Azerbaijan Private Tour with Local Guide & Transfers

Summary

Baku to Gabala: Five Days of Stories, Stone & Fire

Step into Baku’s Old City with a local guide, taste real Azerbaijani tea, marvel at Gobustan’s ancient rock art and mud volcanoes, then breathe mountain air by Gabala’s lakes—all with private transfers and hotel stays included. It’s a journey full of small surprises you’ll remember long after you leave Azerbaijan.

What’s the experience like?

“You ever tried Azerbaijani tea?” our guide, Leyla, asked as we squeezed into a little café just inside Baku Old City. I hadn’t — not properly — and the first sip was all rose petals and lemon, sweet but not too much. The city outside was busy in that gentle way: men playing backgammon under fig trees, the call to prayer drifting over stone walls. We’d landed the night before and already it felt like we’d stepped sideways in time. The Sapphire Bayil Hotel had this soft hum at breakfast — clinking spoons, someone humming a pop song I didn’t know. It’s funny how quickly you get used to new sounds.

The next morning started early (I’m not a morning person but somehow didn’t mind). Highland Park was windy — you could see the Caspian Sea all silver in the sun. Leyla pointed out the Carpet Museum (“Shaped like a rolled-up rug!”) and Little Venice where kids were feeding ducks. She knew everyone; people waved or called her name. After lunch (I still dream about that pomegranate salad), we wandered through Icherisheher’s narrow lanes. There was this old man selling saffron by the handful — he let me smell it, deep and earthy, nothing like supermarket spice jars back home.

Gobustan was wild in a different way: rocks carved with ancient animals, wind whipping up dust so fine it stuck to your skin. The mud volcanoes gurgled quietly — honestly, they looked like something from another planet. Our driver joked they’d cure any ache if you dared touch them (I didn’t). At Ateshgah fire temple later, flames flickered behind glass while schoolkids giggled on the steps. Yanardag burned steadily too — just open hillside with fire licking out of the earth like it belonged there.

Gabala felt softer somehow; Nohur Lake was glassy and green, ringed by mountains that faded into mist by afternoon. We stopped at Diri Baba’s tomb — quiet except for birds and our footsteps on cool stone. Tried shooting at the range (terrible aim), then took the cable car up Tufandag where everything smelled of pine needles and cold air. On the drive back to Baku I watched fields blur past and thought about how many layers this place has — old stories under new roads, laughter echoing off ancient walls.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and Check-in

• Airport transfer and hotel check-in

Day 2 — Baku City and Old Town Tour

• City tour: Highland Park, Carpet Museum, Little Venice, Heydar Aliyev Centre
• Old City tour (Icherisheher)

Day 3 — Gobustan and Mud Volcanoes Tour

• Gobustan tour: Mud Volcanoes, Gobustan Museum, Petroglyphs, Bibi-Heybat Mosque, Oil Well, Ateshgah, Yanardag

Day 4 — Gabala and Shahdag Tour

• Gabala tour: Diri Baba, Nohur Lake, Shooting Center, Tufandag Cable Car

Day 5 — Departure

• Breakfast and transfer to airport

Top questions

Is airport transfer included in this Azerbaijan private tour?

Yes, both airport pickup and drop-off are included in your booking.

Does the tour include entrance fees to museums or attractions?

No, entrance fees for museums are not included; you’ll need to pay those separately if you wish to enter.

Are meals provided during the 5-day Azerbaijan itinerary?

Breakfast is included each day at your hotel; lunch and dinner are not included.

Is transportation between cities like Baku and Gabala covered?

Yes, private transportation between all destinations—including Gabala—is provided throughout the tour.

Will there be an English-speaking guide during tours?

Yes, an English-speaking local guide accompanies you during city tours and excursions.

Can I visit Gobustan mud volcanoes on this trip?

Yes, visiting Gobustan National Park and its mud volcanoes is part of the itinerary with taxi transfer included.

What type of accommodation is provided?

You’ll stay at a 4-star hotel (Sapphire Bayil Hotel) with daily breakfast included.

Is public transportation used during this Azerbaijan tour?

No, all transfers are private vehicles arranged for your group; public transport is not required.

What’s included

Your journey includes private airport transfers both ways, four nights’ accommodation at a 4-star hotel with daily breakfast, all guided tours in Baku, Gobustan National Park (including taxi ride to mud volcanoes), Absheron Peninsula sights like Ateshgah fire temple and Yanardag burning mountain, plus full-day trips out to Gabala or Shahdag—all with comfortable vehicles and friendly local guides along every step.