The village of Khinalig in the Quba region of Azerbaijan is located at an altitude of 2,100-2,200 meters above sea level. This village is more than 5 thousand years old. For centuries it was cut off from civilization by hard-to-reach mountains with dangerous rocky cliffs. Due to such isolation, its inhabitants have managed to preserve a unique language and traditions and customs that are not found anywhere else. Today, about two thousand inhabitants live here, who are descendants of the population of ancient Caucasian Albania (a state that existed on the territory of Azerbaijan from the 1st century BC to the 5th century). On the way to Khinalig we will stop at the Beshbarmag mountain, which means “5 fingers”. This is a mystical mountain with which many legends are associated. Its height is slightly more than 500 meters, but not a single climber has yet managed to conquer this mountain. The mountain has an indescribable energy.                                                                       

Arriving in the regional center, the city of Cuba, we will be able to visit a factory where famous Azerbaijani carpets are hand-woven. Further on the road to the village of Khinalig, stunning in its diversity and amazingly beautiful landscapes await us. These will be orchards, which the Cuban region is famous for. Mountains covered with dense forests, where you can see arched forest, gorges, waterfalls and rivers. Most of the territory around Khinalig itself is occupied by subalpine and alpine meadows. The name "Khinalig" is associated with the mountain opposite the village, the rocks of which are white and red. When the sun rises over the mountain, the village turns bright orange, identical to the color of henna.

Arriving in Khinalig, we will have lunch at the house of one of the local residents, who are distinguished by their hospitality and friendliness. Then we will walk through the narrow streets of the village, get acquainted with the unpretentious life of its inhabitants, visit 2 museums. One of them, historical and ethnographic, was founded by the villagers in 2001. In the museum presents ancient exhibits related to the village, found in different periods of the village's existence. This includes both various documentary exhibits and household items and art. Visually, the museum resembles a small ancient fortress built of natural stone. Houses in Khinalig are built on top of each other, in a cascade, and the roof of one house serves as a courtyard for another, upper one. There are about 300 houses in the village, all of them are very ancient, 200-300 years old, and built of cobblestones.

On the way back, at the request of the guests, we can visit the village of Krasnaya Sloboda, where from the middle of the 5th century. Mountain Jews live. Here we will visit the synagogue and walk through the village, as well as along the arched bridge, which was built in 1894 according to the design of Alexander III.

The duration of the excursion is 1 day.

What is included: guide services, transportation.

What's not included: meals, museum tickets.

Excursion cost: for a group of up to 3 guests - $ 180 with a guide ($ 130 without a guide),

up to 7 guests - $ 190 with a guide ($ 140 without a guide),

up to 17 guests - $ 290 with a guide ($ 230 without a guide).