Xınalıq Dağı
3,713 m
Azerbaijan
Also known as Khinalig Mountain, Xınalıq zirvəsiAlso known as
Khinalig Mountain · Xınalıq zirvəsi
- Elevation
- 3,713 m
- Prominence
- 822 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: Medium-Hard (Mountain Guide Azerbaijan)
The only described route: from the mountain village of Khinalig (about 2,100–2,200 m) south across the Qudyal valley to a tented camp at about 2,600 m, then a long summit day on a steep path of 5–6 hours up and 3–4 hours down. About 18 km and 1,600 m of ascent over two days, usually with a local operator.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 8.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +3,713 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 3,713 m
- Time Up
- 13h 28m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 8h 31m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Xınalıq Dağı rises about 5–6 km south of Khinalig, the trailhead village in the upper Qudyal (Qudyalçay) valley. The guided route crosses the valley floor, partly by off-road vehicle, and climbs about 2 hours on foot to a tented camp at around 2,600 m; operators add a short acclimatisation walk to about 3,000 m that afternoon. Summit day starts with a 04:00 wake-up. Operators describe a steep path, taking 5–6 hours to the top and 3–4 hours back to camp, after which the group walks out to Khinalig. No source describes the summit terrain in more detail. The mountain is built of Jurassic shales and sandstones, so expect long slopes of loose, broken ground rather than solid rock; snow lingers into early summer. Practical points from recent trips in the area: river crossings near the village may require stepping stones or a vehicle, and shepherds' Caucasian dogs on the pastures around 2,400 m can be aggressive. The round trip is about 18 km.
Start
Khinalig0 m
- No public transport to the trailhead was confirmed; operators provide transport from Baku via Quba to Khinalig
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Khinalig0 m
- Summit: Xınalıq Dağı3,713 m
Key Passages
- Qudyalçay valley crossing
- Steep summit path above the camp
Equipment
0/8 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
A 3,713 m summit of shale and sandstone rising south of Khinalig, one of the highest and oldest inhabited villages in the Caucasus. A long, non-technical two-day ascent from the village, rarely documented and usually done with a local operator.
Xınalıq Dağı (Khinalig Mountain) is named after the village of Khinalig (Xınalıq), which stands at about 2,200 m in the upper Qudyal valley of Quba district and is known for its own language and ancient stone houses. The mountain rises to the south of the village; locals are reported to call it Qibla Mountain. It is built of Jurassic clay shales and sandstones, and the Qudyal river and its tributary the Ağçay rise on its slopes.
The ascent is non-technical but long: about 1,600 m from the village, normally split with a night in a tent at about 2,600 m and a summit day of 8–10 hours. It is offered by Azerbaijani operators as a two-day trip from Baku and is also used as an acclimatisation climb before Shahdag, Tufandağ or Bazardüzü, whose summits are visible from the Khinalig area.
There is almost no published route information, no waymarking and no huts. Weather changes quickly, and shepherds' dogs on the summer pastures can be a real hazard.
Climbing Notes
Fitness for a long summit day of 8–10 hours at 2,600–3,700 m is the main requirement. Spend a night in Khinalig first and, if possible, do an acclimatisation walk such as Kharibulbul (about 2,780 m) above the village. Start before dawn.
Operators ask for registration and a passport copy about 30 days ahead to obtain Shahdag National Park, State Border Service and Ministry of Emergency Situations permits, and provide a guide (about one per seven clients), tents and transport. Khinalig has many guesthouses. Carry a GPS track, as there are no waymarks, and keep away from shepherds' camps or let the guide handle the dogs.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; the road to Khinalig can be snowbound
- Feb
- Winter
- Mar
- Winter
- Apr
- Snow on the mountain
- May
- Operator season starts; snow on the upper slopes
- Jun
- Snow patches high up; rivers high with meltwater
- Jul
- Main season; thunderstorms and fog
- Aug
- Main season
- Sep
- Often stable weather
- Oct
- Cold; early snow possible
- Nov
- Winter conditions arriving
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Permits
- Shahdag National Park entry permitRequired
Entrance ticket and access permit for the national park, arranged by operators with a passport copy.
mountainguide.az - State Border Service permitRequired
Operators obtain State Border Service permission for this trip; passports are checked at army or border posts on the national park tracks.
mountainguide.az - Ministry of Emergency Situations (FHN) registrationRequired
Registration with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, arranged by the operator.
mountainguide.az
- Fees
- Guided two-day trips from Baku are sold as packages (about USD 180 per person in the operator listing read), excluding food
- Rules
- Carry your passport; permits are checked at national park and army posts
- No huts: camping only; keep clear of shepherds' camps and their guard dogs
- Getting There
Quba; Khinalig is the trailhead village
Baku Heydar Aliyev (GYD)
- By road from Baku to Quba (about 3 hours), then about 2 hours on the mountain road to Khinalig
- Operators use off-road vehicles for part of the approach to the camp
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness
- River crossing