Naftalan Oil Baths: A Complete Guide on Azerbaijan’s Wildly Bizarre Treatment

If you know us, you know we love unique experiences and hidden gems. We do a lot of research along our travels, and somewhere along the planning I had added Naftalan to the list for its "medical tourism". I did a little more research, and found an article about Naftalan oil baths.

I opened the article and started reading in disbelief - people are actually bathing in crude oil?! Mesmerized by the topic I read the entire article and was almost in tears from laughter. That's when I knew we had to try it.

If you're wondering what a Naftalan oil bath is, and what makes it unique, you're in the right place. But if you're here for an amusing anecdote of one of the most wildly weird things we've ever experienced, then you're really in the right place. Let's soak right into the craziness.

*Please note that this blog post may contain some affiliate links, which we make a small profit on, at zero cost to you. Links are only used on products & services that we've used and believe in, to give you the best buying experience. Purchasing from these links helps us to continue providing free travel guides for you- so thank you for your support!

Naftalan Oil Baths: a Brief Description of What the Heck it is

Before diving into the details of our Naftalan oil bath experience, let's take a quick look into what Naftalan oil baths are and where you can find them.

What is the History of Naftalan Oil?

Naftalan oil has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Historical records suggest that people in the Caucasus region were using the thick, heavy oil as early as the 12th century. It was originally applied as a topical treatment for joint pain and skin conditions, thanks to its unique chemical composition.

During the Soviet era, Naftalan became known as a therapeutic destination. Sanatoriums were built around the town, and the oil baths became popular with both locals and visitors from across the former Soviet Union. Today, Naftalan’s reputation as a wellness destination continues, although it’s still a hidden gem for most international travelers.

Why Do People Bathe in Crude Oil?

It might sound strange, but bathing in Naftalan’s crude oil is believed to offer a variety of health benefits. The oil found here is a special type called naphthenic oil, which is non-flammable and rich in minerals.

Locals claim it can help with joint and muscle pain, skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, and even boost the immune system.

While there’s limited scientific research to back up every claim, many people swear by its healing properties, and the experience itself is certainly one you’ll remember (We surely will never forget ours!)..

 Where is Naftalan?

Naftalan is a small spa town located in central Azerbaijan, about 330 kilometers west of Baku. The town itself is fairly quiet, but its sanatoriums and wellness resorts attract visitors looking for Naftalan oil treatments.

We went to Karvan Sanatorium Hotel, but there are several other sanatoriums you can find around the city. They're all in hotels, as most visitors are there for an extended stay with a full Naftalan oil baths package.

Naftalan Oil Baths: What to Expect (& Our Exact Experience)

Now that you know a bit about why people do Naftalan oil baths and where to find them, it's time for the fun part! Here is a detailed description of exactly what you should expect.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

When we got to Karvan Hotel, we were greeted by security. They didn't speak a word of English, but we did some hand signals to show we wanted to visit the spa and they let us in.

After parking the car we headed over to reception to find out more about what the Naftalan oil baths entailed. No one spoke a word of English, and everyone insisted on speaking Russian to us when they realized we weren't from Azerbaijan, and when we laughed and shook our heads, the confusion rose even higher.

It's clear there aren't many international tourists going to Naftalan, but you will definitely see a lot of very old Azerbaijanis and (I guess) Russians. Anyway, Google Translate quickly became our best friend.

Picking Our Package

We started checking out the various spa packages they offered, and wow do they have some interesting treatments, one of them being a "gynecological massage".

The most traditional way to experience the Naftalan oil baths is with a package of 10-12 sessions, as this is the amount of time needed to really see results. We don't actually have any health issues (knock on wood) so we just asked if we could have one session to try it out.

Let's be honest - we really just wanted to see what the hype was about because bathing in crude oil may just be one of the weirdest treatments we've ever heard of. So, we paid for our package, and got upsold two sponges, and then sat a few minutes in the waiting area.

 The Medical Consultation

The Naftalan oil baths can be healing, but they can also be dangerous for certain people, so a medical examination is necessary before beginning.

