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Health tourism – is a new trend and direction in the field of tourism.

Our company offers medical tours to the high class treatment centers, which correspond to the modern standards and located on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Choose sunny Azerbaijan for an amazing adventure, extraordinary holiday, and useful treatment for strengthening your health. Here you can enjoy the breathtaking nature with a surprisingly local zest, see many great ancient monuments and combine the pleasant leisure with useful recreation. The health resort and treatment will help you to have a rest and improve your health thanks to curative natural resources.

Azerbaijan offers sanatoriums and hotels with health base and services for climatic balneal and mud therapy. You can be sure that by choosing Azerbaijan you will have an amazing and useful time, be able to have a good rest and improve your health.

Azerbaijan Health Tourism development facts

Today health tourism is growing everywhere turning into a global tendency of the modern tourism industry. Famous for its unique historical and cultural places, Azerbaijan is not falling behind these processes. Our country has a mild climate with the breathtaking landscape including forests, mountains, rivers and waterfalls. It is famous for its resort paradise and is rich in inexhaustible mineral water resources, medicinal muds, naftalan oil, numerous salt caves. Health tourism also helps people to solve their health problems and strengthen their organisms. It would suffice to mention the world famous Istisu, Galaalti, Naftalan, Duzdag recreational resorts. Adoption of the State Program for Development of Resorts in Azerbaijan in 2009-2018, announcement of 2011 as the year of Tourism, implementation of the State Program for Development of tourism in 2002-2005 and 2010-2014 created favorable conditions for the development of tourism, including health and medical tourism. The Public Union for Support to Health and Thermal Tourism has been created in Baku, Nakhchivan and other regions alongside the opening of modern medical and healthcare centers, mountain resorts, and general health centers. Undoubtedly, this trend has a great potential and will further develop in the future. For this purpose, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is working constantly with concerned structures to restore the health tourism facilities and create new world-class resort areas.

Hotels & Sanatoriums

CHINAR HOTEL & SPA NAFTALAN

50 km away from Naftalan in an ecological safe place near an artificial lake
Walking and sports in an open air, recreation, amusements, and entertainment area for children
Medical preventive center equipped with high technologies, which offers the broad spectrum of healing methods that help treat various diseases with the help of the Naftalan oil

NAFTALAN HOTEL BY RIXOS

Located in the new resort area of the city of Naftalan
3 centers: hotel, clinic, medical building, sports and entertainment complex
Department of heat therapy, physiotherapy department
The clinic and the lab meet all modern requirements of a quality medicine

QARABAG SPA & RESORT

Tennis, basketball and golf courts
The complex also has a heliport, a 8-km walking strip and green stripes
Good treatment, the most advanced equipment and all necessary conditions

QAFQAZ YENGICA THERMAL & SPA

Located at a distance of 18 km from the center of Gabala
Unique rest and recreation center that meets all modern standards
This uniqueness of this center is explained by the availability of a medicinal water source, located on its territory
Historical researches and medical tests have shown that this mineral water has a highly therapeutic and restorative properties
Services of treatment with Naftalan oil

GABALA LAKE PALACE ESPANSE CHENOT

Is a unique health and recreational center immersed in nature in the heart of evergreen forest
Located on the shores of a picturesque lake
Fully intended to carry out medical procedures in line with Chenot's method with the latest anti-aging technologies and a highly qualified staff of doctors and therapists

ILISU “ULUDAG”

Located on the hillside and covers 4 hectares of the Ilisu village of Gakh region
Hot mud baths available in the complex.
Ilisu village is rich by historical monuments
Tourism routes include trips to: Fortress of Suma, ancient Albanian temples, to Kum by an ancient Sheki road, residential points Likit, the Church of St. George and other POIs

QALAALTI

Functions since 1976
One of the largest and most famous resorts in Azerbaijan, locates at a height of 1000 meters above the sea level
Patients are treated with water from sources that locals call «Naftsu» - oil water. «Naftsu» with a pungent smell and specific taste is often compared with the waters of Truskavets (Ukraine) and Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic)
Water basically treats urological diseases, but it is also useful for the digestive system and a gallbladder

PALIDLI SAHIL

Located in an oak grove of the Lankaran region
Treatment and courses of social and psychological adaptation are carried here for patients with diabetes, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases
Football field, tennis court, volleyball, badminton, walking, fishing, sauna, restaurant, oriental bath and Finnish saunas, massage and etc.

