Gobustan-Absheron Tour

We start our journey at one of the most important points of Azerbaijan’s history. Nestled near the Caspian Sea in the Bibi-Heybat district of Baku lies a site of monumental industrial significance: the world's first mechanically drilled oil well. Completed in 1846 under the supervision of Russian engineer Vasily Semyonov, this 21-meter-deep well marked the inception of the modern petroleum industry. Predating the famous Drake Well in Pennsylvania by over a decade, Baku's pioneering venture perfected cable-tool drilling techniques, setting a global precedent for oil extraction. This groundbreaking achievement not only propelled Azerbaijan into the forefront of oil production but also laid the foundation for Baku's transformation into a vital energy hub. By the late 19th century, the region was responsible for nearly half of the world's oil output, attracting international magnates like the Nobel brothers and the Rothschilds. Today, visitors can explore the restored well site, gaining insights into the early days of oil exploration and its profound impact on global industry.

Our country is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also famous for its oil and gas deposits. We have been providing "black gold" to countries all over the world for more than 70 years now. Now, moving towards mud volcanoes, we have the opportunity to engage in sightseeing Gobustan from this enchanting perspective. Here, you have a rare chance to see the jungle of oil rigs up-close, a scene seemingly coming straight out of the movie. And this statement is no way false: this very area is also well-known for its role in the James Bond movie "And the Whole World Is Not Enough." Some scenes, such as a shot where Bond drives around in his BMW Z8 near the oil rigs, were filmed in Azerbaijan, to be more specific in the village of Bibi-Heybat. In the movie, you can see the building process of a large oil pipeline that is used to deliver Caspian oil to the West. This pipeline actually exists in real life.

Azerbaijan’s geology has the variety of peculiarities that differs the Land of Fire from other countries and one of those traits are definitely the large number of mud volcanoes scattered all around the region A path leading tourist to the view of these active volcano craters has something touching and romantic about it. Mud Volcanoes in Azerbaijan seemingly played some type of important role for folklore: according to our legends, this place was home to a lot of demons (the Azerbaijani name for them is djinn), and more than that, the whole atmosphere there gives off a magical and moon-like aura. It really is hard to move forward from these landscapes, but don't worry, on the way of the Gobustan-Absheron tour, there's so much more to see.

Situated within the Gobustan region, the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex offers more than just a view of Azerbaijan's unique geological formations. A highlight of the complex is its comprehensive Natural History Exhibition, which delves into the rich biodiversity and geological wonders of the area. The exhibition showcases an impressive collection of 98 animal skeletons, 870 dried insect species, and 57 live specimens preserved in special solutions, all meticulously gathered by Azerbaijani experts over decades. These displays provide visitors with an in-depth understanding of the region's fauna and the evolutionary processes that have shaped them. Complementing the biological exhibits are various paleontological artifacts and illustrative materials designed to engage audiences of all ages. The exhibition not only educates but also emphasizes the importance of understanding and appreciating life that existed before us and geological wonders.

After you get some of the information settled, you have the opportunity to see everything for yourselves. As the guests of Azerbaijan Travel International, you will get to experience seeing the Gobustan’s rock carvings our ancestors left behind while also trailing around the territory, viewing the petroglyphs, and listening to the guide, who will be telling tourists a story about the evolution of humankind. The survival skills of Homo sapiens, their harsh living conditions, the desire to survive, their hierarchy system, and the specific moments of everyday lives of their life will make you feel as if there are not as many differences between us and our ancestors as we always thought there were. Under all these decorations, at the end of the day, we are all the same. And on this meaningful note, we can say that the first part of the Gobustan-Absheron tour ends and the guests return to Baku.

Once we reach the capital back, we settle down at the picturesque place, called “Baku” as well. This place is located right in the middle of one of the central main parks of the city. There, tourists will be offered a delicious three-course meal which will consist of national traditional food as well as a cup of delicious tea in armudu glasses. After the delicious lunch the tour moves forward, hitting the next stop of it - The Temple of Fire.

The temple of Fire is the ancient construction that to this day play a crucial role in the history and development of Zoroastrianism, a religion revolving around the holy purpose of fire. Thus, in the first century BC, Hindu Brahmanites and Persian Zoroastrians heard about the land where the flame of fire came right out of the ground with no visible reason for them to. This land was Absheron. They saw it as an opportunity to build a sacred Temple in the place where the most of the flames were concentrated and call it Ateshgah fire temple.

On this part of our Absheron-Gobustan tour we will visit this magnificent temple, learn more about the history of Absheron and enjoy all the rich historical background this place offers, before setting off to travel to no-less interesting and mesmerizing attraction in Absheron – Yanardag or The Burning Mountain.

For the last but not least we have one of the unique features of Azerbaijan’s geology. Centuries ago, a big chunk of Absheron peninsula’s land was covered by the burning ground. The flames seemingly appeared out of thin air and nothing, not even the extreme weather conditions, could take that fire down but with time, the burning spots stopped being so common and to these modern days sadly there's only one left for us all to witness. There's a bright unquenchable fire burning and coming out of the ground near the top of the most extreme mountain of the Great Caucasus. It has been living and beating for centuries now, and its flames can mesmerize anyone. For the sake of this pecularity the mountain was called Burning which means Yanardag in Azerbaijani.

You'll be able to see the ancient fire for yourself and not only this, but also the fact that from the observation desk which is situated on top of Yanardag you're capable of seeing a third of the whole Absheron peninsula. On this beautiful note, the Gobustan-Absheron tour is ending and it takes around 8 to 9 hours. We can assure you that this tour is capable of making anyone fall in love with the rich historical and cultural background Absheron and Gobustan have.