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From prehistoric rock art to musical stones, the Azerbaijani people’s prehistoric past comes dramatically to life in the Gobustan State Reserve, home to an astonishing collection of over 6,000 ancient petroglyphs. Depicting scenes of people, warriors, animals, boats, dances, hunting, camel caravans and more, they chart ways of life dating back between 5,000 and 20,000 years. 

Established in 1966 and covering 537 ha, the Gobustan State Reserve is located amid the Boyukdash, Kichikdash and Jingirdagh mountains, about 60 kilometres south of Baku. Besides all the breathtaking rock art, visitors can also explore the remains of caves, settlements and burial grounds used by humans between the Upper Paleolithic and the Middle Ages.

Two more of the reserve’s highlights include an inscription left on a rock by a passing Roman soldier in the 1st century AD, the easternmost Roman inscription ever found, and a 2m-long musical stone called a ‘gaval dash,’ which makes a unique tambourine-like sound when struck with a smaller stone. What’s more, just a short drive away you can discover the mystery of Azerbaijan’s many mud volcanoes, one of the world’s most intriguing natural wonders.

Located on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus and bearing the traces of Caucasian Albania, the Ismayilli region not only boasts of its ancient monuments, nature drowning in greenery, folk crafts and wines, but it is also an agro-ecotourism destination developing rapidly. Imagine that getting away from the hustle and bustle of the busy cities and immersing yourself in the magic of the rural lifestyle sounds like a winner, doesn’t it?

You are only a short drive away from your dream with the Lakeside Garden in the village of Tazakend in Ismayilli. The “Lakeside Garden – Ismayilli” has set out as a social enterprise that offers an exceptional agro-ecotourism experience for both locals and tourists for a long time. By pre-booking, here you can camp in the heart of peaceful nature while enjoying organic products, and appetizing heart-prepared meals at the family farm, capturing the view of Lake Valbine. Don’t forget to purchase villagers’ products so that you will contribute a small share in the development of the enterprise.

Bend over, here it comes again! There are also a variety of services offered at the farm, from music festivals, agro-ecotours, accommodation in farmhouses or tents, camps for the young, fairs of farm products and handicrafts to various free social activities for visitors and locals. 

Ismayilli is calling your name to embark on an agro-ecotourism adventure!