The Kukushka train in Georgia is among the most scenic train journeys in the Caucasus region. The 37 kilometer narrow gauge railway runs through the forested Caucasus foothills offering sweeping panoramic views as it winds it way up the mountain. The Kukushka train runs from …
Vardzia cave town is an ancient cave settlement in the slopes of the Erusheti mountains in Georgia. It is both a historical monument and an active place of worship. Monks still live in the Vardzia cave monastery that was once part of a much larger …
This post is about the best things to do in Borjomi Georgia. A small town in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region in central Georgia. I knew about Borjomi only because of the fizzy mineral water famous throughout the ex Soviet world. Borjomi was a popular holiday destination …
This post is a travel guide about the best things to do in Baku. Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and a city famous for its gas and oil reserves on the Caspian sea coast. What can I say about Baku? Baku did not charm …
This post is all about Xinaliq, or Khinaluq, and how to visit this remote part of Azerbaijan. Xinaliq is not the easiest village to visit and getting there as an independent traveller is a bit of an adventure in itself. But Xinaliq is one of …
This post is a travel guide about the best day trips from Baku into the Absheron peninsula for the independent budget traveller. Baku is located in the middle of the Absheron peninsula. This area is the heart of Azerbaijan’s land of fire with some of …
The helpful owners of my guesthouse asked me multiple times if I really wanted to take the train from Sheki to Baku. They warned me that it would be slow. 12 hours in fact, while the minibus would only take six hours. A bit worried …
This post is a travelguide about the best things to do in Sheki. Sheki is a pleasant city in northern Azerbaijan at the foot of the Caucasus mountains. It is surrounded by rolling hills with lush forests that beckon you to explore them. It is …
I knew this was going to be a long day with a mixture of several taxis and buses to make it from Sighnaghi in Georgia to Sheki in Azerbaijan. I wanted to start early, but Georgia is not the country where they wake up when …
This post is all about the best things to do in Sighnaghi in Georgia. Sighnaghi is a lovely town in Georgia’s Kakheti region that is famous for its wine. Which country has the best wine? It’s a controversial debate, but Georgia is a respectable competitor. …