DUZDAG

Duzdag salt caves locate at the height of 1173 above the sea level in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
The first locates in Duzdag at the Duzdag hotel and the second is under the mountain at a depth of 300 meters from the entrance to the second main mountain section of salt pits.
Treatment for the patients with respiratory problems
The hospital consists of surface and underground areas

General requirements for getting visa to Azerbaijan

Depending on the nationality, tourists have one of the following four cases:

- Visa-free entry;
- Visa upon arrival;
- E-visa;
- Visa at the Embassy.

Visa-free entry

Citizens of the following nine countries are eligible for visa-free entry to the territory of Azerbaijan up to 90 days:

Belarus
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Moldova
Russia
Uzbekistan
Ukraine
Tajikistan

Visa upon arrival

Citizens or residents of the following 13 countries have simplified and accelerated Azerbaijan visa obtaining process; they receive 30-day visa upon arrival at the airports of Azerbaijan:
Bahrain
Israel
Malaysia
Oman
OAE
China
Qatar
South Korea
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Turkey
Kuwait
Japan

E-visa

MFA Azerbaijan has launched e-visa system for the citizens of the following 80 countries. Azerbaijan e-visa processing takes up to 3 days; the system accepts VISA and MasterCard for payment.
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Guatemala
Holy See (Vatican)
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jordan
Kuwait
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Romania
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
Vietnam

Visa at the Embassy

If your country is not in any of the lists provided above, then you need to apply for Azerbaijan visa at the Embassy in your country. If there is no Embassy of Azerbaijan in your country, then contact embassies in neighboring countries.

Apart from that, there are different types of Azerbaijan visa: tourist, transit, student, humanitarian, business and guest visa. According to the type of visa the list of the required documents and terms vary, however the main document is still an invitation letter from Azerbaijan that should be sent via the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

10 Great Things to Do and See in Azerbaijan

"Azerbaijan Land of Fire" motto embellished uniform of Madrid football club "Atletico", football champions of Spain in 2013/2014. This touch demonstrates to what extent Azerbaijan cares about attracting tourists to their developing country. Vacation in Azerbaijan is discovering thousands of places that you can visit and hundreds of activities that you can have. We will share with you 10 things to do in Azerbaijan.

1. Hear the melody of magic Gobustan. (in Azeri – Land of ravines). Humans always lived here. Epochs, millenniums, centuries, civilizations changed, but a human being was born, he hunted, fought and created in these places. On the territory of the reserve with square of 1327 acres there were about 6000 rock drawings have been found left by humanity from the upper Paleolithic Age to the Medieval Age. Some life scenes: women at work, men hunting, boats and the sun, lions and gazelles, bulls and wild boars. Signature in Latin by Roman legionnaries of the Legio XII Fulminata. Inscriptions are in Arabic and Farsi. There is even their own Stonehenge in Gobustan. Gobustan is also famous for its "singing" stones – Gavaldash. Rocks from porous shell limestone is the reason of the sounds made by pebbles spread for few kilometers in the surrounding. The oldest rock music in the Universe. Cultural landscape of rock paintings of Gobustan is enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. Take a photo in front of the Maiden Tower (Azeri – Giz Galasi). A photo with the symbol of Baku – a 92 feet high mysterious and beautiful Maiden Tower is inseparable part of a vacation in Azerbaijan. Anyone in the capital can tell you many legends and stories related to this amazing place. Up to now there isn’t unified opinion on the approximate timing of the origin, purpose and even the name of this unusual architectural monument. Icheri Shehera (an inner city) is included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the top of the tower you will see a wonderful view on the unique historical-architectural reserve in the centre of Baku.

