Talk about the remote. The region of Mustang lies behind the Himalayas on the Tibetan plateau. Nowadays, this area is more accessible than ever thanks to the 18-minute flight from Pokhara and jeep roads meaning Muktinath, Kagbeni and even Lo Manthang are within reach.
See our Mustang Treks and Tours
Once known as the Kingdom of Lo, the Upper Mustang region of Nepal was famously off limits to all foreigners until the 1990’s. However, even now Mustang remains a restricted area beyond Kagbeni, and special permits are required to explore these otherworldly landscapes. For many, the lure of the fabled walled city of Lo Manthang has been the goal. The days of arduous trekking required over high passes to reach this town meant that for many, forbidden or otherwise, Lo Manthang has been merely a pipe dream. Of course, the permit cost deters many also, but all of this keeps Mustang special, and special it is. This unforgiving, high altitude mountain desert is quite unlike any other part of Nepal as it lies behind the Himalayas on the Tibetan Plateau. Protected from the monsoon by the Himalayas means that this is an arid landscape carved by the winds of Central Asia. Weirdly shaped eroded cliffs colored by striking earth pigmentation in variations of ochre, red, amber, blue and brown suggest that this could be Mars. Scattered, white-painted villages, Tibetan monasteries and ancient wayside inns, a legacy of hundreds of years of cross-border trading, just seem to blend perfectly with the hostile, barren mountainscapes of Mustang.
Anyway, enough waffle, here’s a more intimate portrait and insight into the Kingdom of Lo!
If you'd prefer, you can view the images below as a slide show on our Wordpress Blog
