hiking along the Gumukh - Gashgachay trail

DISTANCE - 5.5 KM ELEVATION GAIN - 200 M ELEVATION LOSS - 300 M

MAX. ALTITUDE - 1020 M MIN. ALTITUDE - 1250 M DURATION - 2 h 10 MIN

Follow the signs from the starting point. About 1 km ahead, the path enters a forest and begins to climb a steep slope. As you walk through the forest, the path narrows but there is still plenty of room for hikers. About 2 km further, the road opens up and soon reaches a pass. The path descending to the right of this pass reaches the village of Gashgachay in 1.5 km. Continue following the signs to get to the main road to the village. After reaching the main road, you can follow signs to Ilisu and find the information board for this route a little further on. 

If you want to connect this route to other routes, it is better to go in the opposite direction (i.e. starting from the village of Gashgachay). The difference in time and difficulty between these two directions is minimal. 

 

Nearby Trails 

Those who plan to walk in this direction can continue first on the Kish - Bash Goynuk trail, and then after reaching the village of Gashgachay, on the Gashgachay - Ilisu trail. 

Beyond Ilisu, the mountainous areas fall mainly into the territory of Ilisu State Nature Reserve and the border control zone. If you have a local guide or a detailed map and sufficient experience, you can plan a two-day trek from Ilisu to Gum or the village of Lakit Kotuklu. It is recommended to go in this direction only in summer and with proper camping equipment. 

 Seasonality 

Although May-September is the best time in terms of weather and day length, this route can be easily traversed throughout the year. After rainy days, the trails become muddy. There are no shepherd huts on the trail all year round. 

Food and Accommodation 

In both villages there are small shops and cafés. For places to stay overnight, you can find guesthouses, hotels and other accommodation facilities, including cafés and restaurants, located on the map. 

Water 

Although there are no water sources on the route, it is short and convenient enough so that you do not have to worry about conserving water. 1 litre of water is enough if you do not spend much time apart from hiking. 

Transportation 

Minibuses go from the bazaar in Sheki City in the direction of Bash Layisgi (1 AZN per trip). Gumukh Village is located in the upper part of Bash Layisgi. You can also reach Gumukh by taxi for about 6-8 AZN (using the *0066 and *5577 taxi services). 

Permits and Specially Protected Areas 

No prior permission is required to walk along this trail. The route does not pass through specially protected natural areas or the border protection zone, and there are no permanent border guard posts on any of the paths.