Naftalan is a health resort town in western Azerbaijan, about 330 km from Baku and roughly 50 km from Ganja, the country's second-largest city. It lies in the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus and is known for its medicinal oil, a rare type of naphthenic crude that is too thick to burn and is used for therapeutic baths.
The healing oil of Naftalan
The use of Naftalan oil as a remedy is traditionally dated to around the 12th century, when the poet Nizami Ganjavi mentioned its healing properties. Specialized health facilities appeared around the oil field in 1926, and during the Soviet era patients came here from across the USSR. Naftalan received city status in 1967. After the collapse of the Soviet Union the resort went through a difficult period, and its recovery began in the early 2000s.
According to the resorts, Naftalan treatment is used mainly for:
- musculoskeletal and joint conditions;
- skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis;
- gynecological and urological conditions;
- some neurological and circulatory conditions.
In a typical course, patients take warm oil baths of about 10 minutes each under medical supervision, usually 10 to 15 baths over one to three weeks, with breaks between sessions. Treatment is often combined with physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and massage. A doctor examines each patient on arrival and sets an individual plan.
Naftalan treatment is not suitable for everyone. Contraindications include acute inflammatory diseases, bleeding, tumors and cancer treatment, epilepsy, mental illness, some heart and nervous system conditions, and pregnancy for gynecological procedures. Consult your doctor before booking.
Where to stay
Naftalan has around ten spa hotels and sanatoriums. Among the best known:
- Garabagh Resort & Spa: a four-star hotel with indoor and outdoor pools and a fitness center.
- Chinar Hotel & Spa: set among pine and plane trees, with Naftalan procedures, hydrotherapy, massage, several restaurants and an on-site clinic with several medical specialties.
- Gashalti Health Hotel: a medical team in physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and massage, with treatments that include oil baths, a salt room and cedar barrel steam sessions.
Services and prices vary, so check the hotel's website before booking.
What to see and do
Naftalan is small, but there are several unusual places to visit:
- Museum of Crutches: a collection of crutches left by patients, one of the town's best-known sights.
- Naftalan Museum of History and Regional Studies: covers the geology, history and development of the town as a health resort.
- City parks: shady paths and a quiet place to walk between treatments.
You can also take a day trip to Ganja (Nizami's mausoleum, the Bottle House, the Juma Mosque) or to Goygol National Park, about 60 km away.
How to get to Naftalan
From Baku: by car, about 330 km and 4–5 hours. By train, there is no direct service to Naftalan: take an Azerbaijan Railways train on the Baku–Gazakh line to Goran station, then a taxi of about 18 km (around 20 minutes). Check schedules and tickets at ticket.ady.az.
From Ganja: about 50 km by taxi or hotel transfer.
By transfer: many hotels arrange private transfers when you book a treatment package.
Travel tips
Season: spring and autumn are the peak seasons, when hotels fill up, so book ahead.
Visa: citizens of some countries enter visa-free and others can apply for an e-visa. Check the current rules at evisa.gov.az.
Language: Azerbaijani is the official language; Russian and English are commonly used at resorts.
Currency: the Azerbaijani manat (AZN).
Why choose Naftalan?
If you are looking for a wellness trip that combines a rare natural remedy, rest and sightseeing in western Azerbaijan, Naftalan is worth considering. Choose a hotel with a medical team and discuss your treatment plan with your doctor first.
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