3. Visit the Absheron shore. The Caspian Sea waters, the biggest lake in the world, are not too salty as in seas: it is pleasant to swim and it is healing. It is hard to imagine a vacation in Azerbaijan without visiting a resort zone Nabran with its numerous modern hotels and sanatoriums. In the centre of the beach tourism of the Near-Caspian region one can ride on boats, sail on yachts, fish and dive with aqualung.

4. Check the temperature of mud volcanoes. There is a posit that 350 out of 800 mud volcanoes in the world are on the territory of Azerbaijan: on the seashores, islands and in the sea. Tourists love taking pictures of mysterious "Marsian" views of frozen and cracked flows of mud. It is interesting to know that the flow of erupted mud is not too hot, and used as a valuable healing product. More notable volcanoes (and they make 23) are under the protection of the state. Mud volcanoes are from 20 up to 400 meters high. A chain of active mud volcanoes are on the road Baku-Alyat, 10 km to the south of the Gobustan village.

5. See the flame of Ateshgah, the Temple of Eternal Fire. The Ateshgah temple is 30 km away from Baku, in the village of Surakhany, where it is known for such unique natural phenomenon as burning natural gas outlets (underground gas coming onto surface contacts oxygen and lights up). Scientists say that there was a holy place of Zoroastrians in the beginning of our era. According to Zoroastrism Fire is reflected in both spiritual and everyday life. With arrival of Islam, the temple was destroyed. Restoration started only in the 18th century (1713) by Hindu-fire worshippers-merchants. Gradually they built chapels, cells and caravanserai. By the beginning of the 19th century, the temple had a present. Tectonic motions brought to cease of a gas outlet at the ground surface and by 1880 the temple was abandoned. These days the place of the ancient Zoroastrian temple is open for tourists, and there is a fire burning too, but an artificial one.

6. Feel yourself an Oriental Governor in the Palace of Sheki Khans. The Palace of Sheki Khans built in 1761-62 as a summer residence of the Husseyn-khan Mushtad, is considered to be the top masterpiece of the medieval Azerbaijan architecture. The entire palace is constructed without a single nail. The secret of the ingredients of the solution that the builders used in constructing the palace to connect adobe, river stone, beams, columns and boards of sycamore and oak is unfortunately lost. You will be amazed to see stained glass windows made of Venetian glass (5000 colorful pieces on a square meter). The peculiarity of the palace is a miniature painting on walls and ceilings: scenes from hunting, mythical birds in paradise garden, elephants and dragons. The colors are still there and have not lost their brightness 250 years later. There are two huge sycamore trees remained from the garden of the Sheki Khan that are standing there in protection of the palace.

7. Discover the secret of kutabs. Kutab only seems a usual thin patty. Kutab is like a pizza in Italy or a croissant in Paris. In the old times, no one would marry a girl who could not bake a bread, weave a carpet and cook a kutab. Thin, crescent-shaped, traditional and popular kutabs may have different kinds of stuffing: greens, beef, lamb, pumpkin, cheese. The recipe to make this unusual dish varies from one city to another, from one restaurant to another. What unites them is that the dough is made on water and eggs, thinly rolled, stuffed in the middle, folded in two and crimp the edges. They are either pan fried, or baked in oven or tandoor. Oiled before serving. Usually there are 5-7 kutabs per person. Kutabs should be eaten with the hands. Kutabs with greens are served with matzoon (Caucasus local yogurt) and garlic, and the beef kutabs – with sumac (A sour spice popular in the Eastern Mediterranean made of dried barberry). Vacation in Azerbaijan doesn’t count if you haven’t tried kutabs:).

8. Visit a neighbour through a chimney. The old mountain village of Khinalug was mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman historians’ writings. A piece of Caucasian Albania, lost in time and on the height of 2100-2300m has not been accessible up to recent times, thus villagers – Kyats – have preserved their unique language that does not belong to any language family, or language group, traditions and customs found nowhere else, and consider themselves as a direct descendants of Japhet, the son of Noah. Kyats build their houses on one onto another, this way the roof one neighbor is a courtyard of another. There is a chimney in the ceiling of the house through which they visit each other. It is a beautiful and harsh land, simple food, distinctive home garments. They say there is even a snowman somewhere around. Your vacation to Azerbaijan will not be complete without traveling to the State historical-architectural reserve. All the more so when in 2006 the road to Khinalug village was constructed.

