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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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This nine-day tour of Nepal finds a perfect balance between sightseeing, trekking, and mountain road trips. Get to know the capital of Kathmandu, then move onto the country’s second largest city of Pokhara. Fly to Jomsom, with trekking and road expeditions heading out to some of the Himalaya's most spectacular spots.
Spend an incredible 20 days exploring Nepal’s stunning backyard in the Annapurna Mountains. You’ll make friends with local villagers, capture stunning panoramas, plant a pine in the forest, spot unique Nepalese wildlife, sit down to a picnic on the edge of a waterfall, and see Chitwan National Park on elephant back.
The legendary voyage to Mustang needn’t take weeks - with this 4-day luxury tour, you’ll take in the best Mustang has to offer in a short amount of time. You’ll helicopter in to Mustang, sit down with local royalty, explore the area on foot and horseback, dine with monks, and stay in the luxurious Dwarika’s hotel.
This exhilarating, 16-day motorbike adventure takes you through the buzzing cities, ancient villages and remote roadways of Nepal. Enjoy the ultimate combination of luxury, nature and adrenaline as you ride through the nation’s most enchanting destinations.
Home to eight of the world’s ten highest mountains and unsurpassed natural beauty, Nepal is one of the most popular trekking destinations in the world. This action-packed 11-day Nepalese adventure will take you on some of the world’s most incredible hikes, as well as to cities and towns rich with history and culture.
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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