sea cruise baku

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Private Baku City Tour

Day trip in baku.

Baku Boat Tour

It can be carried out on a yacht or pleasure boat, depending on the number of trips. During Baku Boat Tour  experienced guides tell the story of the sea  Caspian , its wealth and existing problems. At the same time – you can admire the unique panorama of Baku, with the opening of the sea.

Two boats alternately depart from Baku Boulevard. Swim to the middle of the Baku bay and – back. This is called the “Sea Walk” attraction. Old Baku entertainment. Only the boats themselves are older than him.

Baku Port offers a short 30-minutes ferry ride to the Caspian Sea. This little ferry is a great way to understand the scale of the harbor. On weekends, boats are filled with local families and young couples, funny forcing the ship to move through the list from one side to another when they are fighting for the best view of the city.

A tour on a Baku boat is a feeling of freedom and wind in your hair. But sea entertainments are also waiting for you: you go fishing, swim with masks, take training in free diving, scuba diving and hunting, and our skipper will tell you about the basics of sailing.

Departure is not scheduled but seems to be sent every 30 or 40 minutes. This one is definening by them for the weather conditions.

So be prepared to wait if you are one of the first to hit the road. It is highly recommended when visiting Baku!

Quick booking

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• Included Professional Personal English speaking guide (other languages on request) Customizable Entry fees to Boat for the 1st floor
• Not Included Any Meals Personal Expenses

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Baku is a megalopolis of people, ideas and frenetic energy. The capital and largest city of the Azerbaijan Republic.

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Rent Yacht in Baku

Romance of the sail, your private beach and the key

to the most beautiful bays and islands that are inaccessible to ordinary tourists - all this combines a vacation on a yacht.

You can rent a yacht for any time or choose our eady-made product:

Cruise, Master Class, Fishing, Weekend Sailing Race.

And you can also go to a regatta with us or become a yacht captain.

Yacht in Baku

• Yacht rental
• Master class
• Teambuilding
• Weekend race
• Corporate regattas

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Private sea cruise to inhabitant island

• Landing and facility fees
• National Park fees
• Bottled water
• Driver/guide
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Port pickup and drop-off
• Use of Snorkelling equipment
• Private tour
• Round-trip private transfer
• Transport by air-conditioned minivan
• Entry/Admission - Travel2Baku
• Baku, Baku, Absheron Region
• Location Name: Your hotel Location Address: your hotel Directions: P
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Start See departure details
• 1 Travel2Baku Stop: 7 hours - Admission included Feel the nature, fill the sea. If you are tired of beaches with people around and you are looking for something special, exclusive, this tour is definitely for you! We present you only in Baku - Caspian Sea tour to the islands. Despite Baku located on a sea shore it is kind a difficult to find a good spot for swimming. We do offer a unique proposal - sea tour to Caspian Island.Very quite and cal place where you can go to feel nature and sea as it is - without crowds of tourists around you. We will pick you up from your hotel and then we drive around 30 minutes to the east shore of Absheron peninsula where boat is waiting for us. It is nice, speed boat that can speed up to 30 mph but we never make more than 15 due to safety reasons. After 40 minutes journey we are arriving to the small ihabitant rock islands. Water is super clean and if you like diving or snorkeling- it is the best place for you. As an option we can arrange PADI certificated diving instructor We are staying at the islands till 16:00 and then we are back to the shore. Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

• Maria A 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Breath taking views This is a long overdue review. We went last year and Amir was very helpful. He picked us up and brought us to the hotel and gave us tips on where to go in Baku. The guide/driver he assigned to us, Vlad, was also great and knowledgeable about the places we went to. It was a long drive to Khinaliq, but in the end, it was worth it. We had lunch at one of the local's houses, very good food and authentic experience. Read more Written December 12, 2019
• f-midge 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An off-road tour through Azerbaijan I have fallen in love with Azerbaijan back in 2018 when first visited the country. As a biologist, I am interested mostly in the wildlife of deserts and semi-arid foothills (which are plentiful here) but this land is so versatile that you can cross several ecological zones in a matter of hours. Literally, you can wander in a lowland semi-desert enjoying bubbling mud volcanos and prehistorical rock-art in the morning and then go up to see alpine meadows and glaciers in the afternoon. Besides the natural wonders, Azerbaijan can surely boast with its rich history and cultural traditions. And, of course, friendly and hospitable locals are one of the biggest treasures that can be found here. So, it was a bit disconcerting when I found out that the guy with whom we arranged a trip last year fell ill and this time he will not be able to accompany me and my friend. As always, this happened just a few days before we should fly in into Baku. But we were lucky to find Amir through a website connecting travellers with local guides. There were many offers following my request but Amir's reply had driven my attention. He said that he is also crazy about deserts and will gladly drive us in his old Pajero wherever we want. "That is the guy you need" is the thought that crossed my mind and so the adventures began. I am not sure what is the maximum length of a review on the TripAdvisor and don't think it is necessary to provide the details of the trip here. Everyone can find something for himself in this amazing country. We had good eats, good talks, good laughs, great music. The overall trip was awesome. What needs to be emphasized, however, are Amir's qualities such as professionalism, friendliness, positive attitude and great knowledge of Azerbaijan's history and culture. Surely, when I will plan my next trip to the country I will contact Amir to ask about his availability. Read more Written September 18, 2019
• Aijaz M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Azerbaijan Trip.. Hi Everyone, Azerbaijan is the place to visit for all tastes, Its not just the Baku however there are many more places to visit for those who are nature loving, If you have enough time for the vacation, Do visit Qusar , Around Qusar there are many amazing places to visit Like Double Waterfall which is the amazing place to stay for the night ,Its near the Shahdad Place where You can have Open chair lift ride and enjoy the nature in open. Read more Written September 16, 2019
• Mdurian 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Long but interesting day in greater Baku This was a fairly long day -- 12 hours in total (9am to 9pm). The city tour was excellent with a very knowledgeable guide. The old city is beautiful and we also got to see a fair bit of the surrounding areas. The afternoon was by car (driver plus guide). Visits to the mud volcanoes, the burning mountain and pre-historic wall carvings. It had a but of everything and I greatly enjoyed it. Read more Written September 2, 2019
• shelleywhy 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles It could not have been more perfect! Thank you Amir for creating the perfect customzed tour: mud flats, Qobustan, Quba, art galleries and meeting with artists. And thank you Sofia for being the perfect host and guide. Read more Written June 9, 2019
• amgade895 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Four in one Just fantastic hospitality. Professionalism . Amir and his crew went out of their way. To help not only during the visit . But also outside the visit. By finding me a hotel after mine cancelled . Getting to airport from stadium as I was attending the match in a nice Mercedes minivan . Everybody was great , nice , v professional felt more like family. A six stars I give it. Read more Written June 4, 2019
• Alexharris97 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great One Day Tour I spent one day in Azerbaijan and Baku Tours had everything covered. They picked me up at the airport at 03:00, drove me around and were patient with my questions and answered them with great information. They were accommodating of my flexible schedule and even put me up in a nice hotel. Very friendly, very knowledgeable. Highly recommend. Read more Written May 20, 2019
• paulsP8276QW 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles What a country and the great Amir, what a character! This is becoming a time, 'why don't we go to Azerbaijan for the weekend' my friend Tedi said. 'ok, what are we going to see?' so we arranged a trip to Khinaliq, as the local language is similar to the one my friend speaks in a small mountain village in Bulgaria. We left London Thursday evening, arrived in Baku Friday afternoon and picked up at the airport by our driver Tarlan. we were taken straight to Khinaliq, with Tarlan given us information on the way. As it had been snowing we stopped outside of Quba where we were met by our host in an old 4x4. It had been snowing and the road was difficult, but we felt safe and enjoyed the ride. We had food with the host and his family and it was great hearing about the history and village life. After food we were taken a little way down to a basic guesthouse and had a real good sleep. Up in the morning, breakfast and the a walk up to the top of the village which was amazing, you can't comprehend the size of the mountains surrounding us. Any way, back to Baku where we met with Amir near to our hotel, Amir had called on the way with an offer to show us around Baku. So we met up and had a wonderful time with Amir. He took us to a local restaurant, then around the old city and had a wonderful knowledge of the country and its history. He is also widely travelled and we spoke of other countries, we had a great time. H also arranged a quick trip to the fire from the ground in Yanar Dag. I could've slept by the fire all night! Then back to the TV tower where we had a drink and a few of the city. Tedi says its the best capital she's ever been to and will take her family. I will defiantly visit again and take my family. Its a great place to visit, we only had a short stay, but please visit the country, and please make sure you meet up with Amir. Read more Written April 1, 2019
• blissful0307 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The BEST! I booked a tour day tour to Sheki from Baku with some stops along the way with Travel2Baku. Communication prior to the trip with Amir was great, he was quick to respond, gave me suggestions and patiently answering my never ending questions. The quote he gave me was also the best. I told Amir I want a cautious driver because of the awful experience I had in Georgia (The driver often went over 120km/per hour and was using facebook as he was driving. We were nearly hit a couple of times because of this.) The driver Yousef was awesome. He was informative, a careful driver and very considerate of his guests. In Sheki, he even bought us sweets and made us tea at kitchen of the hostel we stayed at! I had a lot of fun chatting with him. Thanks to Amir and Yousef, I had an awesome time in Azerbaijan and recommend Travel2Baku to anyone traveling to Azerbaijan! Read more Written February 13, 2019
• iainp833 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles What a fantastic day People if you do one trip in Baku do this one. One of the best day trips I have had in a long time. Amir is so knowledgeable and takes his time to explain things to you. The trip to Gobustan national Park is well worth it. This was followed by a off road trip to the mud volcanos which are brilliant. We got back to Baku old town and stopped for a bite to eat in a small restaurant. The food was amazing and plentiful. This was then followed by a guided tour of the old town. Amir explained the history of the town and buildings in great detail. His knowledge is second to none and he made the day even more enjoyable. Thank you Amir and to your drivers especially to the one who took us off roading in a vauxhall astra estate. In summary a great day, a great tour guide, great drivers and great company. We would definitely use Amir again. Read more Written February 7, 2019
• GlobalTravels 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles THE BEST TIME IN AZERBAIJAN!! Unforgettable experience!! We contacted Trip2Baku last minute and we told the representative (Amir) we want to visit Lahic and Ivanovka the very next day. He met us up to see our preferences and he was super flexible and a great advisor, he even gave us a tour of the city while we were walking. So much fun and very knowledgable person. The next day he arranged for a day tour with the best tour guide, Vlad is very knowledgable also and he was so attentive. He stopped everywhere we wanted. We took beautiful photographs, amazing landscape. The ride was fun and once we got to Lahic, amazing local food was waiting for us in a lovely place and then we had a nice walk in the old village, with precious Azeri history and art. Vlad was very attentive to all our needs, we continued our ride to Ivanovka where we had the most tasteful fresh food and the best home made wine. And later once back in Baku, we experienced a bit the night life too. We received the best advices ever. What a memorable day! Amir made us feel completely home! Read more Written August 27, 2018
• olgahawwa 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Walid - UAE I contacted Travel2Baku few days before our visit to Azerbaijan, and Amir was so helpful. He arranged for all our trip, hotel reservation, tours and transportation. Amir, Sabir and Serge are all great , helpful and nice people. We enjoyed our time and all our trips and tours. If i ever visit Baku again i will surely contact them THANK YOU TRAVEL2BAKU you made our trip an amazing one. Read more Written August 23, 2018
• rena667 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles If I will ever visit Azerbaijan again I will definitely use travel2Baku again I contacted travel2Baku by phone, and Amir told that both offices are on renovation and closed and therefore there is no possibility to come to the office . After that all contacts were done via phone and email. We took the 4 in 1 tour for 6 people – family and friends - and it was great. The guide Sabir was knowledgeable , polite, professional and made us feel welcome . We loved the tour ! The natural wanders mud volcanoes and Yanardag were amazing. Thanks to Sabir we could enjoy our time and observe as long as we wanted. We were supposed to finish the first part of trip at 12.00, but instead we left volcanoes at 15.00. The old city tour was very interesting too; Baku is amazing city with rich history. I would definitely recommend this travel company and the 4 in 1 tour. Read more Written August 23, 2018
• lurdes777 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles SPECTACULAR TRIP THANKS TO THE MOST WONDERFUL TOUR OPERATOR We reached out to Amir with a request for a custom tour. Amir answers promptly to all inquiries, tailored our trip and provided the most amazing experience! We traveled with the tour guide Vladimir who speaks perfect English, Russian and Azeri. Vlad picked us up on time and was extremely friendly. By the end of the trip we felt we are saying good bye to an old friend. As far as the places visited - Shemakhi, Kish, Shaki, Lagich, Lekit - the oldest villages in Azerbaijan. We felt safe and welcomed at any point. Azerbaijani people are the most welcoming people in the world - no kidding. We highly recommend Travel2Baku! You will not get dissappointed. Read more Written June 5, 2018
• chadronedwards 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful custom trip The trip was spectacular. We reached out to Travel2Baku to create an itinerary for us and, after asking a few questions to get to know us, Amir tailored something exactly as we wanted, with a great mix of traveling around, outdoor activity, and cultural and historical sites. Vlad was a great guide and showed us around the country, both as a knowledgeable local guide, but also as a co-traveler and someone who loved the tour and the sites as much as we did! He and the entire company went above and beyond to make our trip to Azerbaijan unforgettable. Read more Written May 27, 2018

