Guba: Practical Information

When To Hike

The majority of this route is hikeable in all seasons, including winter. 

Winter often means significant amounts of snow at higher elevations, and unmarked routes in deep snow will require extra precise attention from hikers. Summers can be intensely hot. Particularly wet seasons, such as spring and autumn, can cause significant flooding in river beds, and can render river crossings extremely dangerous. 

Getting To & From The Trailheads

To get to the district of Guba, you can take a bus or taxi from the Baku International Bus Station (Bakı Beynəlxalq Avtovağzal Kompleksi).

You can access the village trailheads from the center of Guba by taxi. Afurja and Grizdehne are accessible by asphalt roads, whereas Sohub, Budug, Griz, and Khinalig will require an off-road vehicle. There is a recently built asphalt road that can approach Griz and Khinalig, but as the road is quite steep, it is recommended that visitors take a car with checked brakes and take multiple stops when descending the road in order to let the brakes cool.

You may also reach the other points of the trek by taxi or local minibus (marshrutkas) from the district centers.

Some local taxi services in Guba include *0066 and *1001. You may also get into contact with guesthouse owners along the route and organize transport directly through them. 

Where To Stay

There are various homestay options available along the route. 

As in most places in the Caucasus, wild camping is largely tolerated, though you may be visited by inquisitive locals if you set up your tent in a conspicuous location. Please be a respectful visitor and practice Leave No Trace habits so that we can continue our good relationships with people along the trail and so that future hikers can enjoy the experience.

Supplies

There are no stores with hiking/camping equipment in Guba. It is recommended that you bring all necessary supplies, including gas canisters from Baku. In Baku, you may visit Mountain Shop, as well as Yonja Outdoor Store, Dagchi Shop, or Outdoor Store for any supplies and equipment you may need to purchase or rent.

Villages host small markets/convenience stores, but there are no large supermarkets directly on the route. The food options in these markets are often limited. If staying at a guesthouse, hosts provide home-cooked meals from local ingredients. You may ask for food for the road, and there will always be staples such as bread and cheese from local families. It is recommended you bring a sufficient supply of trail snacks and food before you set off on your trek. 

Water

As in many parts of the Caucasus, you can find some springs along the route, and water that is piped into villages is safe to drink. Other water sources along the route, such as rivers and streams, should generally be filtered due to the presence of livestock in the region. Carrying a water filter is recommended.

Language

Azerbaijanis speak Azerbaijani of the Turkic language family. In the areas you will pass through, some people may speak Russian and/or Turkish, in addition to the language of their ethno-linguistic group, such as Lezgi, Grizli, and Ketdid. English is not very common. It is recommended you carry a dictionary or translating app, and/or learn basic phrases that may help you get around. 

Some useful phrases when backpacking:

• “Where can I fill up on water?” ⇒ Suyu harada doldura bilərəm?
• “Where can I find X’s guesthouse?” ⇒  Xın qonaq evi harada yerləşir?
• “Where is the market/cafe?” ⇒ Mağaza/restoran harada yerləşir?
• “May I get some food for the road?” ⇒ Yola yemək verə bilərsiz?
• “May I get some bread and cheese?” ⇒ Yola pendir çörək verə bilərsiz?
• “I would like a taxi from here/A to B.” ⇒ Mənə buradan/Aan Ba taksi lazımdır?
• “I need directions to X.” ⇒ Xa istiqamət verə bilərsiz? / Xa yolu göstərə bilərsiz?

Health and Safety

In Guba city, you can find various medical centers, including Referans Clinic (+994 773580033) and SafMed Clinic (+994 233352981).

The district police station is located here. 

There are multiple pharmacies in Guba city, including a handful along the main highway, near the old Avtovagzal. 

Communication Availability 

In Azerbaijan, Bakcell and Azercell are the most popular cellular service providers. In Guba city and most villages along the trail, you can expect reliable service, making it easy to stay connected and access GPS navigation or local resources. As you venture further into the mountains, ridgelines, and forests, coverage can be intermittent. Cellular service remains surprisingly good in most places, but it’s always wise to download maps and trail information offline in case of spotty coverage.

