Skip to content
YearMaps
OVERLAND CARAVAN6,400 km Total NetworkActive: 130 BCE – 1453 CE

The Great Silk Road

The historic trans-continental artery connecting China with the Mediterranean, transmitting luxury commodities, religions (Buddhism, Islam), and technological innovations.

4.0
Type: overland-caravanMap centre: [66.9749°, 39.6542°]Line: YearMaps schematic trunk line; the Dunhuang–Kashgar network is from OWTRAD data set tmcCNm1000 (T. M. Ciolek).

Places Along the Great Silk Road

Commercial Genesis & Spatial Network

Formally initiated during the Han dynasty following Zhang Qian’s diplomatic mission to the Western Regions in 138 BCE, the Silk Road was not a single paved road but a dynamic network of desert tracks, oasis stopovers, and mountain passes skirts around the Taklamakan Desert and across the Pamir and Tian Shan mountains. Two-humped Bactrian camels carried high-value, low-weight goods that could offset the exorbitant costs of desert transport.

Economic Impact & Cultural Diffusion

Facilitated not merely bilateral commerce, but the transmission of paper-making, sericulture (silk production), gunpowder, movable type, and printing across Eurasia, forever altering world history.

Caravanserais and Halting Places on This Route

143 caravanserais and 3 caravan halting places recorded within 40 km of the mapped line. A caravanserai is a roadside inn; a halting place is a named camping ground with no permanent building. How caravans travelled and how a caravanserai worked.

Büyük Valide Han, Turkey

Büyük Valide Han

Caravanserai · Turkey · 41.0138° N, 28.9684° E

The Büyük Valide Han (Turkish: Büyük Valide Han, lit. 'great inn of the sultan's mother') is the largest historic han (caravanserai) in Istanbul, Turkey. It was founded in 1651 by Kösem Valide Sultan, mother of the Ottoman sultans Murat IV and Ibrahim and wife of sultan Ahmed I.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Büyük Yeni Han, Turkey

Büyük Yeni Han

Caravanserai · Turkey · 41.0134° N, 28.9693° E

The Büyük Yeni Han (Turkish: Büyük Yeni Han, lit. 'large new inn') is a large historic han (caravanserai) in Istanbul, Turkey. It was founded by Sultan Mustafa III and completed in 1764 CE (1177 AH). It is the second largest historic caravanserai in the city.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Elçi Han, Turkey

Elçi Han

Caravanserai · Turkey · 41.0082° N, 28.9712° E

Elçi Han, literally the Ambassador's Inn, was a historical han (inn) in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey).

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Khan As'ad Pasha, Syria

Khan As'ad Pasha

Caravanserai · Syria · 33.5092° N, 36.3067° E

Khan As'ad Pasha (Arabic: خَان أَسْعَد بَاشَا, romanized: Khān ʾAsʿad Bāşā) is the largest caravanserai (khān) in the Old City of Damascus, covering an area of 2,500 square metres (27,000 sq ft). Situated along Al-Buzuriyah Souq, it was built and named after As'ad Pasha al-Azm, the governor of Damascus, in 1751–52. Khan As'ad Pasha has been described as one of the finest khans of Damascus, and the most "ambitious" work of architecture in the city.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Khan Jaqmaq, Syria

Khan Jaqmaq

Caravanserai · Syria · 33.5088° N, 36.3046° E

Khan Jaqmaq (Arabic: خَان جَقْمَق, romanized: Ḵān Jaqmaq) is one of the few remaining khans in the Old City of Damascus, it was built by the Mamluk emir, Sayf ad-Din Jaqmaq who was governor of Damascus in 1418–20. It was rebuilt to a great extent in 1601.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Khan Mirjan, Iraq