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Taking the caspian sea ferry from aktau to baku: a complete guide.

Ring ring… Sdravstvuite …. I mumbled sleepily into the telephone.

A rapid monologue in Russian followed, which I deciphered to mean ‘you need to get up’. It was 3 am.

I stumbled out of bed, turned the light on, and packed my last bits of luggage.

My contact for the Caspian Sea Ferry had told me I needed to be at the port at 4 am. So I didn’t have all that much time.

Cut to eight hours later, and I’d made some friends, was three coffees into my day, and there was still no sign of the boat.

This is pretty much what getting the Caspian Sea Ferry entails.

You might be told a time, but it’s unlikely that your boat will leave then. It’s one of the world’s best waiting games.

Taking the Caspian Sea Ferry from Aktau to Baku

So basically, I’m overlanding the world. Or at least most of it – I’ve spent the last five months travelling solo from Bali to London.

When working out how to get from Central Asia to the Caucuses, there was only one feasible option. I can’t go to Iran independently , and Dagestan would require a lengthy visa (I’d need to get another Russian transit visa), plus I kind of liked the idea of the Caspian Sea ferry from Aktau to Baku.

It had an air of romance about it, plus I was quite keen to check out a real Soviet ship.

The romance was dead by the time I’d been waiting for 8 hours on very little sleep, but I was still excited to see the Soviet ship. If it ever appeared…

Where to Stay in Aktau

How to get the caspian sea ferry from aktau to baku.

First things first, you need to get to Aktau.

Most travellers arrive at this Kazakhstan beach city from Uzbekistan, but you can also head there from the wilds of the Kazakh steppe.

I took a train from Nukus to Mangystau (a hilarious blog post on that to come) and arrived in Aktau bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 8 am.

Once you’ve arrived in Aktau, after checking all three sights of the city out, of course, send Ilgar a text message.

He’s the main man with the know-how about when the boat will leave – and he provides information to travellers completely out of the goodness of his own heart.

His number is +77072929955 and he’ll let you know when the next Caspian Sea Ferry is leaving.

Now, as great as Ilgar is, he did send me the wrong location on Whatsapp.

The boat from Aktau to Baku doesn’t actually leave from Aktau, it leaves from 70km south.

Taxi drivers will know where the port is, so don’t question them if they take you to a different location.

If you arrive somewhere that looks like this (below), you’re in the right place.

Now the next part is going to sound rather vague – the reason being that the entire process is very vague.

Basically, go into the featured building, and wait for someone to arrive.

If there are already people around, give them a big toothy grin and say ‘Baku’? and hopefully they’ll help you out.

Eventually, someone will come and take passport details from you.

And after that, you should be ushered through to the main waiting area, which has high-speed WiFi and a coffee shop.

You can also stay at Kuruyk. A family who was on my Caspian Sea Ferry did and had a good report – and you get the added benefit of being updated by hotel staff when the ferry will leave. Click here for more information.

The endless wait…

After we were ushered through to the main waiting area, which is very clean, very modern and has high-speed WiFi, we were told to sit on the chairs and wait.

About 20 minutes later, we (myself and my two French friends) were invited to buy our tickets, which involved giving our passports to a man behind the counter, obtaining a form, taking this to the money exchange office, paying them, then going back to the counter, surrendering our passports, and then going back to sit down.

They had our passports for about an hour or so – I’m not sure what they were doing with them, but they brought them back to us while I was playing how-much-coffee-can-I-physically-handle in the cafe.

Note: the cafe only accepts Kazakh tenge, and doesn’t have the most inspiring food selection, so you may find that you end up drinking about three litres of coffee just to use your remaining Kazakh money. Happens to the best of us.

While I was midway through coffee number I don’t even know, we were told to quickly get our bags and head to the scanner.

Presuming this meant that the boat’s departure was imminent, we pulled our bags on, I transferred my coffee to my reusable mug and we made our way to get the bags scanned.

We were off to Azerbaijan!

Just kidding.

We scanned our bags and then we were directed back to the cold, hard chairs. At least the WiFi was still excellent.

After another couple of hours, travellers who had been on the boat from Baku started to traipse in.

After sharing stories about Azerbaijan/ the ferry and Kazakhstan, it was all go go go – it was time to get on the boat, and it wasn’t a drill.

We three foot passengers were loaded into a van, which hurriedly drove towards the steamboat that had appeared in the dock.

Only when we got to the boat did we realise… we hadn’t been stamped out of Kazakhstan.

Our passports were taken from us again (something that always causes me intense anxiety), and it was once again a waiting game.

Boarding the Boat

In the interim, we were shown onto the boat.

My friends were directed into a cabin, and me into another – I was told I could either choose a cabin with a shower but a very blocked toilet, or a cabin with no bathroom.

Feeling optimistic that the crossing would only take a day and that I wouldn’t need a shower in that time, I opted for no blocked toilet.

We later learned that most of the toilets on the boat were blocked thanks to the last passengers on the boat – who were a crew of truck drivers who drunk a lot of vodka, apparently, and forgot to not flush toilet paper.

This resulted in a reminder that I was not allowed to flush the toilet paper every time I went within 10 metres of the communal loos.

The cabins are 4-berth, with two beds at the bottom and two pull-down beds at the top.

There’s a pull away ladder to get to the top beds.

The cabins with no bathroom do have a sink, and there is a table and lockers for storage. There’s also a window that can be opened – although be wary, as I left mine open and came back to a very wet cabin!

I imagine it would have been a bit of a squeeze with four people in there – I was lucky and got a whole cabin to myself!

So it turned out, everyone had their passports taken from them.

We went through Kazakh customs on the boat – make sure that you keep your immigration slip that you get given when you arrive to the country.

My friends actually lost theirs and were allowed to leave the country, but I don’t think that this necessarily always happens.

Customs were easy enough, and we met our vice-captain, who could speak very good English and liked to practice with tourists.

And we’re off!

After another indefinite amount of time, the boat set sail.

There’s really no knowing when this will happen, but for us, it was about an hour and a half after boarding.

There were only fourteen passengers on our ferry, so to be honest I was surprised it left when it did (I thought it was a leave when it’s full kind of scenario).

The other passengers were: my new French friends, a Swiss motorcyclist, a Dutch family of seven, a Georgian truck driver, a Turkish truck driver and an Azeri truck driver.

A few of us sat in the common area and chatted for a bit, then I went to lie down, chill out and read… and that was pretty much the routine for the rest of the trip.

Food on the Caspian Sea Ferry

I’d heard that the ferry across the Caspian Sea ain’t exactly a vegetarian’s dream.

This suspicion was confirmed at dinner time when I was offered chicken and potatoes – the vegetarian option being just potatoes.

It wasn’t all bad news though – there was some salad, made primarily out of pickles and tinned carrot, on offer at the table.

We were also all given a bottle of fanta.

I would have had some bread and jam at breakfast (cheese, egg and yogurt were also on offer), but I actually felt so sick (not because of the food) that I passed on it.

Lunch the following day was buckwheat and chicken – for me, just buckwheat.

It actually wasn’t all that bad, and I’d already packed a lot of food.

It’s recommended to take lots of food on the boat in case it is delayed, and I also took 5 litres of water (I drink a lot).

However, there is generally drinking water available, as well as copious amounts of tea.

Sightseeing on the Caspian Sea Ferry

When you’re in the middle of a huge salty lake, sightseeing opportunities can be a bit slim on the ground – but there are some cool things worth checking out.

• Definitely head to the deck for sunset – watching the sun dip over the sea’s horizon is an absolute spectacle.
• I’d also recommend checking out the oil rigs, which appear close to Baku. A community lives there, for the sole purpose of extracting oil for Azerbaijan and its friends to use.
• Leaving Kazakhstan and arriving in Azerbaijan are, of course, sights you’ll want to see.
• Touring the ship is quite fun – you might be lucky like we were and get a chilled out captain who lets you see most of the ship. Even if not, walking around is still really interesting – I actually made a boat tour video for YouTube, which I haven’t got round to making/ posting yet but I’ll paste it here when I do!

