Activities in Azerbaijan
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Hiking - Xınalıq to Laza
A delightfully rewarding hike links Xınalıq to Laza in 10 to 12 hours. Two routes are possible, around the base of Mt Şahdağ or past the fire-vent and over a shoulder of dramatically crag-topped Qızılqaya. A local guide (around around Manat30 per day) is particularly important for the latter, as fog can descend suddenly even on an apparently clear day, totally hiding the path.
If you have luggage it's also a good idea to hire packhorses (around Manat20 to around Manat40). In Xınalıqi-Ketsh language dzhim onongondeh pshii i hadmé ishkeléh Laza guisu means 'where can I find a horse and guide to take me to Laza?'. Since a new army/customs post was built across the…
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Janapar Trail
Dedicated hikers may want to consider crossing Karabakh on foot, taking advantage of a newly marked path that stretches from Hadrut in the south to Kelbajar region in the north. The 190km-long Janapar Trail is marked with blue signs that depict a yellow footprint.
Starting from Hadrut, the trail continues to Togh, Gtchavank, the Azokh cave, Karmir Shuka, the Skhtorashen giant plane tree, Avetaranots, Mkhitarashen, Karintak, Shushi, Stepanakert, Aygestan, Ptretsik, Kachaghakaberd, Kolatak, Gandzasar, Vaghuhas and Dadivank. If you have permission to enter Kelbajar, you can follow the trail to the hot springs at Zuar and finally Nor Manashid.
The entire route takes 14 days,…
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Azər-Ilmə Carpet Factory
A free tour of the impressive Azər-İlmə Carpet Factory is well worth the 20-minute drive, even if you don’t buy.
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golf course
Jerderduz, a grazing land for horses, is 1km south of the mosque on the edge of a beautiful gorge. The little red flags sticking out of the field do not denote the location of landmines - these are actually holes on a Karabakh's only golf course , contact Hrachick Haritiounian. One of the most surreal sights in Karabakh occurs every second morning in summer when an 86-year old Belgian doctor named John Malcolm comes here to play a round of golf.
He welcomes golf partners, but note that only right-handed clubs are available.
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Hiking - Xınalıq to Vəndam
It's also possible and incredibly exhilarating to hike to Vəndam (two days). This requires camping en route, as there are no villages in between. As with any hike, sheepdogs can be vicious.
Since a new army/customs post was built across the valley from Xınalıq, some travellers have reported soldiers preventing hikers from exploring the nearby valleys including the route to Laza. To avoid problems ask your guide to forewarn the military post before you set off.
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ateşgah
Xınalıq's most popular tourist activity is hiking to ateşgah, a small ever-burning natural fire-vent. The walk takes about two hours (towards Laza then up a side valley) but finding the site without help is pretty much impossible.
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Xeyraddin Gabbarov
Charming Xeyraddin Gabbarov works in Quba but comes from Xınalıq, speaks OK English and for a relatively modest profit can tailor-make a homestay-tour or hiking holiday in Xınalıq.
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