The Narimankend Caves and the Sundu Waterfall — a Private Day from Baku
Caves you walk into with a torch, a waterfall with a pool under it, and a fifteenth-century tomb built sideways into a cliff. Eight hours, private, priced per car.
8 hours
Max 7
English, Russian, Azerbaijani
⏱Duration8 hours
🗣Live tour guideEnglish, Russian, Azerbaijani
👥GroupPrivate tour
Highlights
1 Azerbaijan Avenue, Baku
Diri Baba, above the old Maraza
The Narimankend caves
Sundu village
The Sundu waterfall
Back to Baku
Overview
Three stops on one road, none of which most visitors to Azerbaijan have heard of: a tomb wedged sideways into a cliff, a hillside of caves you walk into with a torch, and a waterfall with a small deep pool beneath it. In Azerbaijani the village and the fall are spelled Nərimankənd and Sündü.
It is a private day — your party and the car, nobody else — and it is priced for the vehicle rather than per seat. One person and three people pay the same.
Which Gobustan this is not
Two places in Azerbaijan are called Gobustan, and they are nowhere near each other. The famous one is the petroglyph reserve on the coast south-west of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it has its own day: the Gobustan and fire sites tour.
This is the other one — the inland district, whose town was long called Maraza. The road goes the opposite way, north-west up the Shamakhi highway, and there is not a petroglyph on it. If you came for the rock carvings, book the other tour; if you have already done it and want the hills, this is the one.
The day, in order
Diri Baba, above the old Maraza. An hour out of Baku, a fifteenth-century tomb built into the face of a cliff — not against it, into it. You climb a short stair through the rock to reach the chamber. Tickets are sold at the entrance and are not part of the tour price.
The Narimankend caves. A rock face of soft stone worked into chambers linked by passages, above a valley with a lake below it. You go inside, so bring a torch — a phone torch is enough, and there is nothing here that needs a helmet or a rope. It is uneven underfoot and worth taking slowly.
Sundu and the waterfall. A village with a very long history sitting high above the plain, with springs, old water mills and a mosque whose foundation is dated to 920. From the village a track leads up to the fall, which drops between rocks into a pool. This is where the picnic happens if you have asked for one.
How hard is it
Moderate, not hard. About two kilometres on foot across the day, on hillside tracks rather than a path; the village sits above nine hundred metres and the top of the walk is higher again, so it is cooler than Baku and you will feel the climb. Closed shoes, not sandals. The caves need care rather than fitness.
If you want the demanding day rather than the interesting one, the Shahdili spit walk is six hours on sand and asks a good deal more.
The picnic
Optional, ₼30 for three people, taken at the waterfall. If you would rather not, say so and we will stop for lunch on the road instead — there is a roadside kitchen at the junction that does qutab off the hot plate.
What it costs
₼145 for the car for up to three people, which is our Baku–Shamakhi transfer fare plus about a third for the extra hours and the two turnings off the highway. Four to seven people take the seven-seat van at ₼180. There is no per-person price because there is no shared departure — this tour does not run as a group.
Booking
Tell us the date, how many of you there are, and whether you want the picnic. We meet at 1 Azerbaijan Avenue; a pickup from your hotel can be arranged beforehand.
Duration
8 hours
Max Group Size
Private — your party only (1–7)
Language
English, Russian, Azerbaijani
Pickup
1 Azerbaijan Avenue, Baku (parking); a hotel pickup only by prior arrangement
We meet you there (or at your hotel, if agreed in advance) and leave the city on the Shamakhi highway, north-west and inland.
Diri Baba, above the old Maraza
A fifteenth-century tomb built into a cliff face, reached by a stair through the rock. Tickets are sold at the entrance and are not covered by the tour.
The Narimankend caves
Chambers cut into soft rock and linked by passages, looking out over a valley and a lake. Bring a torch — a phone will do. Uneven underfoot.
Sundu village
Springs, old water mills and a mosque dated to 920, on a plateau above nine hundred metres.
The Sundu waterfall
A track up from the village to the fall and the pool beneath it. The picnic is here, if you have asked for one. There is water in it at the end of summer, not only in spring.
Back to Baku
The same road in reverse, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.
What the price covers
A private car with driver for the whole day, from 1 Azerbaijan Avenue and back (or from your hotel, if agreed in advance)
An English- or Russian-speaking driver-guide
Fuel, parking and all road costs
Time at all three stops, not a drive-past
Paid on the day
The Diri Baba entrance ticket, sold at the gate
The picnic at the waterfall unless you add it (₼30 for three)
Lunch on the days you do not take the picnic
A torch — bring one, or use your phone
Meeting point
📍1 Azerbaijan Avenue, Baku (parking); a hotel pickup only by prior arrangement
Frequently asked questions
Is this the Gobustan with the rock carvings?
No. That is a different place with the same name — the petroglyph reserve on the coast, which is a UNESCO site and has its own tour. This day goes inland up the Shamakhi road and has no petroglyphs on it.
Do we go inside the caves?
Yes, and you need a torch. A phone torch is enough. There is no crawling, no helmet and no rope, but the ground is uneven and worth taking slowly.
Why is there no price per person?
Because the tour is private and the car is what is being booked. One, two or three people pay ₼145; the number in the car does not change what it costs to send it.
Is the picnic included?
No, it is ₼30 for three people and you add it when you book. Without it we stop for lunch on the road instead.
How much walking is there?
About two kilometres in total, split between the caves and the climb to the fall, on hillside tracks rather than a made path. Closed shoes, and you will feel the ascent, but it is a moderate day and not a hard one.
Are the Diri Baba tickets included?
No. They are sold at the entrance and paid there, like every entrance fee on our day trips.
Is there water in the waterfall in late summer?
Yes. It is still running at the end of summer, not only in spring. The pool beneath it is small, deep and cold.
How long does the tour take?
The tour takes approximately 8 hours.
Where does the tour depart from?
The tour departs from 1 Azerbaijan Avenue, Baku (parking); a hotel pickup only by prior arrangement.
What languages is the tour available in?
The tour is available in English, Russian, Azerbaijani.
How much does the tour cost?
Prices start at ₼ 145 for the whole party, not per person. The final price depends on how many of you travel 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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