The Cabins on the Caspian Sea Ferry

I honestly can’t believe how much I lucked out on the Caspian Sea ferry – I got an entire 4 berth cabin to myself, because there were so few people on the ship!

It’s rare to get this lucky, but generally I think they try to put all the non-truck drivers together.

Anyway, for just one person alone, the cabin was basically the ritz.

I had the choice of four bunk beds, an ocean-view window, and four lockers to store my things.

I didn’t have my own toilet or shower – we’d been told that there had been a lot of truck drivers on the last boat with an affinity for vodka, who got too drunk and forgot not to flush toilet roll down the toilet.

Hence most of the toilets were blocked, and I had to use the block of male toilets (about halfway into the boat ride, the food poisoning that I’d had for a few days developed a turn for the worse, so I could have really done with my own bathroom – but I was so grateful for my own room that I didn’t give it too much thought).

I did have my own sink though.

The Caspian Sea Ferry Journey

The Caspian Sea Ferry journey is slightly notorious, especially because the ships are old Soviet boats that kind of look like they might fall apart mid-sail.

Nonetheless, my boat held strong, I didn’t notice much turbulence apart from right at the start, which I think was just me adjusting to the ship moving.

The boats seem a little unstable, and I was a bit worried before I boarded, but it really wasn’t that bad.

There was one incident a good few years back, but they have better safety procedures now (they don’t let boats leave in storms, and wait out bad weather rather than trying to carry on sailing) and on a clear day, it was really fine.

I spent the time reading, chatting to my new friends, trying to ignore my food poisoning, and heading up to the deck every so often to check out the views.

Despite nausea (which I think was caused by water that wasn’t properly boiled on an Uzbek train), I had a really great time.

Arriving in Azerbaijan

Docking in Azerbaijan took a couple of hours – I was advised it could take a maximum of a few days, so that was fine.

We had to wait around for a while to get our passports back and then we were permitted off the ship.

For us foot passengers, it wasn’t too arduous a process – we got our passports and visas checked, I had to assure the border control that I didn’t have a drone (which was completely true, I invited them to look into my bag but for some reason they just wanted me to swear an oath that I didn’t have one), and then they gave us advice on where to find a taxi.

It took the family with a car quite a lot longer, as everything needed to be checked, and the motorcyclist had to take all of his bags from the bike to be scanned at customs.

We approached the one lonely cafe in Alat, where the port is based, and asked for a taxi. There is a bus that leaves at 8 pm – but as it was 4 pm, we opted to take a taxi for 40 manats.

Enter Baku!

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is a compelling fusion.

It has streets and an old town that reminded me of Istanbul, but so many futuristic buildings that looked like Dubai.

Azeri is the main language, which is very close to Turkish (if you talk Turkish in Azerbaijan, they’ll have no problem understanding you), but everyone speaks Russian as well.

I spent 2 nights in Baku – but my food poisoning really got me on the first day – however, I’ll write about my one day in Baku, where we did quite a lot, in a future post.

Where to Stay in Baku

Hostel: The most popular hostel in Baku is, by far, Sahil Hostel & Hotel. It’s got more of a backpacker vibe than anywhere in the city, and it’s clean, bright, has modern decor and the dorm rooms are spacious and each bunk has privacy with curtains and individual plugs. Click here for rates and to book your spot.

Budget Hotel: A great budget hotel option is Da Vinci Hotel, which offers rooms with heaps of space for the price. On site is a restaurant and bar and it offers a tasty breakfast, while being located in the city centre. Click here for rates and to book.

Mid-Range Hotel: For something mid-range, check out Baku City Hotel, which has a variety of room types for all budgets. The rooms are lavishly decorated with elegant patterns, and each room rate includes breakfast. It has a restaurant on-site, and enjoys a central location. Click here for prices and to reserve your room.

Luxury Hotel: Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers, is the most famous hotel of Baku and a must-stay for anyone who likes to stay in iconic hotels around the world. The rooms are incredibly luxurious, with floor-to-ceiling windows and roll-top baths, and on site is a swimming pool, spa and bar and restaurant facilities. Click here for rates and to book.

Note: Because you don’t know when you will get into Baku, it’s not wise to book your accommodation until you arrive in Alat port. Of course, if you’re taking the Caspian Sea Ferry from Baku to Aktau, you can book your Baku accommodation in advance!

A Soviet Ship Adventure…

Taking the Caspian Sea Ferry from Kuruyk to Alat isn’t for everyone, but it is hands down one of my most memorable travel experiences.

I’ve got lots of posts about Central Asia to come – you can click here for all my Kazakhstan posts, and here for my Uzbekistan content. Also, check out my YouTube channel which has lots of videos of my overland trip from Bali to London!

If you end up taking the Caspain Sea Ferry, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the journey – you can leave a comment below or contact me on social media. 

4 thoughts on “ Taking the Caspian Sea Ferry from Aktau to Baku: A Complete Guide ”

Excellent report Claire! I waited in Aktau 4 days last August and gave up and took a flight in the end. I hope to try again this year. I did the Baku to Turkmenbashi trip in 2017 which is also one of my most memorable journeys. I hope you don’t mind if I link to this post from a couple of my own ones about travelling the Silk Road?! Best wishes, Steve

Thanks Steve! Yes I really recommend it, it’s so much fun 🙂 And yes please do link from your posts, that would be great!

Dear Claire. It is great story. Very interesting of your experience! I want to do like it. Soon! I plan. At least next year. I want to go to Europe from Jakarta, Indonesia by overland trip (No flying). Please give me advice! Thank you.

This is what I did! I went from Bali to London without flying. Check out my YouTube channel (Claire’s Footsteps) for all my videos 🙂

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20 Must-Visit Attractions in Baku, Azerbaijan

Situated on the Caspian Sea, the Azerbaijani capital of Baku combines a Medieval old town with an ultramodern skyline, bringing together Persian, Turkic, Soviet and European influences. With the city’s best attractions ranging from scaling 18th-century skyscrapers to exploring its very own Little Venice, the Azerbaijani capital has something for everyone.

1. icheri sheher (baku’s old city).

Historical Landmark

Baku’s UNESCO-listed fortified old city was the Medieval capital under the Shirvanshahs. Today, it’s the capital’s historic heart and home to the Maiden Tower, traditional carpet weavers and a plethora of bars and restaurants . Visiting traders in eras past often referred to Icheri Sheher as the Acropolis of Baku.

2. Maiden Tower

Building, Memorial

3. Palace of the Shirvanshahs

Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark

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5. Nizami Street

Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark, Shopping Mall

Named after the Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi, the 3.5-kilometre-long (2.2-mile-long) Nizami Street forms Baku’s main shopping district. As you stroll along its length, pay close attention to the architecture, which moves from Baroque and Neo-Gothic to Neo-Renaissance facades and Stalinist styles.

6. Government House

7. Fountain Square

8. Flame Towers

9. National Flag Square

National Flag Square marks the western end of Baku Boulevard. Officially opening in 2007, the square is a symbol of national pride. The giant flag, which measures 70m × 35m (230ft × 115ft) on a flagpole standing 162m (531ft) tall, was featured in the Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest flagpole, but Baku’s efforts were overtaken in 2011 by the 165m (541ft) Dushanbe Flagpole in Tajikistan.

10. Baku Boulevard

11. Mini-Venice

12. Teze Pir Mosque

13. Baku Funicular

Train Station

14. Ismailiyya Palace

15. Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum

16. Palace of Happiness

17. Caspian Sea Cruise

18. Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

19. Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature

Building, Museum

20. Bilgah Beach

Natural Feature

To combine exploring history and culture with a seaside break, head 35km (22mi) northeast of Baku to Bilgah. Here, you’ll find a clean, sandy beach – the ideal spot to take a dip in the Caspian Sea. Admission is free, but you have to pay a small fee to use the sunbeds.

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9 classic azerbaijani dishes and the best places to try them in baku.

The 10 Best Restaurants in Baku, Azerbaijan

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The 10 Best Things To Do in Baku, Azerbaijan

A Culture-Lover's Guide to Baku, Azerbaijan

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The 8 best coffee shops and cafés in baku, azerbaijan.

The 10 Best Bars in Baku, Azerbaijan

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Cruise Tour in Caspian Sea

Boat Tour in the Baku

Boat Tour on the Caspian Sea If it is your first visit to Baku, Baku boat tour in the Caspian Sea is just for you. You can make your trip very enjoyable taking a boat tour and seeing beauties of […]

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Caspian Sea Ferry: 8 Things you Need to Know about how to cross the Caspian Sea from Baku to Aktau by ferry in 2024 – A Comprehensive Guide

This is a comprehensive guide on how to take the Caspian sea ferry from Baku in Azerbaijan to Aktau in Kazakhstan.

During my overland h i t c h h i k i n g trip from Europe to Asia , I already had some experience with taking a boat to reach my next destination.

I took a ferry from Ireland to France , from Athens in Greece to the isle of Crete, I entered Turkey by crossing the Aegean Sea and I sailed on the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey.

How to travel overland from Europe to Asia

So far it had been very easy to travel by sea as all these ferries had a fixed schedule and clear information about where to buy the tickets and where to catch the boat. Crossing the Caspian Sea by boat was a different story.

This boat is a cargo ship that nowadays also functions as a ferry. However, the Caspian Sea ferry doesn’t have a fixed schedule and there’s often a lot of confusion about where to get the tickets and where to catch this boat from.

For one week my travel companion and I were a bit left in the dark about where and especially when we could take this boat and buy the tickets.

Despite the nuisance and long waiting times, traveling from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan by sea turned out to be a memorable adventure and totally worth the trouble!

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to take the Caspian Sea Ferry from Baku in Azerbaijan to Aktau in Kazakhstan.

Important update (June 2023): taking the ferry from Baku to Aktau (from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan) is possible but not the other way around (from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan)! The land- and sea borders of Azerbaijan are still closed and one can only enter the country by airplane.

Disclaimer: This posts might contain affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for helping to support this website!

Kazakhstan Travel Essentials & Resources

• 18 useful things you should know to visit Kazakhstan
• The 26 best places to visit in Kazakhstan
• 15 useful safety tips to travel in Kazakhstan
• Kazakhstan Railway Guide: How to travel in Kazakhstan by train
• Plan your trip: Itinerary Planning for Kazakhstan
• Tours & Experiences: City Tours, Adventure Tours
• Visa: Check the required Kazakhstan travel documents!
• Getting there: Search for flights to Almaty or Nur Sultan
• Where to stay : Find a hotel, hostel, guesthouse or homestay in Kazakhstan
• Travel Insurance: Choose the best travel insurance for Kazakhzstan
• Getting around : Rent a car in Kazakhstan or travel by train

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Where to get tickets and how much does the Caspian Sea Ferry cost

This is where the challenge began. We were told that we could only buy tickets on the day the boat leaves.

