Ascent to Mount Niyal (2112 m above sea level)

A flock of sheep dammed the road to the village of Lahic. However, horse herders usually help you pass in a while

Near the Paradise Garden resort at the beginning of Lahice, head upstream to Mount Niyal.

After leaving the forest, you will have a view of the plain below Mount Niyal. Sheep and cows graze on the plain in summer.

When descending from the mountain, the village of Lahic and the higher peaks of the main ridge of the Caucasus can be found in the valley.

The ascent to the top of Niyal Mountain is not difficult for the average trained hiker. The only problem is that like no other tour in Azerbaijan, this ascent is not marked. That's why I didn't reach the top for the first time, because I didn't hit the right turn relatively soon. The best place to start the ascent is the southern edge of the village Lahic in the district Ismayili. The village is popular with local and foreign tourists for its cultural heritage, which is preserved here, the village is landscaped and attracts copper products of local metalworkers. The village can be reached either by car or by car from Baku and other cities in Azerbaijan. Start your hike at the beginning of the village near Paradise Garden, where the road crosses the stream. The road to Lahice was asphalted in 2018 and the stream at Paradise Garden no longer wades but crosses a new culvert. Head upstream. Quite soon you will come across an information sign on the left bank of the stream that the first marked route in AZ was established here in 2018. The signs will take you to the Girdiman Fortress and to the east of the forest, the remaining 2 km to the top of the mountain are not marked. Here, turn right on the way out of the creek valley. You will follow the carriage path around the building, you will climb the meadow until you reach the forest, where the path used for logging wood from the forest with the help of horses turns right along the lower edge of the forest. Get smart here, because soon a trail turns left from this path into the forest, also starting from horses and people. Do not miss this trail, otherwise you will have to return. The trail is very well walked, so you won't lose it. It climbs steeply through the forest, sometimes branches off and converges again. After about 40 minutes from the turn to the forest you will reach a bare place with a rock that can be climbed and from where there are beautiful views of the valley of the river Girdimancay, the village Lahic and the surrounding peaks including Mount Babadag (3629 m). From there, continue along the trail and keep to the left. In the forest you will find the remains of the former fortress of Girdiman. But you have to be careful not to miss them, because there is not much left of the fortress, it is hidden in the forest and is covered with bushes and moss. After the next ascent you will come out of the forest to the plain, which rises to the top of Mount Niyal. On the plain you will see a summer camp of shepherds by a small lake. But you better avoid the camp, if there are sheep, there will be dangerous dogs. Take the camp to the left and climb the walked paths directly to the top of the mountain, which can be seen directly in front of you in clear weather. From the exit of the forest, you can walk to the top in another three quarters of an hour. From the top there are views in all directions, you can see other peaks in the vicinity, which you can also go to. You will get back to Lahice along the same path as to the top. On the way to the top you will ascend about 900 meters and the whole hike will take you 4.5 hours.

ATTENTION. Since 2018, the road to Niyal has been marked for the first 4 km from Bench. Only for the remains of the fortress. The remaining 2.5 km are not marked.