Baku: Gobustan, Mud Volcanoes, and Fire Temple Tour｜Azerbaijan

Begin your journey with a visit to the peninsula’s iconic oil wells, including the world’s first industrially drilled oil well, where the country’s early petroleum industry first took shape. Nearby stands the elegant Bibiheybat Mosque, built in the 12th century, rebuilt in the 1990s, and home to the sacred shrine of Ukeyma Khanum, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammed. The mosque offers beautiful views over the Caspian Sea and shipyards.

Continue to the UNESCO-listed Gobustan petroglyphs, where thousands of prehistoric rock carvings depict ancient hunting scenes, rituals, and early human life. Just a short distance away, the surreal mud volcanoes bubble and hiss across a lunar-like landscape, showcasing one of the world’s largest concentrations of these rare geological formations. You will also visit the natural history museum to learn about Azerbaijan’s wildlife. At the same location, you can also visit workshops for ceramics or petrol paintings. One of the tour’s most important exhibitions is the mineral exhibition, where you can see minerals found in Azerbaijan.

Return toward Baku to taste traditional Azerbaijani cuisine in the heart of the city, then continue to explore Azerbaijan’s fire-worshipping heritage at two of the peninsula’s most iconic sites. At Fire Mountain (Yanar Dag), natural gas flames burn continuously from the hillside, creating a dramatic display—especially at dusk. The journey concludes at the historic Ateshgah Fire Temple, a 17th-century complex once visited by Zoroastrian and Hindu travelers, centered around its famous eternal flame.