Mustang, opened to foreigners in 1992, is by far Nepal's most restricted trekking area. It is located in the Northwestern area of Nepal, and is part of the Tibetan plateau.


The small kingdom of Mustang, nestled between the Dhauligiri and Annapurna massifs, is an enchanting land of windswept vistas, red walled monasteries, and feudal towns. Closed to westerners until 1994, this is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional life anywhere in the Himalayas. This tiny kingdom was not only a major corridor of trade from the 1400's to before the Chinese occupation of Tibet, but also figured importantly into early Buddhism in Tibet. Local legend tells the tale of the great founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Padmasambhava, who before building Samye (the oldest monastery in Tibet) came to Mustang to stand guard against and do battle with the evil powers out to destroy Buddhism. The temple of Lo Gekhar in eastern Mustang was built by Padmasambhava after his triumphant battle and still stands guard today. Our route will take us across the vast Kali Gandaki riverbed, up over windswept passes at 14,000 ft. and onto the 'Plain of Aspirations' to the walled capital city of Lo Manthang. All this through a landscape of indescribable vastness and beauty, home to the infamous snow leopard, the endangered bharal (blue sheep), and the mythical mehti (abominable snowman). Rimmed by 20,000+ snowcapped peaks and bathed in hues of orange and red rocks with sporadic fields of vibrant green, yellow and red of barley, maize, and buckwheat, we'll begin to understand the richness and simplicity of this this culture and lifestyle now almost extinct elsewhere in the Himalayas. If you have an interest in traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture or just want to take a step back in time in a strikingly beautiful region, this trip is for you..