Located in the eastern part of the Caucasus, near the Caspian Sea, lies one of Eurasia’s best-kept secrets: the snow-covered slopes and breathtaking landscape of Azerbaijan’s ski resorts.
For a unique winter stay, the top infrastructure of the region and rich cultural experiences are unbeatable. The ski season usually runs from December to March, but you can explore many other activities outside of this period. There is something for every taste and in all seasons: skiing, but also snowshoeing, horse riding, sledding, paragliding, hiking and at the end of the day tasting the regional gastronomy.
Investments in Azerbaijan’s tourism infrastructure have made the country more attractive than ever before. Although new infrastructure is constantly being created, the main ski resorts are Chahdag, Tufandag and Agbulag, all of which offer numerous activities and exceptional snowy landscapes.
Shahdag Mountain Resort is the largest ski resort in the Caucasus. It is suitable for all levels, from beginners to the most endangered, with more than 30 kilometers of pistes.
About a three-hour drive from Baku and at an altitude of around 2,500 meters, Shahdag offers a range of summer and winter activities and is home to many very comfortable hotels.
These facilities include Chata Park, equipped with an indoor pool, gym and sauna, or the comfortable rooms of the luxurious Pik Palace Hotel with a heated outdoor pool and spa. Both offer spacious and elegant rooms with breathtaking mountain views.
If the Chahdag ski schools have several pistes and instructors for all levels, even non-skiers will enjoy themselves. In winter, visitors can ride a snowmobile, snowshoe or scooter, but year-round they can also enjoy paragliding, horse riding, archery and cable cars. Tobogganing on the tracks is one of their favorite attractions. Adrenaline ride that combines roller coasters and toboggan rides at speeds of up to 42 kilometers per hour.
ADVERTISEMENTThe nearby village of Laza is also worth a visit, especially for its spectacular waterfalls, which are used for ice climbing in winter when they are frozen.
On the other side of the gigantic Shahdag mountain, Tufandag perfectly combines adventure, nature and culture. Its wonderful pistes stretch for 15 kilometers for snowboarders and skiers, while the ski school offers plenty of pistes for beginners.
Just a few kilometers from Gabala International Airport, Tufandag Mountain Resort is also very convenient to Gabala, where vacationers can visit ancient fortresses that once served as an important trading hub along the Silk Road. A nearby museum explains the history of the region and its archaeological findings.
About an hour’s drive south of Gabala is the vast Chahdag National Park, an ecotourism paradise where tourists can expect to encounter all kinds of animals and plants, including lynx, deer, wild boar, jackals and even brown bears or golden eagles.
To the west, Nakhchivan is isolated from the rest of Azerbaijan. Tourists discover the villageAgbulagwhere the newest ski resort of Azerbaijan is located.
Agbulag ski resort, perched 2000 meters above sea level in the Little Caucasus Mountains, boasts perfect conditions for all winter activities with quality facilities.
Its ski school employs experienced instructors for both beginners and advanced skiers, and families use the playgrounds and theme parks.
With its 38-room hotel and three rental cottages, Agbulag meets all the needs of vacationers. For a day trip, the city of Nakhichevan is an hour’s drive away. It is home to many majestic monuments such as the oriental Khan Palace, built in the 18th century and now converted into a museum.
Not to be missed is Noah’s tomb, which has experienced various incarnations since the fourth millennium BC. It is said that the top of the nearby Ilandag mountain split when Noah’s ark passed by, who himself lived and died here.
With its geometric patterns in red bricks and turquoise tiles, it follows an architectural model (the “Nachichivan Schools”), similar to that of the 12th-century Momine Khatun Mausoleum, one of Azerbaijan’s most fascinating neighboring monuments.
ADVERTISEMENTResorts that are not limited to just skiing. Each of them offers a number of attractions that enrich the vacationers’ stay. What they have in common, however, is the discovery of local hospitality.
Azerbaijanis believe it is their duty to receive guests with the utmost kindness. After a day on the slopes, a warm, fragrant cup of tea with delicious sweets will do you good.