Overview

The historic and remote Mustang Trek opens the doors to the once-forbidden Kingdom of Mustang, hidden just beyond the main Himalayan range of Nepal. This isolated land, where spiritual beliefs remain deeply rooted and vivid, is often described as “barren as a dead deer,” yet it is rich in beauty and joy despite its hardships. Formerly a part of the Tibetan Kingdom of Gungthang until the 1830s, Mustang’s unofficial capital, the walled city of Lo Manthang, still stands as a "kingdom within a kingdom." Lo Manthang’s history is steeped more in myth and oral tradition than in documented facts. Mustang retained its identity as a separate principality until 1951, and even today, the King of Lo Manthang holds his title and an honorary colonel rank in the Nepalese army.

Mustang was officially opened to trekkers in 1992, with limited access permitted each year to help preserve its delicate environment and ancient Tibetan culture. Trekking through Mustang offers an extraordinary experience — vast arid landscapes, deep canyons, ocher-colored valleys, yak caravans, and distinct mud-brick villages set against the dramatic backdrop of Nilgiri, Tukuche, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri peaks.

During festival seasons, monks clad in ornate masks and robes perform traditional dances and rituals meant to dispel evil spirits. The Tiji Festival, one of Mustang’s most important cultural events, draws people from across the region to Lo Manthang, where they gather in celebration dressed in vibrant traditional attire.