Qochyataq and Shahverdi waterfalls: a route closed for years has reopened

The Qochyataq and Shahverdi waterfalls were closed for a long time. The route is open again now and has become the most talked-about direction in Qakh.

Two formats of the route

One-day hike (hard): the walk to the waterfalls, the Ilisu baths, the mountain road by GAZ-66.
→ Qakh, Qochyataq waterfall hike

Two-day camp: the same route plus an overnight stay and an open-air film night.
→ Qakh camp: Qochyataq waterfall and the Ilisu baths

If you have the time, choose the second: the best of this region reveals itself in the evening and early morning hours.

What a GAZ-66 is and why it is needed

A Soviet-built military truck. On mountain roads it is still unmatched: high clearance, strong drivetrain, free movement through river crossings. Part of the route is covered in one, and that is the most entertaining section of the tour — although riding in the back is both bumpy and dusty.

Practical tip: wear sunglasses in the GAZ-66 (dust) and put your phone in a bag that closes, not in your pocket.

The Ilisu baths

Hot water after a walk — only someone with aching feet knows what that is worth. Ilisu is known for its sulphurous hot springs.

When to go

• April–June: the waterfalls at their fullest
• September–October: the most stable weather, the forest in colour
• July–August: hot, but it stays cool around the waterfalls

What is nearby

The Qakh–Sheki line is ideal for fitting two routes into one weekend. On the Sheki side: Sheki, Khan plateau trek — the summer retreat of the khans of Sheki in the 18th and 19th centuries.