Shahdag Mountain Resort tour from Baku: Guba and cable car

Cable car and mountain activities at Azerbaijan's first ski resort

A full-day tour from Baku to Shahdag Mountain Resort in the Gusar region, with hotel pickup and a professional guide in English or Russian. You stop for photos in Qecresh Forest on the way up, ride the cable car and choose from horse riding, quad biking or paintballing at the resort, then visit Guba Genocide Memorial Complex on the return to the city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Guba and Shahdag Mountain Resort

• Stop for photos in Qecresh Forest
• See local people and horse riding offers
• Enjoy Shahdag Mountain Resort activities
• Visit Guba Genocide Memorial Complex

The experience

How do you get to Shahdag Mountain Resort without renting a car? The tour picks you up from your Baku hotel and drives you northeast into the Gusar region, where the road passes through Qecresh Forest: a stop built in so you can photograph the local landscape and meet people who offer horse rides through the trees. The resort itself sits inside Shahdag National Park, named after Mount Shahdag, and it's the first ski resort Azerbaijan built. In summer, when the slopes close, the complex opens cable car rides, quad biking, horse riding and paintballing. In winter, 14 ski slopes of varying difficulty stretch across 17 kilometres for beginners and experienced skiers alike.

The day is structured around what you want to do at the resort. The cable car is included in the tour. The other activities (horse riding, quad biking, paintballing). You choose and pay for separately at checkout. The resort itself sits at mountain height with four hotels built to European standards, and the guide will point out why people come back even when they're not skiing. On the return to Baku, the route passes through Guba, where you stop at Guba Genocide Memorial Complex. The site commemorates the 1918 genocide of Azerbaijanis and other ethnic groups. Excavations in 2007 found remains of more than 400 people, and the memorial was completed in 2009.

The whole day runs 10 to 11 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off. Your guide speaks English or Russian and travels with you throughout. The vehicle is air-conditioned. Meals and drinks are not included, so plan to eat at the resort or bring provisions.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Baku.
• air-conditioned vehicle and driver.
• professional licensed tour guide in English or Russian.
• cable car access at Shahdag Mountain Resort.
• stops at Qecresh Forest and Guba Genocide Memorial Complex.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (4 to 14 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Guided Azerbaijan

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or a rental to reach the resort. The guide handles the route and timing, so you can focus on what to do once you arrive at Shahdag.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 years); Infant (under 4).

What is there to do at Shahdag Mountain Resort in summer?

Shahdag Mountain Resort offers cable car rides, horse riding, quad biking and paintballing during the summer months when the ski slopes are not in use. The cable car is included in the tour. The other activities are available to book and pay for on-site.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to Shahdag?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Baku are included, along with an air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the full 10 to 11 hours. Your guide travels with you and speaks English or Russian.

What is Qecresh Forest and why do we stop there?

Qecresh Forest lies on the route to Shahdag and is a stop for photographs and to meet local people who offer horse rides through the forest. It's a chance to see the landscape and interact with the area before reaching the resort.

What happens at Guba Genocide Memorial Complex?

Guba Genocide Memorial Complex commemorates the 1918 genocide of Azerbaijanis, Lezgins, Jews, Tats and other ethnic groups. The site includes mass graves discovered during excavations in 2007. The memorial was completed in 2009 and is visited on the return journey to Baku.

Are meals included in the tour?

Meals and drinks are not included. You can eat at one of the resort's restaurants or bring your own provisions for the day.