Guba & Khinalig Day Trip: Ancient Village & Candy Mountains

12-hour mountain loop: red rock valleys, eagle viewpoint, UNESCO village with ancient language

This 12-hour guided tour from Baku travels 165 kilometers north to Guba and the remote mountain village of Khinalig, a UNESCO-listed settlement dating to the Caucasian Albanian period and still home to its original language and customs. The route passes through the Candy Mountains—a 40-kilometer stretch of red, orange and pink shale formations—stops at the Eagle Top viewpoint, crosses the Qriz Bridge suspended between cliffs, and descends through the Gudyalchay canyons before reaching Khinalig at 2,100 meters elevation. Pickup from central Baku hotels is included, as are all entrance tickets, a professional English or Russian-speaking guide, an air-conditioned vehicle, and homemade Azerbaijani lunch; you choose between a group or private tour, and whether lunch is part of your option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Guba and Khinalig region

• Pick up from central Baku hotels
• Drive through Candy Cane Mountains
• Pass by Five-finger Mountain
• Visit Qechresh village and springs
• Stop at Qriz Bridge for photos
• Drive through Gudyalchay canyons
• Stop at Eagle Top viewpoint
• Visit ancient Khinalig village
• Return to Baku

The Experience

The drive out of Baku heads northwest along the Guba highway, and within an hour the landscape shifts. The Candy Mountains appear—a 40-kilometer corridor of rolling shale cliffs striped in red, orange, pink and chalk, a stretch so distinctive that travel writer Mark Elliott named it after candy cane swirls, and the name stuck. The road winds through this valley before the first major stop: Mt. Beshbarmag, a 382-meter peak shaped like a hand with five fingers, where legend says a prophet once sought the potion of life at a mountain spring.

From there the route moves deeper into the Guba region. You pass through Qechresh, one of the largest villages, surrounded by forest and known for natural springs, then cross the Qriz Bridge, which hangs between steep cliffs and serves as one of the most photographed spots in the area. The road then enters the Gudyalchay canyons, where the highway climbs and descends through narrow gorge walls flanked by forest. Before the final ascent to Khinalig, you stop at Eagle Top, a high mountain viewpoint named for its eagle-shaped rock formation and the wild eagles that circle there; the panorama opens onto deep valleys and the winding road below.

Khinalig itself sits at 2,100 to 2,200 meters elevation in the Greater Caucasus, a village of about two thousand people whose language has remained unbroken for over four thousand years. The settlement dates to the Caucasian Albanian period, and the UNESCO listing reflects its status as one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited places. Remains of ancient caves and early human habitation still lie scattered in the territory between the mountains. The entire day—drive, stops, the village itself, and the return to Baku—takes approximately 12 hours in the vehicle. Lunch is Azerbaijani home cooking, and all entrance fees are covered.

What’s included

• All entrance tickets to the sites visited.
• homemade Azerbaijani lunch (included in the Group Tour With Lunch and Private Tour options).
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• professional guide in English or Russian.
• pickup and drop-off from your Baku accommodation.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Azerbaijan Explorer

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if you want to set your own pace at each stop and avoid sharing the guide's attention; pick the group option if you prefer to split the cost and don't mind a shared vehicle. Either way, the 12-hour commitment means a full day away from Baku, so plan this for a day when you have nothing else scheduled.

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Top questions

What is Khinalig village actually like when you arrive there?

Khinalig is a remote mountain settlement at 2,100 meters elevation in the Greater Caucasus, home to about two thousand indigenous residents who have spoken the same language for more than four thousand years. The village dates to the Caucasian Albanian period, and archaeological remains of ancient caves and early human habitation are still visible in the territory between the mountains surrounding it.

How long do you spend driving versus time at the actual stops?

The total time in the vehicle for the round trip from Baku is approximately 8 hours. The remaining time in the 12-hour day is spent at the stops: the Candy Mountains viewpoints, Mt. Beshbarmag, the Qriz Bridge, Eagle Top, and Khinalig village itself, plus the lunch break.

Does the tour include lunch, or is that an add-on?

Lunch is included in the Group Tour With Lunch and Private Tour options; it is not included in the Group Tour Without Lunch option. When included, it is homemade Azerbaijani national dishes served during the day.

What are the Candy Mountains, and do you stop there to walk around?

The Candy Mountains are a 40-kilometer stretch of rolling shale cliffs striped in red, orange, pink and chalk colors, located between Guba and the mountain villages. The tour passes through this valley and stops at viewpoints along the way for photographs, though the stops are primarily for viewing and photos rather than extended hiking.

Is this tour private, or will you be in a group with other travelers?

You can choose between a Private Tour or a Group Tour at checkout. Both options include an air-conditioned vehicle and a professional guide who speaks English or Russian; the private option means you travel with your own party only, while the group option shares the vehicle and guide with other travelers.

Where does the pickup happen, and what time does the tour start?

Pickup is from central Baku hotels (excluding Old City hotels and those nearby; guests at those locations meet at Garage Azparking). The tour starts at approximately 8 a.m. and returns to Baku after the 12-hour loop.