Baku: Gobustan, Fire Temple & Yanar Dag Day Trip with Lunch

Summary

Gobustan carvings, burning hillsides and the quiet hush of Bibi-Heybat

You’ll ride out from Baku with a local guide, tracing ancient footsteps in Gobustan’s petroglyphs and feeling real heat at Yanar Dag’s burning hillside. Wander sacred halls at Bibi-Heybat Mosque, taste homemade bread over lunch, and watch eternal flames dance at Ateshgah Fire Temple. It’s a day that lingers long after you’re back in your hotel room.

What’s the experience like?

We rolled out of Baku just after breakfast — city noise fading behind us as our driver threaded through morning traffic. The air smelled faintly salty from the Caspian, mixed with something earthy I couldn’t quite place. Our guide, Elchin, had this way of telling stories that made even the oil fields look mysterious. First stop was the Bibi-Heybat Mosque. Women in bright scarves moved quietly between rows of old gravestones; someone handed me a sprig of basil for luck. I tried to pronounce “Bibi-Heybat” right but Elchin just grinned and said I got close enough.

After that we headed for Gobustan. The wind picked up and dust stung my face when we got out — it’s open country out there, all pale rock and scrubby grass. Elchin pointed at the rock art: animals, hunters, boats scratched into stone thousands of years ago. It’s strange to stand where people stood so long ago and realize they probably complained about the same wind. We saw one of those mud volcanoes too — bubbling away like a pot left on the stove. Smelled a little like eggs but nobody seemed to mind.

Lunch was simple — bread still warm from the oven, grilled lamb and tomatoes that tasted like sunlight (I ate too much). Someone’s aunt ran the kitchen and pressed more tea on us than I could drink. Then came Ateshgah, the Fire Temple in Surakhani. The flames flickered behind glass; Zoroastrian pilgrims used to come here centuries ago. Elchin explained how natural gas escapes from underground and burns without stopping — he shrugged like it was no big deal but honestly it felt pretty wild.

Last was Yanar Dag: a hillside burning for millennia, flames licking up from bare earth even when rain spat sideways across our jackets. There were kids selling roasted nuts nearby and an old man who nodded at us as if he’d seen this all his life (maybe he had). We watched the fire until my cheeks felt hot and then just sat quietly for a minute or two before heading back toward Baku’s lights. I still think about that view sometimes — not sure why.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit main Baku attractions

• See first oil well site
• Visit Bibi-Heybet Mosque
• Explore mud volcano
• Tour Gobustan National Park
• Visit Ateshgah Fire Temple
• See Yanar Dag burning mountain

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Baku to Gobustan?

The full day tour covers all main sights around Baku in one day with pickup included.

Is lunch included in this sightseeing tour?

Yes, lunch is included during the tour.

What attractions are visited on this Baku day trip?

The tour includes Gobustan Rock Art site, Mud Volcanoes, Ateshgah Fire Temple, Yanar Dag burning hillside, and Bibi-Heybat Mosque.

Are entry tickets included in the price?

Yes, entry tickets to all attractions are included.

Is hotel pickup available for this tour?

Hotel pickup is provided from selected hotels in Baku.

How physically demanding is this sightseeing tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Who leads the tours? Are guides local?

A professional local guide leads each group throughout the day.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from selected hotels in Baku, comfortable transport with air conditioning, entry fees for every site you visit (Gobustan carvings, mud volcanoes, Ateshgah Fire Temple, Yanar Dag), a traditional Azerbaijani lunch along the way—plus guidance from someone who knows these places by heart before you return to town in time for evening lights.