Khan Mirjan

Caravanserai · Iraq · 33.3386° N, 44.3925° E

The Khan Mirjan (Arabic: خان مرجان) is a building in the souk of Baghdad, Iraq. It was built by the Jalayirid governor of Baghdad, Amin al-Din Mirjan in the 14th century originally as a caravanserai, an inn for traveling merchants, with a large center hall that was 13 metres (43 ft) high. It features crenelated arches of brick, as well as perforated windows. The building was reputedly in a state of disrepair for over two centuries, with waist-high flood water from the Tigris standing in the famous hallway. By the mid-1980s, the building had been restored and was in use as a restaurant.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Koza Han, Turkey

Koza Han

Caravanserai · Turkey · 40.1843° N, 29.0635° E

The Koza Han (Turkish: Koza Hanı, lit. 'inn of the silk cocoon') is a historic caravanserai (han) in Bursa, Turkey. It is located in the heart of the city's historic market district.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Kürkçü Han, Turkey

Kürkçü Han

Caravanserai · Turkey · 41.0131° N, 28.9701° E

The Kürkçü Han (Turkish: Kürkçü Han, lit. 'Inn of the Furriers') is a large historic han (caravanserai) in Istanbul, Turkey. Founded by Mahmud Pasha, the grand vizier of Mehmet II, it was completed in 1467 and is the oldest surviving caravanserai in the city, although it has been modified, partly ruined, and renovated over the centuries.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Mehr Caravanserai, Iran

Mehr Caravanserai

Caravanserai · Iran · 36.2846° N, 57.1435° E

Mehr Caravanserai (Persian: کاروانسرای مهر) is a historic caravanserai belonging to the Qajar era in Mehr, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran. It was listed among the national heritage sites of Iran with the number 1660 on 16 September 1984.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Ribat-i Sharaf, Iran

Ribat-i Sharaf

Caravanserai · Iran · 36.2664° N, 60.6553° E

Ribat-i Sharaf (Persian: رباط شرف, pronounced [ɹeˌbɒːt‿e ʃæˈɹæf]) is a historical caravanserai, or rest place for travellers, located in Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, between Merv and Nishapur. Built in the 12th century (first built 1114–15), the building looks like a fortified rectangle from the exterior. The internal courtyard and four-iwan floor plan is a traditional characteristic of Iranian architecture and of Islamic architecture in the wider region.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Sa'd al-Saltaneh Caravanserai, Iran

Sa'd al-Saltaneh Caravanserai

Caravanserai · Iran · 36.2689° N, 50.0006° E

The Sa'd al-Saltaneh Caravanserai (Persian: کاروانسرای سعدالسلطنه) is a large Caravanserai located in the city of Qazvin, Qazvin province, Iran. Built during the Qajar era, the caravanserai is one of Iran's best preserved urban caravanserais, and the world's largest indoor caravanserai. The builder (patron) of this large caravanserai is Sa'd al-Saltaneh, the ruler of Qazvin during the Qajar era. With an area of 6.2 hectares, the caravanserai is built on a square plan, has 4 iwans facing a courtyard. The interiors are decorated with Muqarnas. The Hujrehs, or the rooms for the travelers, are situated one meter above the courtyard ground level. The Hashti behind the southern iwan has the largest gonbad, with 4 semi-domes adjacent to it. The eastern-western axis of the Hashti is called Dalan-e Qeisariyeh (دالان قيصريه ) or "Caesar's Hall", and the north–south axis of the Caravanserai's Hashti is named Dalan-e Ghahremani (دالان قهرماني) or "Ghahremani Hall". The former is connected to the "Bazaar of Vizir" of the city. There are also two smaller courtyards in the east and west of the Caravanserai.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Shah Abbasi Caravansarai, Karaj, Iran

Shah Abbasi Caravansarai, Karaj

Caravanserai · Iran · 35.8100° N, 51.0011° E

The Shah Abbasi Caravansarai (Persian: کاروانسرای شاه‌عباسی) is a historic Safavid era caravanserai in Karaj, Iran, probably built by the orders of the Safavid Shah, Suleiman I.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Shah Abbasi Caravansarai, Nishapur, Iran

