Nakhchivan
AzerbaijanBSk
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
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Why visit
Nakhchivan is one of the Caucasus' great oddities, a slice of Azerbaijan reachable only by air from Baku or via Iran or Turkey. The Momine Khatun Mausoleum, an octagonal 12th-century tomb tower covered in turquoise tilework, is a masterpiece of Seljuk architecture. Visit the alleged Tomb of Noah and the cliffside Alinja Castle. The salt cave at Duzdag treats asthma sufferers in underground galleries. Hiking around Mount Ilandag and the lunar landscapes near the Iranian border is striking, with almost no other tourists.
When to avoid
Reaching Nakhchivan is awkward, the only direct ground links are via Iran or Turkey since the Armenian border is closed and likely to remain so. Most visitors fly in from Baku. Don't try to cross to or from Armenia. Photography of military or border installations is forbidden, the area is heavily militarized. Summer is fiercely hot (often above 38°C) and winters bitter. English is rare. Bring a translator app and learn Cyrillic or Latin Azerbaijani basics. Alcohol is available but discreet.