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Sightseeing
Ismayilli, Lahij & Gabala Day Trip from Baku (Cable Car + Bridge)
- ~13 hours (09:00–22:00)
From ₼ 140 ₼ 120
Gobustan, Mud Volcanoes and the Fire Sites — Full Day from Baku
Rock carvings older than the pyramids, a plain of cold mud volcanoes, and the two places that gave Azerbaijan its name — the Land of Fire — in one day out of the city.
- 5.0 1 review
- 8 hours
- Max 18
- English, Russian, Turkish
- Duration8 hours
- Live tour guideEnglish, Russian, Turkish
- GroupPrivate tour
Highlights
- Leaving Baku along the Caspian
- Gobustan rock art reserve
- The mud volcanoes
- Ateshgah fire temple
- Yanardag burning mountain
Overview
In eight hours this day covers the two things Azerbaijan is known for outside its borders — the prehistoric rock art south of the city, and the fire that comes out of the ground north-east of it.
The carvings at Gobustan
The reserve sits about 65 km south of Baku, an hour down the coast road. Some 6,000 images are cut into the boulders here — hunters, dancers, reed boats, cattle, a Roman inscription left by a passing legion. The oldest are around 12,000 years old and the site is on the UNESCO list. Nothing is labelled on the rock, which is exactly why the day is worth doing with a guide rather than a taxi.
The mud volcanoes
Fifteen minutes further on, along a track that stops being asphalt, the ground turns into a field of grey cones that bubble cold. They are not hot and nothing erupts on cue; the mud comes up at ground temperature and settles into wide, cracked plates. Azerbaijan has more of these than any country on earth, and this is the closest cluster to the capital.
Ateshgah and Yanardag
On the way back the day turns to the fire sites on the Absheron peninsula. Ateshgah, in Surakhani, is a walled fire temple where merchants and pilgrims kept a flame fed by a natural gas seep. Yanardag, twenty minutes north, is a hillside that has simply been burning for as long as anyone has recorded it — a low line of flame along the base of a slope, best seen as the light goes.
What the day is like
Eight hours from the meeting point and back, with roughly three of them in the vehicle. The walking is short but uneven: the boulder field at Gobustan and the last stretch to the volcanoes are both loose ground, so trainers beat sandals. The group is capped at 18 and runs in English, Russian and Turkish.
Where else this road goes: Lahij from Baku: A Copper Village Above the Girdiman Gorge, or Shahdag and the Candy Cane Mountains — Day Trip from Baku. Everything we run is on the day trips page.
UNESCO World Heritage listing: Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape
Yanardag is the last stop of this day, at the end of eight hours and a long run south. If it is the only part of the Absheron you actually want, the Absheron half day reaches it in four to five hours and adds Ramana and Balakhani instead of the drive to Gobustan.
Getting there on your own: 65 km from Baku by road. How to Get from Baku to Gobustan compares a car with a driver, the intercity bus and a guided day.
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Max Group Size
- Group of up to 18
- Language
- English, Russian, Turkish
- Pickup
- 1 Azerbaijan Avenue, Baku (parking)
More on this area: Gobustan Day Trip from Baku · Day Trips from Baku · Things to Do from Baku · Nature & Photography Tours from Baku
Itinerary
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Leaving Baku along the Caspian
The road south runs past the Bibi-Heybat field, one of the oldest oil-producing places in the world and still working. It is a useful ten minutes of context for everything the rest of the day is about.
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Gobustan rock art reserve
The museum first, which sets out what the carvings are and how they were dated, then the boulder trail itself. Allow an hour and a half here; the walk is short but the stops are frequent.
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The mud volcanoes
A short transfer over unpaved ground to the cones. Time to walk between them and, if you want, to put a finger in the mud and find out how cold it is.
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Ateshgah fire temple
The pentagonal caravanserai at Surakhani, with cells around a central altar and inscriptions in Sanskrit and Punjabi over several of the doors.
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Yanardag burning mountain
The last stop, and the one that photographs best late in the day: a three-metre line of flame at the foot of a slope, alight without interruption for decades.
Meeting point
1 Azerbaijan Avenue, Baku (parking)
Frequently asked questions
How far is Gobustan from Baku?
About 65 km south, roughly an hour each way on a good road. The mud volcanoes are a further fifteen minutes along an unpaved track.
How long is the whole day?
Eight hours from the meeting point and back, of which around three are spent driving between the four sites.
How much walking is there?
Not far — perhaps two kilometres in total — but the ground at both Gobustan and the volcanoes is loose and uneven. Closed shoes make the difference.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, and children between 3 and 11 travel at half the adult price. The day is long, so bring water and something to eat between the sites.
When is the best time of year?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. In July and August the site is exposed and hot by mid-morning, so an early start matters more than usual.
What languages is the tour run in?
English, Russian and Turkish. Tell us which you need when you book.
How long does the Gobustan tour take?
The tour takes approximately 8 hours.
Where does the tour depart from?
The tour departs from 1 Azerbaijan Avenue, Baku (parking).
What languages is the tour available in?
The tour is available in English, Russian, Turkish.
How much does the tour cost?
Pricing starts at ₼ 29 per person. The final price depends on your group size and the date you choose.
How do I book this tour?
You can book directly on this page — choose your date and number of travellers and confirm. Our team will then reach out to confirm the details.
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Reviews
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5.0
· 1 review
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MMichael · London, United Kingdom
Great day outside Baku
A great tour with a perfect mix of history and nature. We visited Gobustan, the mud volcanoes, Ateshgah Fire Temple and Yanardag. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable, and everything was well organized. Definitely recommend this tour!
