Mustang

For centuries, Mustang, or Lo Manthang, was an independent kingdom that sat astride crucial trading routes that crossed the jagged Himalayan highlands into India. Because of its strategic and geographic importance, Mustang was annexed by Nepal and became a semi-autonomous realm.

Today, due primarily to its isolated location and closed nature (the area was only open to tourism in 1992), Mustang is one of the last true remote lands remaining in the world. Its inhabitants, who are primarily of Tibetan descent, lead lives little-changed from centuries past; they till the fields by hand, tend herds amid the dry hills, and work and live among the harsh, starkly beautiful lands.

Still, with the completion of a new highway linking Mustang to Tibet and Nepal, it is clear that this stronghold of traditional Tibetan culture may not remain remote and untouched for much longer.

Experiences

A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.

Dinner with a Local Family

Meet a prominent local family for dinner at their home; sample Tibetan specialties like momos, or dumplings stuffed with yak meat; thukpas, or thick, long Tibetan noodles; and salty, savory butter tea, used to fortify one’s body against the elements.

Manmade Caves of Mustang

Carved into the sheer walls of the Himalayan foothills, much of the area around Mustang is home to a number of manmade caves. Many of these structures contain various Buddhist artifacts, including sacred, illustrated texts, elaborate wall paintings and murals, and even manuscripts detailing the Bon faith, the area’s pre-Buddhist, shamanistic religion.

Muktinath Temple

Located at a lofty 12,172 feet (3,710 meters), Muktinath Temple is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike. Set in the shadow of the majestic Himalayas, Muktinath was believed to be the site where Guru Rimpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, stopped and meditated while making his way to Tibet.

While small, the temple itself consists of an inner temple and an outer courtyard; the former contains a large, golden murti, or representation, of the Hindu god Vishnu. The outer courtyard is home to 108 bull-shaped spouts which pour forth water diverted from the River Gantaki; because of the temple’s high elevation, the water is often ice-cold – a daunting challenge to devoted pilgrims, who, as a test of faith, plunge into the waters for a cleansing, sacred bath.

Trekking

As Mustang is a remote, far-flung locale, it also offers some of the best trekking and hiking within Nepal. Clamber over dry, barren hills that are shades of yellow-brown and sparsely dotted with trees; pass thatched huts that have stood as local homes for decades, if not centuries; and gaze upon the imposing white peaks of the Himalayas in the distance, wreathed in cloud and fog.

Walled City of Lo Manthang

Once a cosmopolitan, thriving enclave that commanded crucial trading routes, the walled city of Lo Manthang was once the capital of the kingdom of Mustang. The walls of Lo Manthang are rectangular, and are capped at each corner by a square dzong, or fort – a feature common to the high mountain areas of Tibet, Bhutan, and Nepal. Built in the 1380s, Lo Manthang stands today in a remarkable state of preservation – to the point where festivals and feasts extinct elsewhere in Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan are still held in the city; because of this, Lo Manthang is tentatively listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nepal Regions

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Mustang Itineraries

Kathmandu Culture Trail to the Heights of Jomsom

Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Price Per Person
From $5,200
See Itinerary

Ultimate Nepal Trek: Around Annapurna

Duration
20 days / 19 nights
Price Per Person
From $13,600
See Itinerary

Mustang the Easy Way

Duration
4 days / 3 nights
Price Per Person
From $18,000
See Itinerary

Exploring the Open Road: A Motorbike Adventure Across Nepal

Duration
16 days / 15 nights
Price Per Person
From $16,000
See Itinerary

Trek Nepal: Annapurna to Mustang

Duration
11 days / 10 nights
Price Per Person
From $17,200
See Itinerary
Preferred Hotel

Shinta Mani Mustang - A Bensley Collection

Mustang, Nepal

Designed by Bill Bensley, Shinta Mani Mustang perches high above the town of Jomsom at the gateway of Mustang, an isolated kingdom in Nepal that was once forbidden to outsiders for centuries. Each of its 29 environmentally-friendly guest rooms are designed using local materials and based on traditional Tibetan homes with the interiors adorned with locally-sourced, soft natural fabrics and upcycled unique furniture. The well-appointed rooms feature huge floor-to-ceiling windows delivering panoramic views, and an open-plan bedroom combined with a living area and a separate full bathroom. For dining, the Nilgiri Restaurant offers modern Nepali and western cuisine using locally sourced and foraged produce for indoor or al fresco dining from the large outdoor patio, while also providing dramatic views of its namesake mountain. Delicious cocktails are served in the Aara Bar, named after the local Tibetan/Sherpa liquor. For pampering, guests can relax at the wellness center which offers two treatment suites with floor to ceiling windows facing the mountains; each with a hot plunge pool, steam room, sauna, shower and massage beds. The hotel provides an all-inclusive experience, in which the guests’ journey is curated to provide the most remarkable 360-degree luxury experience in one of the most unique and preserved regions in the world with activities such as mountain biking, hiking, archery and horse riding as well as cultural exploration to ancient villages, sky caves, and temples.
Royal Mustang Resort

Royal Mustang Resort

Mustang, Nepal

Located outside the walls of Lo Manthang, a former capital of the Mustang region dating back to the 14th century, rests the Royal Mustang Resort at nearly 4000 meters above sea level. The heirs of past royalty constructed the opulent hotel with the assistance of a Japanese architect by the name of Kurumitsawa. Today, the hotel provides superior comfort in an otherwise intimidating environment. Its 20 rooms and suites are cleanly designed with wooden floors, lattice screens, simple artworks, and wide, inviting beds. Additionally, they are heated and hot water is reliable. The kitchen is supplied by an organic farm and offers a seasonal menu with Tibetan and international dishes. There is a collection of wines, spirits, and beers available for guests as well. Wi-Fi is available and 15% of the resort’s income is donated to cultural preservation.

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