Mustang:The Forbidden Kingdom

Overview

Desolate landscapes and lavishly adorned monasteries, great rivers and fields created through the painstaking labour of humans over time, with the highland that extends endlessly northward and the pristine peaks of Annapurna and of the Nilgiri, which mark the horizon to the South, there are few places in the length of the great chain that cast anything like the spell of Mustang. The region of the Kaligandaki, from the Tibetan border south to Kagbeni, is generally referred to as "Upper Mustang". It is a rare privilege to trek in Upper Mustang. In many ways, a trek into Upper Mustang is similar to trekking in Tibet.

This trip gives you the opportunity to go where few have been before. Most of the trek keeps to arid, high deserts inhabited mostly by people of Tibetan stock. The men folk are either traders or farmers while the women mostly tend the fields. Along with insights into the everyday lives of the people of "Lo" you will have the opportunity to witness their vibrant culture and also a chance to get a look at Lama Buddhism so little changed by time. The settlements are scattered with little sign of cultivation between villages. A steep rocky trail climbs up and down hills with panoramic views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and several other peaks, making this a truly memorable trek.

Still somewhat restricted, the government limits the visitors in this area with high trekking permit fees. The Home Ministry of Nepal opened the Upper Mustang region for trekkers in October 1991. Upper Mustang, being in the Himalayan rain shadow, is one of the few parts of the country that is suitable to trek during the monsoon period. The Upper Kaligandaki valley is still quite dry with occasional rainfall.

Trek Classification

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Outline Itinerary

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You must have adequate insurance for this type of trek. Click here