Western Azerbaijan
Naftalan in Azerbaijan, resorts and how to get there
The historic home of Naftalan oil therapy. Resort clinics offer full courses under medical supervision.
Travel times are approximate and depend on the route and season.
Naftalan is a small resort town in western Azerbaijan, about 50 km from Ganja and about 330 km from Baku. It is the historic home of Naftalan oil therapy, and the town has grown around its health resorts.
Life in Naftalan is quiet and built around the daily rhythm of treatment. Patients usually stay at the resort itself, where the physician, the procedures, meals and rest are in one place. We organise the transfer, choose a resort that suits your condition and stay in contact throughout the course.
What makes it special
Naftalan oil is extracted right here, next to the resorts. It is used in baths and local applications prescribed by the resort physician.
Resorts combine accommodation, meals, medical supervision, physiotherapy and massage, so the day is calm and organised.
The resort physician examines every patient before the course and takes contraindications into account.
A course in Naftalan can be combined with diagnostics or treatment in Baku within the same trip.
Treatments available here
Open a treatment to see what can be arranged and which documents the doctor needs.
How you get there
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Flight to Baku or Ganja
Most patients fly to Baku. If a convenient flight to Ganja is available, the road to the resort is much shorter.
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Transfer to the resort
Our driver takes you from the airport directly to the resort. From Baku the journey usually takes 4 to 5 hours with a stop on the way.
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Course at the resort
After the examination the physician prescribes the procedures. Your coordinator stays in touch and helps with any question.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Naftalan?
The town is about 50 km from Ganja and about 330 km from Baku. We arrange a car transfer from either airport. From Ganja the drive usually takes about 45 minutes, and from Baku about 4 to 5 hours.
Where will I stay?
Patients usually stay at the resort where they receive treatment. Rooms, meals and procedures are in one place, which is convenient during a course of 10 to 14 days.
Can I combine Naftalan with treatment in Baku?
Yes. Many patients have a check-up or a consultation in Baku and then continue to Naftalan. We plan the dates and transfers so that the trip runs smoothly.
Which airport is closest to Naftalan?
The closest airport is in Ganja, about 50 km away. Most international flights arrive in Baku, about 330 km away, so many patients land in Baku and continue by car. Your coordinator suggests the most convenient route for your dates.
When is the best time to go to Naftalan?
Courses run all year round because the procedures take place indoors. Many patients prefer spring and autumn, when the weather is mild. Summers are hot, which some patients with joint conditions find comfortable and others do not.
How do I choose a sanatorium in Naftalan?
The choice depends on your diagnosis, the procedures you need, the level of accommodation and whether you travel with a companion. After reviewing your documents we suggest suitable options and explain the differences, and you make the final choice.
What does the cost of a course depend on?
The cost depends on the resort, the type of room, the length of the course, the number of procedures and the transfers. You receive a written estimate before booking, so there are no surprises on arrival.
Journal
From the journal
How many days of Naftalan treatment you need
A Naftalan course usually includes about 10 to 14 baths spread over two to three weeks. The first day is set aside for the examination, procedures then follow every day or with breaks as the resort physician prescribes, and travel days come on top. Shorter stays are possible, but the physician decides how many procedures make sense for you.
Naftalan ointment and cream from the pharmacy and how to use them safely
Pharmacy Naftalan products are ointments, creams and liniments made with refined Naftalan for local use on the skin or over painful joints. They come with a package leaflet, and the leaflet together with your doctor decides how and for how long to use them. Crude oil sold online is a different product and is not meant for home use.
Naftalan reviews and how to read them critically
Reviews of Naftalan resorts can be useful, but they mix very different things, from rooms and food to the effect of the procedures. The medical result depends on the diagnosis, the stage of the disease and the programme itself, so the story of one person says little about yours. Here we explain how to read reviews critically and which questions give a clearer picture.
Best time to visit Naftalan for a treatment course
Naftalan procedures take place indoors, so the resort works all year and there is no strict season. Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable months for travel, while July and August can be hot. In the end, the best time for you depends more on your condition, the advice of your doctor and your own plans than on the calendar.
How to get from Baku to Naftalan by car, train or plane
Naftalan lies in western Azerbaijan, about 330 km from Baku and about 50 km from Ganja. Most patients fly into Baku and continue by car, which takes 4 to 5 hours, or take the evening train to Goran station. Flying to Ganja shortens the road to about 45 minutes. Below we explain how to choose the route that suits your health and your plans.
Naftalan for psoriasis, what to know before you travel
Naftalan is traditionally used for chronic plaque psoriasis outside an acute flare. Some patients notice less scaling and itching after a course, but results vary, may not last and the scientific evidence is limited. Here we explain how a course is organised, who it may suit, who should wait and which questions are worth asking the resort physician.
Sanatoriums of Azerbaijan
Naftalan, mineral water in Galaalti, the Duzdag salt mine and the Caspian coast. We help you choose a resort for your condition.
Joints and spine
Naftalan resort courses for chronic joint and back pain, rehabilitation in Baku after surgery or injury, and help choosing the right first step.
Learn more
Lungs and breathing
A salt mine course at Duzdag for asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergic rhinitis, which adds to your usual inhalers rather than replacing them.
Learn more
Sanatoriums for children
Duzdag salt mine courses for children with breathing problems, Naftalan only with medical approval, and help with consent documents and travel.
Learn moreOther destinations
Capital
Baku
Multidisciplinary hospitals, IVF centres and dental clinics in a modern city on the Caspian coast.
Shabran district
Galaalti
A health resort in the hills where mineral water is drunk at the source, combined with spa and recovery programmes.
Nakhchivan
Duzdag
Speleotherapy inside a salt mountain, used for asthma and chronic respiratory conditions.
Send your reports and receive a treatment plan
Tell us about your condition. A coordinator will reply in your language, and the specialist will review your documents.