Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex in Azerbaijan: Media Tour & Visitor Stats

BAKU, Azerbaijan — On September 28, the State Tourism Agency organized a media tour to the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex for representatives of local media outlets.
Murad Agabeyli, Chairman of the Board of the State Reserves Management Center under the State Tourism Agency, stated that the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex—launched on June 13, 2024, as a unique, alternative tourism product—has quickly become one of the most visited destinations for tourists arriving in the capital.
The complex offers a diverse range of attractions that generate significant interest among visitors. These include:

* The Tourism Information Center;
* The Exhibition Hall, providing comprehensive insights into the unique characteristics and minerals of mud volcanoes;
* The Workshop, hosting interactive masterclasses in pottery and oil painting;
* The Natural History Exhibition Hall, showcasing nearly 1,000 specimens of Azerbaijani and global fauna.

Comprehensive infrastructure has been established at the complex to allow visitors to experience these unique natural phenomena up close. In the outdoor area, guests can observe the "Gilinsh" (Qılınc) mud volcano, which features eight consecutive cones (hills), as well as an active oil-spouting volcano. Additionally, visitors can view the majestic "Toragay" (Torağay) mud volcano from a designated observation point. Standing at a height of 402 meters with a diameter of 150 meters, Toragay is recognized as the largest mud volcano both in Azerbaijan and worldwide.
Mr. Agabeyli emphasized that developing modern tourism infrastructure around these sites significantly raises public awareness and promotes mud volcanoes as an essential part of the country's natural heritage.

The Chairman also shared updates regarding visitor capacities at other state reserves and facilities managed by the Agency, highlighting newly introduced regional tourism products and ongoing development projects.
According to statistical data shared by the Chairman, a total of 432,296 ticket-holding tourists visited the reserves and museums under the State Tourism Agency between January and August 2026. Of this total, 303,426 (70.19%) were international visitors, while 128,870 (29.81%) were domestic tourists. An additional 95,260 individuals visited these cultural and historical sites free of charge.
During the same eight-month period, the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex welcomed a total of 28,979 ticket-purchasing visitors. This included 26,235 international tourists and 2,744 local citizens, alongside 798 visitors who received complimentary admission.

The international guests represented more than 150 countries, with the highest visitor volumes coming from China, Russia, Türkiye, Israel, India, Poland, Germany, Italy, Bahrain, and the United States.
The media tour concluded with a detailed Q&A session, where all inquiries from the participating journalists were fully addressed.