Tufandag Ski Resort Guide: Runs, Lessons and Summer Trails

Tufandag Mountain Resort is in Gabala, in the north-west of Azerbaijan. It is in the Greater Caucasus, and its address is Duruja village. It is smaller than Shahdag, the country’s larger ski resort. But it is open for more of the year, because its cable cars, coaster and trails also run in summer.

This guide uses the resort’s own website, tufandag.com, which we read on 28 September 2026. The site is in Azerbaijani and English only. Where its pages disagree, we say so. We do not pick one figure for you.

Tufandag essentials

• Best time: winter for skiing, the warm months for hiking. The resort has not announced its 2026/27 ski season yet.
• How long to stay: one night at least. Two nights give you one full day on the snow.
• Access: by road from Baku or from Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD). See our airport transfer to Gabala.
• On the mountain: cable cars link the lower stations to the top. You do not need a car once you are there.
• Before you ride: check the lift hours on the day. The resort’s pages give different times.

Why ski at Tufandag?

It is a good mountain for a family with mixed plans. One person can take a lesson. Another can ride a cable car to the view point. A child can try the coaster. Nobody has to wait in the hotel.

The ski area is modest. The highest run starts at 1,920 m, and the longest is 2,705 m. A strong skier will know every run in a day or two. For a longer ski holiday, read our Shahdag guide too. Our side-by-side page helps you choose between the two.

All ten runs, one by one

The resort lists ten runs: P8, the Beginner Area, W1, W2 and P1 to P6. It grades them as intermediate, professional or expert. These are its own words. They are not the green, blue, red and black colours used in Europe.

Run	Grade	Top	Bottom	Length
W2	Intermediate	1,920 m	1,660 m	2,705 m
W1	Intermediate	1,660 m	1,300 m	2,360 m
P3	Intermediate	1,500 m	1,300 m	170 m
P1	Professional	1,920 m	1,410 m	1,630 m
P5	Professional	1,550 m	1,280 m	860 m
P2	Expert	1,850 m	1,500 m	920 m
P4	Expert	1,800 m	1,350 m	1,055 m
P6	Expert	1,550 m	1,260 m	1,260 m

P8 and the Beginner Area are also on the list. For both, the resort gives a top height that is lower than the bottom height. That cannot be right, so we leave their heights out.

W2 ends at 1,660 m, which is where W1 starts. Ski them one after the other and you drop 620 m on intermediate snow. No other pair of runs on the list gives a longer intermediate descent.

How the cable cars join up

Tufandag has four cable-car lines. Think of them as one chain from the lowest station to the ridge.

The Riverside line is the long first climb. It covers 2,500 m, from its lower station at 956 m up to 1,660 m. The Gabala line reaches that same 1,660 m station from 1,251 m, over 1,000 m of cable.

The Duruja line also starts at 1,251 m. It rises to 1,410 m over 1,170 m. From there, the Yatmish Gozal line climbs 1,130 m to the top station at 1,920 m. W2 and P1 both begin up there.

A bugel lift and a magic carpet serve the easier ground. The resort also lists a rescue service and parking.

The hours are less clear. On 28 September 2026, the ticket page showed two lines open from 10:30 to 17:30. The lifts page showed the same lines closed, with hours of 10:00 to 17:20 and 10:20 to 17:30. The activities page said 10:30 to 17:10. Ask at the ticket desk on the day.

Ski school and equipment rental

The school teaches skiing and snowboarding. You can book a private lesson or join a group. Lessons start in the beginner area.

The rental shop has skis, boots, snowboards and helmets. It also rents ski pants and jackets. That helps guests from warm countries who do not own winter clothes. Lockers hold the kit of two to four people, so a family can share one.

More than skiing

The Mountain Coaster starts at 1,660 m. Its track is 2,100 m long, with 37 turns and one 360° loop. It reaches about 40 km/h and runs in summer and winter. The weight limit is 130 kg. The page gives age rules that contradict each other, so ask before you bring a young child.

The Mountain Swing is at the top, at 1,920 m. There is a 10 m swing and a 7 m swing. Riders must be at least 12 years old and weigh no more than 127 kg.

The view point is at the same height. It faces Yatmish Gozal peak, whose name means “Sleeping Beauty” in Azerbaijani. It is free and open all season. For guests who do not ski, the ride up and this view can fill a calm morning.

Sledges, tubing and snowmobile rides are listed as “coming soon”. Do not plan a winter trip around them yet.

Summer at Tufandag

When the snow is gone, the resort turns to walking. It lists eight hiking routes, all with guides. The one it marks as right for beginners goes to Nohur Lake. Bring proper shoes, water and a warm layer.

Quad tours cover 4 km and last 15 to 20 minutes. Drivers must be 18 or older. Children aged 8 to 14 have their own quad tour.

Where to stay

The resort’s pages list two hotels.

• Qafqaz Riverside: 3 km from the ski resort and 4 km from Gabala centre. It is 24 km from Gabala airport and 240 km from GYD.
• Qafqaz Tufandag Hotel: 7 km from Gabala centre, 27 km from Gabala airport and 243 km from GYD.

The spa has a Turkish bath, a sauna, a steam room and pools. It opens daily from 09:00 to 23:00. After a cold day on the slopes, that is worth knowing.

We do not show room prices here. Send your dates and we will check the current rate.

Getting there from Baku

The resort does not publish a road distance from Baku. From GYD, it gives 240 km to Qafqaz Riverside. Our own figure for GYD to Gabala is the same: 240 km, about 3 h 40 min.

From central Baku to Gabala it is approx. 225 km. Most guests come by private car from Baku or straight from the airport. A bus runs too. Our article on the transfer or the bus to Gabala compares them.

Tell us about ski bags when you ask. Skis and boards change the size of car you need.

Planning notes

• Tickets by age: the cable-car page counts adults as over 12 and children as 6 to 11. Under-6s ride free.
• Night skiing: the resort says it runs every Saturday in season. Ask us to confirm it for your date.
• The season: the “Tufandag today” page showed no events on 28 September 2026. We will check again before 1 December 2026.
• Snow check: the resort has live cameras on its site. Look at them the evening before a ski day.

Transfers and help from RH Travel

We arrange private cars to Tufandag from Baku or GYD, with space for ski bags. We can also plan the rest of Gabala around the snow, with a day at Nohur Lake or in town. See our Gabala guide for that side. If you would rather ski at Shahdag, our five-day winter plan is built around it.

Send your dates, group size and who will ski. We will reply with a plan and current prices.