Naryn
An important stop on the ancient Silk Road, the city of Naryn lies in a deep gorge carved by the mighty Naryn River. Protected on all sides by the Naryn-Too range, the city was established as a Russian garrison town, with post-war Soviet architecture dominating the cityscape. Outside the city, discover the beauty of Son-Kul Lake and the early settlements of the Central Tianshan.
The administrative center of Naryn province, this compact city is home to a university campus, museums and government buildings spread out along the banks of the Naryn River. The most mountainous (and coldest) region in Kyrgyzstan, the city has roots in the ancient Silk Road, with the 15th century Tash Rabat caravanserai evidence of its prosperous trading past. High above the city amongst alpine meadows and craggy peaks lies the beautiful Song-Kul Lake, whose color changes with the light, and a bounty of indigenous wildlife. Hiking trails criss-cross the mountains and rafting down the Naryn River make it an adventure seeker’s paradise.