Shah Abbasi Caravansarai, Nishapur

Caravanserai · Iran · 36.1972° N, 58.8015° E

The Shah Abbasi Caravansarai of Nishapur (Persian: کاروانسرای شاه‌عباسی) is a Safavid era caravanserai located in central Nishapur. This caravanserai was built by the orders of the Safavid Shah, Abbas the Great. Listed as a national heritage of Iran with the registration number 1230, it is now a tourist attraction and houses several handicraft shops and two museums.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Shah Abbasi Caravansarai, Ray, Iran

Shah Abbasi Caravansarai, Ray

Caravanserai · Iran · 35.5889° N, 51.4370° E

The Shah Abbasi Caravansarai (Persian: کاروانسرای شاه‌عباسی) is a historic caravanserai from the Safavid era and located in Ray, Iran.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Tash Rabat, Kyrgyzstan

Tash Rabat

Caravanserai · Kyrgyzstan · 40.8231° N, 75.2889° E

Tash Rabat ("stone lodging") is a well-preserved 10th- or 15th-century stone caravanserai in At-Bashy District, Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan, located at an altitude of 3,200 metres (10,500 ft).

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Yengi Emam Caravansari, Iran

Yengi Emam Caravansari

Caravanserai · Iran · 35.9363° N, 50.7196° E

Yengi Emam Caravansari (Persian: کاروانسرای ینگه امام) is located in Alborz province in the hills of Yengi Emam. The caravansary is considered an important site for Iranian architecture that evolved in the Silk Road. The building dates to the 17th century (11th century AH). The site is being rehabilitated by UNESCO and the European Union under Silk Roads Heritage Corridors in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran – International Dimension of the European Year of Cultural Heritage program.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Zafaraniyeh Caravanserai, Iran

Zafaraniyeh Caravanserai

Caravanserai · Iran · 36.1657° N, 58.0863° E

Zafaraniyeh Caravanserai (Persian: کاروانسرای زعفرانیه) is a historic caravanserai belonging to the Safavid and Qajar eras in Zafaraniyeh, Iran. It was listed in the national heritage sites of Iran with the number 1696 on 8 December 1985.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Khan al-Sabil

Caravanserai · Syria · 35.7562° N, 36.7551° E

Khan al-Sabil (Arabic: خان السبل) is a village in northwestern Syria, administratively part of Idlib District of the Idlib Governorate, located south of Idlib. It is situated on either side of the Aleppo-Damascus highway, just east of the Jabal Zawiya mountain. Nearby localities include Maarrat al-Nu'man and Babila to the south, Masaran to the southeast, Shaykh Idris to the east, Maardibsah, Mardikh and Saraqib to the north and Kafr Battikh to the northwest. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Khan al-Sabil had a population of 6,551 at the time of the 2004 census.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Khan Sulayman Pasha

Caravanserai · Syria · 33.5084° N, 36.3057° E

Khan Sulayman Pasha (Arabic: خَان سُلَيْمَان بَاشَا, romanized: Khān Sulaymān Bāşā) is a large hotel (formerly an urban caravanserai) in the Old City of Damascus. The site underwent renovation in 2025 and was subsequently converted into a hotel called Khan Wahoud.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Ereğli)

Caravanserai · Turkey · 37.5144° N, 34.0501° E

Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Turkish: Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı) is a caravanserai located in Ereğli, Konya, Turkey, commissioned by Ottoman statesman and grand vizier Rüstem Pasha and built by court architect Mimar Sinan in 1552.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

