Main image: Gulustan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There
You can travel from from Khachmaz district to Nabran village by either taxi or public transport. Buses to Nabran depart from Khudat bus station in the city center and take approximately 40 minutes to reach the village. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the city center, passing through some villages of Khudat along the way; this option takes roughly 20 minutes. Taxi can also be ordered online (“0066” taxi service).
Also, you can arrive roughly 2.30 hours (195 km) from Baku to Khudat by public transport or taxi service. To get to Nabran village from Khudat city bus station, you need to use local public transport or taxi service and you will arrive there roughly 30 minutes.
What to Expect
When you travel to Nabran, you will encounter a blend of natural beauty and modern amenities. On one side, you will find numerous beach areas, forest massifs with charming nature, cool springs, picturesque bays, all seamlessly interconnected. On the other side of the road, stretching along a 30-kilometre coastline, are houses, hotels, entertainment facilities and restaurants.
This unique area in the northeast of Azerbaijan, where the humid subtropical climate allows forest to grow right up to the Caspian seashore, is partly protected by the Samur Yalama National Park. In summer, it has long been a hotspot for vacationing families from the capital, Baku; however, before the crowds arrive, in spring, there are plenty of birds to delight ornithologists, including Black Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Golden Oriole and many species of woodpeckers. But since most of the birds here can also be seen in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, many foreign birdwatchers give it a miss during a hectic birding trip.
History
Nabran village, located in the Khachmaz region, is renowned for its high tourism potential. Comprising seven smaller villages – Dalgali, Turist, Meshali, Guneshli, Tel, Samurchay and Shimali – Nabran was established in the 19th century. The village is a popular resort and recreational center located 160 kilometers from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, and just 43 kilometers from the administrative center of Khachmaz district. Situated along the shores of the Caspian Sea and surrounded by subtropical forests, Nabran has a total population of approximately 2,050 people.
Samur-Yalama National Park was established in the administrative territory of Khachmaz district by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated November 5, 2012 (by a presidential decree on November 5, 2012). It has an area of 11,772.45 hectares, which is indicated in the additional layout plan of the state forest fund lands in the administrative territory of Khachmaz district of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The park is home to a rich flora, including medicinal plants like hips, ivy, yarrow, and honey mint. The land is meadow-forest, brown and open-brown. Grass and shrubby places are widespread. There are also lowland forests. The main animals of Khachmaz fauna are wild boar, raccoon, pheasant, partridge, etc. Coastal waters are rich in fish (kulma, kilka, shamai, etc.). There are thermal and mineral water springs. Recreational opportunities abound, with the active ‘Hunters Society’ overseeing the ‘Gulalan lake’ reserve and offering conditions suitable for hunting and fishing.
Tourists can also enjoy hiking, amateur fishing, and horse-riding. Multiple routes, such as ‘Three Pipes – Caspian Sea,’ ‘Tel Spring – Shimal Village,’ and others, offer varied exploration options within the National Park. Accommodation is readily available, with numerous hotels and recreation centers primarily operating during the summer season.
Facilities Available
- Public Toilet
- Parking
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Picnic areas
- Taxi
