The dry terrain of eastern Azerbaijan, especially around Gobustan and the semi-desert plains near the Caspian Sea, hides more than dust and dunes. From ancient carvings to bubbling volcanoes, Gobustan National Park offers a raw look at the country’s past and present.
Renting a car in Azerbaijan is the best way to explore this unique region. It lets you travel beyond the crowded spots and dive into quiet desert roads, historical ruins, and surreal natural sights.
A Gobustan road trip is perfect for travelers who enjoy wide open spaces, surreal landscapes, and nature and history. Here’s why this part of eastern Azerbaijan stands out:
Explore over 6,000 ancient petroglyphs carved into rocks that date back more than 40,000 years. These carvings depict prehistoric life, hunting scenes, and symbolic figures. You’ll also come across mud volcanoes, over 300 in the region. In addition, there are natural gas seeps where flames sometimes emerge from the earth. All of this is packed into the Gobustan National Park area, making it one of the most compact and unique spots for history and geology lovers.
While most tourists in Azerbaijan head toward Sheki, Gabala, or the mountain towns in the north, Gobustan stays under the radar. That means fewer visitors, no long queues, and a peaceful setting.
The drive from Baku to Gobustan is about 65 kilometers and takes under one hour. The route passes through vast semi-desert terrain, windy plateaus, and coastal cliffs that edge along the Caspian Sea. The roads are quiet and open, with little traffic.
Gobustan has more than one reason to make the drive. Here are seven things you should not miss:
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the top reason to visit Gobustan. It features over 6,000 rock carvings, some dating back over 10,000 years, spread across rugged cliffs and open desert. The carvings show scenes of hunting, dancing, rituals, and animals, offering a glimpse into prehistoric life.
Visit the Gobustan Museum, where interactive displays, ancient tools, and a 3D cinema explain the site’s history and meaning. The museum’s modern layout prepares you for what to look for on the trail. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the art and the people behind it.
Boyukdash Mountain is a central feature of the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape. Located about 60 kilometers southwest of Baku, this mountain is renowned for its extensive collection of ancient petroglyphs. The rock carvings at Boyukdash date from the Upper Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. They depict hunting, dancing, and daily life scenes. Notably, the mountain features images of animals such as bulls, goats, horses, and human figures engaged in various activities.
One of the most famous petroglyphs depicts the traditional Azerbaijani "Yalli" dance, illustrating the cultural significance of music and dance in prehistoric times. In addition to the petroglyphs, Boyukdash Mountain is home to the Gaval Dash, a natural musical stone that produces tambourine-like sounds when struck. The mountain is also historically significant due to a Latin inscription left by Roman legionnaires during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81–96 AD).
Gobustan has over 300 mud volcanoes, more than anywhere else on Earth. Most are found in the southern and eastern parts of the Gobustan region, not far from the rock art site. Popular spots include Dashgil, Perekishkul, and Ayrantokan. These areas lie between Gobustan town and the Caspian Sea coastline.
The landscape feels like another planet—gray, cracked earth, thick bubbling mud, and cone-shaped vents. The mud is cool, not hot, because the activity is caused by gas pressure, not heat. Some volcanoes erupt with loud gurgling, while others quietly ooze thick mud. The most visited are about 10 to 15 kilometers from the Gobustan Museum, but reaching them often requires a 4x4 vehicle or guided tour, especially after rain.
Not far from the main rock carvings, you’ll find a Latin inscription carved into stone by Roman soldiers of Legio XII Fulminata. It dates back to the 1st century AD, during Emperor Domitian's reign. This single line of Latin text is the easternmost Roman inscription ever discovered, proving that the empire’s reach extended into the Caucasus.
The carving is located at the base of Boyukdash Mountain, just a short walk from the Gobustan petroglyphs. It confirms that Gobustan was not isolated. The site is marked and protected, but you can still view it up close and imagine the Roman presence in this now quiet desert.
The Gobustan coastline stretches for around 20 to 25 kilometers along the Caspian Sea, east of Gobustan town and south of Baku. This stretch is part of Azerbaijan’s semi-desert zone, where dry hills and mud plains meet the water without any greenery or resorts.
Unlike sandy beaches, this coast is shaped by salt flats, cracked clay, and rocky ridges. The sand is coarse and often mixed with shells, stone, and mineral-rich mud. In some places, you’ll see layers of shale and sediment eroded by wind and wave action over time.
