Day hike to the Chirag Gala “lamp” castle in Azerbaijan, near Baku

Our group of five set out to discover different parts of the Caucasus Mountains on a self-guided hike arranged by Elvin. From the very start, the organization was smooth and professional. Communication was clear, and Elvin was consistently polite, responsive, and eager to adjust the route according to our preferences. After confirming the itinerary and completing payment, we received a well-detailed plan that included maps, directions, and all the contacts we might need along the way. Once our journey began, everything went according to plan. On the first day, Elvin personally met us, handed over the trail map, and gave some very practical tips about weather conditions and terrain. The mountain villages we visited were absolutely picturesque — Khinalig was our favorite. The stone houses, breathtaking views, and the kindness of local families left us with unforgettable memories. One small tip: although the routes are breathtaking, they do require a reasonable level of fitness. Make sure to check the trail descriptions carefully and pick the stages that best match your pace. Some routes are longer than expected — for example, the fourth day of our suggested itinerary covered about 16 km from Galakhudat to Griz, with many uphill and downhill sections. We decided to take a shorter alternative route (around 10 km), which was perfect for our group, while another couple we met completed the entire stretch in roughly seven hours. It’s doable, but definitely a full day of hiking! All in all, it was a fantastic mix of adventure, nature, and local hospitality. If you’re planning a trip to Azerbaijan, we can confidently say that with Elvin’s guidance, you’ll be well taken care of.

Wonderful hiking and exploration trip across the Caucasus Mountains. Thank you for providing us with such an incredible 9 days trips. Many delightful memories were created, which is precisely what we wanted. We truly valued our guide and felt completely well cared for. I can suggest this experience to both novices and experienced climbers. Elvin has been an ideal guide for our family journey. Many thanks! The entire arrangement with him was smooth, reliable, and very straightforward. Thank you!

Our family had the absolute pleasure of trekking with Elvin as our mountain guide in the Caucasus Mountains of Azerbaijan, and we could not have asked for a better experience. From the very beginning, Elvin was safety-focused and highly responsible, always giving thoughtful reminders to communicate any discomfort and carefully observing everyone’s condition. His calm, fact-oriented decision-making made us feel completely secure, even in more challenging situations like crossing slippery rocks or navigating difficult passages. For our 9-day trekking adventure as a family of four, Elvin was simply the perfect guide. Our highlight was climbing Mount Golden Rock under beautiful weather. Thanks to Elvin’s guidance, it was not only safe but also an incredibly rewarding experience. We faced no issues regarding the cost of the package either—the prices and details were very clear and transparent, which gave us peace of mind throughout. He gave us an extraordinary glimpse into the world of mountaineering, and his technical expertise was matched only by his kindness and attentiveness. Elvin is not only a professional of the highest standard, but also a genuinely warm and fun person to be around. He knows the area like the back of his hand and shared fascinating insights about the mountains, Azerbaijan, and even neighboring Georgia. His organization was impeccable—he arranged welcoming homestays, reliable drivers, and even horsemen where needed. The accommodations were cozy, with hearty and delicious organic meals that made the journey even more memorable.

We had an absolutely wonderful experience with our guide Elvin in Azerbaijan. From start to finish, everything was handled with such professionalism, kindness, and care. Elvin is an incredibly knowledgeable, responsible, and well-organized guide who made every part of our journey smooth and enjoyable. He shared so much information about each village we visited, which made the trip even more meaningful. The family houses he arranged for us were neat, clean, and very comfortable, and the meals were hearty, organic, and delicious. Even though I have a sensitive stomach, I never faced any issues with the food, which speaks volumes about the quality and care put into the homestays. Every trekking route he chose was safe, smooth, and perfectly balanced between intermediate and enjoyable challenges, whether it was uphill/downhill mountain paths, narrow trails through gorges, or long flat stretches. What made the trip extra special were the thoughtful touches – like daily coffee or tea breaks arranged with the horseman – which added warmth and authenticity to the whole experience. The payment procedure was also very easy and transparent, and we faced no issues at all. Elvin’s communication skills are excellent, and his English is very professional, so we never had any difficulty understanding or discussing details with him. Before the trip even started, he was fast and efficient in replying to our queries, which gave us great confidence in booking with him. Elvin exceeded our expectations in every way. He arranged wonderful homestays, reliable drivers, and welcoming horsemen, ensuring that every service was delivered clearly and professionally. We truly enjoyed every part of our journey with him and would highly recommend Elvin to anyone looking for a safe, well-organized, and unforgettable trip in Azerbaijan.

If you like unadulterated nature, breathtaking landscapes, challenging hikes and living as the locals, you’ll love spending some days in the Caucus mountains of Azerbaijan. The trip itself was a combination of strenuous uphill/downhill hikes on mountainsides, often on narrow paths, and trekking through deep gorges combined with long flat stretches. Elvin was our guide throughout the trip. He was fast and efficient in replying to the queries we had before starting our trip. The thing that was not transparent was the pricing. For the downpayment it was not clearly stated how much we owed to explore-share and how much was remaining to pay to Elvin. It took several mails to clarify a seeming discrepancy. Also, it happened that the day we arrived and were to start our trip the price doubled because the third participant cancelled exactly that day. We overlooked that Elvin mentioned that the price would increase accordingly if that situation would occur. We were unprepared that the price would change so drastically and without warning. It was extremely difficult to arrange in a foreign country the cash he unexpectedly required upon arrival. Under those circumstances, we were considering cancelling the trip and losing our downpayment but instead decided to scramble to eventually get the cash together. Elvin was very well organized in arranging our local homestays, horseman and drivers, all of which were welcoming and prepared. The homestays served hearty and delicious organic meals. As our guide, we would have appreciated it if Elvin had been more helpful and attentive during our hikes. He was always way ahead of us leaving it up to us to find our way over slippery rocks and tricky passages. Information about what we were seeing and experiencing was also very scantly relayed. With some prying, he would tell us what he knew but hardly ever willingly and on his own. Perhaps he was conscientious about his English, which was sometimes hard to understand, but more information would have made the hike more meaningful. We noticed that he had ongoing conversations with the locals and horseman but talked with us as little as possible. It should be mentioned that the horseman, who accompanied us with the horse carrying our luggage, was remarkable - kind and knowledgeable of the terrain.