Hidden Kingdom of Mustang

In the Kingdom of Mustang, a remote enclave of Tibetan culture on Nepal’s northern border, we discover a stunning realm of sculpted red-rock canyons, sheer cliffs, timeless stone villages, and magnificent Himalayan mountain vistas. Our fascinating trek in this seldom-visited land takes us along an ancient salt trade route from Kagbeni up the huge Kali Gandaki gorge and across windswept passes to Lo Manthang, Mustang’s 500-year-old walled capital. Both here and beyond Lo Manthang, we explore a treasure-trove of off-the-beaten-path monasteries adorned with exquisite frescoes, enjoy special visits with the artisans restoring them, and attend the colorful Buddhist Tiji Festival (April) or the horse races of the Yarlung Festival (August), spectacular events reaffirming the culture of this mystical land.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-4
Kathmandu / Jomsom / Kagbeni

After exploring Kathmandu, we fly to Jomsom. From the village of Kagbeni, we begin our trek through the spectacular Kali Gandaki river chasm, renowned as the world’s deepest gorge and situated beneath the towering snow-capped summits of Annapurna I (26,545') and Dhaulagiri I (26,811').

Days 5-10
Trek to Lo Manthang / Festival

As we climb high into an eerily beautiful world of ancient ocean sediments, stunning views of the snowy Nilgiri peaks and the “Grand Canyon” of the Kali Gandaki come into view. We pass villages of whitewashed houses surrounded by terraced fields of wheat and buckwheat and ancient monasteries set against a backdrop of high passes and hidden valleys. Crossing the Nyi La (12,992'), we hike through an extraordinary eroded landscape to reach Lo Gekar Monastery, with its exquisite wall paintings and Buddhist statues lit by butter lamps. Arriving in Lo Manthang on Day 9, we explore monasteries and temples with some of the finest mural art in Nepal and attend the Tiji Festival (April departure), a Buddhist celebration during which monks in elaborate costumes and masks perform dances to pacify evil spirits, or the Yarlung Festival (August departure), with its wildly competitive horse racing events.

Days 11-17
Trek to Kagbeni

Heading southeast, we enter a wild world of fluted rock formations as we descend into the Kali Gandaki gorge. Along the way we explore the remarkable cliff-side cave temple of Luri and admire a panorama of Himalayan peaks, from Annapurna I to Tilicho Peak, Nilgiri, and Dhaulagiri I, as we descend to Kagbeni, then return to Jomsom.

Days 18-20
Jomsom / Kathmandu

We fly to Kathmandu and have a day to explore before departing on Day 20.

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What the Trip is Like

This trip is Level 5+, Strenuous. Most of the hiking is between 11,000 and 12,000 feet, and the maximum elevation reached is approximately 13,320 feet. We cross a series of passes, but many of these are really saddles on the high ridges rather than true mountain passes, and are not difficult by Himalayan standards. For the most part, you can go at your own speed, as you cover a normal maximum of 7 to 9 miles per day (about 5-8 hours of hiking time). The group spreads out along the trail during the day, with our guides hiking along with us to make sure that everyone finds the way.

There are a number of days on this trek when the walks are shorter, as well as rest days that allow opportunity for day hikes and for exploring the villages, monasteries, and beautiful surroundings near our campsites. However, trail conditions can be primitive and there may be streams to wade across.         

There are also dangers inherent in any expedition traveling to remote wilderness regions, especially when they involve travel to high altitude. These dangers include everything from rock falls to the possibility of a serious fall, accident or sickness without access to the means of rapid evacuation. The availability of medical supplies or the adequacy of medical attention, once provided, cannot be guaranteed and cannot be expected to measure up to western standards.   

Explanation of Trip Levels