But how we do know when exactly to purchase the tickets when there’s no fixed schedule? There was also a lot of contradicting information on where to buy these tickets.

Friends of ours told us we had to get in the ticket office of the old seaport in Baku, while according to some blogs we could only buy them directly in the port of Alat.

This port is about 75km away from Baku and possibly the place where we had to catch the ferry.

After a lot of uncertainty and confusion, we finally were able to figure it all out.

1) Timetable of the Caspian Sea ferry

There’s no precise timetable for the ferry since its departure depends on the weather and on the amount of cargo that is loaded.

The boat leaves when it’s full, which means, in theory, every 3 to 5 days, but in reality, there might be 5 boats going to Kazakhstan within one week or only 1 boat in two weeks.

It’s really hard to tell so make sure that you’re flexible and have enough time left on your visa when you want to take this ferry!

The best way of finding out when the boat is scheduled to leave is by ringing the Baku ticket office once or even twice a day or the call center of ASCO .

You could also go to the ticket office, which is located at the end of Baku’s Sea Front Boulevard, hidden away between container units (see map below ‘Where to buy the tickets”).

We chose the easiest option, which was asking the girls in the reception of our hostel in Baku to call the ticket office for us.

The receptionists helped travelers like us in the past so they knew exactly who to call to get the right information and it saved us from getting lost in translation.

You can also check the website of the Caspian Sea Ferries to find out when the boats are scheduled to arrive in the port.

Still, this doesn’t mean that they will leave that very same day or the day after so keep calling the ticket office!

Baku City Guide – Top Things to do in and around Baku

2) Where to buy the tickets for the Baku – Aktau ferry and how much does it cost

2023 update: It seems that you can nowadays order your tickets online through the official ASCO website . I haven’t made the ferry crossing this year so I don’t know if this system really works. If you decide to try it, please let me and other travelers know if it worked in the comments below so I can update this guide accordingly!

This is how it used to work before the land borders were closed in 2020:

If you travel by motorbike or by car , you have to buy your ticket in the port of Alat, which is about 75 km from Baku. You can buy your ticket in advance and the price depends on the size of your vehicle.

It’s $100 per meter , so for a motorbike, you’ll pay around $150 and for an average-sized car $400. You also have to pay $70 per passenger .  You can only pay in cash – there’s an ATM near the ticket office.

If you’re a foot passenger or a cyclist , you have to buy your ticket in the ticket office of Baku, which you can find near the Marine Passenger Terminal at the end of Baku’s Sea Front Boulevard (Milli Park).

You can only buy your ticket there on the day the boat leaves! Go early so you still have enough time to get to the port.

The ticket sales usually start around 10 am. A ticket costs $80 and you have to pay $10 extra for a bicycle.

As I mentioned before, you can purchase your tickets on this website but you might still have to go to the ticket office to change the e-ticket for a paper ticket. Any updates are welcome in the comments below!

How to pay and what is included in the price:

You can only pay in US dollars. There’s an ATM in Alat where you can take the money out and there’s also an exchange office. There are plenty of ATMs and exchange offices in Baku.

The cheapest ticket is $70 and it includes all your meals onboard and a bed in a 4 person cabin.

You’ll see that there’s an option to buy a ticket for $80 if you want to have a private 2 person cabin but don’t bother with that. If there are a lot of passengers, you’ll have to share your cabin with 4 people anyway.

→ It’s cheaper for a foot passenger and a cyclist to buy your ticket in the port of Alat ($70). In Baku, you’ll most likely pay $80, even for a 4 person cabin.

Even though we were foot passengers, we didn’t bother going to the ticket office in Baku. We got tired of waiting and calling and as soon as we heard that the boat had arrived, we left Baku and traveled to the port of Alat to buy our tickets there.

When we arrived in Alat, the people at the ticket office told us they couldn’t sell us the tickets and that we had to go back to Baku to buy them there.

Since Alat is 75km from Baku, we really didn’t want to go back and forth. So we stood our ground and told them that the office in Baku had sent us to Alat and that there was no way we could return to Baku since we were on foot.

Eventually, they gave in and sold us the tickets. So you can buy tickets in Alat as a foot passenger and cyclist but you have to be persistent…

2. Where to take the Baku – Aktau ferry

All foot passengers, cyclists, bikers, and cars have to take the ferry in the Baku Sea Port in Alat . This port is about 75km from the city center of Baku.

Note: there is a chance that they might change this (again) and that you have to board the ship in the port of Baku itself. Double-check with the ticket office to be sure!

How to get from Baku to the port in Alat by public transport

The fastest but most expensive option is to take a taxi . This will cost you 50 AZN (about $30) but the driver will drop you off right at the entrance of the port. This is a good solution if you travel on foot or by bicycle and you don’t have much time to get to the port.

If you travel on foot, you can also catch the bus to Alat (bicycles are not allowed on the bus).

Take bus 125 or any other bus that goes from Baku city to the Bina Mall. There you have to take bus 195 towards Qobustan and Alat. This bus ride takes about one hour.

Once you pass Qobustan (you’ll see a big rock with this name), it’s another 10 to 15 minutes until you see a big monument of an Anker with “Baku Sea Port” in the middle of the road. Ask the bus driver to drop you off there.

Cross the highway (be careful!!) and take the first road to the right. From there on it’s another 1.5 km before you arrive at the entrance of the port.

You can always hitchhike.

Hitchhiking in Azerbaijan is fairly easy, just make it clear from the start that you’re doing ‘ avtostop ‘ (the Russian word for hitchhiking) or the driver might charge you money for the gas.

3. Camping at the port of Baku

Even when you get told to hurry to the port because the boat is going to leave in a few hours, it’s still possible that it takes another day (or two) before the actual departure of the boat (a friend of ours had to wait for a week).

This means that you might have to set up camp at the port.

The security guards will show you where to pitch your tent in the parking lot.

There are facilities like showers and toilets (girls can ask for a key to a separate shower in the shop), an exchange office with an ATM, a little shop where you can buy water, soft drinks, fresh fruits, canned food, crackers, etc.

There’s also a small dining area where you can buy a cup of coffee or tea, charge your electronics and buy wi-fi.

It costs 3 AZN per day or 5 AZN for 2 days. The connection isn’t superb but it’s enough to check your social media and tell your mum you’re still alive and waiting for the boat to Kazakhstan.

→ Tip: if you know with certainty that you’ll have to wait for at least another 6 hours, find yourself a travel buddy with a vehicle and visit the mud volcanoes of Qobustan.

They’re about 30 minutes’ driving from the port and definitely worth visiting! You can find more info about the mud volcanoes here .

4. Customs at the port of Baku

The port guards will tell you when it’s time to board the Caspian Sea ferry. Sometimes they’ll let the trucks go first, other times they will give priority to the travelers.

They let us enter first, which was great since it took another 7 hours before all the cargo was loaded and the ship was ready to go.

Before you board, you’ll have to go through customs.

They will check your bags (and car if you’re driving), ask for your registration papers if you stayed longer than 10 days in Azerbaijan, inquire about your visa for Kazakhstan and once you’re stamped out of the country, you can proceed towards the entrance of the boat.

* If you stayed 10 days or more in Azerbaijan, make sure that you got registered. If you didn’t do this, the migration officers might stop you from boarding the boat until you got that sorted, and/or you will have to pay a huge fine (+ $300) and face deportation.

How and where to get registered for Azerbaijan

5. What to expect on the Caspian Sea ferry from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan

The ferries that take passengers are named “Professor Gul”, “Merkuri-1”, “Barda” and “Shahdag”. We traveled to Kazakhstan on the “Professor Gul”.

Once you arrive on the Caspian Sea ferry, a member of the crew will show you where you can park your car/ motorbike/ bicycle at the base of the ship and guide you towards the common room.

Take all your essentials with you since you won’t be allowed to go back to your vehicle once the ship departs.

One of the crew members will also come around to collect your passport. Don’t worry, it’s safe to give it to them and once the boat arrives at the port in Aktau, someone will hand it back to you in the common room.

This ‘common room’ is the unofficial meeting room on the boat.

It’s a big area with seats where most of the passengers (mainly truck drivers) hang out to watch TV, play games like backgammon and drink tea (which is non-stop available).

You’ll have to wait here until the person in charge comes to give you sheets, a pillow and the keys to your cabin.

1) Cabins on the Caspian SEa ferry

If there are a lot of passengers, you’ll have to share a cabin with 3 other people. Try to buddy up with some of the other travelers you met at the port.

The cabins are very small with 2 bunk beds, a small sink and 4 lockers, which is great for safely storing your valuables away while exploring the boat.

Ask for a cabin with a window if possible! If you travel during the summer, it gets stinking hot inside and you’ll have a hard time sleeping (and imagine the lovely smells when you can’t air out the room…).

Some of our fellow travelers couldn’t handle it and went to sleep outside on the deck instead.

Niko and I shared a cabin with another backpacking couple. The girl and I were the only female travelers on board, which turned out to play to our advantage. We first were appointed to a cabin without a window.

Once all the passengers were on the boat and assigned to a cabin, the woman in charge told me there was one cabin left that I could share with my female friend.

We went to check it out and as soon as we saw that this cabin had a window, we moved our stuff (and our men) to this cabin, opened the window and were finally able to breathe again!

2) Toilets & showers

Most of the ferries crossing the Caspian Sea have now proper facilities for the passengers. It’s almost like you’re staying in a big old floating hostel that has a post-Soviet feel to it.

There’s a bathroom area with toilets and warm showers which are relatively clean.

Tip: take a shower at the start of the journey, when everything is still clean. The longer you’re at sea, the more smelly and dirty it becomes… Don’t forget to bring an extra roll of toilet paper with you.

3) Food on the Caspian Sea ferry

There’s a small dining area on the boat where meals are served 3 times per day: at 8 am, at noon and at 7 pm.

Don’t be late as the cooks are very punctual and will close the dining area one hour after the service and you won’t be able to get food until the next meal.

The food is basic but good. It’s mainly going to be boiled eggs with bread for breakfast, pasta with chicken and mashed potatoes with fish for lunch and/or dinner. We also got some soup, and of course, there’s always plenty of tea.

There is no shop on the boat so it’s not a bad idea to stock up on some snacks and bottles of water before the journey. You’re also allowed to bring some beers on board. However, keep in mind that you’re not allowed to drink alcohol in the port.

