What the Roads Into the Mountains Are Like

The word mountain covers two entirely different experiences in this country. Some routes are simply pleasant asphalt through hills, and some are proper mountain roads with height, weather and consequence.

Confusing the two is precisely how a day goes wrong, so it is worth knowing which of them your plan actually involves.

The easy end

The roads to Gabala, Sheki, Shamakhi and Ismayilli are ordinary main roads for most of their length. They climb gently, they are surfaced, and any car does them.

If your plan involves one of these, mountain describes the scenery rather than the driving, and nothing special is required.

The demanding end

The village roads that climb properly are a different matter. The route up to Khinalug is the best known of them, and it is a real mountain road with height and exposure.

These are driven regularly and are not an adventure sport, although they are certainly not roads to treat casually in rain, fog or fading light.

Our page on Khinalug covers what is at the top of that particular climb.

Weather changes the answer

A route that is straightforward in May can be a different proposition in November. Snow, fog and heavy rain all narrow what is sensible.

We will tell you what we know about conditions close to the date. We will not promise that a high road is clear in a week that has not happened yet.

Light changes it too

Coming down a mountain road after dark is avoidable, so we avoid it. That means an earlier start in winter, and it means the return is planned with light in hand.

Our page on daylight through the year explains how much this changes between seasons.

Which vehicle

For the majority of routes an ordinary car is correct, although for several of the higher village roads a vehicle with more clearance changes the day considerably.

Tell us the route when you ask, and we will tell you which applies. This is not an upsell, it is the difference between arriving and turning around.

Car sickness is worth mentioning

Climbing roads with tight bends affect a lot of people, and children especially. It is much easier to plan around than to rescue.

Mention it in your first message, because we can then build in stops, reduce the pace and choose the gentler of two routes wherever one exists.

Driving yourself

Most visitors here travel with a driver, and the mountain roads are the clearest argument for it. Our page on travelling with a driver sets out the rest of the reasoning.

If you do drive yourself, take the higher routes seriously and do not plan them for the end of a long day.

Tell us the route

Send the route, the date, the number of passengers and anything about car sickness or mobility we should plan around.

We will tell you which category of road it is, what vehicle it needs and what time we would want to leave.