Candy Cane Mountains
Striped red-and-white hills on the road to Shahdag, coloured by iron-rich sedimentary banding.
Included in 3 tours
Azerbaijan
Quba
Northern apple-and-carpet region, gateway to Shahdag and to the Candy Cane Mountains.
Quba lies north of Baku in the foothills below the main Caucasus ridge. The district is known for its orchards, its carpet weaving, and as the road to Shahdag, which means most visitors pass through it rather than stopping, and miss more than they realise.
The scenery on the approach is the main reason itineraries come this way, but the town and its surroundings hold two genuinely unusual things.
The approach
The drive north from Baku passes the Candy Cane Mountains. Striped red-and-cream hills coloured by iron-rich sedimentary banding, and Five Finger Mountain, a limestone massif rising straight out of the coastal plain with a pilgrimage shrine near its summit.
Beyond them the road climbs into the Quba Forest, dense broadleaf woodland that turns spectacular in autumn.
Carpets and apples
Quba is one of the seven historic carpet-weaving schools of Azerbaijan, and Quba carpets are recognisable by their geometric medallions and distinctive palette. The Carpet Museum in Baku displays them alongside the other regional schools.
The district is also the country's principal apple-growing region. Roadside stalls sell fruit, preserves and honey through the season, and they are worth stopping at.
Highlights
- Candy Cane Mountains on the approach road
- Five Finger Mountain and its pilgrimage shrine
- Quba Forest, spectacular in autumn
- One of the seven historic carpet-weaving schools
Tours that visit Quba
- Mountain Escape 2 Days / 1 Night View tour →
- Winter Special 3 Days / 2 Nights View tour →
- Mountains, Fire & Silk Road 2 Days / 1 Night View tour →
Not included: Entry tickets to all attractions, museums, cable cars and activity venues · Hotel / accommodation · Meals & drinks. Entry tickets are set by government authorities or venue operators and are payable directly on-site.
Frequently asked questions
What is Quba known for?
Apples, carpet weaving. It is one of Azerbaijan's seven historic weaving schools, and as the gateway to Shahdag. The approach road through the Candy Cane Mountains and Quba Forest is the scenic highlight.
Is Quba worth stopping in?
The approach through the Candy Cane Mountains and Five Finger Mountain is worthwhile on its own, and the Quba Forest is spectacular in autumn. Most itineraries pass through en route to Shahdag.
What to see in Quba
Five Finger Mountain
A five-pronged limestone outcrop rising beside the northern highway, and a long-standing pilgrimage site.
Included in 3 tours
Want Quba on your itinerary?
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