Candy Cane Mountains, Pink Lake and Heydar Mosque: a Half-Day from Baku
About 100 km north of Baku, along the road to Guba, the hills turn striped — bands of rust red and chalk white folded into each other. The colour is iron oxide in the clay, laid down and then tilted. On the way back, a lake turns pink. Both are half-day distance from the city.
Why the mountains are striped
The Khizi hills are layered marl and clay. The red bands are iron-rich; the pale ones are not. Tectonic movement lifted and tilted the whole sequence, so what would have been flat horizontal layers now runs diagonally across the slopes — which is what produces the candy-cane effect.
There is no entrance gate and no ticket. The site is a stretch of open hillside beside the highway, which means light matters more than timing: mid-morning and late afternoon give the strongest colour, while flat midday sun washes the stripes out.
The pink lake is seasonal
Masazir Lake, around 20 km from Baku, is a salt lake. Its colour comes from halophilic algae and brine shrimp that thrive as the water concentrates, so the pink is strongest in hot, dry months and can fade to grey-brown after heavy rain. Do not expect the same photograph in March and in August.
It is a working salt extraction site, not a park — the shoreline is industrial in places.
Heydar Mosque and the return leg
Most versions of this route add Heydar Mosque, the largest in Azerbaijan, on the way back into the city. Modest dress is required and women are given headscarves at the entrance. Total trip time is around four hours; the tours below run exactly this combination.
Tours covering this route
Candy Cane Mountain, Pink Lake, Heydar Mosque Tour
Discover some of Azerbaijan's most unique natural and cultural attractions on this enjoyable day tour. Begin with a visit to the magnificent Heydar Mosque, one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the country. Continue to the colorful Candy Cane Mountains of Khizi, famous for their striking red-and-white striped rock formations. Next, stop at the legendary Five Finger Mountain (Besh Barmag) for photos and breathtaking panoramic views. Afterwards, visit the stunning Masazir Pink Lake, known for its unusual pink-colored waters and picturesque landscape. The tour concludes with a relaxing lunch by the Novkhani seaside, where you can enjoy fresh local cuisine and beautiful views of the Caspian Sea before returning to Baku.
- Heydar Mosque — one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the Caucasus
- Candy Cane Mountains — red-and-white striped rocks in Khizi
- Five Finger Mountain (Beshbarmag) — panoramic photo stop
Guba, Khinalug & Candy Cane Mountains Tour
This full-day journey takes you from Baku deep into the majestic mountains of the Guba region in northern Azerbaijan, where colourful geology, ancient villages and breathtaking Caucasus scenery come together in a single route. Along the way you'll pass the striped pink-and-white Candy Cane Mountains, the legendary Besh Barmag (Five-Finger) peak, the dense Gechresh Forest and the deep Gudialchay Canyon. The highlight is Khinalug village, perched at 2,335 metres — one of Europe's oldest and highest continuously inhabited settlements, with its own language, architecture and thousands of years of history. On the way you'll also visit the Red Village, considered the only entirely Jewish town in Europe. Comfortable transport, hotel pick-up and a professional guide are all included. It's the ideal route for travellers who want to see nature, history and a truly unique culture in a single day.
- The striped pink-and-white Candy Cane Mountains
- Khinalug at 2,335 m — one of Europe's oldest villages
- The legendary Besh Barmag peak and Gudialchay Canyon
Shahdag & Candy Cane Mountains Tour
This full-day journey takes you away from the bustle of Baku up into the peaks of the Greater Caucasus. The first stop along the way is one of Azerbaijan's most recognisable natural wonders — the Candy Cane Mountains, whose red-and-white striped slopes are a genuine feast for the eyes. Next you'll pause for a hearty lunch in the Gachrash forest, wrapped in dense greenery and cool mountain air. The day's main destination is the Shahdag Mountain Resort, one of the most celebrated in the Greater Caucasus: snow-covered in winter and lush green in summer, it offers a different kind of beauty in every season. Comfortable air-conditioned transport, hotel pick-up and a professional guide are all included. It's an ideal day out for anyone who loves nature, mountains and unforgettable scenery.
- The Candy Cane Mountains with their red-and-white striped slopes — a rare geological wonder
- A peaceful forest lunch in the cool mountain air at Gachrash
- The Shahdag Mountain Resort, one of the best-known in the Greater Caucasus
Candy Cane Mountain, Pink Lake, Heydar Mosque Tour
Discover some of Azerbaijan's most unique natural and cultural attractions on this enjoyable day tour. Begin with a visit to the magnificent Heydar Mosque, one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the country. Continue to the colorful Candy Cane Mountains of Khizi, famous for their striking red-and-white striped rock formations. Next, stop at the legendary Five Finger Mountain (Besh Barmag) for photos and breathtaking panoramic views. Afterwards, visit the stunning Masazir Pink Lake, known for its unusual pink-colored waters and picturesque landscape. The tour concludes with a relaxing lunch by the Novkhani seaside, where you can enjoy fresh local cuisine and beautiful views of the Caspian Sea before returning to Baku.
- Heydar Mosque — one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the Caucasus
- Candy Cane Mountains — red-and-white striped rocks in Khizi
- Five Finger Mountain (Beshbarmag) — panoramic photo stop
Candy Cane Mountain, Pink Lake, Heydar Mosque Tour
Discover some of Azerbaijan's most unique natural and cultural attractions on this enjoyable day tour. Begin with a visit to the magnificent Heydar Mosque, one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the country. Continue to the colorful Candy Cane Mountains of Khizi, famous for their striking red-and-white striped rock formations. Next, stop at the legendary Five Finger Mountain (Besh Barmag) for photos and breathtaking panoramic views. Afterwards, visit the stunning Masazir Pink Lake, known for its unusual pink-colored waters and picturesque landscape. The tour concludes with a relaxing lunch by the Novkhani seaside, where you can enjoy fresh local cuisine and beautiful views of the Caspian Sea before returning to Baku.
- Heydar Mosque — one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the Caucasus
- Candy Cane Mountains — red-and-white striped rocks in Khizi
- Five Finger Mountain (Beshbarmag) — panoramic photo stop