9. Take a stroll along the Baku seaside boulevard. Vacation in Azerbaijan will be unforgettable with a walk along the old (more than 100 years) and renewed (half a billion USD investments) Primorsky boulevard (seafront). The alleys, landscape design turned the park into the residents’ favourite place. There are two most beautiful singing fountains, numerous new and reconstructed attractions for children and adults, cozy cafes and teahouses, cinema, kids summer theatre, parachute tower and a yacht-club. The embellishment of the Boulevard is a sport-concert complex Baku Crystal Hall built for the event of Eurovision-2012. And if you wish some peace, take a walk up the stairs or use a cable-railway to Nagorny Park where you will get a panoramic view of the city with Baku monuments and an amazing view of Baku Bay.

10. Bow to a great woman. There is a mausoleum of a exceptional beauty in Nakhichevan, built by a son, atabek Dzhahan Pehlivan, for his mother Momine-Khatun in April of 1186. She was smart and strong woman, together with her husband (the father of Dzhahan Pehlivan) she is considered to be the root of the Eldegyz dynasty and the founder of the Atabeks state. One of the most historical buildings of Azeri architecture, which assembles son’s love, the wise queen and art of architect Adjemi, adorns this country for more than eight centuries.

Tourism in Azerbaijan has been busy for centuries - just look at all the caravanserais that held travelers moving along the Silk Road. Azerbaijan today is a unique combination of the many cultures and empires that have passed through, as well as home to some of the most stunning natural landscapes of the Caucasus. Whether you want to explore the most modern corners of cities or escape into the mountains or beaches, Azerbaijan has something to offer.

Baku is Azerbaijan’s capital and largest city, built around the fortified Icheri-Sheher. Walk through the narrow alleys and discover the many sights around every corner, or enjoy the broad promenades and world-class establishments of the more modern parts of the city. You’ll find for yourself that Baku is a charming city on par with many other world metropolises. Explore the history of Azerbaijan at the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, and climb the Maiden Tower to see Baku in full. And for something beyond tourist sites, try some shopping through Baku’s pedestrian streets or a meal at one of the fine restaurants throughout the city, serving both traditional Azerbaijani food and international classics.

Head out of the city for even more of Azerbaijan. Be amazed by the detailed workmanship at the Palace of Shaki Khans, wander through the otherworldly mud volcanoes in the Gobustan Reserve, or climb the mountains to reach Khinalug, the highest village in Europe. Naftalan is home to petroleum spas, where there are unique oil baths, or spend some time relaxing on the beaches of the Caspian Sea or the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains. Shamakhi was an ancient capital of Azerbaijan, and today’s rebuilt buildings are great examples of modern Islamic architecture.

Azerbaijan’s rich culture is on display at any of the country’s many museums, from the large museums of the country’s capital to the smaller regional museums, full of character. Learn about local and regional history, carpet making, nature, and more, and then head out and experience it for yourself. See how the patterns of nature ended up in the carpets of Quba, or how the flavors of southern Azerbaijan influenced the top restaurants in Baku.

From 28 meters (92 ft) below sea level to 4,466 m (14,652 ft) above sea level, Azerbaijan’s nature has plenty to explore. In the north of the country are the Great Caucasus Mountains, home to the best ski resorts and extreme mountain landscapes. In the center of the country are rolling hills covered in forest and deserts, broad and open. And don’t forget the seashore. Even though the Caspian Sea is technically the largest lake in the world, there’s plenty of space for watersports and relaxing on the beach.

Azerbaijan is all about extremes: ancient and modern, natural and man-made, minimal and intricate. You’ll definitely want to experience Azerbaijan for yourself, with a tour that fits your needs and allows you to explore your interests in this beautiful country.

