Snow Lion Expeditions

In the 1940's, British diplomat and inveterate explorer Eric Shipton penetrated the slot canyons of the Kara Tagh Range in search of an immense natural arch that the locals called "Tushuk Tash" (Hole Rock). A National Geographic magazine expedition in the year 2000, outfitted by Snow Lion Expeditions, inspired us to design a Silk Road itinerary with its western terminus at the base of "Shipton's Arch," the world's tallest natural arch. Our successful 2004 departure was the first commercial trip to Shipton's Arch. Beginning in Beijing, we re-trace by rail, road and sky the route of Silk Road traders. We'll walk the Great Wall, view the 6,000 Terra Cotta Warriors of Xi'an, explore the Buddhist Mogao Grottos near Dunhuang, hike the alpine meadows of the Pamirs, and wander through the medieval atmosphere of Kashgar's Sunday bazaar. Finally, we set up base camp at the portals of the Kara Tagh and negotiate its labyrinthine fissures to the base of Tushuk Tash.

National Geographic Adventure magazine featured this trip in its November 2003 issue as one of the "The World's 25 Greatest Adventures To Do Now" for 2004.