Hazards

Dogs

Aggressive dogs can be by far the biggest animal threat to TCT hikers. Many villagers and shepherds keep guard dogs for security and train them to bark at potential intruders. Dogs often accompany livestock herds as protection from predators, and you should monitor their behavior closely. If they show aggression, it means they consider your presence a threat to their herds. If you proceed calmly, without sudden movements, trying to avoid entering the zone of their herd, they will usually back off once you are far enough from their area.

While the sight and sound of one or more barking dogs running towards you can be frightening, the correct course of action is to stand your ground and wait for the shepherd (who will usually be nearby) to call them off. If possible, grab the attention of the shepherd before the dogs notice you, so he may have a chance to keep them calm. If the dogs come close enough, shout forcefully and throw stones or wave your trekking poles to assert dominance. Do not run away, as this will trigger the dog’s instinct to chase. 

To avoid these encounters in the first place, try to skirt around grazing herds at a wide distance, or, if there are shepherds around, to seek out them as quickly as possible and approach with a friendly greeting. 

We also recommend a precautionary rabies vaccination, remembering that this does not make you immune to the disease but does give you more time to receive treatment.

Giant hogweed
Keep an eye out for giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), a relative of cow parsley, whose stem juices rid your skin of its ability to protect itself from sunlight, resulting in severe burns on exposed skin and potential blindness if it gets in your eyes. Learn to identify this plant and either avoid it or move gently through patches to avoid breaking the stalk and releasing the juice inside. If you get hogweed juice on you, wash your skin as soon as possible and cover it from the sunlight. 

Storms and Flooded River Beds
Storms in the Caucasus can be sudden and extremely intense, with lots of lightning and often hail. You should be familiar with best practices for choosing a campsite to minimize the risk of a lightning strike, stay attuned to the weather while hiking, be prepared to get to a lower elevation or to shelter if necessary, and be familiar with first aid practices for treating lightning-related injuries.

Rainfall can cause major swelling in river beds. The route contains river crossings near Sohub, which should be approached with caution, and avoided during times of intense flooding.

Heat
In midsummer, the heat can be intense. Make sure to carry plenty of water. Shifting your schedule to compensate, such as starting very early in the day and resting in the afternoon, is a good way to avoid the worst of the heat. Make sure you are familiar with the symptoms, prevention strategies, and treatment for dehydration and heat stroke.

Emergency Information

Most villages have a local nurse, but the district centers have larger medical centers and hospitals. Below are emergency numbers useful throughout the country:

• Emergency Situations: 112
• Firefighting service: 101
• Police: 102
• Ambulance: 103
• Emergency and urgent medical aid: 113

Alternate routes or major side routes

Extended Guba-Gusar Alternate Route (100km Loop through Northern Gusar)

Hikers looking for a longer and rewarding adventure can diverge from the Guba section of the TCT to embark on an extended alternate route through Gusar, diverging from the main trail at Griz. Instead of heading west to Khinalig via the 17km route through Galaykhudat, hikers can turn northward into the remote highlands of Gusar for a 100km journey along the eastern edge of the Greater Caucasus.

This alternative route traverses spectacular cliffs and rolling meadows draped in lush green pastures and bursts of wildflowers, and visits historical Lezgi villages. The trail winds through Azerbaijan’s highest-altitude settlement, cultivated fields, and historical landmarks that remain relatively untouched by mass tourism. Along the way, travelers will pass through rugged terrain of Shahdag National Park, navigating  between the Shahdag and Mixtokan Plateaus, before rejoining the main TCT route in Khinalig.

Stay tuned for more details about this alternate route, coming this spring!

Other Practicalities

Shepherds: Shepherds herd in the mountains between late spring and early fall, depending on location and climate. Some shepherd stations have drinking troughs that fill from a hose that carries spring water; other stations are not located near a water source, and the shepherds have to bring their supply of water. Shepherd stations can be a source for water replenishment, but hikers should avoid depending on them in areas without a natural water supply nearby. 

Making calls: The area code in Azerbaijan is +994. If you are dialing locally, without the area code, you must replace them with a zero (0) before dialing the rest of the number.

Other literature/resources 

Check out the Azerbaijan Tourism Board’s website for more information about what to do in Guba.