hiking along the Kuzun – Laza trail

Walking along this route, you can enjoy views of the steep cliffs, waterfalls and sparse forests of the Gusarchay river valley.

hiking alongthe Kuzun – Laza trail

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Kuzun – Laza trail

The inhabitants of Laza village are Lezgis, who are considered to be descendants of the Legois – one of the tribes believed to have populated the ancient kingdom of Caucasian Albania. The village is famous for its 300-year-old mosque, twin waterfalls and nature.

DISTANCE - 6.5 KM

ELEVATION GAIN - 630 M

ELEVATION LOSS - 280 M

MAX. ALTITUDE - 1670 M

MIN. ALTITUDE - 1310 M

DURATION - 3 H 25 MIN

In the second half of the walk you can enjoy a view of the Gusarchay valley against a backdrop of the snowy peaks of mounts Gizilgaya and Shahdag. In general, there are a lot of beautiful views during the walk, which consists mainly of ascents and descents and requires good physical fitness. The paths are clearly visible everywhere and are fully marked. Follow the signs and after crossing the river 500m ahead, turn left, cross the bridge and then continue for 2km. You will walk along a relatively steep slope through a forest and reach a mountain pass. At the pass, you will have a breathtaking view of the Gusarchay valley and the village of Laza. Continue by following the signs to the village centre and don’t forget to visit the twin waterfalls.

Seasonality
It is important to have appropriate outdoor clothing as this is a moderately difficult hike. Especially in winter it is not recommended to go without appropriate winter hiking clothing. If you want to enjoy green nature this route is ideal in May-July, and in December-February to see snowy mountains. It is recommended to check the weather forecast before the trip as foggy, rainy or snowy weather can make the trail significantly more difficult.

Nearby routes
You can connect this trail with the Yergi Kek-Kuzun trail.

Food and Accommodation
Unlike Laza, Kuzun is not a touristy village. There is only one guest house and a shop near the bridge that is open only during certain hours in summer, but there are no cafes or restaurants. You can find the location of guest houses, hotels and other accommodation facilities on the map.

Water
You can fill up your water bottles at springs in the yards of local villagers before leaving the village. It is recommended to take 1.5-2 litres of water depending on the temperature. There is only one spring along the route, which you will see as you pass through the trees in the Gusarchay valley about 4km from Kuzun.

Transport
Local taxis can take you to Kuzun from Gusar city centre for 25-30 AZN. If you intend to return to Gusar from Kuzun, you can ask the driver to wait for you and take you back for no extra payment. You can return from Laza to Gusar by paying the same driver an extra 10 AZN. There is also a daily bus from Laza to Gusar, but the schedule is irregular.

Permissions and Special Protected Areas
No prior permission is required to hike along this route. The trail does not pass through a special protected nature area or border protection zone.

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