Baku Private Tour to Mud Volcanoes Gobustan Ateshgah Yanardag Gala village

Azerbaijan has the most mud volcanoes of any country, spread broadly across the country. 350 of the 700 volcanoes of the world are in the Azerbaijan. Mud volcanoes appeared on the territory of the present Azerbaijan 25 million years ago. Near mud volcanoes, deposits of oil and gas can be found. Mud volcano's components can be used as raw materials for the chemical and construction industries, as well as for pharmacology.

Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve is located west of the settlement of Gobustan, about 64 km southwest of the centre of Baku. It was established in 1966, when the area was declared a national historical landmark of Azerbaijan in an attempt to preserve the prehistoric rock carvings, mud volcanoes and musical stones in the region. Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape covers three areas of a plateau of rocky boulders rising out of the semi-desert of central Azerbaijan, with an outstanding collection of more than 6,000 rock engravings bearing testimony to 40,000 years of rock art. The site also features the remains of inhabited caves, settlements and burials, all reflecting an intensive human use by the inhabitants of the area during the wet period that followed the last Ice Age, from the Upper Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. The site, which covers an area of 537 ha, is part of the larger protected Gobustan Reservation.

“Yanar Dag” State Historical-Cultural and Natural Reserve is located in the village of Mammadli on the Absheron Peninsula, around 27 km from Baku. The main attraction of Yanardag, which literally means “burning mountain”, is a spectacular hill with a constantly burning wall of flames. Here you can see the following places:
1. Yanardag - burning mountain
2. Yanardag museum
3. Cromlech stone exhibition
4. Qirmaki Valley

NOTE: Travel time to Yanardag is about 1 hour

Gala State Historical Ethnographic Reserve is located in Gala village, 40 km far from center. There are three different types of museums:
1. Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography (open-air)
In this museum it is possible to get acquainted with ancient crafts such as; pottery, carpet weaving, the art of weaving, blacksmith workshops and etc. . There is even mini zoo (camel, horse, rabbit, donkey etc.)
You will also taste gutab from Azerbaijani cuisine.
2. Castle Museum (partly open-air)
3. Museum of Antiques

NOTE: Travel time to Gala reserve is about 1 hour

The Baku Ateshgah was a pilgrimage and philosophical centre of Zoroastrians from Northwestern Indian subcontinent, who were involved in trade with the Caspian area via the famous "Grand Trunk Road". The four holy elements of their belief were: ateshi (fire), badi (air), abi (water), and heki (earth). The temple ceased to be a place of worship after 1883 with the installation of petroleum plants (industry) at Surakhany. The complex was turned into a museum in 1975. Here you will see Ateshgah fire temple and its cells.

NOTE: Travel time to Ateshgah is about 30 minutes