Guba, Candy Cane mountain, Khinaliq village with HOMEMADE lunch
Description
What makes this tour truly unique is the combination of breathtaking landscapes, cultural experiences, and adventure. You will marvel at the stunning 'Candy Cane Mountains,' and as we travel to Khinaliq, you will be surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery that will leave you speechless. The tour also includes a one-of-a-kind experience of having lunch in a local house-museum, enjoying a homemade meal made from fresh, natural ingredients, including freshly baked bread. To top it off, the journey to Khinaliq features an exciting off-road adventure, adding an extra touch of thrill to your unforgettable day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We pick up from central hotels in Baku exept Hotels that aresituated in the Old City and near by. That guests are coming to the Double Gates - main gates of the Old City (Qosha Qala qapisi)
The Candy Cane Mountains are shale mountains in the Khizi and Siyazan districts of Azerbaijan, part of the Greater Caucasus mountain range. The 'Candy Cane Mountains' were originally dubbed so by travel author Mark Elliott in his guidebook 'Azerbaijan with Excursions to Georgia'. The mountains' colors are produced by groundwater that alters the oxidation state of the iron compounds in the earth.
Besh Barmag Mountain (Beşbarmaq Dağı) — one of Azerbaijan’s most iconic natural landmarks — rises dramatically near the Caspian Sea, about 90 km north of Baku. Meaning “Five Fingers” in Azerbaijani, its unique shape makes it a striking sight along the highway to Quba. A sacred pilgrimage site for centuries, visitors climb the stone steps to the Khitir Baba shrine, tie colorful ribbons for good luck, and enjoy panoramic views of the sea and steppe. It’s easily reachable by car and perfect for a short scenic stop or a light hike with spiritual atmosphere.
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.
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.
Eagle Height: with clear view of flying Eagles in Northern Caucasus skies.
The mountain village of Khinalig, which is included in the list of UNESCO historical monuments of world importance. With its inaccessibility, unique language, unique architectural appearance, and culture, the village attracts tourists from all over the world. Since 2007, Khinalig has been declared an ethnographic reserve. On the way to Khinalig, you can often see eagles flying overhead, wild horses galloping along the banks of stony rivers and clouds descending so low that sometimes they can even be touched. During the tour, you’ll enjoy a full traditional lunch prepared by a local family in the heart of Khinaliq village. This is not a simple snack or a basic plate – it’s a complete meal with four different homemade dishes, showcasing the rich flavors of authentic mountain cuisine.
You'll return to the starting point
You will spend at least 8 hours on the road (go and back).
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The tour starts at 8 a.m. We pick up from central hotels in Baku exept Hotels that aresituated in the Old City and near by. Please note that if your hotel or accommodation is located within the Old City (Icherisheher) or on Nizami Street (Targovaya), we kindly ask you to walk to the nearest designated pick-up point, as minibuses are not allowed to enter these areas. We'll send You the pickup (meeting) time 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
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(111)
One of the best group tours. Huseyin as a host of this trip was an amazing communicator and knowledgeable to provide us with the history of each place. I faced a problem to navigate my way to the pick up point and he made sure to wait and pick me up from that spot. I highly recommend anyone travelling solo to be part of this journey. The hike up to the khinaliq village for views and the food is definitely worth it all.
Great experience. Leyla, our guide, was very friendly and helpful and explained everything well. We really enjoyed the meal and visiting Khinaliq village. The drive there was beautiful, as well, with amazing waterfalls, and spectacular mountain views.
Ley was a brilliant tour guide, punctual and friendly. We got to see so much, my recommendation is - don’t look at all the photos of where you’re going, so you can expect the unexpected. It’s a tour worth your while.
I had an amazing time on the tour. The day included a number of varied stops with some superb views. The highlight was finishing at Khinalug, where we enjoyed a lovely lunch in a traditional home. Our guide Leyla was knowledgable and enthusiastic and made the day even more special. Would highly recommend this tour - it was the highlight of my time in Azerbaijan and exceeded expectations.
We were asked not to leave a negative review for a partial refund of partial refund as the car broke down and trip details were incorrect. Be careful to check/call and or cancel in time for full refund as pick up location, places visited, timings change dramatically and management team needs improvement. For example, en route, we were told Guba carpet school was closed for renovations whilst a stop at a souvenir shop had locals tell us and the tour guide that it was open until 6pm on the day and was never closed for renovations. One of several sites unseen.
This is a great tour that gives you access to a very remote area. Thanks to Leyla, our guide, for making the day such a positive experience.
For nature beauty lovers, this tour bring you to the most scenic parts of Azerbaijan from the deep forest to high mountain. Bring water and some snacks with you as the trip is long and you jave late lunch in the village up to 2300m high to sea level. Perfect services with super drivers showing you the best view on the rocky mountain.
It was a great trip! Honestly the best sightseeing we did in Aserbaidschan hands down. The views are stunning, the village is super interesting and the food was superb! Also our guide Leyla was the best! She was super knowledgeable and friendly and made this a wonderful experience. Can’t recommend this enough. I didn’t know, this country was so beautiful!
The tour changed scheduling, pick up point and itinerary details with less than 24 hours notice before commencement with the reasons varying so can’t be certain which version is correct when trying to accept the differences and disappointment. Best to call before cancellation deadline for most accurate information. Average because the route through mountains and forests, and Xinaliq, are beautiful locations regardless of tour company and we absolutely recommend visiting the area. (We transited through Guba and guide was apologetic for not seeing the sites there, likely resulting from 45 minute stop on roadside due to our broken down vehicle.) Company offered 20% refund.
This trip was absolutely excellent! Our tour guide, Leyla, was incredibly friendly, kind, and truly dedicated to her job. She brought so much joy to our journey and even helped us capture those special moments along the way. The views were breathtaking, and the entire journey was both stunning and exciting. One of the highlights was the amazing home-cooked food that was arranged for us — it felt like visiting a living museum! I was fascinated by the old collections that beautifully connected to tribal life and history. It was an unforgettable experience, and I’m so grateful for Leyla’s warmth and effort in making this trip so memorable. Highly recommended!