4) Entertainment on the Baku – AktAU fERRY

There’s no wi-fi on board but you can charge your electronics in the cabin. There’s a big TV in the common area but why would you want to watch TV while you’re sailing across the Caspian Sea?

Watching the sunrise and sunset on the deck is much better entertainment and at night you can do some proper star gazing! You’re allowed to explore the ship and, if you ask nicely, the crew will let you have a peek in the engine room.

It’s very likely you’ll meet other travelers, especially during the summer.

We met a great bunch of (mainly) cyclists, backpackers, bikers, and road trippers with whom we spent a lot of time chatting, singing and playing games.

If you hitchhike, the chances are big that one of your fellow travelers or one of the truck drivers (if you socialize with them) will offer you a ride into Kazakhstan.

6. How long does it take to sail across the Caspian Sea?

We boarded the ship around 11 pm at night but the next morning at 6 am we were still in the port of Alat. The boat eventually left around 6.30 am.

If you’re lucky like us, the ship will dock 27 hours later in the port of Aktau. If you’re unlucky, well, it might take hours to days before the ship is allowed to dock.

It all depends on the weather and the docking space in the port. As long as you’re on board, you will get fed 3 times per day so you won’t starve while you’re waiting. You might just get very bored and impatient.

Arriving in Aktau

7. Arriving in Aktau, Kazakhstan

As soon as the ship is about to dock, you’ll hear an announcement that you’ve got to pack your bags and bring them to the common room.

One of the crew members will be there to return your passport and then you’ll have to wait until the Kazakh immigration officers, accompanied by sniffer dogs and intimidating guns, come on board to check your papers and bags.

Once this first control is done, you’re allowed to leave the boat.

A couple of vans will be waiting at the exit of the boat to bring the passengers to the passport control offices. There you’ll have to fill in an immigration card.

The migration officers will check your visa ( check here if you need one), and stamp your passport.

If you need a Letter of Invitation (LOI) to enter Kazakhstan, you’ll have to get registered at the Migration Police in Aktau.

Once you got your passport stamped and you don’t have a vehicle, you’re free to go! Welcome to Kazakhstan!

There’s a small coffee shop near the exit of the port where you can buy something to drink and eat and you’ll also find a small exchange office to buy some Kazakh tenge.

If you travel by bicycle, motorbike or car, you’ll have to go back to the boat to get your vehicle and get customs clearance.

The process is quite fast for cyclists and they’ll be out within two hours but if you came by motorbike or car, get ready for a never-ending cycle of paperwork and stamps!

We arrived at 10 am in the port of Aktau and all of our friends who traveled by motorized vehicles were finally allowed to leave the port at 5 pm!

Kazakhstan Travel Guide: 1 8 things you should know before you go

8. How to get from the port to Aktau and where to stay in Aktau

You can get from the port of Aktau to the city center by hitching a ride or taking a taxi. The taxi shouldn’t cost more than 500 KZT.

In case you’re going to travel by train, you can always head straight towards the train station of Aktau. There is after all not much to see or do in Aktau. It’s a strange city if you ask me!

The 26 most beautiful and remarkable places to visit in Kazakhstan

Some people prefer to spend a day in the city, mostly to recover from the boat journey and to get ready for the upcoming (road)trip.

We stayed a couple of nights at a budget hostel called “Kemerek”, a little bit outside of the city center. We paid 3000 KZT ($10) for a room.

There are a lot of fancy hotels in the city, starting from $25 per person but there aren’t that many budget hostels.

The local kids in Aktau weren’t used to seeing foreigners and absolutely loved the motorbikes of our friends!

Traveling from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan by boat was definitely a memorable adventure! You’ll have to be patient and flexible and enjoy the moment.

Don’t have too many expectations and just see how everything goes. My advice is to sit back, relax, socialize and enjoy the journey since you have no idea when you’ll reach your destination!

More KAZAKHSTAN TRAVEL Resources:

• The Travel Guide to Kazakhstan: 18 things you should know before you go
• The 26 most beautiful and interesting places to visit in Kazakhstan
• Is it safe to travel to Kazakhstan: 15 useful safety tips
• Almaty City Guide: The 19 best things to do in Almaty
• The 5 best and most beautiful hikes in the mountains near Almaty
• Charyn Canyon Travel Guide
• Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy Travel Guide
• Sayram Ugam National Park Travel Guide
• Turkestan Travel Guide: discover the spiritual center of Kazakhstan
• Visiting the ship graveyard of the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan
• Trekking in Kazakhstan: 5-day hiking itinerary in the Northern Tian Shan Mountains
• A beginner’s guide to skiing in Shymbulak, Almaty

I hope this guide was helpful to you! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below or send me an email .

Did you recently cross the Caspian Sea? Please share your updates and stories in the comments below as they can be useful to other travelers!

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59 thoughts on “caspian sea ferry: 8 things you need to know about how to cross the caspian sea from baku to aktau by ferry in 2024 – a comprehensive guide”.

Thank you for this blog! Very helpful for us! Here is our journey 🙂

We crossed the Caspian Sea about 2 weeks ago – We went to the ticket office(milli park) which gave us a number which is on the asco website (no tickets given), we called this number everyday in Baku until we emailed the asco ([email protected]) we had an email back to call another number, call it serval times no answer. Our hotel stay was finished so we decided to make our way to Baku port.

We got the bus 125 to Bina Mall filled up with snacks and did a shared taxi with people going the same way. We got to the port and went to buy our tickets when the guy showed us my partners WhatsApp’s picture and said is this you (we were speechless) anyway we brought our tickets in ANZ as they said they didn’t mind. It was €70 each or 119 AZN (I think) There is a cash point there but to be on the safe side take cash with you(that’s what we did) We were then taken through to where security look through your stuff and taken to a porter cabin. There are toilets, seats and sun lounges in there, you can walk around the cabin but it’s gated so you can’t go far. (You can pay for WiFi and the number for the shop and cafe are in the cabin) We waited 26 hours in the cabin. The security guard came in and told us to get our stuff as we are off and a ferry is here. We went through customs and everything (very easy) to which lead us to the ferry. We boarded at 4ish where the captain takes your passport and left at 21:30. You get 3 meals a day. Breakfast- egg,cheese and bread Lunch- pasta and a chicken drumstick and Dinner- lentils with a meat. There is unlimited tea and biscuits as well in the lobby area! Our ferry journey was about 30 hours, you are called into the lobby area to take your bedding and belongings so they can clean the rooms, if your a tourist (like us) we were pushed to the front and got our passports and where told to go to the end of the ferry to wait for a mini bus. Again the wait was about 2/3 hours, got to customs stamped in and sorted, shared a taxi to Aktau and made our way to Uzbekistan through next day via Beyneu on the train.

Thank you so much for this useful report Jennie!

Hi Cynthia Thankyou for this information which is really helpful. I think at the moment that it’s only possible to enter Azerbaijan by flight? I’m trying to get from UK to S Korea early next year overland but this problem, and the issue with getting into Russia seem to be making this impossible! Do you, or does anyone else reading this, (if anyone is reading this) know a route currently to get to S Korea from UK overland? Many thanks and safe travels Pippa

Yes, Azerbaijan still hasn’t opened its land borders but I’ve heard they might in 2024…

Not sure (in the light of completion) that this is such a romantic/sentimental experience. The ticket is indeed easily purchased on-line for US$70. On your arrival at the port, your printed copy is exchanged for a proper receipted ticket. If taking the buses (right numbers) make sure you know where/what is “Bina Mall” to change buses as it is possible to go too far past it. Not sure tents are done anymore. There is a lot of chairs and massage table type “beds” in the waiting hall which is airconned. And it’s here where you can wait up to 4 days for a boat to be ready. If the wind is more than 25 knots in the narrow exit canal, the port authority will close the port to entry/exit ships. We waited 40 hours and after a day it starts to feel like a prison yard. The male toilet is foul and I didn’t ask about the shower location. You can go further into the port on foot to a small shop, bakery, barber & cafe which caters to the drivers. I was put on one of the 2 new ships (2 yo) Azerbijan and Zarifa Aliyeva. 4 berth windowed cabins with ensuite. Fairly modern and (basically) clean. The ensuite doubles as the shower and its floor is heated so there’s no wet floors for long. The bill “common room” is uninviting & has only 12 chairs with none outside. I was with 2 “‘Strayan” Joanna Lumley hopefuls amongst a hundred multinational truck drivers who are a class unto themselves… There were some pseudo fights among a Ukrainian group in the dining room – pushing, shoving, headlocks etc – all no doubt fuelled by Illegal liquor smuggled past the customs guards. All best of friends by the morning. The “dining room” often has hours in advance of those advertised – be alert, though the fare is very basic. Not much to do, no TV, board games, etc though on Zafiya, the crew is quite liberal in allowing bridge visits which were quite interesting for the state of art tech. The new ships are 12.5 knots so the trip time is about 18 hours. It was cloudy so no romantic sunsets … but good views of the oil rig islands in the night. Something different, but if I had the time again I’d look seriously at the direct flight option !

Thank you for sharing your experiences and updates. When I crossed the Caspian Sea, I met several backpackers and we bonded well during the waiting time at the port and on the boat. The weather was great so I was lucky with the sunsets (as you can see on the photos) and we kept ourselves busy with chatting, playing games that some of us brought, etc. We also had some great chats with the truck drivers. I had a great time but these travel experiences are subjective and a lot often depends on the circumstances.

Baku, the vibrant capital of Azerbaijan, has always fascinated me with its blend of modernity and rich history. This article beautifully captures the essence of this captivating city, from its iconic landmarks like the Flame Towers to its charming Old City with its narrow alleys and historic architecture. The detailed descriptions and vivid imagery truly transport the reader to the heart of Baku, making them feel like they are experiencing it firsthand. Reading this article has only intensified my desire to visit Baku and immerse myself in its unique culture and mesmerizing beauty. Kudos to the author for providing such an insightful and inspiring guide to this remarkable destination!

Thank you so much Eric!

Thank you for your elaborate article. I am currently in Aktau and was looking forward to taking the ferry to Baku from here. But, someone in an office in the city told me that the ferry isn’t running. Do you know where I can get more information? It’s hard to accept/believe that there is no possibility to cross the Caspian just yet, my travel route was set on this. The person at the office wasn’t able to provide further information. If someone know how I can reach someone who knows more, perhaps from another ferry company, it would be a great help.

Hi Mees, I received updates that the ferry from Baku to Aktau is running but don’t have any current updates concerning Aktau to Baku. I hope someone will be able to provide some current info to help you! Best wishes, Cynthia

Hi Mees, maybe now you already know, but Azerbaijan is still closed to enter by land or sea, you can only fly into it. That’s why the ferry from Kazakhstan is not running. Hopefully it will change soon 🤞🏻

Hi Cynthia,

thanks for your great job, that you provide all your information with people. You are a big inspiration for our travel planning. Is it possible to get the name of the hostel in Baku?

