Nature & Adventure in Azerbaijan

Explore the mud volcanoes of Baku
Home to the world’s greatest concentration of mud volcanoes, the landscape around Baku might be described as messy, bubbling, and sometimes explosive. The country is thought to have nearly 400 mud volcanoes and while they never grow to the size of a normal volcano, topping out at around 10 kilometres in diameter and 700 metres in height (among the largest mud volcanoes in the world are Boyuk Kanizadag and Toraghai, both in Azerbaijan), they do occasionally get the chance to show off.

Mud volcanoes occur where tectonic movement allows subterranean gases to escape to the surface. A few of these gas leaks are constantly on fire, shooting small perpetual flames into the air, and some believe that these perpetual flames are strongly connected to the appearance of Zoroastrianism in Azerbaijan about 2,000 years ago. Located a 1.5-hour drive from Baku, the mud volcanoes at Dashgil near the Gobustan Reserve are the most popular to visit.

 

Hiking Guba’s mountain villages
Surrounded by such outstanding mountain vistas and unique flora and fauna, there is no better way to appreciate the magic of Guba’s many mountain villages than on foot. Visitors are more than welcome to join eco-friendly hiking tours through settlements such as Griz, Galakhudat, Laza and Khinalig located near the Shahdag National Park and its iconic peak, Mount Shahdag. You’ll be able to experience the majestic landscapes of the Caucasus Mountains and its multi-ethnic peoples accompanied by experienced guides who will be happy to share local stories and traditions.

 

Be inspired by Lake Goygol
Thirty kilometres from the city of Goygol, visit the Goygol National Park for its stunning, crystal-clear lakes, the largest of which is Lake Goygol. Sitting 1,500 metres above sea level surrounded by lush forests in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, many consider Goygol (meaning Blue Lake) to be Azerbaijan’s most beautiful lake. It formed after an earthquake in 1139 sent rocks tumbling from the peak of Mount Kapaz, which towers above adding drama to the wonderful scenery. Given its beauty, Lake Goygol has long been a source of inspiration for Azerbaijani artists, musicians and writers, including the great Nizami Ganjavi who lived in the region in the 12th century.

 

Explore Lankaran’s nature reserves
Bordered by the Caspian Sea and the lush Talysh Mountains, Lankaran is ideally placed between two of Azerbaijan’s best nature reserves. The swamps of the Gizil Aghaj reserve on the Caspian coast just north of Lankaran city are famous for being home to a multitude of water birds, not least the flamingo which migrates here from Africa each winter. Meanwhile, the vast Hirkan National Park spreads throughout the Lankaran and Astara regions. It’s a botanist’s paradise home to a huge variety of trees, including ancient iron trees that survived the last ice age as well as the very endangered Caucasian leopard. Over a dozen marked routes offer great hiking opportunities, some with lunch stops and tea breaks along the way in timeless local villages.

 

Skiing at Tufandag
For skiing enthusiasts tired of the traditional slopes, Azerbaijan’s two ski resorts in the Caucasus Mountains are a spectacular change of scenery. The one at Tufandag, just 4 kilometres from Gabala city centre, offers 12 kilometres of slopes, with a mix of challenging reds and blacks for experts and easy options for beginners. The slopes are kitted out with state-of-the-art snow guns and accessed by a network of cable cars, which offer gorgeous views of the Caucasus Mountains. There’s also an a ski school and a range of accommodation options including several luxury and upper-mid level hotels. In summer visitors can enjoy plenty of outdoor adventures, from hiking and cycling to paragliding and jeep tours.

 

Winter & summer adventures at Shahdag
For skiing enthusiasts tired of the traditional slopes, Azerbaijan’s two ski resorts in the Caucasus Mountains are a spectacular change of scenery. The luxury resorts at Shahdag have world-class amenities, 14 well-prepared slopes, friendly instructors and diligent staff. Piste quality is ensured by state-of-the-art snow guns and accessed by a brand new network of world-class cable cars and ski lifts. For more advanced skiers, black runs await at the Tufandag Mountain Resort in Gabala. But even for non-skiers there’s plenty to do: besides rental and repair shops, both resorts are well equipped with cafes, bars and restaurants; and both are open in summer, allowing visitors to soak in the fabulous scenery all year round and enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and paragliding.

 

Hiking in the Candy Cane Mountains
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 astonishing colours are said to be due to groundwater that’s altered the oxidation state of iron compounds within the rock. If taking an organised hike here, which can be booked through tour companies in Baku and is preferably undertaken in autumn or spring, glance down beneath your feet: you may discover tiny fossils and perhaps even a squid-like belemnite from the cretaceous period.

 

Discover the mysteries of Beshbarmag Mountain
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. As a tourist attraction, it’s well worth climbing to witness a number of age-old spiritual rituals as well as for the fantastic views of the Caspian Sea from the summit. What’s more, the general area is also one of Azerbaijan’s best birdwatching sites, with the corridor between the mountains and the sea acting as a bottleneck for hundreds of migrating bird species.

 

Visit the mountain village of Khinalig
One of Azerbaijan’s top ethno-tourism spots, the picturesque village of Khinalig is located at over 2,000 metres and is said to be connected to the story of Noah, who some believe dropped anchor here during the Great Flood. Due to the steep terrain, the village’s 380 houses – many between 200-300 years old – are built very close together, with each roof doubling up as the courtyard for the house above. As descendants of one of the ancient Caucasian Albanian tribes, the locals speak a completely unique language. Travelling here will allow you to discover an intriguing local culture while experiencing the full majesty of the Caucasus Mountains.

 

Tee off in Baku
Golf may not be the first thing travellers associate with Azerbaijan but Baku’s Dreamland Golf Club is an 18-hole course offering golf enthusiasts plenty of thrills, challenges and impressive landscapes. The course is scenic yet challenging and suited to golfers of all abilities. It spreads across 330 hectares of Baku’s lush green suburbs, offering a unique Caucasian golfing experience with a Mediterranean feel. Baku’s famous winds present an added challenge!

 

Play golf in the beautiful country side of Guba
Golf may not be the first thing travellers associate with Azerbaijan but two 18-hole courses offer plenty of thrills, challenges and impressive landscapes. Dreamland Gold Club has a scenic yet challenging course suited to golfers of all abilities that spreads across 330 hectares of Baku’s lush green suburbs, but golfers with more time to spare should travel north to Guba’s National Golf Club course in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. This was the first course to open in Azerbaijan and played host to the Azerbaijan Challenge Open in 2014, the country’s first professional tournament. It has a purpose-built clubhouse with luxurious locker rooms, a shop to suit every golfer’s needs and some truly unique dining options. But it’s the idyllic Caucasian countryside and mountain views that really make playing here an unforgettable experience.