Shahdagh Tour

Shahdag Mountain Tour Highlights: Gusar, Shahdag Mountain Ski Resort & Complex

Gusar Region is located in the south part of Azerbaijan and bounds with Russia. Gusar region is 20% covered by the forests and very rich with its flora and fauna. The city of Gusar immediately greets tourists with crystal-clear mountain air and incredible panoramas, from which it takes its breath away. This place the main part of Shahdag tour. Because of its geographical position, this city is called the “Northern Gate,” which leads to neighbouring Dagestan. The population of Gusar is mainly Lezgins who have lived in this area for centuries. It is easy to guess that the famous dance “lezginka” is directly related to these people. Lezgins are infinitely benevolent and hospitable people, which you can surely see for yourself after meeting the citizens. It is impossible to take a tour these places and not get new pleasant acquaintances.

Gusar is the northernmost settlement of the country (from large cities), it has about 90,500 people, and the direct distance to Baku is 180 km. The Gusar region appeared in 1930 after the division of the Guba province. People settled in this area from the end of the 2nd millennium BC. There are many monuments and attractions of different eras. If we consider folk crafts, then the most widespread is carpet weaving, in particular, the creation of lint-free carpets. Such products are created either in-home machines or in the city center. There is located a large weaving shop with a unique feature – inside it, and there is the largest (ten-person) looms in all of Azerbaijan. 

Here is the first and biggest ski resort located in Gusar District near Shahdag National Park. The resort included hotels, golf clubs, ski resorts, and cottages. Shahdag Tour will start by picking you up from your hotel or any desired place. On the way, you will also be able to see The Red Village, 100% Jewish settlement, the biggest outside Israel. After the village, we will drive to the resort.

During the Shahdag tour you can see  11 comfortable lifts, 14 slopes of varying difficulty, 5 excellent hotels and endless magical mountain landscapes from all sides. The clean mountain air is attached!

Winter-summer resort “Shahdag” is in the top 3 most popular ski resorts from all CIS countries. Shahdagh is located at an altitude of 1435-2351 meters, and its passenger capacity is 11400 skiers per hour. On the area of more than 125 hectares of the route stretched as much as 17 kilometers.

Shahdag tour has something to offer even the most demanding tourists of the resort – there is always a rental with the necessary equipment for tracking, skiing, and snowboarding. 5 hotels (both luxury and comfortable family apartments), 20 all kinds of bars, cafes, and restaurants, which offer a variety of dishes like many European dishes, which are familiar to many, as well as dishes traditional for Azerbaijan. Rest for every taste!

In winter, ski instructors and an international ski school work here. The complex gives a 100% guarantee of snow. You can not come to this resort and do not go skiing.

First of all, you need to rent skis and equipment. It is more convenient to do this on the ground floor of the hotel “Shahdag Hotel & Spa” or in the hotel “Zirve.”

In no case do not take the ski in the hotel “Pik Palace Shahdag,” there are low high prices. Skis, boots and ski poles are rented separately. If you want to rent a helmet, knee-pads and ski goggles, and I strongly advise you to do this for beginners, you will have to pay extra.

On the first floor of the hotel “Shahdagh,” you can hire an instructor who, for 50 manats, will teach to ride, brake, and turn correctly. You will also need to purchase a Ski Pass for 16 manats, which will allow you to use the lifts.

On the first day, it is better not to look at the two-meter trails at all, but to spend two hours skiing on the “children’s” hill and only then choose the slopes more abruptly and just enjoy the fresh mountain air.

It is also possible to come to the “Shahdag”  Mountain Ski Resort & Complex in the summer, but this is an entirely different story.

But the rest is not limited to winter sports – here is one of the best spa in Azerbaijan, fitness and wellness centers, a large selection of entertainment, programs, activities for each family member, including children. In warm seasons on the territory of “Shahdag,” you can go horse riding, enjoy magnificent views from the lifts or “bungee,” go in for karting.

It is better to go during the Shahdag tour to ski resort early in the morning since by 11 a.m. there is no room to get over.

After all, not only those who want to go skiing and snowboarding take a tour to the complex but also those who want to show their children the snowy slopes, breathe in the fresh mountain air and drink coffee on the restaurant’s veranda.

Partially, the territory of Gusar belongs to the Shahdag National Park of Azerbaijan – the largest in the whole of Azerbaijan. This national park covers an area of 7 districts.

The height of the mountain Shahdag, which serves as the basis of the ski resort, is 4,243 meters. On this mountain, there are 19 kilometers of tracks for tourists to the Shahdag Mountain Ski Resort & Complex. As in many ski resorts, the complexity of the slopes can be distinguished by color: green, blue, red and black.

The four tracks of the complex are designed specifically for professional skiers – here are both obstacles and steep serpentines. These tracks are marked in red. The 5 trails of the Shahdag Mountain Ski Resort & Complex have an average level of difficulty – they do not require special skills to ride them. The other 5 trails of the resort are designed specifically for beginner skiers and children. These tracks are painted green. The maximum elevation difference of the resort is 600 meters.

At the top of the slope of the resort, tourists are lifts. At the same time, 11 cableways are operating immediately – chairlifts and drag roads. For children who use the training route, there is a unique method of lifting – equipped track.

The Shahdag Mountain Ski Resort & Complex is a new project, so artificial snow generators are working here to maintain the quality of the slopes. For the convenience of tourists, there is a specialized sports shop, where you can buy equipment, as well as a ski school, where you can take group or individual lessons in skiing or snowboarding.

Guided Azerbaijan will do the best to ensure that your holiday is perfect during your Shahdag tour.

List of activities that you can try in Shahdag during Shahdag tour:

Snow Grooming Machine Trip

Paintball

Tubing

Children Entertainment Center

Adventure Park

Snowmobile Tours

Ice Rink

Summer Activities

Paragliding

Zip-Line

Horse Riding

Shooting Center

Quad Tours