Gobustan is a place with ancient rock carvings, mud volcanoes and rocky hills, very close to Baku. You can see it in different ways: in one day with a group, together with the fires of Absheron and evening Baku, or in a small company on a rare route. Here you can choose Gobustan tours from Baku for your budget and order a Gobustan excursion from $12 for a group trip, up to a safari in Shirvan National Park. We collected 6 options and divided them into group and unique tours.
Good to know first: the drive from Baku to Gobustan takes about one hour, all tours go with a Russian-speaking guide, and prices start from $12.
Group excursions to Gobustan
If you travel alone, as a couple or with a small company and want to save money, choose a group tour. These are the most affordable Gobustan group tours from Baku: you pay only for your own seat, and the transport and program are already organized. Group tours from Baku run on a schedule, so you need to choose the date in advance.
| Tour | Duration | Group size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traces of Ancient Civilizations: Gobustan and Natural Wonders | 6–7 hours | $12 | |
| Gobustan and Absheron Tour | 8–9 hours | up to 17 people | $17 |
| Combined Tour: Gobustan, Absheron and Evening Baku | 13–14 hours | up to 17 people | $29 |
Traces of Ancient Civilizations: Gobustan and Natural Wonders
This is the cheapest excursion to Gobustan. You start at Bibi-Heybat, where the first oil well in the world was drilled in 1846. Then you see the mud volcanoes, the museum of the reserve and the rock carvings, which are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The difference is that one trip joins the oil history of Baku, nature and ancient art, and lunch is Azerbaijani food. Museum tickets and the transfer to the volcanoes are paid separately.
Price: $12 · Order this excursion
Gobustan and Absheron Tour
Besides Gobustan, you visit Ateshgah, the temple of the fire worshippers, and Yanardag, the “burning mountain”, where natural gas burns right on the hillside. The difference is that you see both the ancient stone record and the fire of Absheron, and the day ends with a view over the peninsula. Museum tickets, the transfer to the volcanoes and lunch are paid separately.
Price: $17 · Order this excursion
Combined Tour: Gobustan, Absheron and Evening Baku
This is the fullest group route: Gobustan and Absheron during the day, and Baku in lights in the evening, with the viewpoint in Upland Park, the Seaside Boulevard, Baku Venice and the Heydar Aliyev Center. The difference is that in one day you go from prehistoric carvings to the modern capital and do not spend time on separate excursions. The physical load is low, so the tour is good for families. Museum tickets and lunch are paid separately.
Price: $29 · Order this excursion
Unique routes around Gobustan
If you want more than a simple sightseeing trip, with your own pace and a small group, choose a unique route. These are unique tours in Azerbaijan: mud volcanoes without crowds, a hike to Toragay and a safari in the steppe. They run on an individual schedule, so you can discuss the date and the time at the volcanoes in advance.
| Tour | Duration | Group size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mud Volcanoes Tour: A Martian Landscape Near Baku | 3–4 hours | up to 6 people | $125 |
| Trails of the Ancient Volcanoes: A Journey to Toragay | up to 12 hours | up to 6 people | $145 |
| Shirvan National Park Safari: Gazelles and Rock Carvings | 10–11 hours | up to 6 people | $232 |
Mud Volcanoes Tour: A Martian Landscape Near Baku
This is a short trip for those who want only the volcanoes. You drive past oil rigs, stop at Bibi-Heybat, and see about fifty craters, which you reach by off-road car. The difference is that you do not spend the day in museums and stay at the volcanoes as long as you want. The off-road transfer is paid separately (about $9 per person).
Price from $125 · Order this excursion
Trails of the Ancient Volcanoes: A Journey to Toragay
This is a walking route far from the tourist paths: Mount Jingirdag with rock carvings, the ringing stones called gavaldash, the remains of old buildings and the sleeping Toragay volcano. The difference is that it feels more like a journey into prehistoric times than a usual excursion. The route is made for active adults, and beginners should choose another tour. The picnic is paid separately (about $12).
Price from $145 · Order this excursion
Shirvan National Park Safari: Gazelles and Rock Carvings
You see the volcanoes and the rock carvings of Gobustan, then drive to the Shirvan steppe and look for gazelles from a jeep. At the lake of the park you drink tea and watch birds. The difference is that in one day you see three different landscapes: ancient carvings, volcanoes and wild nature. Meeting gazelles is not guaranteed, but the guide has binoculars and a spotting scope. Entrance tickets and the jeep are paid separately.
Price from $232 · Order this excursion
How to choose a Gobustan tour
If you need a cheap one-day trip, choose a group tour: it is the easiest way to see the carvings and the volcanoes. If you want to see more, the tours with Absheron and evening Baku are a good choice. If you like nature and walking routes, look at the hike to Toragay and the safari in Shirvan National Park. Group tours in Azerbaijan are better to order in advance, especially in high season.
What to Know About the Trip
The road to Gobustan takes about one hour, but group tours start early to avoid the morning traffic in Baku. There is a lot of walking on rocky ground at Gobustan, at the volcanoes and in the museums, so you need comfortable closed shoes with non-slip soles, and in summer a hat, sunglasses and sun cream. You reach the volcanoes by off-road car, and this is paid separately.
In group tours, museum tickets, the transfer to the volcanoes and lunch are paid separately: about $15–32 for tickets and the transfer, depending on the route, and about $11 for lunch. The details are on the page of each tour.
General Questions
How much does a Gobustan excursion cost?
A group trip costs from $12 per person, the tour with Absheron $17, and the day with evening Baku $29. Unique routes start from $125.
How long is the drive from Baku to Gobustan?
About one hour one way without stops.
What is paid separately?
Museum tickets, the transfer to the mud volcanoes, lunch and personal expenses. In unique tours, the off-road car or jeep, the picnic and the entrance tickets to Shirvan National Park are also paid separately.
Are the trips suitable for children?
Group tours are suitable: the load is low and most of the way is by vehicle. When you order, there are separate categories for children aged 3–11 and for babies under two. The hike to Toragay is made for active adults and fit teenagers.
When is the best time to go to Gobustan?
In spring and autumn, when it is not hot. In summer it is better to choose early departures and take water and a hat.
Which excursion is the cheapest?
The group trip “Traces of Ancient Civilizations: Gobustan and Natural Wonders” for $12.