All Recorded Stopping Places

NameTypeCountryCoordinates
Büyük Valide HanCaravanseraiTurkey41.0138° N, 28.9684° E
Büyük Yeni HanCaravanseraiTurkey41.0134° N, 28.9693° E
Elçi HanCaravanseraiTurkey41.0082° N, 28.9712° E
Khan As'ad PashaCaravanseraiSyria33.5092° N, 36.3067° E
Khan JaqmaqCaravanseraiSyria33.5088° N, 36.3046° E
Khan MirjanCaravanseraiIraq33.3386° N, 44.3925° E
Koza HanCaravanseraiTurkey40.1843° N, 29.0635° E
Kürkçü HanCaravanseraiTurkey41.0131° N, 28.9701° E
Mehr CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.2846° N, 57.1435° E
Ribat-i SharafCaravanseraiIran36.2664° N, 60.6553° E
Sa'd al-Saltaneh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.2689° N, 50.0006° E
Shah Abbasi Caravansarai, KarajCaravanseraiIran35.8100° N, 51.0011° E
Shah Abbasi Caravansarai, NishapurCaravanseraiIran36.1972° N, 58.8015° E
Shah Abbasi Caravansarai, RayCaravanseraiIran35.5889° N, 51.4370° E
Tash RabatCaravanseraiKyrgyzstan40.8231° N, 75.2889° E
Yengi Emam CaravansariCaravanseraiIran35.9363° N, 50.7196° E
Zafaraniyeh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.1657° N, 58.0863° E
Khan al-SabilCaravanseraiSyria35.7562° N, 36.7551° E
Khan Sulayman PashaCaravanseraiSyria33.5084° N, 36.3057° E
Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Ereğli)CaravanseraiTurkey37.5144° N, 34.0501° E
Abbasabad CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.9959° N, 60.7183° E
Abdolabad CastleCaravanseraiIran35.3003° N, 52.9506° E
Abgarm CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.5059° N, 60.0666° E
Afşarören HanıCaravanseraiTurkey37.5358° N, 32.6297° E
Ahvan Stone CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.7706° N, 53.7324° E
Akbaş HanıCaravanseraiTurkey38.0469° N, 32.9384° E
Ali Pasha InnCaravanseraiTurkey41.0191° N, 28.9648° E
Altunapa HanıCaravanseraiTurkey37.8886° N, 32.3035° E
Anıtkaya CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey38.9535° N, 30.3443° E
Antakya Uzun ÇarşıCaravanseraiTurkey36.2026° N, 36.1628° E
Apolyont HanCaravanseraiTurkey40.1864° N, 29.0601° E
Argıt HanıCaravanseraiTurkey38.2953° N, 31.7153° E
Atik Valide CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey41.0180° N, 29.0230° E
Atlas Han (Karaman)CaravanseraiTurkey37.3560° N, 33.6282° E
Baba Ghodrat CaravansaraiCaravanseraiIran36.2718° N, 59.6196° E
Balibey HanCaravanseraiTurkey40.1849° N, 29.0586° E
Balkapanı HanıCaravanseraiTurkey41.0169° N, 28.9690° E
Bayram Paşa CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey37.1782° N, 35.0210° E
Bedasht CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.4247° N, 55.0506° E
Bodrum HanCaravanseraiTurkey41.0102° N, 28.9667° E
Büyük Çorapçı HanCaravanseraiTurkey41.0145° N, 28.9698° E
Büyük Çukur HanCaravanseraiTurkey41.0177° N, 28.9692° E
Çakırsaz CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey39.0763° N, 30.1963° E
Caravanserai FathullajonCaravanseraiUzbekistan39.7731° N, 64.4176° E
Caravanserai NogayCaravanseraiUzbekistan39.7723° N, 64.4182° E
Caravanserai OlimjonCaravanseraiUzbekistan39.7721° N, 64.4167° E
Caravanserai Poi ostonaCaravanseraiUzbekistan39.7746° N, 64.4200° E
Çay HanCaravanseraiTurkey38.5927° N, 31.0232° E
Çoban Mustafa Paşa CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey40.8001° N, 29.4312° E
Craftsmen's CaravanseraiCaravanseraiUzbekistan39.6567° N, 66.9784° E
Çuhacı HanıCaravanseraiTurkey41.0109° N, 28.9700° E
Çukur Han (Bursa)CaravanseraiTurkey40.1848° N, 29.0669° E
Damghan CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.1683° N, 54.3433° E
Dehmolla CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.2816° N, 54.7619° E
