Hiking trails around villages in Hirkan National Park - 1st day

First day (Bandasar – Siyov):

Difficulty level: medium hard
Start point: Bandasar village (80 m)
End point: Siyov village (590 m)
Distance: 10 km
Ascend: 860 m
Descend: 350 m
Duration: 5.5 hours

Hirkan National Park (Hirkan Milli Parkı) is a protected natural reserve with rich flora and fauna located in the piedmont of Talish Mountains (Talış dağları) in the south-eastern Azerbaijan covering the territory of Lankaran (Lənkəran) and Astara (Astara) districts. Persian ironwood, chestnut-leaved oak, evergreen boxwood and alder trees are widely spread all over the forests in Hirkan National Park. These forests are home to Persian leopards which are protected by World Wildlife Fund.
There are smaller villages in the National Park territory with no road or electricity access. These villages pre-dating the establishment of the national park are settled by Talish people, an ethnic group speaking a local Iranian language. You cannot find these villages even on the maps. They consist of small wooden shacks or huts built from clay. In these remote areas with no road access, the sheer size and neatness of some houses create a sense of admiration for human labour and skills. Hirkan National Park has a rich natural tourism potential. Evergreen forests, streams, waterfalls, and rural houses built in the local style also create favourable conditions for ecotourism.
The two-day Hirkan trail goes through the territory of the national park within administrative borders of Astara district. Istisu village (İstisu) is the last village accessible by car. Thermal water springs are available to people visiting this village. The next residential settlement – Bandasar village (Bəndəsər) is 4-5 km away and it can be reached in off-road cars when there are no heavy rains. It is not possible to go to the villages beyond Bandasar by any means of transportation.
The first day of eco tour begins in of Bandasar village and ends at Siyov village (Siyov). The hiking trail goes through the forest, and from time to time you need to cross the wooden bridges over the streams. You come across the villages of Ruqab (Ruqəb) and Dilmadi (Dilmədi), and observe the beekeeping farms. There is an ancient cemetery near Dilmadi village which shows that the settlement has a rich history and its population once was many times over what it is now. The trail ends in Siyov village. The name of Siyov means “black water”. Currently about 10 families live in the village. Their main economic activities are sheep herding and beekeeping. The houses are built of mud and wooden materials. There is no electricity supply. But dishes of local Talysh cuisine is delicious experience worth trying.
The second day starts with rich breakfast where you may taste local honey. Then you start hiking toward Sim village (Sım). There is a small mountain range between Siyov and Sim villages. Forest tracks go uphill for about 3 kilometres and reach a hilltop with a spectacular view of Sim village surrounded by lofty mountains. From this point, the trail continues downhill until you reach the iron bridge at the entrance of Sim. Sim is a large settlement famous for its whitewashed houses and a water mill. There are also several cemeteries and monuments here, but the biggest tourist attraction is Sim waterfall with a height of 30 metres. It is located at 1.5 km from the village proper. It is recommended to reach the village in the afternoon and then take a walk to the nearby waterfall. Sim is the last settlement before the border and it is connected to the district centre with a narrow asphalt-covered road.