Xinaliq (also spelled Khinaliq) is a remote village near the Azerbaijan-Russia border. It’s famous for its unique culture and breathtaking natural surroundings. Though we only spent three days in Azerbaijan, I made sure to visit Xinaliq, and it was truly unforgettable.
In this post, I’ll share our journey to and stay in this amazing village.
Getting to Xinaliq
There are two main ways to reach Xinaliq:
- Organized Tours: Many tours take you to Xinaliq as a day trip. It’s convenient but expensive. You can find the tours here.
- Traveling on Your Own: We chose this option, which requires a bit more planning but is more rewarding.
Our first stop was Quba, a town 180 km from Baku. Buses to Quba leave from Baku’s International Bus Terminal, which is located on the outskirts of the city. Though the terminal can be reached via the metro, we opted for a Bolt taxi to save time, which was affordable since taxis in Azerbaijan are cheap.
At the bus terminal, we had no trouble asking locals for directions to our bus. The buses to Quba vary—on the way there, we got a cramped van with bad legroom, but on the way back, we were lucky enough to get a comfortable bus. The ticket costs 6 AZN, and the journey takes just over two hours.
From Quba to Xinaliq
Once we arrived at the Quba bus station, which is 3 km from the town center, we took a taxi after bargaining with the driver. Our homestay owner had told us that shared cars to Xinaliq depart from Hotel Khinaliq in the town center. Sure enough, we found a shared taxi—a small Lada 4×4, which fit four passengers (one in the front, three in the back) for 20 AZN per person. Renting the entire car would have cost 80 AZN.
As we drove uphill, the discomfort of the cramped car vanished as we were mesmerized by the stunning scenery. The road is steep, and at one point, we even saw a car that had broken down. Our driver tried in vain to fix it. After about 1.5 hours, we arrived in Xinaliq.
Staying in Xinaliq
Xinaliq is a small village, but many homes also serve as homestays. Most can’t be booked online, but drivers usually help with recommendations. Luckily, we had pre-booked ours on Booking.com, and the driver recognized it from the picture we showed him.
We spent rest of the day exploring the village, climbing a hill for incredible views of the area. There are several hiking routes nearby, including one to a Zoroastrian Fire Temple, but you need special permission since it’s close to the Russian border.
Our homestay was cozy, with a section of the house set aside for guests. The hosts were incredibly hospitable, even though only the male head of the family spoke English. They also catered to our vegetarian diet, which was a pleasant surprise. The only downside was the toilet, located outside the house, which was not very clean. It brough back my memories of Tibet. Their home was super clean but it was surprising that it did not extend to toilets.
Conclusion
Xinaliq offered a completely different experience from the modern, bustling city of Baku. The contrast between the two was striking, and our time in Xinaliq gave us a deeper appreciation of Azerbaijan’s diverse culture and landscape.
Dinesh
Nice