Reaching the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic from mainland Azerbaijan presents a unique travel challenge, as it is a non-contiguous exclave without a direct land border to the rest of the country. Armenian territory separates the two, meaning you cannot drive directly across. Your primary option for travel is by air. Azerbaijan Airlines operates regular and government-subsidized flights between Baku and Nakhchivan City, which is the fastest, most reliable, and most common method for both locals and visitors. Alternatively, you can undertake a long overland journey, but this requires transiting through a third country. The most common route involves crossing from Azerbaijan into northern Iran at Astara or Bilasuvar, traveling several hundred kilometers across Iranian territory, and then entering Nakhchivan via the Jolfa or Poldasht border crossings. A similar but much longer route is also possible through Georgia and Turkey. The future of this connection is a major topic of regional diplomacy, with ongoing discussions about creating a direct transport corridor through Armenia’s Syunik province. This proposed land link, often referred to as the Zangezur Corridor, would finally connect the exclave with mainland Azerbaijan, fundamentally changing the region’s geography, trade routes, and geopolitical balance. It remains a point of contention but holds the potential to reshape travel in the South Caucasus.