THX and greetings Sophie

Thanks so much!

The hostel I stayed at is no longer there but there are plenty more good hostels that will offer help.

Have a great trip!

Hi , we can confirm that the ferry is running , we have just arrived at Port of Baku Alat on 12th May 2023 and have bought tickets for the crossing to Kurik , Kazakhstan.

Happy travels Darren and Nicole Sanderson UK

Thank you Darren and Nicole!

So great, thanks for your answer.

Hi Daren, thanks for this amazing new, could you tell me how long you’ve been waiting at the port ? Is there any delay issue related to the current situation ? Thanks !

Hey Cynthia Thanks so much for this super helpful blog providing information that seems to be nowhere available 🙂 Especially interesting because we are planning to do the same crossing in couple of weeks from now. I was only wondering if you also encountered some issues with overland border crossing into Azerbaijan due to Covid regulations. We heard from the Swiss embassy and the German travel advice that currently entering and leaving Azerbaijan is only possible through Baku’s airport and they claimed it’s already a while like that. Is there a way to get around that? Thanks so much for your Help

Hi Severin,

I’m afraid that entering Azerbaijan by land isn’t possible yet. You can fly into Azerbaijan without restrictions and exit via land or sea but not enter via a land or sea border. There are also no updates if this will change anytime soon.

Hey Cynthia Thanks so much for your reply. Very helpful! So you’re saying leaving Azerbaijan through sea boarder is possible? Because the Consul of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Switzerland wrote me “At the moment travels to and from Azerbaijan is only possible via air.”. Also the German travel advice for Azerbaijan https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/aserbaidschansicherheit/201888 in the chapter Leaving and Transit reads: “The international train, bus and ferry traffic is suspended.” Therefore I assumed also leaving Azerbaijan using the ferry from Baku is not an option.

Hi Severin, leaving Azerbaijan by land – or in this case by sea -shouldn’t be a problem (I’m receiving messages from other travelers doing the same). Let us know about your journey and experiences!

Hi travellers! I am currently in Azerbaijan and plan to arrive in Kazakhstan by sea in a fortnight. I read on my government (France) website that for travellers arriving by land and sea, an Entry Permit is required. Do you know how to get this? I am not sure if it is the Letter of Invitation (LOI), but something else.

Hi Guillaume,

It’s the first time that I hear that an entry permit is required. Normally, you don’t need an LOI and as a French passport holder, you receive a visa on arrival to enter Kazakhstan. Have a good trip!

Hey Guillaume,

We are also planning to go through that route and was just wondering if you entered Azerbaijan by air. According to the information I have from Switzerland and Germany Azerbaijan currently only allows entry and exit through air due to covid. But would be happy if you tell me that’s not true 🙂

Hello Séverin,

I entered Azerbaijan by air and entry to Azerbaijan is only allowed by air (still unfortunately). However, you can leave Azerbaijan by land, sea and air.

If you need more information you can contact me on my Instagram @Ingetrotteur 😊

Thank you Cynthia for your feedback 😊

Hi Cynthia. I’ve found your blog so interesting and inspiring. I’d like to travel through Central Asia myself, avoiding plane travel as much as possible. I would like to cross the Caspian Sea via ferry to cut down on flights, but I wonder whether this would be advisable for someone who would not be travelling with a tent (because of the likely time spent camping at the Port of Baku that you mention). I wonder what your thoughts are on this? Many thanks and happy travels!

Hi Rebecca, thank you for your kind words! As for your question, you could ask your ho(s)tel in Baku to phone daily to the port and ask for updates concerning the ferry. This way you probably won’t have to camp at the port and just travel there on the day of departure. I hope this helps. Best wishes, Cynthia

Hi here! A great guide to taking a ferry to Central Asia on the Kaspan Sea! I also wanna go through this path with my car in December 2022. I have worked and lived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for over 20 years. So I need to go back there and bring my personal belongings back to Europe. Update is Kazakhstan has cancelled the entry card!

Hi Tashbek, thank you for the update and please let us know how your journey went! Do you mean by entry card the migration card?

Hi! Cynthia, no cards n forms at all to pass the passport control gate of Kazahstan!

Thanks for the update Tashbek, highly appreciate it! How was the ferry crossing?

Thanks for sharing all your experiences and valuable infromation! I just really want to know this, I want to cross the sea with my full-size overland pickup truck (Ford F-150). Do they allow north Americans with larger cars to cross the border by sea on this ship? How much does it cost?

Hi Sintash, as the ferries are meant for trucks to cross, I think they will allow your pickup truck as well. However, I don’t know how much it would cost. They usually charge by the meter ($100/meter). The prices might have gone up this summer and I haven’t received any updates about it yet. You’re always welcome to let me know once you’ve crossed the Caspian sea 🙂

thank you, Cynthia! very helpful. i’m also planning to travel from Baku to Kazakhstan by ferry this June.

Hi Dion, that’s great news! Let me know how your journey went!

I am planning to cross in June 2022 with a vehicle. please do update here if you get any other information.

hi Dion and Cynthia, i am french and i would like riding with my motobike from Azerbadjan to Kasakstan in februry 2023. Dion, have you performed your trip in June ? The azerbadjan border by road is open ? Thank you very much for your answer, freindly yours. Eric

Thank you for the article Cynthia, it’s so helpful. Me and my boyfriend want to cross with our camper the Caspian Sea with the ferry in May 2022. Does anyone have any updates on the situation? Alo, we are travelling with our dog.:) Do you know if it’s possible to bring your dog on the ferry? We first wanted to go overland, but as Turkmenistan and Iran don’t give out visa at the moment this is not an option.

Kazakhstan is currently still being difficult about foreign travelers entering the country. Taking your dog on the ferry might also be challenging as the ferry takes about 26 hours and the dog can’t really go to the toilet on this boat… I haven’t heard of people bringing their pet on the ferry yet… Best is to contact the ferry companies directly… Wishing you good luck and all the best!!

Hi Cynthia, A friend and I are hoping to do this trip this summer also. Thanks for the great info and I’d love to know more re. any updates you might have etc.. Regards Eoin

I’m not sure if you’ll already be able to enter Kazakhstan by land (or in this case by sea) by the summer. At the moment, you can only enter Kazakhstan by air. I’ll update this post soon!

Hi Petra, Please update once you have taken the ferry across as I am planning to cross in June 2022 with a vehicle

and Cynthia thank you very much for such an informative write up

Worth checking on Turkmenistan – I was told they would start issuing tourist visas again ‘by the summer’. (2023)

Hi Cathy, yes, that’s true but know that you can only travel to Turkmenistan via a guided tour. They won’t let independent travelers in…

Hi Petra, I’m also planning to get from Azarbeidjan to Kazachstan with my camper and my dog. How did it go for you? You managed to take the ferry crossing or went overland somehow? Enjoy all the travels! Regards, Lora

This is more than a year from the last post so I am not expecting much but I want to avoid Iran so the ferry sounds like an adventure(except in a F-9 gale).

The ferry is definitely an adventure! You just need to check the current requirements for Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. I’ll make updates soon!

I meant Caspian not Black Sea, sorry

Hello, Please help me as i am doing this in the next two weeks. I have seen that there is a train available from Baku to kazakstan and I was thinking of applying for a Russian transit visa to take a train from Azerbiajan(baku) at Bilajari station through Russia along the Black sea to Kazakstan and eventually Almaty. I did not see anything written on your site about this option. For me, I would feel better knowing when I am leaving than waiting for the ferry you described that may never come. So what do you think of my idea? I am not 20 or even 30 anymore and I am needing to get to Asia and my bank does not reimburse me for cancelled flights right away so I am going via land becasue my objective is just to get there. IF my bank reimbursed me up front then I could afford to lose every time an airline cancelled . I just cannot afford to do that. My plan is to move to Vietnam to teach English but I do want to see some of the Silk Road countries along the way so I have decided to take on your longest overland route to Asia form Europe. I am currently in Ohrid and will be taking a bus to Istanbul. If you have any cheap providers of buses that the refugees use for transport in the opposite duirection please let me know. I know there are some in Istanbul, I simply do not know their names because i am European. Covid is bugging me so much that I am not letting it get in my way and I am undertaking the journey overland. I have wanted to see Central Asia I oove mountains lakes and bazaars but my goal is to Vietnam. I plan to apply for a transit visa to get to Vietnam from China. Okay Thanks let me know about the train idea from Baku to Kazakstan.

Hi Tatiana,

While your idea to take a train from Baku to Kazakhstan sounds amazing, I’m not sure if you’ll be able to do so. Firstly, going to Baku will be a huge detour. You’re better off taking a train from Eastern Europe into Russia. Secondly, Covid will stand in your way. I don’t think that Russia is currently giving visas (I might be wrong). For Kazakhstan, you’ll need a corona test and a special tourist visa which is very pricey. I’m not someone telling people not to do something, even when the plan sounds difficult. However, you should really look into the countries you want to travel through right now as many still have restrictions in place and aren’t letting foreigners in. Many land borders are still closed. You might end up paying a lot more and getting stuck in a country while traveling overland now then taking an airplane to Vietnam… Wishing you all the best!

Thanks for this blog. Lifesavers.

Great to hear Sarah! When are you going to make this trip?

i love baku.

We loved it as well 🙂

This article was absolutely amazing. I love the way you write, it’s so clear, informative, and catching the whole way through. This was so helpful and very fun to read. Thanks for the amazing literary artwork!

Thank you so much Francis! I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed my guide and writing style! Are you planning on taking this ferry?

Hi, I picked up a link to your blog from “Lost with Purpose”. The Caspian Sea crossing was the first item I read. It reminded me of one of the adventures of Fitzroy Maclean related in his book “Eastern Approaches”. In the late 1930’s, Maclean was a young British diplomat stationed in Moscow. He was determined to explore Central Asia. As the area was closed to foreigners it took some ingenuity. One of his attempts was to cross the Caspian from Baku. He didn’t make but did get to experience ferry travel on the Caspian.

His adventures lured me to Uzbekistan and I’ve been there several times. I thought you might enjoy his experiences from 80 years ago. Regards, Arne

Hi Arne! Thank you for your book suggestion! Wow, now this guy was a real explorer! It was already a hassle to take this ferry, I can’t even imagine how it must have been 80 years ago! Traveling nowadays is definitely very different from how it used to be. I love reading stories like this so thank you, I’ll definitely look up this book! All the best!

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Caravanistan

The Silk Road Travel Guide

Caspian sea ferry

The Caspian Sea ferry is a collection of cargo ships and ferry ships that ply different routes between the nations surrounding the world’s biggest inland body of water.

