Guba & Khinalug Tour: Candy Cane Mountains & Ancient Village

Red and white striped mountains, a 5,000-year-old village, and lunch cooked in someone's kitchen

A full-day tour from Baku to the Guba region and Khinalug village, with a live guide in your choice of five languages. You'll see the Candy Cane Mountains (hills striped in red, orange and white from mineral oxidation) explore the Five Finger Mountain and Gachrash Forest, visit Khinalug's mosque and museum, and eat lunch prepared in a local home. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, parking fees, and photo stops throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Guba and Khinalug Village

• Visit Candy Cane Mountains
• Explore Five Finger Mountain
• Walk through Gachrash Forest
• Discover ancient Khinalug Village
• Tour Khinalug Mosque and Museum
• Enjoy lunch in local home

The experience

The Candy Cane Mountains are the draw here: rare hills in shades of red, orange and white, formed by oxidation of minerals in the rock, that look exactly like their name. You'll photograph them in the Guba region, then move on to Five Finger Mountain, a range shaped like an open hand with hiking trails and views across the landscape. The guide shares stories about the area as you travel between stops.

Gachrash Forest covers over 500 hectares and fills the middle of the day. You walk through dense vegetation and past clear streams, with a chance to spot deer, wild boars and various bird species. In autumn the leaves turn yellow, orange and red. The rest of the year the forest stays green and quiet. The guide points out the wildlife and the landscape as you move through on foot.

Khinalug itself is a stone village in the Greater Caucasus Mountains that has been inhabited for over 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied places in Azerbaijan. The houses are built of stone and the residents speak their own language, distinct from Azerbaijani. You'll visit the Khinalug Mosque and the Khinalug Museum to learn the area's history, then sit down to lunch cooked in a local home: a meal included in the price. The tour runs 12 to 13 hours total, with the remaining time spent traveling between sites. An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up and drops you off, and the guide is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or one additional language.

What’s included

• A live guide in English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or one additional language.
• lunch cooked in a local home.
• an air-conditioned vehicle with parking fees included.
• photo stops at each site.

Options for this experience

2 options

Shared tour, lunch includedGuide in 5 languages · No fixed timeOff road fee is not included: it costs 30 AZN per person

Includes lunch and off roadGuide in 5 languages · 09:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Turkish

Audio guideGerman and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 18

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Baku Heritage Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the shared tour if you're comfortable meeting other travelers and want the standard route through all five sites. Pick the off-road option if you want to reach less-accessible areas of the mountains and forest and don't mind rougher terrain.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the Candy Cane Mountains and why do they have those colors?

The Candy Cane Mountains in the Guba region are hills with striking red, orange and white striped layers, formed by the oxidation of minerals in the rock. The colorful patterns resemble the swirls of a candy cane, which is how they got their name. They're a rare natural formation and a favorite spot for photographers.

How old is Khinalug village and what will I see there?

Khinalug has been inhabited for over 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied villages in Azerbaijan. The houses are built of stone and the residents speak their own distinct language. You'll visit the Khinalug Mosque and the Khinalug Museum to learn about the area's history and culture.

What happens during the lunch stop in Khinalug?

Lunch is served in a local home in Khinalug, cooked by residents there. It's included in the tour price and gives you a chance to eat a meal prepared locally and experience daily life in the village.

What wildlife and plants will I see in Gachrash Forest?

Gachrash Forest covers over 500 hectares and is home to deer, wild boars and various bird species. The forest has dense vegetation and clear streams running through it. In autumn the leaves turn yellow, orange and red. In other seasons it remains green.

How long is the full tour and what's included in the price?

The tour runs 12 to 13 hours from Baku. Included are the guide, lunch in a local home, an air-conditioned vehicle, parking fees and photo stops at each site. Depending on the option you choose, off-road access may also be included.