Caravanserais were resting places for travellers along the Silk Road, particularly in isolated regions. While Kyrgyzstan doesn’t have as many preserved historical sites like neighbouring Uzbekistan, Tash Rabat remains one of the most important.

This old caravanserai is nestled in a remote valley south of Naryn, surrounded by mountains and a few yurt camps.

It’s one of the last remaining connections to the trade routes of the Silk Road in the country and is estimated to date back to the 15th century (but it could be even older). It has a unique design which is still not completely understood by historians, so it makes for an interesting place to visit for those who are interested in history and have the time to make it out there.

How to get there? You can visit on a day trip from Naryn (it’s about a 2-hour drive), or you can also stay overnight in one of the yurt camps just opposite the caravanserai. The best way is to arrange a driver in Naryn through the CBT (community based tourism) office. You can also combine a visit to Tash Rabat with a visit further south to Kel Suu lake.

Where to stay? You can stay in the town of Naryn at any of the accommodation there, a major town servicing the remote central region of the country. Otherwise, the yurt camps just across from the caravanserai offer a unique place to spend the night under the stars.