Dehnamak CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.2553° N, 52.7311° E
Dibidelik HanCaravanseraiTurkey37.8817° N, 32.4316° E
Döğer CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey39.1276° N, 30.3919° E
Dokuzun HanıCaravanseraiTurkey38.0637° N, 32.5154° E
Elikesik HanıCaravanseraiTurkey38.0329° N, 32.1227° E
Emir HanCaravanseraiTurkey40.1846° N, 29.0623° E
Erenkaya Yıkık Han (Meram)CaravanseraiTurkey37.7464° N, 32.1270° E
Eskişehir Hanı (Bursa)CaravanseraiTurkey40.1850° N, 29.0700° E
Fakhr-e Davud CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.0000° N, 59.3135° E
Faramarz Khan CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.2066° N, 57.6855° E
Fidan HanCaravanseraiTurkey40.1850° N, 29.0641° E
Gaduk CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.8324° N, 52.9303° E
Geyve HanCaravanseraiTurkey40.1851° N, 29.0630° E
Golshan CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.8008° N, 48.5144° E
Hacı Hafız CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey38.1287° N, 32.4953° E
Haji Reza CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.2666° N, 49.9992° E
Horozlu HanCaravanseraiTurkey37.9300° N, 32.5273° E
İç Koza HanCaravanseraiTurkey40.1845° N, 29.0640° E
Ilgın HanıCaravanseraiTurkey38.2662° N, 31.9067° E
Imamzadeh Hashem CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.7790° N, 52.0385° E
İpek HanCaravanseraiTurkey40.1852° N, 29.0609° E
İshaklı CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey38.5328° N, 31.2283° E
Jurabek CaravanseraiCaravanseraiUzbekistan39.7716° N, 64.4190° E
Kalu Marghuz OwCaravan halting placeAfghanistan34.6667° N, 64.2833° E
Kamboj CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.8016° N, 52.0281° E
Kamereddin Han (Ulukışla)CaravanseraiTurkey37.4820° N, 34.4345° E
Kapan HanCaravanseraiTurkey40.1840° N, 29.0606° E
Kazıklı Caravanserai (Gölcük)CaravanseraiTurkey40.6941° N, 29.8293° E
Kelemcioğlu HanıCaravanseraiTurkey40.3588° N, 30.0117° E
Kermanshah New CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.3168° N, 47.0682° E
Khan al-HibalCaravanseraiSyria36.1990° N, 37.1560° E
Khan al-SaboonCaravanseraiSyria36.1998° N, 37.1580° E
Khan al-WazirCaravanseraiSyria36.1999° N, 37.1592° E
Khan Khayr BekCaravanseraiSyria36.1990° N, 37.1590° E
Khanat CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.6670° N, 51.4300° E
KireliCaravanseraiTurkey38.0039° N, 31.4719° E
Kıble Street HanıCaravanseraiTurkey41.0192° N, 28.9643° E
Kızılören HanCaravanseraiTurkey37.8735° N, 32.0764° E
Kızılören Küçük HanCaravanseraiTurkey37.8719° N, 32.0790° E
Koba caravanseraiCaravanseraiUzbekistan39.0551° N, 66.8278° E
KolariCaravan halting placeAfghanistan35.1608° N, 62.7550° E
Kulita CaravanseraiCaravanseraiUzbekistan39.7741° N, 64.4170° E
Kurşunlu HanCaravanseraiTurkey41.0225° N, 28.9724° E
Kurşunlu Han (Antakya)CaravanseraiTurkey36.2030° N, 36.1639° E
Kuruçeşme HanıCaravanseraiTurkey37.8968° N, 32.1647° E
Lala Mustafa Paşa Hanı (Ilgın)CaravanseraiTurkey38.2804° N, 31.9165° E
Mahi CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.0758° N, 60.3518° E
Mazinan CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.3079° N, 56.8064° E
Mecidiye Hanı (Konya)CaravanseraiTurkey37.8695° N, 32.4997° E
Memarzadeh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.2064° N, 57.6750° E
Meyami CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.4092° N, 55.6534° E
Miandasht CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.4286° N, 56.0600° E
Mirza Kazem CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.8002° N, 48.5159° E
