Best things to do in Guba-Khachmaz Region

Shahdag Mountain Resort, the first ski resort in Azerbaijan, is located in the north-eastern part of the Shahdag National Park, named after the iconic Mount Shahdag in the Gusar region of Azerbaijan. It has pistes both for beginners and real professionals--14 ski slopes of varying levels of complexity stretching 17 km (11 mi). Besides skiing, the resort offers different entertainment activities, such as zip lining, quad biking, bob karts, mountain biking, trotinettes, segway, adventure park for kids, paragliding, gondolas, biking, shooting center, swimming, and catamaran riding both for adults and kids.

Travel to Afurja Waterfall, a natural highlight of Guba. The picturesque falls are hidden away in a secluded spot in the rustic village of Afurja by the Velvelichay river. Visiting in every season offers a new experience. In autumn the forest around it is bursting with colour, while in winter the waterfall may well be frozen over.

Travel back in time at the traditional mountain village of Khinalig, perched atop a mountain ridge at over 2,000 meters above sea level. This is the perfect place to enjoy the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Caucasus Mountains. The village’s 380 houses are scattered across the steep terrain and sit so compactly that the roof of one doubles as the courtyard of another. The local people, who are thought to be descendants of one of the ancient tribes of Caucasian Albania, speak a completely unique language and continue the ancient way of life of their ancestors. Five kilometers from Khinalig a restored Zoroastrian fire-worshipping temple can also be visited.

Take a stroll around the tree-filled Nariman Narimanov Park in Gusar, north-eastern Azerbaijan. The centuries-old park features quiet alleys lined with towering trees. Look out for the white Soviet-era statue of Nariman Narimanov, the first leader of Soviet Azerbaijan, and stop to refresh in one of the traditional teahouses.

An area of stunning natural beauty in Guba, the Tengya Alti Gorge is a great destination for a road trip. The road leading through it is incredibly scenic, especially in autumn when the mountainsides are flooded with colour. Continue a little way beyond the rocky gorge and call in to Afurja village to admire its secluded waterfall.

The Genocide Memorial Complex is a moving site commemorating the victims of tragic massacres of Azerbaijanis committed by Bolshevik-Dashnak forces in various parts of Azerbaijan, including Guba, in 1918. The main feature is an excellent museum detailing how the massacres unfolded in each province through archival documents, photos, maps, statistics and personal stories. Construction of the complex was prompted by a mass burial discovered here in 2007, part of which is also exhibited.

The village of Laza in the north-east of Azerbaijan is an undoubted rural highlight of the country. Prepare to be dazzled by the beauty of its untamed scenery as this ancient village is nestled between mesmerizing mountains and home to wondrous waterfalls. In winter these freeze over while in summer they offer an enticing escape from the sizzling heat. However, there is more to do in Laza, like hiking in its surrounds, staying with local families and simply reconnecting with nature.

Just over an hour’s drive north-west of Baku along the Guba highway is the 382-meter high Mt. Beshbarmag, which is Azerbaijani for ‘Five Fingers.' Legend has it that sometime in the ancient past a prophet called Khidr came here in search of a ‘potion of life’ and indeed became immortal after drinking from a spring at the summit. Today the mountain is considered holy and locals make pilgrimages here to pray for strength and good fortune. It is well worth climbing to witness old spiritual rituals practised by the pilgrims, as well as for the fantastic views of the Caspian Sea from the summit. What's more, the general area is also one of Azerbaijan’s best birdwatching sites, attracting hundreds of migrating bird species.

Visit Red Village (Girmizi Gesebe in Azerbaijani) in Guba and discover the last fully Mountain Jewish settlement in the world. One of many ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan, the Mountain Jews are thought to have lived here for thousands of years. However, they settled in Red Village in the 1730s and it has remained an island of Mountain Jewish culture ever since, with its own traditions, language and even some unique dishes. And now visitors can explore this rich heritage at a brand-new Museum of Mountain Jews, housed in a lovingly restored 19th-century synagogue. Equipped with the very latest in museum technology, the museum unravels the story of this little-known people.

Located in Red Village, whose inhabitants are Mountain Jews, Six-Domed Synagogue was erected in 1888, designed by local architect Hillel Ben-Hayyim. Oriental in style, it is topped by six domes symbolising a six-day journey undertaken in the 18th century by Jews migrating to Red Village from elsewhere in the region. During the Soviet era it was repurposed as a sewing factory, but reopened for prayers in 1991. A 5-year restoration project completed in 2000 later gave the synagogue a new lease of life and cemented it as an iconic landmark in north-eastern Azerbaijan.

The National Golf Club is situated in Guba in north-eastern Azerbaijan, sitting at the foot of the breathtaking Caucasus Mountains. Designed by Jon Hunt from International Golf Design, in 2014 it became the first golf course to open in Azerbaijan. It was also the first to host a professional event, the Azerbaijan Challenge Open 2014. A fully equipped purpose built clubhouse offers luxurious locker rooms, a professional shop to suit every golfer’s needs and a truly unique dining experience. The welcoming interiors and magnificent views of the golf course with its charming surrounding landscape offer something for all tastes. Positioned within 75 hectares of idyllic Azerbaijani topography, the undulating fairways and deep bunkers are stand-out features.