Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and “Köç Yolu” Transhumance Route Historical Site

Address: Khinalig and the Köç Yolu transhumance route, Shamakhi District, Azerbaijan

Website: https://whc.unesco.org

Hours: Open access (villages and routes)

Admission: Free (village), small fees for guided transhumance experiences may apply

The Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and “Kc Yolu” Transhumance Route centres on the high-mountain community of Khinalig and the traditional pastoral corridors used for seasonal movement of livestock. The site illustrates the relationship between a long-settled mountain village and the wider highland pastoral landscape that supports transhumance.

Khinalig is a compact mountain settlement notable for vernacular stone construction and an economy shaped by sheep and goat herding, with seasonal movement along established routes to upland summer pastures. The transhumance route known as the Kc Yolu links village-based lifeways with dispersed grazing areas and reflects social and pastoral organization developed over generations.

The village and route lie in the highlands of Azerbaijan, within the broader mountain environment of the Greater Caucasus, where steep terrain and altitude have shaped settlement patterns and pastoral practices.

• Transhumance and mountain community: The property highlights a high-mountain community with a long-standing seasonal pastoral economy and a transhumance route used for moving livestock between summer and winter pastures.

Khinalig is reached from the town of Shamakhi; the drive involves steep mountain roads and can take several hours. Private hires or local minibuses are typical; the final ascent to Khinalig requires a vehicle suited to mountain tracks or a guided trek from lower villages.

• Plan visits around spring or summer when shepherd routes are active to see the transhumance alive.
• Hire a local guide from Khinalig to explain the language, customs, and seasonal paths - Khinalig is one of the highest permanently inhabited villages in the Caucasus.
• Be prepared for steep ascents and high-altitude conditions; acclimatise if necessary.