerbaijan that the city never shows you.