Horseback Riding Azerbaijan: Caucasus Forest & Mountain Rivers

Ride deep into untouched forest and drink mountain water straight from the river.

Horseback riding in the Greater Caucasus near Baku combines three kilometers of riding through dense forest with mountain river crossings and hill ascents. You ride horses trained for steep terrain, stop for a picnic and herbal tea made from forest plants, then return to a mountain village for another tea ceremony before heading back to the city. A professional horseman leads the full-day activity, available as a private or group experience.

The experience

The ride starts with horses adapted for ascending and descending hills while staying calm enough for riders of any experience level. You'll travel three kilometers deep into forest that sees few visitors, crossing mountain rivers and navigating the terrain the Greater Caucasus demands. The guide is a professional horseman and instructor who manages both the route and the animals.

Midway through, the group stops in the forest for a picnic: sausages cooked over a campfire, fresh salad with tomatoes and cucumbers, bread baked in a tandir oven, and herbal tea brewed from medicinal plants that grow only on these mountain peaks. After the ride ends, before returning to Baku, you'll have another tea ceremony in a mountain village restaurant, a moment designed to settle the day's exertion.

The full outing runs 12 hours from pickup. You can book it as a private experience or join a group. Group tours include a traditional sweet called "Three Ears" alongside the tea ceremony. Guides speak English or Russian, and the air-conditioned vehicle handles transport to and from the trailhead.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for pickup and return transport.
• professional horseman guide who speaks English or Russian.
• herbal tea in the forest and again at the mountain village restaurant.
• picnic in the forest with sausages cooked on campfire, fresh salad, tandir bread, and herbal tea.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private horseback riding in AzerbaijanGuide in English or Russian · No fixed timePickup is included

Group horseback riding tourGuide in English or Russian · 07:00Horseback riding, lasting 13 hours, includes pickup

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 07:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 to 65 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 18 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by ATI

Is this one for you?Book the private option if you want the ride and forest stops without a group, or choose the group tour if the traditional sweet and formal tea ceremony at the village restaurant appeal to you: both follow the same mountain route and include all the core riding and picnic elements.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

12 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What are the horses like on this ride?

The horses are bred and trained specifically for mountain work. They cross rivers, climb and descend steep hills, and handle rough terrain safely. They're also calm and friendly, which makes them suitable for riders without prior experience.

How much actual riding do I do in the 12 hours?

The core ride covers three kilometers into the forest, but the full 12-hour day includes pickup from Baku, the ride itself, a picnic stop with tea in the forest, and a final tea ceremony in the village before the return drive to the city.

What's included in the picnic?

The forest picnic includes sausages cooked on a campfire, fresh salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and greens, bread baked in a tandir oven, and herbal tea made from medicinal plants that grow in the mountains. Group tours also include the traditional sweet "Three Ears" and a tea ceremony at the village restaurant afterward.

Do I need to bring water or food?

No. You'll drink fresh mountain water from the river during the ride, and the guide provides herbal tea in the forest and again at the village restaurant. The picnic with cooked food is part of the experience.

What's the difference between the private and group options?

Both follow the same route and include the picnic and tea ceremonies. The group tour adds the traditional "Three Ears" sweet and a formal tea ceremony at the village restaurant. The private option gives you the ride and refreshments without that extra element.