Where to go in spring: choosing a route for March to May

Spring is the best trekking season in Azerbaijan, but the choice of route comes with a serious constraint: there is still snow on the high peaks.

The advantage of spring: water

Snow melts, rain falls — waterfalls are at their fullest of the whole year. A waterfall that trickles in autumn is an entirely different sight in May.

Routes for this season:

• Astara, Sim village (Dustagkhana and Shirhal waterfalls)
• Lerik, Bibiyoni waterfalls
• Gabala, Soyugbulag waterfall
• Ismayilli, Qalajiq trek
• Ismayilli, Lake Qaranohur — spring is its finest hour

The difficulty of spring: mud

Meltwater turns trails to mud. The practical consequences:

• Membrane boots genuinely matter in this season
• Trekking poles keep your balance on a slippery descent
• Keep spare socks and a plastic bag (for muddy shoes) in your pack

When the peaks open

The high peaks (Bazarduzu, Tufandag) are usually free of snow from midsummer onwards. Going there in May requires snow equipment and an entirely different level of preparation.

For the "summit feeling" in spring there are lower peaks:

• Khizi, Beybeyim mountain (935 m)
• Sulut, Fit mountain (1810 m)
• Mastdargah (2743 m) — depending on when the season opens

Spring's special bonus

Khizi's coloured mountains and flowering slopes look this way only between April and May. It is a window of a few weeks.

A note on allergies

April and May are pollen season in Azerbaijan. If you have allergies, add an antihistamine to your first-aid kit.