hiking along the Laza – Kuzun trail

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

Laza – Kuzun trail

The inhabitants of the village of Laza are Lezgis, who are descendants of the Legois – one of the tribes that are 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 - 280 M

ELEVATION LOSS - 630 M

MAX. ALTITUDE - 1670 M

MIN. ALTITUDE - 1310 M

DURATION - 2 H 40 MIN

Looking back after the first ascent, you will have a view of the Gusarchay valley against a backdrop of the snowy peaks of mounts Gizilgaya and Shahdag. The walk consists mainly of descents. The paths are clearly visible everywhere and are fully marked. Follow the signs and after 400m you will leave the village and reach a mountain pass a little further to the right. The descent begins at this pass and continues for 1km through the valley, before ascending to another mountain pass. Then, after a short descent through a forest, you will see the village of Kuzun. You need to take another downhill path for 2km along the bank of the Gusarchay river and then cross a bridge. Then you turn right and take the main road to Kuzun.

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

Food and accommodation
Laza is a touristy village with long-established guest houses and hostels, as well as cafes and restaurants. The guest houses are located within the village, while the restaurants are in the upper part on the way to the twin waterfalls. There is a shop called "Laza Market" in the village. You can find the location of guest houses, hotels and other accommodation facilities, as well as cafes and restaurants, on the map.

Water
You can fill up your water bottles from springs in the yards of local villagers. There is a spring just below Laza Market which is easy to find. It is recommended to take 1.5-2 litres of water, depending on the temperature. There is only one spring on the route, which you will see as you pass through the trees in the Gusarchay river valley about 2km from Laza.

Transport
Local taxis can take you to Laza from the city of Gusar for 25-30 AZN. If you intend to return from Laza to Gusar on the same day, you can ask the driver to wait for you and take you back for no extra payment. If you intend to return from Kuzun, you can ask the same driver to collect you from there and take you back for an extra 10 AZN.

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

GALLERY