The three waterfalls of Lerik: Bibiyoni, Qalabin and Tokiakhil
Lerik is known as the land of long-lived people, but for walkers it has another side: three different waterfall routes, each half an hour apart.
Bibiyoni — easy to moderate
The Greater and Lesser Bibiyoni waterfalls. The name comes from the old Talysh language and means "quince spring". Greater Bibiyoni is about 30 metres high.
This is the most suitable route for a family outing — the difficulty is easy to moderate.
Qalabin — 6 km, moderate
What makes this route different: two waterfalls on two levels. You walk between the Upper and Lower Qalabin falls. Mountain vehicles take you up to the village, then the walk runs from 11:00 to 16:00.
Tokiakhil — 6 km, easy
The "tastiest" route: a walk through the forest, a swim in cool water, then lavangi, tandir bread and tea over a fire. It lasts 3–4 hours — so half the day is left for eating and resting.
Which one to choose
| What you want | Route |
|---|---|
| With a child, for the first time | Bibiyoni |
| Close to the falls, a swim | Tokiakhil |
| A little walking, two waterfalls | Qalabin |
The season of the water
The water you see in waterfall photos is not always the same. It is fullest in April–June, when snowmelt and spring rain combine. By late August the same waterfall can be half as thick.
In autumn the water drops, but the colour of the forest makes up for it — see our piece on where to go in autumn.
One sentence about lavangi
Going to Lerik and not eating lavangi means leaving the route unfinished. Made with chicken or fish and a walnut-and-onion filling, it is the region's signature dish.
Ready to experience it yourself? See the upcoming departures.
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