A Full Day Absheron Castles and Oil Heritage Private Tour

Pick-up is provided from any hotel or arranged meeting point within Baku city. After meeting the guide and driver, the tour departs toward the Absheron Peninsula. The first destination is Mardakan Castle, a well-preserved medieval fortress located in the village of Mardakan. The site illustrates the defensive architecture typical of the region and offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The driving distance from the city center to the castle is 60 minutes. Guests will spend around 30 minutes here, during which the private guide provides a detailed explanation of the historical background and architectural design of the monument.

The journey continues to the Gala State Historical Ethnographic Reserve Complex, located 15 minutes from Mardakan. This open-air museum complex in the village of Gala presents an overview of the region’s ancient settlements. It includes several museum units such as the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, the Castle Museum, the Museum of Antiques, and the Waste-to-Art Museum. Visitors can view ancient rock carvings, archaeological artifacts, and reconstructed traditional dwellings that demonstrate the cultural evolution of the Absheron Peninsula. Guests spend around 90 minutes here, accompanied by a private guide who provides detailed commentary on each section of the complex.

Following Gala, the next stop is Balakhani Village, reached after a 30-minute drive. Balakhani is one of the oldest oil-producing settlements in Azerbaijan and holds an important place in the history of the global petroleum industry. The first stages of the Azerbaijani oil boom in the 19th century began here. Today, the village displays remnants of early oil wells and historical structures associated with industrial development. Visitors spend about 30 minutes in Balakhani while their guide explains the evolution of oil extraction and its socio-economic impact on the region.

The tour then proceeds to Bibiheybat Mosque, which is about 60 minutes driving distance from Balakhani. This mosque is one of the most significant religious and architectural landmarks in Baku. Originally constructed in the 13th century, it was destroyed during the Soviet period and later reconstructed in the 1990s to restore its historical and spiritual importance. The building exemplifies Islamic architecture and serves as an active place of worship as well as a cultural heritage monument. Guests spend around 20 minutes here, learning about its historical restoration and religious significance.

The final site of the day is the World’s First Industrially Drilled Oil Well, located only 5 minutes away from the mosque. This historic well, drilled in 1846, marked a turning point in the industrialization of global oil production. The site forms part of the Baku Oil History Museum complex and includes interpretive displays and memorial plaques that explain the development of Azerbaijan’s oil industry and its contribution to the city’s transformation into a major industrial center. Visitors spend about 20 minutes here, guided through the exhibits that document this pioneering achievement.
After the visit, the tour concludes with a return transfer to the initial meeting point or hotel in Baku. The driving distance from the last site to the city center is around 10 minutes. The total duration of the Absheron Peninsula Cultural and Historical Day Tour, including all transfers, guided visits, and return to Baku, is 6 to 7 hours in total.