The coastline is best accessed by car, especially near Dashgil or Ayrantokan, where dirt roads lead close to the shore. These roads may be uneven or slippery, especially after rain, so a 4x4 vehicle is recommended. Travelers stop here not to swim but to enjoy the open skies, sea breeze, and stark beauty of the meeting point between desert and sea.
Gobustan isn’t just home to cone-shaped mud volcanoes. There are also mud crater lakes, large flat pools where mud oozes slowly instead of erupting. These lakes are formed by underground gas pressure pushing mineral-rich mud to the surface. The mud spreads out, forming broad, shallow basins that bubble gently all day.
You’ll find these crater lakes in Alat, Dashgil, and areas southeast of Gobustan town. Some lakes span over 50 meters wide, surrounded by cracked mud rims and gas vents. Unlike the dome-like volcanoes, these lakes look like gray, steaming ponds with smooth surfaces that ripple from gas release.
The mud here is soft and dense, and locals often use it for folk remedies and skin treatments. However, swimming is not advised. The lakes offer a more tranquil setting, ideal for photography, short walks, and observing geological activity up close.
Access is possible by 4x4 vehicles, especially if you plan to reach the more remote ones. During dry months, the surrounding terrain forms deep fissures and ridges. The best time to visit is in the early morning or late afternoon, when the sun casts shadows across the mud’s surface and highlights its textures.
Beyond the main museum and rock art zone, Gobustan opens to remote plateaus and narrow canyons. They are about 15 to 30 kilometers southwest of the visitor center. These areas lie beyond the typical tourist loop and are accessed via unpaved roads that wind through open desert terrain.
The high plateaus offer sweeping views across the semi-arid Caspian plain, with layered rock beds and sun-cracked surfaces. The soil, caused by mineral deposits and wind erosion, shifts colors, such as gray, rust, and ochre.
The canyons, carved out over centuries by flash floods and wind, are narrower and more shaded. They’re ideal for short hikes, exploring natural rock shelters, and taking in the quiet, wind-swept scenery. These areas are best visited with a 4x4 vehicle, and some plateaus may require light trekking from your car to reach the edges.
There are no marked paths or facilities, so pack water, sun protection, and offline maps. The drive from the Gobustan Museum takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
Driving in Gobustan is best during seasons with mild weather. Here’s when to go:
Spring is one of the best seasons to explore the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape and Boyukdash Mountain. The temperatures are cool, and the trails are dry. This makes it easier to walk between carvings and view the Roman inscription without rushing.
Driving to mud volcanoes, crater lakes, and the Caspian Sea coastline is safer in spring, especially near Dashgil and Ayrantokan. The roads are stable, and the wind is lighter, making it great for photography. You can also enjoy the expansive views from remote plateaus or short hikes through the canyons without heat or dust getting in the way.
In early autumn, Gobustan enjoys stable weather and clear skies. This is a perfect time to visit open-air sites like the mud volcanoes, crater lakes, and Caspian coastline. The heat is softer, and the crowds are fewer than in summer. Places like Boyukdash Mountain, the Roman inscription, and the Gobustan Museum feel quieter and more peaceful. During this season, driving desert plateaus and canyons is easier, as dirt tracks remain dry, and visibility is excellent for long-distance views.
Summer is dry, so all areas, such as rock carvings, mud volcanoes, and coastal cliffs, are reachable by road. However, the heat can be intense, with daytime temperatures often reaching 35°C to 40°C.
The open plains near the crater lakes, desert plateaus, and mud volcano fields offer little shade. Plan visits early in the morning or before sunset to avoid peak heat. Walking under the sun at Boyukdash Mountain or hiking through canyons can be physically exhausting. The Gobustan Museum offers a cool indoor break between outdoor stops and is best visited during the hotter parts of the day.
From November to March, Gobustan experiences its highest rainfall. Heavy rain makes many sites difficult to reach. Roads leading to mud volcanoes, crater lakes, and the desert coast often turn into deep mud, even with a 4x4.
Remote areas like the plateaus and canyons southwest of the museum become unsafe due to slippery and uneven ground. Even well-visited sites such as Boyukdash Mountain and the Roman inscription trail may become too slick for safe walking. During this period, it’s best to limit your visit to the Gobustan Museum, which remains open and accessible, and wait for dry weather before exploring outdoor sites.
A Gobustan road trip reveals the wild and ancient heart of the Azerbaijan desert landscapes. You’ll see rock art, volcanic mud, and endless desert roads. Renting a car with Finalrentals allows you to explore at your own pace, with the most affordable rates and pick-up points around Baku. Book your car before you go to secure the best vehicle and avoid last-minute hassles.
