Baku: Gobustan, Mud Volcanoes & Absheron tour with guide

Summary

Follow ancient carvings and burning hills from Baku to Absheron

You’ll trace ancient stories carved into Gobustan’s rocks, watch mud volcanoes bubble on open plains near Baku, step inside Absheron’s Fire Temple with a local guide, and end your day beside a hillside that burns on its own — moments you’ll remember long after you leave Azerbaijan.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the wind — sharp and dry, carrying this faint smell of salt and something almost metallic as we stepped out at Gobustan National Park. Our guide, Elchin, grinned when he saw me squinting at the horizon. “It’s always like this,” he said, waving his hand toward the Caspian. The 3D museum was cooler than I expected (I mean, holograms?), but it was those petroglyphs outside that really got me — you can still see where someone scratched out a goat or a dancer thousands of years ago. I touched the rock (probably not supposed to), just to feel that roughness under my fingers.

After that we bumped along in the van toward the mud volcanoes. Honestly, I’d seen photos but nothing prepares you for how weirdly alive they look — little gray cones burping up cold mud with these soft glug-glug sounds. The air smelled faintly of earth and sulfur. Elchin told us Azerbaijan has more mud volcanoes than anywhere else in the world; I tried to count them but lost track after ten or so. There’s something quietly funny about standing there watching mud bubble while everyone tries not to get splattered.

Lunch was quick — just bottled water and snacks in the van (bring your own if you’re picky). Then we headed for Ateshgah, the Fire Temple. The stones felt warm even though it wasn’t hot out; inside, old Persian and Indian inscriptions curled around doorways. Elchin explained how Zoroastrians once worshipped here because of the natural gas fires that never go out. I tried repeating “Ateshgah” like he did — Li laughed at my accent (fair enough). Last stop: Yanar Dag, where flames crawl right out of the hillside. It’s strange seeing fire just… burning there with no one around except a few locals sipping tea nearby.

I still think about that quiet moment at Yanar Dag — dusk settling in, flames flickering low against the darkening sky, and this sense that some things have been burning here forever. Makes you wonder what else is hidden under all that stone and dust.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Gobustan and Mud Volcanoes

• Visit Gobustan 3D and Outdoor Museum
• Explore Mud Volcanoes
• See historic oil drilling site in Bibiheybət
• Tour Ateshgah Fire Temple
• Visit Yanardagh Burning Mountain

Top questions

How far is Gobustan National Park from Baku?

Gobustan National Park is about 40 miles (64 km) from central Baku.

Are entry fees included in this tour?

Yes, all entry fees are included in your day trip from Baku.

Is lunch provided during the tour?

No full lunch is provided; bottled water and snacks are available during transport breaks.

What attractions are visited on this tour?

The tour includes Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, mud volcanoes, Ateshgah Fire Temple, and Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain).

Is transportation included for all sites?

Yes, air-conditioned vehicle transport between all locations is included.

Can infants join this tour?

Yes, infants can join; they may ride in a pram or stroller or sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup by air-conditioned vehicle from Baku with a local guide leading you through Gobustan’s museums and petroglyphs, visits to Azerbaijan’s unique mud volcanoes and Absheron’s Fire Temple plus Yanar Dag burning hillside — along with bottled water and all fuel surcharges covered before returning to Baku in the evening.