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, so make sure you purchase the 21-day Karabakh visa. There is no need for a tent and you really only need a sleeping-bag liner as there are places to stay in every village and town along the way - just ask around for the local homestay. See www.janapar.org for more details.