Our doctor didn't speak word of English. He was super old and smiley, and brought someone in who was (sort of?) able to translate. He asked us some questions, took our heart rate and blood pressure, and then prescribed us a session just for our bottom half.

Some people get the whole body, but for whatever reason we were given half the body. Okay, no problem. We grabbed the paper and went back to the waiting area.

 The Naftalan Oil Baths Experience

Fede and I got called in, and were each given a robe and towel. To the left was the women's area, and to the right was the men's area. We asked to go together and it was a hard no on their end. So we both got to experience this on our own, equally mortified with no one to share the laughter.

A stern-looking older lady brought me into a changing area and signaled me to take off my clothes. Okay, so I guess we're not going in bathing suits, and privacy has gone out the window. I start to pull my top off and the lady started yanking on my shorts to pull them down.

Now I stand butt naked next to the tub, and she signals me to get in. Little by little the tub starts filling with a thick, silky oil. It was pretty warm, and the air in the room was even warmer.

The timer went on, and I had a full 10 minutes to sit there is extreme awkwardness while this lady just stood there watching the seconds go down.

3, 2, 1 - the timer went off and she made me get up. She grabbed a long silver horse-shoe looking object and began to scrape my body clean. Don't worry - she didn't miss a spot and made sure to get in between my lady parts. If you thought a Brazilian wax was awkward, I really dare you to take a go at this one because for me it took the cake.

Okay, I'm ready to shower.

But not before she lathered my sponge up and began to bathe me herself though!

Yea- she also made sure to clean my crack and all. I have officially never felt more awkward in my life. But i couldn't help but just die of laughter inside. The Naftalan oil baths experience truly is one-of-a-kind.

I finally got to shower by myself, throw on the robe, and run over to Fede to see his reaction (because I am sure his has to be equally as uncomfortable).

Well, there you have it! That was our Naftalan oil baths experience in a nutshell. 

Naftalan Oil Baths: Cost & Duration

So you're all ready for your Naftalan oil baths! Here's how much time and money you can expect to spend on the experience.

  How Long are Naftalan Oil Baths?

The oil bath itself is just 10 minutes. However, there was a lot of waiting, so considering waiting time, the medical consultation, and shower you can expect the whole thing to take around an hour give or take.

 How Much Does a Naftalan Oil Bath Cost?

Packages vary for Naftalan oil baths, and sessions are certainly cheaper the more that you get. There are also fancier spas and more budget-friendly ones. 

We decided to go to Karvan because we heard it's decently priced, and we paid 52 manat (approx. $30 USD) for the two of us, including two sponges which were 2 manat each.

Naftalan Oil Baths: Tips & Final Thoughts

Now you know everything you need for doing one of the Naftalan oil baths! But in case you missed anything, here is a bit of a recap:

 Oil baths are a big part of medical tourism in Azerbaijan, and are known for their health benefits,

 Naftalan is in western Azerbaijan, and can easily be reached by Baku or Ganja.

 You'll have to do a medical consultation before doing an oil bath.

 Naftalan oil baths are typically 10 minutes.

 Naftalan oil baths are traditionally sold in packages of 10-12 but you can certainly pay for a single session.

 Bring your own soap and sponge, or you can purchase them on site.

 The experience is wildly awkward, but it is truly unique!

 What's Next?

Now that you know about one of the weirdest experiences in Azerbaijan, you'll probably want to learn more about visiting the country! We're going to be having new articles each week, so stay tuned!

So are you ready to do one of the Naftalan oil baths? Even though it's super weird, we hope you get to try it, or at least that we gave you a good laugh!

Want to learn more about traveling to Azerbaijan? We have a ton of other Azerbaijan Travel Guides coming up! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so that you can stay up to date with all of our most recent content, as well as get special discounts on our shop.

Ready to start planning a great trip around Azerbaijan? Well, we're here to help! Scratch Your Mapa is dedicated to help save you both time and money on your trip, so that you can sit back, relax, and fully enjoy your visit.. Want more info? Take a look at some of the travel planning packages we have, or email us today to learn more!

Here are some other articles you'll love:

Like this article? Please share it with your family and friends, so that we can continue to keep creating free travel guides for you! It takes just a second, and would mean the world to us. Thanks for being here!