Nohur Lake, in Gabala: boats, cafés and mountains ten minutes from town

About five kilometres from Gabala, on the road that climbs towards the mountains, there is a long lake with blue-green water and the peaks of the Greater Caucasus behind it. This is Nohur Lake, a Soviet-era reservoir that has become the region's favourite outing: pedal boats, cafés and restaurants on the shore, families at weekends. It is not a wild lake or a trekking spot, and it is worth knowing that before you go. It is a good place for a quiet afternoon, and it is on the way to almost everything.

What it is like

The water has that blue-green colour of mountain reservoirs and changes with the light. The south shore is developed, with wooden walkways, picnic areas and boat hire; the north side is more open, with meadows and views of the massif. In autumn the surrounding slopes turn yellow and red, and that is when most photos are taken.

What people do

Take a pedal boat out, eat fish or kebab on one of the terraces over the water, walk along the shore. There are short walks nearby, but the real mountain trails are at Tufandag, a few kilometres away, where the cable car climbs to over 1,500 m. The usual thing is to combine the two on the same day.

Gabala and its surroundings

Gabala is a small town with good hotels, an amusement park and, a few kilometres away, the ruins of the ancient capital of Caucasian Albania. Trips to the mountain villages of the area, such as Laza or Nij, home of the Udi community, start from here. The lake is the short stop between one thing and the next.

How to get there

Gabala is about 225 km from Baku, some three hours by road. From the town centre the lake is ten minutes by taxi, and local agencies include it in any tour of Gabala. If you travel with us, it usually falls on the same day as Tufandag, on the way to Sheki.

Frequently asked questions