Ortaköy CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey40.0266° N, 29.5663° E
Pamukçu HanıCaravanseraiTurkey37.7180° N, 32.4215° E
Pirinç HanCaravanseraiTurkey40.1857° N, 29.0602° E
Qadamgah CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.1071° N, 59.0613° E
Qasr-e Shirin CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.5132° N, 45.5793° E
Qusheh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.9610° N, 54.0449° E
Rashid CaravanseraiCaravanseraiUzbekistan39.7717° N, 64.4189° E
Raziye Sultan HanıCaravanseraiTurkey38.2402° N, 32.2100° E
Ribat-i Mahi Caravanserai, MashhadCaravanseraiIran36.0645° N, 59.6150° E
Ribat-i-RivandCaravan halting placeIran36.2000° N, 57.3500° E
Rivand CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.2056° N, 57.3294° E
Russian CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.2122° N, 57.6669° E
Sang Bast CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.9917° N, 59.7611° E
Sang-e Kelidar CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.1582° N, 58.2529° E
Sarpush CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.1806° N, 57.9371° E
Şehzade Mehmet CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey41.0139° N, 28.9582° E
Sekerci HanCaravanseraiTurkey41.0202° N, 28.9481° E
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of AbbasabadCaravanseraiIran36.3611° N, 56.3878° E
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of AhvanCaravanseraiIran35.7704° N, 53.7301° E
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of EyvankiCaravanseraiIran35.3397° N, 52.0478° E
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of LasjerdCaravanseraiIran35.4001° N, 53.0835° E
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of SabzevarCaravanseraiIran36.2077° N, 57.6674° E
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of SharifabadCaravanseraiIran36.0280° N, 59.5060° E
Sharifabad Courtyard CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.0276° N, 59.5052° E
Sharifabad Stone CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.5843° N, 56.0811° E
Sharifiyeh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.8007° N, 48.5141° E
Souq Khan al-HarirCaravanseraiSyria36.2008° N, 37.1553° E
Süleyman the Magnificent CaravanseraiCaravanseraiTurkey36.4925° N, 36.1933° E
Sultan Selim Han, KarapınarCaravanseraiTurkey37.7153° N, 33.5470° E
Toroq CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran36.1956° N, 59.6215° E
Tuz Hanı (Bursa)CaravanseraiTurkey40.1845° N, 29.0657° E
Umur Bey Caravanserai (Afyonkarahisar)CaravanseraiTurkey38.7457° N, 30.5544° E
Vezir HanıCaravanseraiTurkey41.0095° N, 28.9720° E
Yenice Hanı (Kütahya)CaravanseraiTurkey39.2760° N, 30.0860° E
Yunuslar HanıCaravanseraiTurkey37.9037° N, 31.9244° E
Zazadin HanıCaravanseraiTurkey38.0039° N, 32.6776° E
Zincirli Han (Karatay)CaravanseraiTurkey38.0061° N, 32.8193° E
Zindan HanCaravanseraiTurkey41.0186° N, 28.9692° E
Zoghalha Caravanserai (Hamadan)CaravanseraiIran34.8004° N, 48.5246° E

Sources: Wikidata (caravanserais, CC0) and the OWTRAD project (halting places). All caravanserais and halting places

Logistics, Caravanserais & Overland Hazards

  • ▲Traversing the shifting sand dunes of the Taklamakan Desert ("You go in, you don’t come out")
  • ▲High-altitude altitude sickness across the 4,000+ meter Pamir and Karakoram mountain passes
  • ▲Reliance on caravanserai waystations spaced exactly one day’s travel apart (~30-40 km)
  • ▲Nomadic raiders requiring merchant caravans to form armed convoys numbering hundreds of camels