Adventures and Expeditions
Some landscapes in Western China reveal themselves only when you go far enough. Not far in distance, but far in patience, curiosity and the willingness to follow a road until the map gives up. Our expeditions are built around this idea. They are not about conquering terrain. They are about opening space for encounters, silence and the kind of beauty that cannot be planned.
Each year we choose one vast region to explore in depth. These scouting journeys are among our most personal. Guests join us as we trace a broad route, follow unexpected clues and search for places that do not yet have names. We look for new encounters, try unfamiliar lodges and allow time for the surprises that appear only when you stay open. Our last expedition led us more than three thousand kilometres across Xinjiang. The next will take us through Gansu and onward into Inner Mongolia.
Xinjiang itself is a world of extremes. Reaching the Eurasian Point of Inaccessibility, driving to China’s lowest point at one hundred and fifty metres below sea level and spending hours deep inside the sand desert with the founder of the Taklamakan Rally creates a sense of scale that is difficult to describe. It is one of the few places where solitude feels immediate and immense.
The Pamir takes this to another level. It is, in our view, the most beautiful region in China. Wide valleys, turquoise lakes and the calm presence of Mustagh Ata rising above everything. Encounters with Tajik communities add a depth that stays long after the journey ends. From Shanghai or Shenzhen it is hard to imagine that such a world exists within the same country, almost touching Pakistan and Afghanistan and yet entirely its own.
These expeditions are for travellers who appreciate the quiet drama of untouched places and the honesty of people who live close to the land. They are shaped on the ground, carried by stories and designed for those who are willing to go a little further.
Our Options for you:
Xinjiang. Deep Desert Crossing and Eurasian Point of Inaccessibility
A journey into one of the most remote regions of Asia. We travel to the Eurasian Point of Inaccessibility, continue to China’s lowest land point far below sea level and spend hours deep inside the sand desert with the founder of the Taklamakan Rally. This is not a scenic detour but a rare chance to feel the true scale of the Taklamakan.
Pamir Highlands. Lakes, Passes, Big Horizons
Wide valleys, turquoise lakes and the quiet presence of Mustagh Ata define this journey. We travel through Tajik communities, follow high passes and spend time in a landscape that feels both remote and welcoming. For many of our guests this is the most moving region they encounter in China.
Gansu and Inner Mongolia. Scouting Silk Road North
Our annual scouting journey. A broad route through Gansu and the northern Silk Road, designed to uncover new encounters and hidden places. Guests join us as we search for future signature spots, test lodges and follow small clues that reveal the character of a region not yet shaped by tourism.
