Guba & Khinalig & Candy Mountains (Private or Group) [411824P2]
This region has always been one of the biggest and one of the most beautiful parts of Azerbaijan! So, if you decide to visit other Azerbaijani cities, we highly recommend you to see Quba! Guba has been founded in the XV century and is located 165km to the north from Baku.
Khinaliq village is the most remote village among all others in Quba. It is also the highest village as it is located in the middle of Caucasian mountains. And this remoteness is exactly what helped the inhabitants of the village to survive from the invasions. The history of this village goes right back until the Albanian period. The remains of ancient caves of early humans are still left in this territory between the mountains. Due to its long history, Khinaliq village is considered one of the oldest inhabited places in the world and has been included in the UNESCO list of World Historical Monuments.
Khinaliq village is the most remote village among all others in Quba. It is also the highest village as it is located in the middle of Caucasian mountains. And this remoteness is exactly what helped the inhabitants of the village to survive from the invasions. The history of this village goes right back until the Albanian period. The remains of ancient caves of early humans are still left in this territory between the mountains. Due to its long history, Khinaliq village is considered one of the oldest inhabited places in the world and has been included in the UNESCO list of World Historical Monuments.
ADDITIONAL INFO
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
INCLUDED
- All Entrance Ticket
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Lunch - Azerbaijani National Dishes (Local House-Museum)
- Professional Tour guide – English, Russian
- Pickup and drop-off service from accommodation(in Baku only)
NOT INCLUDED
- Any personal expenses
- The fee for a Soviet off-road vehicle that will transport you to the village. (30azn per person)
CANCELLATION POLICY
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
ITINERARY
- We will pick up from central hotels in Baku except Hotels that are situated in the Old City and near by. That guests are coming to the Double Gates - main gates of the Old City (Qosha Qala qapisi).
- Just over an hour’s drive north-west of Baku along the Guba highway is a 382-metre high mountain whose bizarre shape long ago led to it being called Mt. Beshbarmag, which is Azerbaijani for ‘Five-finger Mountain’. Legend has it that sometime in the ancient past a prophet called Khidr ventured here in search of a ‘potion of life’ and having drunk from a spring at the summit achieved immortality. Today the mountain is shrouded in mystery with locals coming here to pray for strength and good fortune.
- One of Azerbaijan’s most beautiful stretches of road leads for about 40 kilometres from the Guba-Baku highway west towards the mountain village of Altiaghaj. Roughly mid-way between the two one passes through a dramatic valley flanked by rolling shale mountains whose astonishing red, orange, pink and chalk-coloured swirls led British travel writer Mark Elliott (author of the very popular 'Azerbaijan' guidebook) to dub them the Candy Cane Mountains, a name that’s stuck with travellers ever since.
- The next destination will be Guba city, which is located in one of the most beautiful natural landscapes of Azerbaijan. On the way to Guba, our guests will visit the unique settlement of Jews in mountains, "Caucasian Jerusalem" - the Red Town. The village has 13 synagogues, among which two are operational. There are about 4-5 thousand Jews live in Qirmizi Qesebe that is symbol of pluralism in Azerbaijan and symbol of peace and harmony among the different religions.
- If you go further from Gechresh forest, you find yourself in the Gudyalchay canyons: steep ascents and descents of the road pass through the steep walls of the gorge. The road that passes through two mountains, steep cliffs as well as beautify forest make the view of this village charming.
- Qechresh is one of the largest villages in the Guba region. The area is covered with forest on all sides. Qechresh is famous for its natural springs and plants.
- In winter or during heavy rain, we will need to switch to a Soviet off-road vehicle to reach Khinalug!!! Khinalig is an ancient Caucasian village dating back to the Caucasian Albanian period. It is located north of Guba, in the midst of the mountains of the Greater Caucasus, which divide Russia and the South Caucasus, at an altitude of 2100-2200 meters above sea level over the Kudialchay River. Famous for its language, peculiar customs and traditions. Today, about two thousand people live in Khinalig. Almost the entire population is indigenous. In Khinalig retain their language for more than 4000 years.
- We will start 9 Am in the morning. The way to Guba Khinaluq and Back to Baku total duration which we spent in the car will be approximately 8 hours
