Khinalug
Xınalıq
An ancient stone village at about 2,350 meters, home to a people who speak their own Khinalug language. In 2023 it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site along with the Kochi Yolu migration route.
Khinalug lies deep in the Greater Caucasus, about 55 km west of Quba, at roughly 2,350 meters. It is one of the highest and oldest villages in Azerbaijan. Its flat-roofed stone houses are stacked up the mountainside, with each roof serving as the courtyard of the house above. The village has about 2,000 residents, who speak Khinalug, a language used only in this village. They still practice seasonal transhumance and herding. In 2023, the "Khinalug People and the Kochi Yolu Transhumance Route Cultural Landscape" was inscribed as a World Heritage Site. Highlights include the folk museum, an old mosque, and panoramic views of alpine meadows and snowy peaks beyond the village. You can hire a guide for horseback riding or hiking. From Quba, the mountain road is now paved and takes about 1 to 1.5 hours through the Gechresh Forest and gorges. You can hire a car or drive yourself. Several guesthouses in the village offer a night under the stars. Nights are cold at high altitude, so bring a jacket even in summer. Ask for permission before photographing villagers.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Laza Village & Waterfalls
- Shahdag Mountain Resort
- Gachrash Forest
- Quba Genocide Memorial Complex
- Mountain Jews Museum
- Juma Mosque, Quba
- Red Settlement (Qırmızı Qəsəbə)
- Tengi Canyon