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Leg 11

Tbilisi to Baku

Ridden by the Pioneers — no longer available to book

This is the route and itinerary as it was planned for the ride, kept as a record of the journey so far. For legs you can still join, see the Book Now page.

Pioneers Leg 11 — Tbilisi to Baku, June 2024
Dates
23rd to 26th June 2024
Start
Tbilisi – 08.00 Sunday 23rd June 2024
Finish
Baku – 18.00 Wednesday 26th June 2024
Days Cycling
4
Distance
563 km
Total climbing
8,393 m ascent
Road Surface
100% tarmac
Max capacity
90 including crew. It is possible to increase the size this year but if we do later sign-ups will be in secondary hotels on nights one and three.

Itinerary

  1. Pre-Start – Tbilisi 7.30pm Saturday 22nd June.

    Drinks & dinner in the same venue as the final party of Leg 10, next to the big bike. Very informal. Chance to see everyone again, collect shirts etc. Pay as you go.

  2. Day 1 – Tbilisi to Telavi – 129 km, 2,487 m total ascent.

    We leave Tbilisi with a short climb and then cycle around a reservoir before reaching the Chronicle of Georgia Monument. The first 23 km are busier until we get out the city and are rewarded with beautiful climbing on quiet roads up into Tbilisi National Park. Gorgeous descent into the heart of Georgia’s premier wine producing area. Home for the night is a modern Chateau (Soho House style) in Telavi where we will have a local wine tasting pre-dinner.

    View the route on Ride with GPS

  3. Day 2 – Telavi to Qakh – 159 km, 1,592 m total ascent.

    A morning spent in the wine region en route to the Border. Flat, fast road as we follow the Russian border with great views to the Caucasus mountains. Lunch is at a Chateau before entering Azerbaijan. The afternoon involves some more climbing as we head to The Ilisu State Nature Reserve. Home for the night is Azerbaijan’s first 5* hotel in Qakh with an opportunity for the first Ride25 Bowling Competition.

    View the route on Ride with GPS

  4. Day 3 – Qakh to Gabala – 146 km, 1,863 m total ascent

    Lovely day cycling with a mixture of quiet country lanes and the busier main road all with views to the Caucasus Mountains. Our ultimate destination is Gabala, known as “Azerbaijani Switzerland”. Gabala is located in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus and is one of the ancient cities of Azerbaijan. We are staying in a ski resort to the north of town and will travel by ski lift to a steak restaurant at the top of the mountain.

    View the route on Ride with GPS

  5. Day 4 – Gabala to Baku – 129 km, 2,452 m total ascent

    Best day of the trip – gorgeous days cycling as we head off the main road to Baku and to the ancient pretty highland village of Lahic through a geologically unusual canyon. Lahic, a classic stop on the silk route was founded in the 5th century BC making it the oldest settlement in the country. Tough climb as we go to an elevation of nearly 2,134 m – the highest ascent of the trip and 3rd highest across all 11 legs. On the descent we pass thought the Pirgulu State Reserve – home to brown bears, forest cats and the Astrophysical Oberservatory.

    We finish in Shamakhi, pack up the bikes and go by bus to Baku. Shamakhi is the perfect place to ultimately begin our journey south for Leg 12 to Tehran and avoids the unsafe road through the desert to Baku.