Khizi-Shahdag tour: Candy Cane Mountains and pink lake

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Free cancellation

1/7

Duration11h–13h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · RU

Mobile ticketAccepted

Red and white rock formations rise across a landscape shaped over millions of years

A guided tour through northern Azerbaijan visiting the Pink Lake, Candy Cane Mountains and Shahdag Mountain Resort, with professional guides, air-conditioned transport and around two hours of free time at the resort. The Pink Lake closes December through April due to seasonal color loss, shifting the day's focus to Shahdag and the colored mountains instead. Lunch and resort activity tickets are not included.

11h–13h

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore natural wonders of Azerbaijan

Visit Pink Lake (Masazir)
Explore Candy Cane Mountains
See Beshbarmaq Mountain and Pir Hydyr Zundzha
Walk through Gechresh Forest
Enjoy free time at Shahdag Mountain Resort

The Experience

Eleven to thirteen hours takes you through four distinct landscapes. The day starts at the Pink Lake in Masazir—one of only eight pink lakes in the world, its mineral-rich water turning a shade most travelers have never seen. From there the route follows the M1 motorway north past Beshbarmaq Mountain, a five-peaked landmark with its own mythology; your guide explains both the legends and the actual history of the place and its inhabitants. The drive itself carries you through changing terrain, so the journey is part of what you are seeing.

The Candy Cane Mountains in Khizi are the visual anchor of the day. Bright reds, oranges and whites layer across the hillsides in stripes that genuinely do look like sweets, the result of mineral deposits and millions of years of geological work. You stop here to walk and photograph; the formations shift color depending on the light and the angle you approach from. Between the mountains and Shahdag, the route passes through Gechresh Forest, where the canopy grows so dense that locals use lamps even during daylight hours.

Shahdag Mountain Resort sits in the Greater Caucasus near Qusar City and gets around two hours of free time. The resort runs cable cars and winter activities depending on the season; you can try what appeals to you or simply sit with the views. Transport is air-conditioned throughout, and your guide speaks English or Russian. Note that the Pink Lake closes from December through April because the water loses its pink color in winter, so winter departures spend the freed time at Shahdag and the colored mountains instead.

What’s included

Professional tour guides in English or Russian.
air-conditioned transport throughout the day.
visits to the Pink Lake (Masazir), Candy Cane Mountains, Beshbarmaq Mountain, Gechresh Forest and Shahdag Mountain Resort.
around two hours of free time at the resort to explore on your own.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Baku Day Trips

Is this one for you?You book this tour when you want a guide handling the route and the stories behind each stop—the geology, the mythology, the local history—rather than driving yourself and deciding where to pause. The full day and the mix of landscapes suit travelers who want to see multiple distinct places in one trip without building the itinerary themselves.