Overview
Come with us to Mustang, the once-forbidden Kingdom of Lo, isolated on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Officially part of Nepal since the 18th century, Mustang is actually a time capsule of ancient Tibetan heritage. This stunning high-altitude realm of medieval towns, cave shrines, ochre cliffs, and deep canyons under an infinite blue sky was once a vital part of the trade route from Tibet to Nepal and India. All that changed with the Chinese takeover of Tibet in the 1950s, when the border was sealed. Mustang was left isolated for decades, explored by just a few hardy trekkers who ventured up the Kali Gandaki gorge. On this incredible adventure, we’ll experience Mustang’s mystical beauty on daily hikes and 4WD explorations, with overnights in simple, yet welcoming lodges. A wonderful benefit of our stays in these lodges is the opportunity for authentic cultural interactions, learning about our host families’ lives: seeing them milk their yaks, churning butter, weaving yak wool, and going about the everyday chores of life in these incredibly remote Himalayan villages. In Mustang’s walled capital, Lo Manthang, where the crown prince of Mustang is in residence, we’ll visit 15th century monasteries where the masterpiece Buddhist wall frescoes are being restored by the local people, trained by a restoration artist from Italy with the support of the American Himalayan Foundation—an organization that Wilderness Travel contributes to. You’ll meet these dedicated artists, and see this priceless cultural heritage being brought back to life. We’ve timed our journey for Lo Manthang’s multi-day Tiji Festival, with its chanting monks, clanging cymbals, and leaping masked dancers—an incredibly colorful event. On our day hikes and 4WD travels, we’ll explore whitewashed cliff villages and eerie cave complexes—the “meditation sky caves”—surrounded by Mustang’s otherworldly moonscape of rock chimneys and ravines flanked by majestic snow peaks. Join us to experience a high-altitude cultural and hiking adventure (with comfortable, if simple, overnights), witness a joyous Tibetan Buddhist festival, and savor an insider’s experience of one of the most extraordinary places on earth.
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-4
Kathmandu / Pokhara / Kagbeni
After exploring Kathmandu, we fly to Pokhara and head up to the ancient village of Kagbeni, set along the Kali Gandaki gorge on edge of the Tibetan Plateau.
Days 5-6
Muktinath / Chusang / Gami
We’ll visit the venerated holy site of Muktinath, sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus, then journey to Chusang (9,777') in upper Mustang to explore man-made cave-temples carved into red, orange, and silver cliffs. Heading further north to Gami, we’ll have stunning views of the vast Tibetan Plateau.
Days 7-9
Lo Manthang (12,000') / Tiji Festival
In fabled Lo Manthang, Mustang’s walled capital, we’ll meet local artisans who are restoring the treasury of 15th century Buddhist murals in the town’s monasteries. The artisans were trained by a restoration artist from Italy, with funds from the American Himalayan Foundation, an organization that Wilderness Travel supports. We’ll be here for the annual Tiji Festival, held in the courtyard of Mustang’s royal palace. Masked dances, festive processions, and the sound of Tibetan horns fill the town square as the story of “the chasing of the demons” is told.
Days 10-16
Chosar (12,790') / Explore Cave Complexes / Charang / Luri / Kathmandu
Near the Tibetan border, we explore settlements around Chosar, where there are thousands of man-made caves. One of our hikes brings us to little-known Tashi Kabum, a recently discovered 14th century site that houses some of the richest wall and ceiling paintings in all of Mustang. On Day 14, we head to Jomsom, fly to Kathmandu, and depart on Day 16.
Mustang: Hiking to the "Sky Caves" of an Ancient Kingdom
Highlights
Highlights
Details
Moderate to strenuous hikes, 2-7 hours a day on high (9,000-13,678') mountain trails, 4WD travel, cultural exploration
