Experience Azerbaijani Wonderland In Gabala – Your Perfect Holiday Hideout!

Azerbaijan is the best destination for adventure and relaxation seekers. Literally translating to the ‘Land of Fire’, Azerbaijan is the land of glorious mountains, spellbinding architecture, and Europe-like aesthetics. We had our trip to Azerbaijan in August 2019 and allocated two days to explore Gabala. Believe us, that was the best decision we made!

If you visit Azerbaijan, you must plan a stay at the former capital of the Caucasus Albanians who ruled there for 600 years. Though there is no relation of Gabala to modern-day Albania now. Nestled in the center of the historical Silk Route, Gabala houses many ancient monuments like a 1000-year-old defense tower, a mausoleum from two centuries ago, and a 13-century old mosque. We experienced Gabala during the fall and here’s presenting to you a guide to explore Gabala and its hidden gems!

Also read: Everything You Need To Know Before Planning A Trip To Azerbaijan

After our arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport at Baku, we headed straight to Gabala by road in a private booked car. The route to Gabala from Baku is so beautiful and picturesque as it leads to a hill station! You can also rent a car to self-drive or take a public bus to Gabala. But if you have a car all for yourself, then you’ll have the freedom to stop on the way for photoshoots. The best part of the journey was when we could see colored sand mountains on one side and a beautiful valley on the other.

We booked our stay at Qafqaz Karavansaray Hotel, just a few meters away from the city center, and relaxed in our comfy room to recover from jet lag. Although there is no such city center in Gabala, the main market is just at a walking distance. Our hotel was extremely aesthetically pleasing and had a unique royal ambiance. Its outlook and architecture have a royal essence. The rooms were very spacious for two people and the staffs were so warm and helpful. Oh boy, we just couldn’t get over the regal glamour of this hotel! We went for an amazing walk in the evening and indulged ourselves in a delectable supper at a local restaurant.

The next day, we went to experience a ride on a cable car after relishing our scrumptious breakfast. In Gabala, there are three levels on the route of this cable car activity. Unfortunately, we couldn’t reach higher levels due to snowfall. It was snowing and the atmosphere was heavily foggy thus the cable car wasn’t operational. However, it’s a must-visit! If you’re interested in winter sports, you can either ski on your own or take beginners’ skiing lessons from there.

There is a five-star hotel called Qafqaz Tufanfdag Hotel near the level 1 cable car station. Its location is so beautiful! Whenever we visit Gabala again, we’ll definitely stay in this hotel for two reasons – uno, it’s supremely beautiful and duos, the cable car ride starts from there and we can hop on that anytime we wish! This time, we had our lunch at their restaurant and every dish we ordered was darn delicious and served so well.

On our way back, we visited a few cafes and among them, we have to mention a special one. It’s Qabala Vadisi, available only in summers, and it’s an open cafe. The cafe is so massive that it took us one hour to get around the whole place. We were pleased to meet the owners who were very warm and so was their pet puppy! The little puppy literally took us all the places around the cafe. They also have dreamy treehouse cafes for couples, friends, and families. Some amazing creative structures built from old & scrapped cars and see-saws will blow your mind!

Thereafter, we visited Nohur Lake also known as Gabala Lake. This place is very beautiful, non-commercialized, calm, and perfect to experience divine tranquility. It’s devoid of local people and tourist rush. We spent two peaceful hours here at the lakeside away from human interaction. It was so blissful to be there and it’s the best place to enjoy ‘us’ time for a couple! Also, you can opt for boating on the lake and buy some local fresh fruits. There is a cafe near the lake with cute individual huts that have inbuilt heaters in them. So, even if the weather is freezing outside, you can be comfortable and warm inside. You can click thousands of pictures in this place, it’s that magnificent!

Just a casual walk in Gabala made us feel so special as the streets had a welcoming vibe with the carpet of fallen leaves. We had no idea we will admire the magical fall season this way and how! Then we drove towards the riverside of Gabala which has a small waterfall as well. It was gorgeous but too foggy, windy, and cold. So we left the place at the earliest. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the market to pick some fresh local produce and had our dinner at an Indian restaurant. There were a number of Indian eateries around the area of our stay. The next day, we checked out from the hotel and headed towards Baku.

Azerbaijan offers an array of satisfying pistes where there is something for everyone. And, Gabala is a place of thrilling winter activities, luxurious hotels, aesthetic restaurants, and cafes for the ones looking to unwind. Whatever your age or preference, you must include Gabala in your itinerary for a memorable vacation getaway!