It started in 2015 with nothing more than a dream and a small piece of land by the lake in Qazangül village, Zaqatala. A single cottage, a tiny pavilion, and the kind of quiet that makes you forget the rest of the world exists. No business plan, no investors — just a family who believed that if you build something honest, people will come. That was the beginning of HopeLake.
The idea was never to build something big. It was to build something real — a place where families could come, breathe fresh mountain air, and actually spend time together without the noise of everyday life. Word spread slowly, the way good things do. Friends told friends. Families came back season after season. The little cottage by the lake became something people looked forward to all year.
By 2018, the farm came to life. Lambs, goats, chickens, ducks — animals roaming freely across the grounds. Children chasing them, adults watching with a smile. Fresh eggs every morning, milk straight from the source, organic vegetables from our own garden. Every meal started to taste like it did at your grandmother's table. That same year, we started building the third house and added a fourth pavilion right by the lake.
Then 2020 hit. COVID shut down the world, but HopeLake stood strong. Our self-sustaining farm meant we never ran out of food. The fresh mountain air and wide open spaces meant guests still felt safe coming. The government didn't enforce strict restrictions on nature retreats — after all, where better to quarantine than surrounded by forest and clean air? Our loyal guests kept coming, and we came out the other side even stronger.
By 2022, HopeLake was in full bloom. Six houses, each with its own besedka by the lake. A swimming pool, football and basketball fields, a bar area, forest trails, and a new hall for big events. But we decided six houses was enough. Our main goal has always been to keep things quiet and personal. Instead of building more, we focused on improving — more trees planted, a protected nature zone with government support, a new playing area for kids, and trails through the forest.
The restaurant became the heart of it all. Everything cooked fresh, right in front of you, from ingredients grown on our own farm. No frozen food, no shortcuts. Guests started coming not just for the houses, but for the food — piti cooked over fire, fresh trout from the lake, bread baked in a tandir oven, jams made from forest berries.
Today, HopeLake is Azerbaijan's first eco resort. It's not just a place to stay — it's a place to return to. Guests come back not because of luxury, but because of how it makes them feel. The mountain air, the sound of the lake at night, animals roaming freely, the slow pace of life that reminds you what really matters. A 5-minute walk into the forest, 10 minutes from the city, but a completely different world.
That's what turned a small cottage in Qazangül into Zaqatala's favorite retreat. Not marketing, not money — just nature, family, and the belief that simple things done well are enough.