Historical Tourism

Azerbaijan is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, plus a number of other important places that have been considered for inclusion in the World Heritage Sites list. Right in the center of Baku is Icheri-Sheher, the walled city that once housed the entire population of Baku. Wander through the narrow alleys of the city to experience how it would have looked to the medieval residents who walked the same streets. The other site is Gobustan, home to hundreds of thousands of petroglyphs depicting ancient life. Go beyond the obvious with trips to Sheki, Khinalug, Ateshgah, or to the many fortresses and temples that were staples of life in the region for centuries. Azerbaijan’s rich history can be explored at the many historical destinations across the country. Sheki and Shamakhi were capitals of empires that existed centuries ago, and their former imperial glory lives on in the historical sites and their surroundings.

Cultural Heritage Tourism

Baku is famous for its cultural life, but that’s not to say that the rest of the country doesn’t have its own charms. A visit to the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum and excursions to carpet workshops (Quba has a thriving workshop) will make anyone an expert of carpets and the various regional types found around Azerbaijan. Art lovers will appreciate the Museum of Modern Art or the National Museum of Art, and theater lovers will find plenty to do in Baku. Some famous historical sites also have a cultural aspect, such as the isolated and unique culture of Khinalug and the excellent craftsmanship of Sheki. UNESCO has recognized copper making in Lahic, silk scarves, carpet weaving, mugham and tar as Intangible Cultural Heritage, but this is only a start when it comes to exploring Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage.

Food Tourism

Azerbaijan’s cuisine is a mix of a variety of sources from east and west. Be sure not to miss juicy, smoky kebabs or richly filled kutabs, stuffed with meat and greens and folded into a half circle. Some dishes can be found in other countries, like dolma (grape leaves stuffed with meat and rice) and baklava (layers of dough filled with honey), but even then, Azerbaijan adds its own spin and style to these more common dishes. People in Azerbaijan also love their teas and soups. Try a cold soup with yogurt (dovga) or a traditional hot lentil soup, followed by tea served with sweets and jams. Baku is filled with world-class restaurants, but head out of the capital to discover each region’s speciality dish and more traditional recipes.

Adventure and Nature Tourism

From the shores of the Caspian Sea (which actually lie below sea level) to the heights of the Caucasus Mountains, Azerbaijan offers a variety of natural destinations. Summer is a great time to relax by the beach, with a variety of seashore resorts on the Caspian Sea, while winter is the perfect season for a stay at a ski resort in the mountains. There are also national parks that are great for hikes and even longer trips, while picnicking has long been a treasured tradition. Take care of your health, rest and relax, or try something new and exciting by heading out into Azerbaijan’s nature.

Varied and distinctive cuisine of Azerbaijan

Pilaf with fragrant saffron, juicy kebabs roasted over coals, freshly-caught fish, and sweet fruit and honey for dessert - Azerbaijan’s cuisine is full of flavors and surprises. The cuisine in Azerbaijan is a vital part of the country and its culture. The flavors and ingredients used reflect the foods that can be grown or found in Azerbaijan, as well as the trading connections that brought new tastes to the Caucasus from far and wide. Even the cooking techniques used reflect the local lifestyle and customs, and the names of the dishes in Azerbaijani cuisine come from the terms used in Azerbaijani.

Hospitality is a large part of Azerbaijani culture, and cuisine is no exception. Guests are treated to an abundance of dishes, and turning down more and more servings can be seen as rude (even if you’re too full to eat more). Food holds a sacred place, and sharing food with another person creates a strong bond. Food culture is so rich that dolma (stuffed grape leaves) and its central place in Azerbaijani culture and families have been recognized in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Many dishes are delicious and healthy, which is why Azerbaijan is a country of centenarians. Beef and mutton are common, as are poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables. Spices include dill, coriander, mint, chives and basil can be found in many of the dishes, giving them full and rich flavors. The result is a wide variety of dishes that are substantial and nutritious, full of familiar and unusual flavors.

But don’t think that this is a whole list - there are endless foods to try in Azerbaijan. Whether you want a hearty soup (like piti) or a quick snack (kutab) or something to satisfy a sweet tooth (baklava), you’ll find plenty to explore. And the more you travel around Azerbaijan, the more you’ll discover, since each region (and each cook) has their own recipes that bring out new flavors and delights.

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