Although taking the ferry across the Caspian Sea has gotten a lot easier in the past few years, the lack of a schedule and the frequent rule changes make that crossing usually still comes with a fair bit of uncertainty and confusion. Make sure you budget enough extra days and are flexible with your schedule, so taking the ferry can become a fun and rewarding experience instead of a nerve-wrecking one.

If you have the chance, we recommend going overland and avoiding the ferry – it’s much more fun. If you are with a car, it is much cheaper as well. Interesting experiences await you in Iran and Dagestan. If neither of those are an option, you can fly with FlyArystan, Air Astana and Azerbaijan Airlines.

Table of Contents

Azerbaijan border closures

Since the pandemic and the ensuing invasion of Ukraine, Azerbaijan has closed its land and sea borders for entry, but not for exit.

You CANNOT enter by land or sea into Azerbaijan, only by air.

You CAN exit Azerbaijan via land border, sea port (ferry) or air.

If you want to ask when Azerbaijan will open its borders fully again, you can do that here .

Destinations

All ferries take passengers and their cars, bikes or motorbikes both between point A and B, as well as on the return voyage.

In theory, it should be possible to ship your vehicle between Iran and Kazakhstan – experience reported in the Iran to Kazakhstan ferry thread . Plans for a ferry between Aqtau and Makhachkala are on the table, but so far, there is no sign of progress yet.

There is no timetable for any of these ferries. When they leave depends a lot on the weather, and on the amount of freight that is loaded. Basically, it leaves when it’s full. This means every 3-5 days between Aqtau and Baku and every day or every other day to Turkmenbashi and back. The passage takes around 16-30 hours for Baku-Aqtau and 17 hours for Baku-Turkmenbashi.

However, serious delays happen. Between Baku and Aqtau you can wait up to 2 weeks if you are unlucky. Although the Baku – Turkmenbashi is much more reliable, the port in Turkmenbashi is sometimes too busy, which means you can wait up to a day or more in the port before you are allowed in. One traveler waited for 6 days! This can happen in the other ports too, by the way.

If you are going in summer

The Mongol Rally circus rumbles across Eurasia somewhere in July and August. Last time we checked, there were about 700 teams in the Mongol Rally. Luckily, they don’t all want to get on the boat, but be aware that it does get busy. It’s the only time when the boat might sell out of tickets.

The surge pricing that used to be common during the Mongol Rally seems to now be a thing of the past.

There is no schedule. But you can see where the boats are on the Marine Traffic website.

On the map of the Caspian Sea, look for the following vessels: Zarifa Aliyeva and Azerbaijan are confirmed to be sailing post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic, we noted Bestekar Fikret Amirov, Nakchivan, Dagistan, Qara Qarayev, Heydar Aliyev, Mercuri-1, Professor Gul, Barda, Akademik Topchubashov, Shahdag, Berkarar, Bagtiyar.

Ferry tickets and prices

Official prices are mentioned on the Caspian Shipping company website . A passenger ticket for the cargo boats costs around 80$. Children go half-price. Prices for the Berkarar and Bagtiyar between Baku and Turkmenbashi are higher: $100 seat only, $170 for a bed.

Breakfast and dinner are often included in the ticket price these days. You might need to show onward visas when you buy a ticket.

Where to buy tickets

Since October 2016, tickets can be bought online , but only with departure from Baku and Alat. You pay online in USD. Reports on using the booking system are welcome . Main takeaway: the online ticket process is smooth, easy and works. However, at the moment you still have to go to exchange your ticket at the office, so there is no real benefit vs buying it straight at the office.

For buying tickets offline: see the chapters of the different ports.

When to buy tickets

Tickets for both itineraries can usually only be bought on the day the ferry leaves (online it’s possible to book in advance). However, since 2018, it seems the office in Alat sells tickets before a boat has been announced.

You can find out when the ferry leaves by leaving your phone number at the ticket office, having someone call everyday (twice a day is better) or turning up yourself and asking “Is there a boat today?” A combination of these is best.

However, for the Berkarar and Bagtiyar boats running between Baku and Turkmenbashi, ticket sales do occur in advance. These boats are sometimes booked out weeks in advance (sometimes not) so you might need to book on time.

Ferry with a bicycle, car or bike

Prices for vehicles are currently as follows:

• Bicycle – 10$
• Motorcycle – 110$

Cars and motorbikes also need to pay an additional 7-12$ bridge tax and a port fee of 20-50$.

If you are thinking of taking your car to Turkmenistan, see our article on driving in Turkmenistan for a full account of all the costs.

Turkmen transit visa issue

It’s no longer an issue. Since Turkmenistan now gives 5-day transits within a 3-month window, you have plenty of time to wait for the boat. Previously, you had just a 5-day window to enter and exit Turkmenistan, so if your boat was late, you got deported back to Azerbaijan.

Ports in Azerbaijan

All ferry traffic has moved from Baku to Alat, 70 km south of Baku.

How it works

Option 1: You can wait in Baku for a ferry, call the office every day until they say a boat is coming, go to Alat and board immediately.

Option 2: You can go straight to Alat and camp in the ferry terminal there until a boat shows up.

Online :  on the Caspian Shipping Co website . For the Berkarar and Bagtiyar to Turkmenbashi, you could previously use the Port of Baku website – it’s not working right now.

Baku : The ticket office can no longer be found on the Boulevard at the Marine Passenger Terminal, but is now in a container in the park nearby, in front of this building . They can be reached at +994 55 2054 033.

Alat : the ticket office is at the ferry terminal and can be reached at +994 559 999 124. You can pay in manat or dollars. Amil is useful at +994 50 746 29 62.

The port is in the middle of nowhere. There is a cafe, a shop that sells basic groceries, SIM cards and exchanges money, , a laundry service, petrol station (diesel only), and a 24/7 ATM that spews Manat, USD and EUR. There is also a free (sometimes warm) shower near the toilet container, an option to charge electronic devices for free, and wifi, but it’s difficult to get the password.

The port’s telephone number (not for ticket sales) is +994 50 746 2962.

Accommodation

There is no accommodation at the port, but camping is possible.  Port Hotel Alat , 15 minute’s walk from the port has been recommende. It seems as if it is closed, but it’s open. It has a huge blue roof. A double room with ensuite bathroom costs 50-60 manat. There is fast wifi, a pool table and a gym you can use free of charge.

Getting there and away

Baku -> alat.

There is a free shuttle bus from the port of Baku to Alat at 6 pm which takes you directly to the harbour. If you miss this, a taxi from Baku would cost 30-40 manat. On a budget, catch a bus out towards the Bibi-Heybat mosque (bus 20 starting from 28 May metro) and watch out for an elongated roundabout with lots of buses parked up on the other side of the road. Change buses there and take the 195 to Alat.

Or, from the İçәri şәhәr Metro Station, you can take bus 6 to Sәbail Rayon Dövlәt Yol Polisi İdarәsi, then bus 195 to Alat (get off at the roundabout after the Alat Train Station). From there, take a taxi (5 manat) to the port.

Alat -> Baku

There are no buses from the Alat port, only taxis. On a budget, ask to be taken to the 195 bus stop a few kms away. The bus to Baku costs 1 manat.

Ports in Kazakhstan

Since 2018, the Aqtau port is no longer in use for the ferry. All ferries now arrive and depart from the new port of Kuryk.

Buying a ticket

You can buy a ticket online from the ASCO website. No need to print the ticket, the port ticket desk has a printer. Once in the port, you just present this ticket.

The ferry office in downtown Aqtau, at 5-29-1 (microrayon 5, building 29, appt 1, ground floor – Aqtau is that place where the streets have no name – OSM / Gmaps ). Open Mo-Fr 9-18, you can try +7 771 444 3511,  [email protected] .

Kuryk (+994 50 746 29 62) is a new port in full development, located 30 km west from the village of Kuryk ( Gmaps ). It’s a 45-minute drive south from Aqtau (9000 tenge by taxi has been quoted). 

Kuryk port website may or may not work, but if it does, you can click “Ship disposition” in the top menu to find an updated excel sheet with arrivals and departures.

The port now has wifi, a functional hotel and canteen, ATMs and an exchange service. Dollars, rubles, tenge and euros are accepted, Azeri manat is not. Beeline works in the port area, but KCell does not.

Make sure you have cash to pay for insurance and bridge tax because the ATM might not work and you may not be able to pay by credit card.

Hotel and canteen

It’s 3500 tenge per person, per night for a room (single or double) with AC/Heater, an electric kettle and an attached bathroom.

Breakfast is not included. The hotel does not accept cash, only credit cards.

The canteen food is not great. It has been recommended to get food from the Customer Service Centre, where the port workers eat. This is another building inside the complex.

Taxis might be hanging around the port. – A cab Kuryk-Aktau cost 10,000 tenge in 2022. It is best to order the cab through the hotel reception in the port. If not, hitchhiking is the only option for foot passengers. The town of Kuryk has an ATM and several small shops, as well as onward transport to Aqtau in the form of shared taxis and minibuses.

Taxi drivers at the port have the following scam going: they tell you they will take you from the port straight to Aktau, but in the end just drive you 20 km to the village of Kuryk, where they have you pay again to another driver for the second part of the ride to Aktau.

Unlike at other borders in Kazakhstan, if you are driving your own car, you need to get insurance at the port: 30 days for 13 000 tenge, with a minimum of 15 days for 9250 Tenge. More info at driving in Kazakhstan .

Turkmenbashi port

A new ferry terminal has been in use in Turkmenbashi since April 2018. From the motorway, follow the signs to the International Seaport. Continue past the cargo terminals until you see signs for “ro-ro vehicle and ro-ro pax”. That will lead you to a large plaza with a control tower. (You can see the control tower from the motorway, you can’t miss it)

The building you’re looking for (the hotel and ticket office) is across from the control tower (adjacent to the entry gates)

When you go into the port terminal there is a booking and a currency exchange office. Both of these are unmanned and you cannot buy a ticket there. Instead, find the port hotel.

Left of the hotel there are some unmarked white doors. Go up the stairs here and open the first fire door you see. Then you will arrive in a hallway where you will see two large clear windows (one for each ferry operator).

Alternatively: enter the left side of the building and look for the two windows with metal grates. One is labeled “Kassa”.

For the Berkarar and Bagtiyar you can now buy tickets in advance. If you failed to do so, or if you need a cargo ship that goes to Alat, a different system similar to the Baku-Aqtau line might still be in use.

Port and hotel

Once you pass the gates you can’t go back. You could be in for a long wait! There is a canteen now, though, so you can watch Turkish soaps while sipping endless cups of tea as you wait.

