It is possible to relax in the winter at the European level, but at the same time not overpay, to go abroad, but not to experience any difficulties. Go to Azerbaijan!
Ski resorts are a new and promising area for recreation in this country. There are many advantages: it is close enough, Russian tourists do not need a visa, there is no language barrier, and the local population is loyal to Russian tourists. There are now two large ski resorts in Azerbaijan - Shahdag and Tufandag.
During your winter holidays, you can combine visiting the sights of Baku with skiing and snowboarding in the mountains - here's a full-fledged interesting trip, and even at a very good price. In addition, a certain proximity of the mentality makes it easier to understand between the staff and tourists. Azerbaijanis know very well what and when to offer you.
Currency exchange rate: 1 Azerbaijani manat (AZN) ≈ 44 RUB.
The climate in the resorts
9 out of 11 climatic zones are represented in Azerbaijan. The first frosts in the areas of ski resorts begin in October, so the ski season opens in Shahdag in November, and in Tufandag in December. The average temperature in the winter months is from −13 ... −20 ° С
The nature here is varied: forests, mountains covered with glaciers, waterfalls and canyons. There are many options for walking, there are tourist routes for professionals and beginners.
How to get there
It is convenient to fly to Baku by plane. Regular flights are made from Moscow and St. Petersburg. From Baku you can get to the resort by bus or car. There are also routes with a change in Astana, Kazan or Minsk. Baku Airport →
Where to stay
5 * hotels cost on average from $ 70 per room. There are 3 * and 4 * hotels, room prices start from 35 and 40 dollars per day, respectively.
Shahdag
It is historically the first and largest ski resort in Azerbaijan. It is located 215 km from Baku near the city of Gusar.
Shahdag is considered the most beautiful corner of the Caucasus Mountains, it is known for the purest mountain air and healing climate. The weather in the resort is ideal for winter outdoor activities and in summer for eco-tourism. Cycling, paintball, trekking, water slides and even paragliding are popular during the summer months. In winter, in addition to the ski slopes, there are snow tubing trails, snowboard jumps, dog riding and other entertainment.
All conditions for a comfortable stay have been created in Shahdag. There are 12 ski lifts, ski and snowboard rentals, and at the foot of the mountain there are about 20 restaurants and five hotels from 3 * to 5 *, including with the "apartment" type of accommodation: Shahdag Hotel & Spa, Zirve Hotel, Gaya Residence, Pik Palace and Park Chalet. The hotels can accommodate more than 1,500 guests at the same time.
On the territory there is a first-aid post, a school for beginners skiers, children's areas and a large parking lot.
Trails
The infrastructure of the complex meets the most modern requirements. The first cable car and track were opened in 2011. Now there are 14 tracks in operation, the longest is about 1800 m, the total length of tracks is 17 km. Of these, 5 are green, 5 are blue, 4 are red, and 2 are areas for freestyle.
The highest point of the resort is 2100 m. The trails are additionally processed with artificial snow, which makes it possible to extend the skiing season.
Experienced instructors work at the resort, and you can learn how to ride in just 1-2 lessons.
Scheme of tracks in Shahdag (big size)
Prices for ski pass and rental
- Lift pass - 25 manats.
- Ski rental (set - skis, poles, boots) - 20 manats.
- Snowboard rental with boots - 25 manats.
- Boots - from 10 to 15 manats.
- Individual lesson with an instructor (2 hours) - 50 manats.
- Seasonal lift pass - 390 manats.
A ticket for the big cable car in Shahdag costs 5 manats, and the rest - 3 manats. These prices are about 3 times lower than European ones.
Downhill from the highest to the lowest point of the Shahdag resort
Reviews of tourists
Hotels, according to vacationers, are not inferior in level to European ones: they are equipped with spa centers, massage rooms, gyms. Many come to Azerbaijan with a little anxiety, because little is known about this direction. But the impressions are the best! Any room offers beautiful views of the Caucasus Mountains, and Azerbaijani cuisine is to the taste of almost any tourist.
The best months to visit are February and March, when there is a lot of snow and no frost. In other months, some pistes may be closed due to the small amount of snow.
Tufandag
Tufandag, or Tufan, is the second popular ski resort in Azerbaijan. It can accommodate up to 3 thousand people per day. The complex opened in 2014 near the Azerbaijani city of Gabala.
