The Khizi Candy Cane Mountains

In the Khizi district, about 100 km north of Baku, there are hills that look painted in stripes of red, white and gold. Visitors call them the Candy Cane Mountains; locals call them the Striped Mountains.

Where the stripes come from

The bands are different rock layers exposed at the surface — clays, sandstones and marls tinted by iron and other minerals. Wind and rain have eroded the hills for centuries, revealing the layers. The hills are only a few hundred metres high, so no special fitness is needed.

When to go

• Spring and autumn — mild weather and clear views.
• Morning or sunset — warm, low light makes the colours pop.
• After rain the stripes are most vivid, but the clay gets slippery.

Getting there and nearby

Take the Baku–Quba highway, then a local road. Stop at Besh Barmag mountain on the way, and visit the Diri Baba Mausoleum on a return loop via Gobustan district. A driver is easiest — local roads aren't always on maps.