Bash Goynuk – Kish hiking trail

Start point: 950 m
End point: 1030 m
Highest point: 2050 m
Distance: 15.6 km
Ascend: 1280 m
Descend: 1200 m
Duration: 9 hours

Bash Goynuk village (Baş Göynük) is located in the piedmont of the Greater Caucasus mountain range, in the north-western part of Shaki district (Şəki), on the left bank of the Shin River (Şin). The vast majority of villagers are engaged in agriculture, but the village has great tourism potential. Surrounding forests and mountains, rivers and natural springs, mild climates and other features create favourable opportunities for tourism development here.
Located at 6 km from the district centre Shaki city, Kish village (Kiş) in contrast is already a tourist destination. Kish is one of the ancient settlements in the whole territory of Shaki-Zagatala economic region (Şəki-Zaqatala) of Azerbaijan. The main area of Kish village is sitting in the piedmont of Mount Tat (Tat dağı). The same-named Kish River flows nearby. Kish has a rich Christian Caucasian Albanian heritage and a restored ancient church is standing just inside the village. In a walking distance of 4-5 kilometres from Kish, a mediaeval Galarsan-Gorarsan fortress (Gələrsən-Görərsən) is rising above the rocky landscape.
The proposed hiking trail goes through the mountain range between Bash Goynuk and Kish villages and a small stream has to be crossed in the beginning. The highest point on the trail is a summer pasture with breath-taking views of the nearby Great Caucasus Mountains. This is a long trail for experienced hikers. There are no springs on the trail so it is important to take drinking water.