discover untouched beauty in the Greater Caucasus Mountains
The monumental Great Caucasus mountains offer well-defined hiking routes that create opportunities for authentic cultural experiences against an incredible backdrop. The range emerges in the north of Azerbaijan and its lower slopes are fertile, brimming with fruit trees and worked by livestock farmers. The people of the region have been there for generations, and there’s a feeling of history – natural and human – to it.
The eight-kilometer trail between the villages of Yergi Kek and Kuzun can be traveled all year. Yergi Kek is one of the highest villages in Azerbaijan, and this route offers views of lush subalpine meadows. The beauty of touring Azerbaijan is its untouched nature, but this means that visitors should plan their accommodation in advance, and book the area’s single guest house early.
The trail from Khinalig to Galakhudat has a different feel to it, especially in winter, when the magnificent mountains are covered in snow. But there’s more than beautiful scenery to enjoy here. The village forms a part of the Khinalig Historical, Architectural and Ethnographical Reserve which runs along one side of the Great Caucasus. Its people are one of the oldest ethnic groups in the country, and the language they use is spoken only in the village, though there are shared cultural and historical connections throughout the area.
The Lankaran region has an equally stunning alternative to the Caucasian mountains in the form of the Talysh range. The region has one of the only subtropical climates in the country, so the mossy green forests with their unique fauna are quite different to what can be seen in the rest of Azerbaijan. Two national parks, the Gizilaghaj Reserve, and the Hirkan National Park, both of which offer dramatic vistas of the mountains and tranquil walks along the shores of the historic Caspian Sea, and the region is a place to spot, among other species, flamingos, Caucasian leopards, and the Caspian tit.
The trail from Khinalig to Galakhudat has a different feel to it, especially in winter, when the magnificent mountains are covered in snow. But there’s more than beautiful scenery to enjoy here. The village forms a part of the Khinalig Historical, Architectural and Ethnographical Reserve which runs along one side of the Great Caucasus. Its people are one of the oldest ethnic groups in the country, and the language they use is spoken only in the village, though there are shared cultural and historical connections throughout the area.
The Lankaran region has an equally stunning alternative to the Caucasian mountains in the form of the Talysh range. The region has one of the only subtropical climates in the country, so the mossy green forests with their unique fauna are quite different to what can be seen in the rest of Azerbaijan. Two national parks, the Gizilaghaj Reserve, and the Hirkan National Park, both of which offer dramatic vistas of the mountains and tranquil walks along the shores of the historic Caspian Sea, and the region is a place to spot, among other species, flamingos, Caucasian leopards, and the Caspian tit.
