Naftalan: The Spa Town with Healing Oil
Bathing in oil is the signature of the spa town of Naftalan. Here is what the treatments involve and how to plan the trip.
Naftalan is a small town in western Azerbaijan, about 20 km from Ganja and roughly 330 km from Baku. It became famous for a special type of crude oil used not as fuel but for therapy.
What Naftalan oil is
It is a heavy oil rich in naphthenic hydrocarbons. It barely burns, but spa medicine credits it with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Even Marco Polo mentioned an oil "good for healing" from this region.
Treatments on offer
- Oil baths, usually a course of several 8–10 minute sessions.
- Applications and ointments based on refined Naftalan oil.
- Combined physiotherapy and massage.
Sanatoriums are open all year. The town also has an unusual museum displaying crutches left behind by recovered patients.
Important
These are medical procedures with contraindications. Talk to your doctor before the trip and to the resort's specialist on arrival.
Getting there
The drive from Baku takes 4–5 hours. We can arrange a private transfer from the airport or the city straight to your sanatorium.
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