Azerbaijan · Trekking

9-Day Caucasus Trek in Azerbaijan with Khinaliq and Qriz Villages

9 Days Round trip from Baku Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Trek through remote villages in the stunning Caucasus Mountains
02 Discover the unique culture of the ethnic Qriz people
03 Visit Khinaliq, often compared to an open-air museum
04 Experience the peaceful rural charm of village life

Explore Baku before heading into the remote villages of the Caucasus Mountains in northern Azerbaijan. This 9-day trek takes you through Jek, Elik, Bostankesh, Khinaliq, Qalakhudat, Griz, and Susai, with stays in local family homes and guesthouses along the way. Discover ancient traditions, scenic mountain landscapes, and the unique culture of the Qriz people as you hike through one of the country's most isolated regions. From historic Khinaliq to the high-altitude beauty of Qalakhudat, this journey offers an authentic off-the-beaten-path experience in rural Azerbaijan.

Discover ancient traditions, scenic mountain landscapes, and the unique culture of the Qriz people as you hike through one of the country's most isolated regions.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Baku, Quba, Khinalug

Languages English, Russian, Turkish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Baku

Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Baku.

Day 02

Baku to Quba and Jek Village

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the northern region of Azerbaijan, to Quba city (3-hour trip by bus).
Transfer to the village of Jek.
Overnight in Jek (local house or tent).

Day 03

Trek from Jek to Elik and Bostankesh

Breakfast in the village with a local family.
After breakfast, a short 15-minute safety briefing about the route.
We start hiking east from Jek to Elik village (distance: 3 km, altitude: 1800 meters).
On arrival in Elik, meet a local family and get introduced to local traditions.
Time to relax and take photos.
The route continues to Bostankesh village (distance: 9 km, altitude: 2300 meters).
On arrival, dinner with a local family.
Overnight in a local family house or tent.

Day 04

Bostankesh to Khinaliq

Breakfast in the village at a local family's home.
We continue the trek. Distance: 9 km (2 km ascending); altitude: 2500 meters.
When we reach Khinaliq village, we will have an excursion around it. Khinaliq (Xinaliq, Khinalyg) is one of the most famous mountain villages in Azerbaijan. It has a population of about 2000 people. The historical and ethnic values are represented by 220 families. The few villagers of Khinaliq constitute a unique, separate ethnographic group. This mountainous settlement, located 2500 meters above sea level, is compared to an open-air museum because of its rare landscape and the unique lifestyle of its people. Khinaliq was known as the most isolated village in Azerbaijan, and its population speaks its own distinct language, Ketsh.
Dinner and overnight in a local family house.

Day 05

Khinaliq to Qalakhudat

Breakfast in the village with a local family.
Qalakhudat village is located 10 km from Khinaliq, at an altitude of 3400 meters.
After walking 4 km, we will ascend 6 km to reach Qalakhudat.
Then we will explore the village and be introduced to local traditions.
Dinner and overnight at the house of a local family.

Day 06

Qalakhudat to Griz

Breakfast with a local family.
Griz village is located 12 km from Qalakhudat, at an altitude of 2700 meters (5 km ascent and 7 km descent on the route).
Dinner and accommodation at a local family house.

Day 07

Griz Village and Darkness Valley to Susai

Breakfast at a local family house.
Drive for 1 hour to Griz village and Darkness Valley in small cars (Niva, UAZ, or another Soviet car).
Then we continue the trekking route to Susai village (6 km descending only).
Along the road, we will enjoy beautiful views.
Accommodation in Susai village.

Day 08

Susai to Baku

Breakfast in Susai village.
Transfer to Baku (3 hours).
On arrival, free time in Baku.

Day 09

Departure from Azerbaijan

Set off on your journey back home.

Where this trip takes you

Khinaliq open-air museum, Qalakhudat high-altitude pastures, Darkness Valley and Griz village

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Baku 3 cities · 9 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Accommodation included
Breakfast
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Personal insurance
Transportation at the start and back
Mountain guide expenses
Price details
Hotel accommodation for the 1st day and the 8th day

What to bring

Comfortable waterproof hiking/trekking shoes
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof pants
Waterproof backpack

Know before you go

It is recommended not to bring a suitcase, as carrying it in the mountains can be heavy and difficult. Instead, bring a backpack.

We invite you to join us on a unique 9-day trek through remote villages in the stunning green Caucasus Mountains, along Azerbaijan's northern border. Spend a wonderful time discovering unique people, places, and ancient traditions in our beautiful country, while staying at local guesthouses along the way.

We will be hiking for about 46 kilometers during these days. We will take you along a stony trail toward the land of the Qriz people, one of the many ethnic groups in the Quba district in northeastern Azerbaijan, with their roots in Caucasian Albania. Quba is home to 28 different ethnic groups living in isolated villages in this remote region.

From the city of Quba, our trekking route will take us to the remote villages of Jek, Elik, Bostankesh, Khinaliq, Qalakhudat, and then Qriz, also called Griz. You can check the day-by-day itinerary below.

The Qriz villages retain an off-the-world sense of isolation, with a simple agricultural way of life. Because of its rare landscape and the unique lifestyle of its people, Khinalig, one of the most famous mountain villages in Azerbaijan, is often compared to an open-air museum.

Although the Qriz are spread throughout various villages in Quba and Khachmaz, their headquarters is still the mountain-plateau village of Qriz, a truly unique place that is difficult to reach. Getting there is a challenging and adrenaline-filled adventure, requiring fearless local drivers and strong Russian UAZ jeeps for a thrilling trip to the summit.

The village of Qriz, with a population of about 240 people, is made up of stone houses and grassy plateaus. Its inhabitants survive on agriculture and cattle raising, so you will see flocks of sheep and roaming cows all around. Qriz boasts a peaceful rural charm, making for an authentic off-the-beaten-path experience.

If you want to discover remote rural villages on this unique 9-day trek, book your place with us. We will be happy to welcome you on this once-in-a-lifetime trip in Azerbaijan.

We offer many other hiking tours in Azerbaijan, of different durations and levels of difficulty.

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