While backpacking is my thing, there are still destinations where it's easier to join a group tour than to complicate things. During our short time in Azerbaijan, that's exactly what we decided to do. A day tour to the outskirts of Baku to experience the mud volcanos and learn a little bit of history, we booked the tour with Azerbaijan Travel International. If you're short on days but considering a tour, consider the Mud Volcanoes and Qobustan National Park!
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post and we booked the tour at our discretion using our own money.
Tour Proper: Mud Volcanoes & Qobustan National Park
Off-Road Taxis in Baku
Taxi for off-roading anyone? Believe it or not, this is our means to see the mud volcanoes which is about 20-25 minutes drive away from the drop-off point. Transferring to the taxi from our tour bus, we settled ourselves and prepared for the ride! With a dry mountain in the distance, a flock of sheep roaming around, and some natural oil along the way, it was an interesting journey for a start.
We were reminded of Dubai's Dune Bashing in the Desert although it is not as adventurous as that. Itβs a usual off-road drive but with a taxi! The local driver even offered us the opportunity to drive the taxi, unfortunately, I don't know how to drive. A fellow traveler with us happily took the opportunity to drive and I can see he did enjoy driving the car!
Mud Volcanoes
A highlight of the tour is the famous mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan. Several of them are located in Qobustan, pronounced as Gobustan. Take note that this is NOT a huge volcano but rather a small volcano at your feet.
While it was underwhelmingly small, it was fascinating to see them especially when the volcano spurts out mud from its crater!
These muds came from gases released from deep within so if ignited with a lighter, a fire is created right away. Not only that, the volcanic mud is also healthy for the skin with its whitening and anti-aging properties, as the tour guide said. Didn't try though. π
Photo credits to my supportive friend Joy
Qobustan Museum
Qobustan Muzeyi commonly known as Qobustan Museum was our next stop. It is an interactive modern museum that took us on a time-travel journey for a wider understanding of life in Azerbaijan during prehistoric times.
Back then, I was not a fan of museums. However, I enjoyed the information inside but I found the tour fast-paced. I couldn't multi-task (listening to the tour guide and absorbing everything + taking pictures) so I'm always falling behind the group. As a matter of fact, I was behind the group most of the time and I was not able to hear everything he said. Sorry!
What fascinates me though are the petroglyphs! Petroglyphs are 'sketches that display ancient populations traveling on reed boats; men hunting antelope and wild bulls, and women dancing' according to Wikipedia. Below is a photo of petroglyphs taken from the museum which are not the actual ones inside Qobustan National Park (later on that).
Another interesting thing inside the museum is this interactive tool that shows the transition history of Qobustan National Park! Watch below!
Qobustan National Park
If the museum is full of history lessons, then this part of the tour is the real deal! I feel like I was on an Archaeological Field Trip earlier and now this is the hands-on experience! This is now where we saw the actual petroglyphs which were carved and drawn thousands of years ago!Β
With a similar experience from the museum, I was falling behind the group again because there is quite a lot to learn and see. But I'm happy enough to see the actual petroglyphs!
Tour Cost:
We paid a total of 60 AZN (129 AED in our local currency) for a half-day tour including a set menu lunch in Baku after the tour. We paid for the tour a day before directly in their office near the Maiden Tower.
Overall Tour Experience:
Is the tour cost expensive? YES. But is it worth it? YES.Β
No matter how confident I was to find my way using public transportation, some destinations aren't as accessible as others. So the group tour saved me and my friend from all the hassle and stress of doing it on our own.
We also had an amazing tour guide and he's knowledgeable and professional in what he does. He has lots of patience with me too. π
With a set menu lunch included after the tour and a slightly fast-paced tour, overall it was a good experience. If you are looking for a day trip and/or a tour operator in Azerbaijan, I can absolutely recommend this! Β