Tufandag is a winter resort, but people come here to relax in summer too. What can you do? Tourists are advised to climb Mount Bazarduzu and visit the sights of the city of Gabala: excavations, a museum of the history of the city, the famous ruins of the Gabala gate, fragments of an ancient ceramic aqueduct. In addition, there are picturesque lakes near Mount Tufan. According to legend, one of them contains a fragment of Noah's ark. A little further, 30 km from the resort, there is the Savalan winery - tourists buy alcohol there at a bargain price.
Panorama of the resort
Trails
Tufandag operates from mid-December to late March. The height of the mountains here is slightly lower than in Shahdag - 965-1920 meters above sea level. The resort has 4 cable cars and 10 ski slopes with a total length of 17 km. The tracks differ in level: 3 blue, 3 red and 4 black. Sometimes some of the tracks are closed due to insufficient snow. There is a system of artificial snowmaking.
The scheme of the tracks in Tufandag (big size)
Prices for ski pass and rental
- Lift pass - 15 manats.
- Ski rental (set - skis, poles, boots) - 15 manats.
- Snowboard rental with boots - 15 manats.
- A set of ski clothing (helmet, goggles, jacket, trousers, gloves) - 15 manats.
- Individual lesson with an instructor - 40 manats.
All prices are for one day per person. Subscriptions for two, three or more days are cheaper. Individual lessons with an instructor are more expensive than group training.
Reviews of tourists
The infrastructure at the second most popular ski resort in Azerbaijan is developed: there are cafes and restaurants, hotels, shops and equipment rental points. At the resort, you can learn to ride, visit the Qolf Resort sports center, organize your child's leisure time in children's recreation areas.
The reception in hotels is open around the clock, tourists have no complaints about the staff - the employees do everything for the comfort of the tourists.
The trails of Tufandag are often a real delight for vacationers. "Meet all safety requirements", "at the highest level" - this is how tourists say about the slopes of this resort.
What does the color of the tracks mean?
- Green trails are simple and almost straight trails for beginners. When descending, do not allow to gain high speed.
- Blue slopes are the second most difficult. These are steeper routes, the relief is more varied, but there are no sharp changes in altitude. There are many slopes.
- The red runs are the most popular and interesting. They already need some preparation. Quite steep slope, few flat areas. This category also includes off-piste routes, which usually run parallel to the main list, and are not recommended for beginner skiers.
- Black runs are the hardest. Usually they are not treated with a snowcat, and the terrain can be dangerous: sharp turns, hillocks, trees, narrow steep sections. This group also includes snowboard jumps. In some countries there are also extreme double black pistes only for very experienced skiers
Vacation tips
- Exchange currency for manats in advance.This can be done at the airport or in Baku at the bank branches. Tourists are also advised to take more cash with them, because there are many interesting excursion routes in Azerbaijan. Food prices in Baku →
- The hotel, most likely, will accept at least rubles, even dollars, but souvenirs in a street shop can only be bought in local currency. The same applies to excursions purchased outside the hotel.
- If you are traveling to Azerbaijan for more than 10 days, you need a temporary registration. The hotel administration takes care of this issue.
- The resorts of Azerbaijan are already very much loved by the local population, and in the last couple of years they are gaining popularity among Russian tourists, so it is worth taking care of booking a hotel room in advance - at least a month and a half.
- Take your passport (Russian enough) and driver's license with you if you want to rent a car, a camera and a tourist's first aid kit. You need to take out medical insurance only for your own peace of mind.
Conclusions
Ski resorts in Azerbaijan are not yet popular, but for tourists this is only for the best: there are not so many people yet, but the level of organization is very good.
Both Shahdag and Tufandag have trails of all levels - educational, beginner, intermediate and advanced. However, there are more trails in Shahdag - the area of the resort is more extensive, and there is less forest on it. The workload at the resorts is still average, so there are almost no queues for the lifts.
Tourists who have visited both resorts say that Tufandag is more suitable for beginners - there are more gentle slopes. If you are planning a long vacation, go to Shahdag: you will have time to learn how to ride on gentle slopes and try more difficult tracks.
The resorts of Azerbaijan are not inferior in level to European ones, but the prices will pleasantly surprise you. Tufandag is a little cheaper, but both resorts are affordable, well equipped and suitable for any tourist.
