Southern Azerbaijan in 2–3 Days: Masalli, Lankaran and Astara
The whole south without rushing: the Vilashchay road, Lankaran tea and Khanbulan, the hot springs, Sim waterfall and the Astara seafront.
Photo: AlexFirstov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Sefer azeri / Wikimedia Commons, CC0; Tumanskaya Sabina / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Həlimə / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Tərxan Paşazadə / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Elvin Samadov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Rashadhe / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Masalli, Lankaran and Astara lie on one line from north to south, so the south is easy to see in two or three days with one night or two in Lankaran — without spending five to six hours on the road every day.
3 days: day 1 — the Vilashchay road in Masalli; day 2 — Lankaran: tea, bamboo, Khanbulan Lake and the Ibadi springs; day 3 — Astara: Yanar Bulaq, Sim village and waterfall, the boulevard, and back to Baku.
2 days: without Masalli (Lankaran + Astara, possible all year) or without Astara (Masalli + Lankaran, May–September). On request we add Gizilagach National Park — more than 270 bird species, with flamingos and pelicans in April–May and October.
Accommodation is not included — we will help you choose a hotel in Lankaran.
Itinerary
- Day 1 · 07:30Pick-up in Baku → Masalli (≈ 2 h 20 min)
- Day 1 · 10:00Vilashchay reservoir, Istisu, Yanardağ, Tekdam waterfall (May–September)
- Day 1 · 17:00Lankaran: check-in, evening on the seafront, lavangi for dinner
- Day 2 · 09:00Tea plantation and bamboo grove in Talyshly
- Day 2 · 11:00Khanbulan Lake and the Hyrcanian forest — 1 h 30 min
- Day 2 · 13:30Ibadi hot springs in Haftoni; on request — Citrus Valley farm or the apiary-museum in Shovu; evening — lavangi (or Gizilagach park in season)
- Day 3 · 09:00Lankaran → Yanar Bulaq in Archivan → Sim village
- Day 3 · 10:30Sim waterfall (last stretch by local UAZ/Niva) and tea by the White Bridge
- Day 3 · 14:30Astara boulevard and beach
- Day 3 · 16:30Departure for Baku (≈ 2 h 50 min), drop-off at about 19:30
Included
- Private car with driver for your group (up to 6 people)
- Fuel and parking
- Pick-up from your hotel or address in Baku and drop-off back
- Photo stops and a flexible order of stops
- Help with choosing a hotel in Lankaran
Not included
- Accommodation in Lankaran (we will help you choose)
- Ibadi hot springs in Haftoni: 3 AZN (≈ $2) per person
- Istisu “Fatimeyi-Zəhra”: 5 AZN (≈ $3); massage 10–25 AZN (≈ $6–15)
- Yanardağ recreation area: 5 AZN (≈ $3)
- Local UAZ/Niva for the last stretch to Sim waterfall — paid on site
- Hirkan National Park / Khanbulan trail fee, if charged on site (the amount is not published)
- Gizilagach National Park (optional): entrance fee, amount not published
- Meals and personal expenses
- Licensed guide (on request, extra cost)
Season and warnings
- 3 days with Masalli: May–September (Yanardağ May–September, Istisu May–October).
- 2 days Lankaran + Astara: all year; best in April–June and September, mountains and Sim waterfall — spring and autumn.
- Gizilagach birds: April–May and October; wintering from November to March.
- Sea swimming: May–October, only at beaches with lifeguards. Hot springs: no more than 10–15 minutes at a time.
- In rain the forest trails are slippery; after heavy rain the driver checks the road to Tekdam.
- Entering Iran is not included: the land border is closed.
What to bring
- Swimsuit, towel and flip-flops for the hot springs
- Comfortable non-slip shoes for trails and steps
- Matches or a lighter for Yanar Bulaq
- A light raincoat and a warm layer for the mountains
- Cash in manats for entrance fees and the local UAZ/Niva
What to taste and buy
- Lankaran has been a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2021: lavangi, pumpkin and lentil plovs, Lankaran tea with jam.
- On request on day 2: Citrus Valley farm in Istisu (entry 5 AZN ≈ $3 with tea and jam; fruit picking in season), the apiary-museum “Balçı Siyavuş” in Shovu with honey tasting, tea with jam in the garden of the Khan's house-museum.
- Masalli: lavangi from the tandoor (September – end of spring) and many rice dishes.
- Astara: tea from a samovar in Sim, Caspian fish, mandarins and kiwi in autumn.
Other tours
Baku City Tour
Old City and Maiden Tower, Highland Park, Flame Towers, the Boulevard and Heydar Aliyev Center.
Questions & answers
2 or 3 days — which to choose?
3 days cover Masalli, Lankaran and Astara and work from May to September. 2 days: Lankaran + Astara (all year) or Masalli + Lankaran (May–September).
Is accommodation included?
No. The price is for the car with driver for all days. We will help you choose a hotel in Lankaran for your budget.
Can we see flamingos?
In Gizilagach National Park in April–May and October; it is best at sunrise or sunset. There is an entrance fee, but the amount is not published — we will confirm it before the trip.
Can we add farms and local food?
Yes, on day 2: Citrus Valley farm in Istisu (5 AZN ≈ $3 with tea and jam), the apiary-museum in Shovu with honey tasting, and dinner with lavangi. We confirm each visit by phone before the trip.
Can we go to Iran from Astara?
No. The land border is closed, so entering Iran is not part of the tour.