Rainbow Hills And Mystique Mountain

Day 1: Baku

Beshbarmaq On a road to the north dull scenery gets an unexpectedly abrupt and dramatic boost with the looming silhouette of 520m Beshbarmaq Dash (Five Finger Mountain). This mystical peak brandishes a rocky fistful of phallic crags atop a super-steep grassy ridge top. It’s well worth climbing to the summit, not just for the fabulous Caspian views, but also to observe first hand Azerbaijan’s unique take on ‘Islam’. Crowds of locals come here seeking good fortune, a child, or the answer to their problems using a mixture of prayer, sacrifice, chanting and very animist kissing of rocks. Everything comes in threes: take three small stones to the top, sip thrice from a cup of holy water, kiss the sacred rock three times then in-cant your wish…guess how many times. To assist, assorted white-capped holy men lurk in rocky nooks, their pitches marked by a samovar, a few blankets and some photogenically fluttering votive ribbons. Meanwhile a few old crones, snotty children and various hangerson try to cadge money. Visible for miles, BeshBarmaq is a natural fortress. For centuries it guarded the narrowest strip of coastal plain and a wall between the crag and the sea funnelled all commerce through a controllable gateway near which was a great caravanserai. Rainbow mountains A fascinating region of Khizi, is located in the northeast of Azerbaijan, and it is the closest mountainous area to the capital city Baku. The distance between Baku and Khizi is 70 km. The district of Khizi is famous for its unusual nature, especially the mountains. Sometimes it is also called "the edge of the red mountains". Its scenery reminds me of the Martian landscapes. This natural phenomenon attracts tourists to Khizi, who spill out their emotions into numerous photo sessions, statuses and blog entries. If you are a nature lover, you must visit and enjoy impressive mountains of Khizi. These, so-called Candy Cane Mountains, are popular not only for its multi-colouredmountains but also because of its nice places such as the Altiagac National Park and the Cannet Baghi recreation complex. Schedule • 09:00 – 11:00 – road to Khizi • 11:00 – 12:00 – mountains overview • 12:00 – 13:00 – road to Beshbarmaq • 13:00 – 14:00 – lunch • 14:00 – 16:00 – uphill, photo set, downhill • 16:00 – 17:30 – transfer to Baku