From Baku: Guba & Khinalig & Candy Mountains (Private or Group)
Description
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.
Tour Options
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 meeting point - Garage Azparking
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.
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.
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.
Qriz Bridge. Suspended between steep cliffs and surrounded by dramatic landscapes, this spot is one of the most picturesque in the region. The bridge offers a perfect backdrop for unforgettable photos, making it a favorite stop for travelers and photographers alike
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.
On the way to Khinaliq village, we will make a stop at the breathtaking Eagle Top viewpoint. This natural landmark, located high in the mountains, offers panoramic views of deep valleys and winding roads. The place is named after its eagle-shaped rock formation and the frequent sight of wild eagles soaring in the sky. We will stop here to take beautiful photos of the stunning mountain landscapes and enjoy the fresh Caucasus air.
We will start approximately 8 Am in the morning. The way to Guba Khinaliq and Back to Baku total duration which we spent in the car will be approximately 8 hours
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.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The tour starts at approximately 8:00 a.m. near the parking garage located next to the Old City (Icherisheher). We also provide pickup from central hotels in Baku, except for hotels located on Nizami Street (pedestrian/shopping area) or inside the Old City. In these cases, guests are kindly asked to come to the designated meeting point. Pickup usually starts 30–40 minutes before the tour departure. The exact pickup or meeting time will be sent one day before the tour date via WhatsApp or email.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(92)
Great experience overall. Well organized, Worth the value. Leyla was our guide, she is so nice & have great guiding skills. Thanks also to the driver. Smooth drive .
Leyla our tour guide was so informative describe the facts throughout our journey. I really appreciate when the homeowner at Khinaliq village where we have our lunch allowed me to perform my prayer at her house. The Khinaliq village is unique, such a place that tradition was preserved. Love this trip.
super trip with Layla nice mautains
The tour of Khinalug was great! Even though the car journey was long, the stops were excellent and there were many things to admire. Congratulations in particular to the guide Leyli (fantastic) and the driver Mahmoud. It's a must do tour of you are in Baku.
We had a great time, visited places with beautiful views. The bathroom breaks were always at the right time. Leyla, our tour guide, was kind and attentive. She created a good atmosphere for us.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback! We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful views and the overall experience. It’s great to know the trip felt comfortable and well-organized. We truly appreciate your review and hope to welcome you again on another tour in Azerbaijan!
Ruslan is an excellent guide who provided us with comprehensive information about the places we visited, he’s also a very responsible driver, the whole drive from Baku to Khinalig was very smooth, without excessive speed and we felt safe on all the sections of the road. The highlight of the tour was the village of Khinalig which is very special and authentic. We also had a nice lunch there included in the tour program. There was also a friendly dog who accompanied us as we hiked through the village. Overall, we definitely recommend this tour and Ruslan as a guide.
Thank you very much for your wonderful and detailed feedback! We’re truly happy to hear that you enjoyed the journey, felt safe throughout the trip, and had a memorable experience. It’s great to know the day left such a positive impression. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again on another tour in Azerbaijan!
I enjoyed the trip to Xinalyk with Leyla, the tour guide. Everything was so organised. They picked me up from the hotel. During the trip, Leyla took photos and video for us. The views of landscapes and mountains was stunning. In the highest village we had delisious lunch. If you travel to Baku, please visit Khinalig. This place definitely deserves your time.
Thank you very much for your kind and detailed feedback! We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour, the organization, and the beautiful landscapes along the way. It’s great to know the experience left such a positive impression. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in the future!
During this trip we went to Candy Cane Mountain all the way to Khinaliq village near the Russian border. Leyla was a very knowledgeable and hospitable guide who went above and beyond to ensure the entire trip went as smoothly and enjoyable as possible.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback! We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the journey and the overall experience. It means a lot to us that the trip felt smooth and enjoyable. We truly appreciate your review and hope to welcome you again on another tour in Azerbaijan!
Candy Mountains, Guna and Khinalig Village are well worth a visit. The guide, Leyla, explained all the details, keeping the group united and interested. Very good. The impeccable driver.
Grazie mille per la bellissima recensione! Siamo molto felici che abbiate apprezzato i Candy Mountains, Guba e il villaggio di Khinalig. Leyla sarà davvero contenta di sapere che le sue spiegazioni e la sua energia hanno reso il tour interessante per tutti, e trasmetteremo anche i vostri complimenti al nostro autista. Speriamo di rivedervi presto in Azerbaigian!
The tour is very interesting but unfortunately the weather wasn't good, a heavy snow started when we got Khinalug, the way to go up was completely white but with care the cars got the village, but it was very difficult on the way back, both cars had serious problems to driving through the snowed road and they both slippered on the road, one of them had no chains and the other one even with chains was difficult to manage. The drivers asked to walked down so many meters, about 20 or 30minuts trought the snow, we were really afraid as was getting dark and the way down were 2h driving on that terrible road. The forecast was that snow was coming theses days, it was not unexpected, no plan b at all to get down, the tour should be cancel on these conditions. Leyla, our guide was very kind, helpful and very professional all the time. Thanks Leyla! she explained all history and details.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We would like to clarify an important point: weather conditions in mountainous regions such as Khinalug are unpredictable and are not something a tour operator can control. Snowfall in winter is absolutely normal for this area and cannot be considered a failure of the tour organization. Also the statement that guests had to walk 20–30 minutes is not accurate. The walking distance was approximately 5–10 minutes only, and it was requested strictly for safety reasons. This section of the road has a very steep slope and was the most snow-covered part of the entire route. We did not want to take any unnecessary risks with vehicles on that specific stretch. It is important to note that this was the only section where guests were asked to walk. All other parts of the route were passed without difficulty by the vehicles, and there were no issues elsewhere. Our main priority is always the safety of our guests. Despite the difficult weather conditions, our drivers managed the situation professionally and ensured that everyone returned safely. The decision to walk part of the way was taken purely for safety reasons, which is always more important than comfort or speed. We do not operate tours when we know in advance that conditions are impossible or roads are closed. In this case, the road was open, and the situation changed during the tour — something that can happen in mountain areas anywhere in the world. We also kindly remind that guests are free to check the weather forecast themselves and decide whether they feel comfortable joining a mountain tour, especially in winter. Lowering the rating solely due to weather conditions is therefore unfair, as this is beyond the control of the guide, drivers, or company. We truly appreciate your kind words about our guide Leyla — she is indeed very professional, caring, and dedicated, and we are glad her work was recognized. We hope that on a future visit, under better weather conditions, you will be able to fully enjoy the beauty of Khinalug.