The new port hotel may or may not let you know when the boat is leaving; if you fail to get the message, you might miss the boat so stay on high alert. The hotel is excellent but does only have 26 beds or 12 rooms, book in advance if you can; $30-40 for a single room, 50-60$ for a double. The hotel number is +993 243 49610.

The journey

Boarding the ferry.

You cannot board the ferry before all cargo is loaded, so you will have to sip some tea in the waiting area. Customs officers will ask to see some proof that you will not be turned back once you arrive at your destination (eg. a visa or LOI). Once on board, someone will demand your passport and, in Turkmenistan, the passage fee. It is safe to give them your passport, they need them to log who is on the ship. When the ferry docks go to the captain’s cabin to regain your passport.

Details of the journey and a bit of history

The coastline views of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are beautiful. It’s a real delight to steam slowly over a quiet body of water, gazing at the horizon punctuated with oil rigs. While crossing the Caspian Sea, you might be able to spot Neft Daslari, an entire city built upon the foundations of sunken oil tankers 55km away from the nearest shore.

Probably the most exciting part for Western travelers, besides a glimpse of the shocking amounts of corruption and bureaucracy underpinning life around the Caspian,  is watching the sun sink into the sea. The colors it affords are truly stunning. You are also free to wander around the boat wherever you like; into the hull, the machine room or the bridge… it’s quite interesting. Crew and other passengers are very happy to chat.

A less exciting part of the journey will be your first encounter with your cabin. Some boats, like the Qara Qarayev or Barda, are not too bad (even clean) when it comes to hygiene. Others are awful. Some cabins have port holes, others don’t. Shower and toilet are in the same place, and are usually not too clean, but there are public toilets elsewhere. Bring a sleeping bag, as your mattress and pillow are not guaranteed to be clean.

You might not need it, but to be safe, bring some food. Recently, people have started reporting better service and even free food included in your ticket price, but this is not a given, and every ship is different. So some have gotten 3 meals for free, others got the chef to fry up some chicken for a few manat or dollars, and sell them some beers, vodka and cigarettes to boot, whereas even others saw the food run out quickly (there is always an emergency vodka ration though), or got nothing at all, with no cups or even water available.

Seeing how you can get stuck in the harbor for days, it would be wise to pack some food. Make it something that can stay for long, in case you do get tasty food, and don’t forget to bring a bottle of water.

Some people, upon seeing the aged ships (they are over a quarter-century old), might wonder if it is safe to travel on a rusty vessel like the “ Dagestan “. We found an answer in Lutz Kleveman’s, The New Great Game: Blood and oil in Central Asia .

The  MV Nakhichevan  is a Dagestan class rail ferry, an ageing relic of the Soviet era and one of seven rusting hulks pressed into service to bridge the gap between the Caucasus and Trans-Caspian railways. As much as I relished the idea of leaving Azerbaijan, the sight of the ferry made me worry that the corrupt police and the slag heap behind me may be the lesser of two evils. The ship was barely afloat. The Dagestans weren’t designed for open water, their topsides too high to survive the violent storms of the Caspian. Even moored to the groaning linkspan the ship looked unstable, rolling against the dock bumpers as the rail cars shunting into the hold upset its balance. At 154 metres the  Nakhichevan  is almost the length of the enormous passenger ferries of the English Channel, but barely half as wide. The ship shares the same depth as those of the Channel, but while the Pride of Dover sails with a draft of over six metres the  Nakhichevan  sails with less than three. Its dimensions are all wrong for the open water: narrow, top heavy and prone to roll like a drunk in all but the calmest of seas. Their crews keep the Dagestans from the sea bed only by steering constantly into the wind. That and fervent prayer. Seven years earlier these prayers were ignored when the  Merkuriy-2 , sister ship of the  Nakhichevan , was lost in stormy seas while carrying a shipment of oil from Aqtau to Baku. Force eight winds and six metre high waves proved too much for the vessel, and when the constant roll caused the cargo to break loose the ship was sent into a fatal list. Of the 51 souls aboard only nine were saved.

As a result of this accident, the shipping company is now reluctant to put too many people on any ferry in case there is another accident.

What about the future? There might not be one without a sea to cross .

Customs and visa

Customs are another nasty feature of this ferry ride. With a car especially, you can get stuck for hours in customs. Turkmenbashi can take from 1 to (my personal record) 7 hours, Baku is equally bad, and Aqtau is the worst, with people reporting to get stuck there for a whole day with their vehicle. Also, customs only seems to work 9-5 in Aqtau, so although foot passengers can get off the ferry in the middle of the night, drivers can’t.

Azeri customs once agaon allow passengers on the ferry without having the actual visa of their destination in their passport, be it a transit or a tourist visa. For all your other visa questions, please refer to the relevant chapters: Turkmenistan visa , Kazakhstan visa and Azerbaijan visa .

Turkmenbashi – Baku and Olya ferry

Since 2016, there is a new boat in town, it’s called the Berkarar and its brother, the Bagtiyar. It seems to operate under the same conditions as other boats (see more on that below), meaning no timetable and same confusing way to buy tickets. Maybe not! We don’t have enough info yet, really. But it is more set up for passengers. We only have one report so far, here is what we know:

It’s a fast ferry which can probably cross Baku – Turkmenbashi in 8 to 10 hours, but you should still budget 1-2 days as loading on and off can take ages. Ferry is tourist class, just wait until or if the 2 bars, buffet and shops open. The kids playroom is equipped so bring your children. Beds are great, good ship bathrooms with hot water showers. They even have lounges and large flat screen TVs with hundreds of useless channels, so bring some USB movies for the Turkish drivers.

What about the route to Olya? The Berkarar seems to be going there, but we are in doubt when it comes to the details.

More updates welcome.

Why (not) take the ferry?

To finish off this long article, a little overview:

• no airplanes involved
• a unique traveling experience
• beautiful scenery and sunsets
• could be expensive when traveling by car
• possibly a lot of frustration and lost time, especially on the Baku-Aqtau line
• missing out on wonderful Dagestan and interesting Iran
• Turkmenistan is tricky because of the short Turkmen transit visa

Other Silk Road ferries

You may also have an interest in Black Sea ferries and Persian Gulf ferries .

All updates and questions on the Caspian Sea ferry go in this forum topic .

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SEA BREEZE World class resort on the Caspian Sea

Sea Breeze Resort is a unique resort complex on the picturesque coast of the Caspian Sea, just 30 minutes from the center of Baku. The mild climate, warm sea and wide sandy beaches in Sea Breeze have been embellished by an infrastructure that meets all the needs of a modern person. A large selection of hotels, trendy restaurants, SPA and fitness centers will make your vacation on the Caspian coast comfortable and enjoyable.

And those who wish to spend the year round in Sea Breeze might enjoy services of 24/7 markets, the medical and Anti-Aging Center, reception desk, school, kindergarten, delivery facilities, a pier for yachts and boats and other facilities at their service. That what features Sea Breeze as a truly world-class resort.

BOOK THROUGH SEAYA! 

Live in sea breeze, a variety of accommodation options — for your comfort and impeccable rest.

Infrastructures Sea Breeze Resort

Hotels in Sea Breeze represent example of premium service and famous Azerbaijani hospitality. Sea Breeze Hotel, The Grand, White Villas and Cube Hotel – enjoy your stay at the hotel yourself or invite guests, arrange conferences, weddings, banquets, and we will organize all events on a turn-key basis. You don't have to worry about the quality of service!

Everything for life

No longer you need to leave Sea Breeze for visiting a beautician or getting a massage. Residents might access spa and anti-aging center for wide range of medical, cosmetology and wellness services: hardware and injection cosmetology, droppers with vitamins and placental samples, face and body aesthetic procedures, as well as hammam, massages and manual therapy.

Enjoy your vacation, and we shall ensure kids have fun time here. Sea Breeze offers all related amenities for kids. Kids Club includes outdoor children's area with swings, slides and trampolines, as well as an indoor playground with different activities. LANDAU School with education in English under the British programs offers developmental pre-school education and top- quality secondary education.

Sea Breeze Mall is a large shopping and entertainment complex that includes supermarkets, bars and restaurants, boutiques of branded clothing, shoes and a cinema. Anything a metropolitan used to might be found within walking distance on the territory of the Sea Breeze Resort.

Bars and restaurants

Guests and residents of Sea Breeze would enjoy a number of bars and restaurants scattered on the coast. Shore House presents you best dishes of Azerbaijani, Caucasian and Pan-Asian cuisine. The fashionable Fish Box has a huge selection of seafood dishes. Rose Bar Beach offers a variety of cocktails and hits of Mediterranean cuisine. And Event Hall presents you free rein: choose any cuisine for your event, and we shall arrange the most acclaimed chefs to ensure your wedding or conference embedded in memories.

More than a resort

We offer best and top-notch to our residents and guests, and we also take care of the environment. So, you might call a golf taxi or rent a golf cart to move/roam around Sea Breeze. 15 % discount applies for residents renting a cart for more than 1 month. We do our best for your comfort! For more information: +994 50 550 00 83

FOOD DELIVERY

Sea Breeze Delivery is a food delivery service that operates exclusively on the territory of the complex, which means it will deliver your order as quickly as possible. Download the application on your mobile phone and choose any dishes from facilities within Sea Breeze. Couriers will bring in fresh salad, hearty pasta or seafood to your hotel room, your apartment or directly to your sun lounger if you are relaxing on the beach.

Villas and cottages

Uzeyir Hajibeyov, 127

Nardaran settlement, Sea Breeze Resort

Moscow, Kutuzov avenue 1/7

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enjoy the Caspian sea & beaches

From water sports to romantic afternoons and lively evening parties, the sandy Caspian beaches around Baku are great places to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

enjoy the Caspian sea & beaches

• About sea & beaches

The shores of the Caspian Sea have plenty of excellent beach clubs to enjoy, from the Absheron Peninsula resorts easily reached from Baku to the water sports centre at Shuraabad. There, you will find the perfect conditions for learning to kitesurf on the scenic lagoon and once you’ve mastered the basics you can take your board out into the open Caspian. Both professionals and amateurs can take windsurfing sessions at some Baku beaches. However, if it’s tranquillity and romance you are seeking, make your way to less crowded beaches such as Bilgah, Mardakan, Pirshagi, Nardaran and Zagulba.

Enjoy the Caspian sea & its beaches

weather and season

Air temperature, feel temperature.

• Some sun, then turning cloudy
• speed 13 km/h
• Peak Season:

Caspian sea & beaches

• Bilgah Beach Hotel
• Dalga Beach Aquapark Resort
• Khazar Golden Beach
• Amburan Beach Club
• The Crescent Beach Hotel
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Azerbaijan right now #ExperienceAzerbaijan

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