Day 1 - Arrival
Riding: No riding.
Today is an arrival day only, with airport transfers possible from early afternoon until midnight. If you arrive early then you can explore the city of Baku a little. Accommodation is provided in a hotel in the centre of Baku, but meals are to your own account.
Day 2 - Baku
Riding: No riding.
Meet at 8am and set off to discover the medieval heart of Baku with your guide. Walk through the double arches of the Fortress Wall which was constructed by King Manoucher II in the 12th century. The wall encircles the most ancient part of the city, called Ichari Shahar (Inner City) and preserves a medieval Orietnal citadel which has been reconstructed. You can also visit the Royal Palace of Shirvan-Shahs-Kings from the 15th century; the Gasim public bath house from the 17th century and the ismayiliye Palace which was built in venetian gothic style by the oil baron Agha Musa Naghiyev in the late 19th century. Have dinner together in a restaurant before a second night in your hotel.
Day 3 - Baku - Istisu or Lahic
Riding: No riding.
Today's route will depend on local conditions. You either transfer to the Lesguins village of Istisu where you board an old soviet truck to transfer out to the first camp, or you transfer to the Tat village of Lahic and overnight with local people in a guesthouse. Either way, you will be preparing for the start of your riding adventure tomorrow.
Day 4 - Istisu/Lahic - Camp 1
Riding: 6 - 8 hours
Set out early for a long and beautiful day on horseback. Ride up through the valley to a crest where you'll spend a few hours admiring the open panorama towards Babadag - the highest mountain in Azerbaijan. After this pass you ride downhill to Camp 1 which is located deep in the valley - an amazing setting. Dinner and overnight in camp.
Day 5 - Camp 1 - Camp 2
Riding: 5 - 7 hours
Set off riding through forest and into a large and long valley, following the river as it passes through the forests. Camp 2 is isolated in the midst of a nature reserve and national park hidden in the mountains. Dinner and overnight in camp.
Days 6 to 8 - Camp 2 - Xinalig
Riding: 6 - 8 hours
For the next three days you will ride from this camp towards the Qetish village of Xinalig, but your route won't be decided until you are there, depending on weather conditions. You will ride over passes of more than 3,000m and may pass beautiful lakes on high plateaus (on some routes). Each night you will set up your tents but there is no large mess tent until you reach Xinalig on the third night.
Days 9 to 10 - Xinalig - Chakhdag - Xinalig
Riding: 6 - 8 hours
Ride in the direction of Shakhdag, an impressive summit which offers an outstanding view of the surrounding area. You will reach the southern slopes of the Caucasus mountains - Azerbaijan is the only country in the Caucasus chain where you can cross from the northern to southern slopes without leaving the country. Final camping nights.
Day 11 - Xinalig - Baku
Riding: No riding.
You are transferred back to Baku by vehicle, arriving by mid afternoon. Take a stroll through the city or visit the Alyiev foundation before dinner in a restaurant. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 12 - Baku - Qobustan - Apsheron Peninsula - Baku
Riding: No riding.
Transfer out to Qobustan which is rich in archaeological monuments, with more than 6,000 rock engravings. The site was also a cave city built in the middle of ravines in the desert. Most of the rock engravings depict primitive men, animals, warriors with lances, caravans of camels and the sun/stars. Have a picnic lunch and transfer back to Baku to visit the Absheron Peninsula. Drive to the old petroleum industry plants which contrast against the pure mountains and visit the Ateshgah temple of fire in Surakhany village. Zoroastrians travel thousands of kilometres to worship where fire comes out of the earth - the Yanardag mountains has natural gas which has been burning for several thousands of years. Lunch to own account.
An early dinner tonight as you will be boarding the soviet night train to Tbilisi which departs Baku at 9pm.
NB> It is possible to depart this day from Baku if you prefer - taking your own taxi to the airport.
Day 13 - Tbilisi
Riding: No riding.
You'll arrive into Tbilisi around 10:45am and can drop your belongings at the hotel before setting off to explore the city. Visit the old centre with it's history and architecture which is very different to Baku - your guide will help you to appreciate the similarities and differences. Lunch to own account, but final dinner together in a restaurant before overnighting in your hotel is included.
Day 14 - Departure
Riding: No riding.
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.