hiking along the Soyugbulag – Mahrasa Temple trail

Walking along this trail connecting the Dashkasan and Gadabay regions, you can see the Maiden Tower, Mahrasa Temple and enjoy magnificent views of the Shamkir river.

Soyugbulag – Mahrasa Temple trail

Mahrasa served as a temple of fire worship and was originally known as a sacred place for the worship of celestial bodies. This ancient temple was one of the central temples in the Albanian province of Girdiman. Next to the temple there is a building that resembles a caravanserai.

DISTANCE - 10.2 KM

ELEVATION GAIN - 523 M

ELEVATION LOSS - 1090 M

MAX. ALTITUDE - 1450 M

MIN. ALTITUDE - 1001 M

DURATION - 3 H 50 MIN

The trail begins at the entrance to Soyugbulag village and goes through the village towards its exit. The trail starts on a dirt road and turns into a mountain path after 3.5km. This part is a bare mountainous area. After 1.5km you need to cross a small river and enter a forest. After walking for 3.2km through the forest you will reach the valley of the Shamkir river. Here you will find a crossroads. The Maiden Tower is 1km to the left. You should continue to the right and reach Mahrasa Temple after 1.5km. The paths might not be clearly visible in this part, so follow the directional signs carefully and continue.

Only the first 3.5km of the route is a dirt road, while the rest is narrow mountain paths. Mahrasa Temple is only accessible by off-road vehicle from Gadabay. There are currently no places to stay overnight near the temple. However, if you intend to spend the night, you can bring your own camping equipment. Overall, the route is downhill until the Shamkir river, followed by small ascents and descents.

It is also possible to hike this route the opposite way.

Nearby trails

You can connect this trail with the Mahrasa – Amirvar trail.

Seasonality

You can hike this route in all seasons.

Food and accommodation

There is only a small shop in Soyugbulag with limited products.

Stay: Heyrat's Guest House (+99451 526 1188)

Water

Springs can be found in two other villages besides Soyugbulag, but there are no springs around Mahrasa Temple.

Transportation

You can get to Soyugbulag village from Gadabay city centre by taxi. The road to Soyugbulag is paved and suitable for all kinds of vehicles.

Permits & Specially Protected Areas

No special permits are required to hike this trail.

Warning

There are several shepherd camps along the way in the 1.5km section after the unpaved road terminates. You need to be careful of the shepherd dogs in this area. At the same time, you can approach shepherds should you need any help.

The path to the Maiden Tower is quite steep and might be slippery, so be careful when ascending and descending.

GALLERY