hiking along the Gashgachay - Gumukh trail

Continue through the village following the signs from the starting point. After 100m the road turns right and continues between houses, and after another 500m a path towards the forest begins. The wide, clearly visible path reaches a pass after 1.5km and comes out into an open area. In this part, the trail descends a little to the left and continues through a forest along an old forest road covered with bushes. As you approach the village, the road becomes clearer and wider. After 2km the road comes out into the open and approaches the village. Follow the signs and walk 1.3km ahead to the main road in Kumukh village.

Nearby trails

To extend the hike it is recommended to connect this route first with the Ilisu-Gashgachay route and then, after reaching Kumukh, with a 7km journey by car (or on foot) and the Bash Goynuk-Kish route.

From Kish you can go to the Marxal Resort & Spa and get to the Khan plateau with the resort’s off-road vehicles. Pedestrians are not allowed on this road. When you walk to the Khan plateau, you can do some research on the map and easily select the trails around Sheki city from satellite images. These routes have not yet been marked and are not recommended for inexperienced hikers. It is possible to make short walks from Sheki to Orta Varazat village, and from there to Bash Keldek village on forested, easy paths. The ancient Albanian churches in the villages of Varazat and Bash Keldek, which have escaped the attention of most tourists, will be found on your way.

Season

Although May-September is the best time in terms of weather and length of the day, this route can be easily traversed throughout the year. After rainy days, the trails become muddy. There are no shepherd huts on the trail all year round.

Food and accommodation

In both villages there are small shops and cafes. For places to stay overnight, you can find guest houses, hotels and other accommodation facilities, including cafes and restaurants, located on the map.

Water

Although there are no water sources on the route, it is short and convenient so you don't have to worry about water conservation. 1 litre of water per person is enough if you do not spend much time beyond hiking.

Transportation

You can travel from Sheki to the village of Gashgachay by taxi for about 12-15 AZN (using the *0066 and *5577 taxi services). Taxis go from Gakh for about 6-8 AZN (using the ALO taxi service: +99470 298 9966). Buses (0.70 AZN per trip) from Gakh go to Gashgachay three times daily (07:30; 13:00; 18:00).

Permits and specially protected areas

No prior permission is required to walk along this route. The route does not pass through specially protected natural areas or the border protection zone, and there are no permanent border guard posts anywhere along the route.