Candy Cane Mountains, Pink Lake & Beshbarmaq
Striped red-and-white sedimentary hills, a naturally pink salt lake, and a sacred pilgrimage mountain — three surreal sights in one half-day loop north of Baku
About this route
North of Baku toward Khizi and Guba, three genuinely surreal natural sights sit within easy reach of each other, making this one of the most popular half-day excursions after Gobustan. The Candy Cane Mountains are a range of sedimentary hills near Khizi striped in red, white, and grey bands — the result of mineral-rich layers exposed by erosion — creating a landscape that looks almost artificially painted. It's one of the most photographed natural sites in Azerbaijan and a genuine highlight for photographers.
Nearby, Pink Lake (Masazir Lake) turns a striking rose-pink colour in summer due to algae and high salt concentration — best seen June through August when the colour is most vivid. Beshbarmaq Mountain ("Five Fingers Mountain") is a five-peaked sacred site with an active pilgrimage tradition, a small mosque partway up, and panoramic Caspian views from the summit trail. Most day tours combine all three into a single half-day or full-day loop from Baku.
Group prices are shown only where a fixed departure and minimum group size are stated. Private and custom tours are quoted by dates, hotel level, vehicle and party size.