Mikhtoken plateau: an alpine meadow trek starting from Laza

The word "yaylag" is used a lot in Azerbaijan, but you need to see an alpine meadow once to know what it means: the altitude where the tree line ends, the grass is short and dense, and nothing interrupts the horizon.

Mikhtoken is exactly that.

The route

It starts from the village of Laza: 9 km, difficulty 3/5. The walk runs from 11:00 to 17:00, followed by a tea break in a village house.

Programme: Mikhtoken plateau and Suvar trek.

What the view is worth

From the plateau, the Qizilqaya massif and Shahdag are visible at the same time. Very few points in Azerbaijan allow that — usually you see one or the other.

The best light for photography is in the afternoon: it falls from the side and brings out the relief of the ridge. The flat midday light between 12 and 14 makes the mountain look flat.

About Laza

Laza is known for its waterfalls and is one of the most scenic villages in Qusar. In winter those waterfalls freeze.

If you want a longer route in the same region: Qusar, Kuzun–Laza trek — nearly four waterfalls, a canyon and mountain rivers across 9 km.

Three subtleties of meadow treks

• There is no shade. A hat and sunscreen are not optional.
• The weather turns fast. A clear sky can become fog within an hour.
• There is livestock. Meeting herds and shepherd dogs on the plateau is normal — see our piece on how to behave around dogs.