The Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang
Tightly sealed off to the outside world until 1992, the tiny kingdom of Mustang preserved a culture and way of life little changed over the centuries. Its king still resides in his palace in the walled capital of Lo Manthang. Several monasteries here predate the oldest monastery in Tibet. The well-preserved Tibetan Buddhist culture here has prompted some visitors to opine that there is more Tibet in Mustang than in today’s Tibet. On top of all this, the trekking here is fabulous, and only moderate in its difficulty. The grand finale of our trek is a helicopter exit from Lo Manthang, avoiding the walk back to Jomsom against a stiff, sand-filled wind and the potential for flight delays out of Jomsom due to that same wind.
Festival Dance Rehearsal
Annapurna
Mustang trail
Women of Gara
Quomona River
Modern and medieval collide
Mustang Village
Mustang Rinpoche
Tragmar donkey caravan
Tragmar Campsite
Red cliffs of Tragmar
Best dressed donkeys
Takam Pass
Rooftop campsite, Tsarang
Tragmar, Mustang
Prayer flag and wind on the pass
Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang Trek: Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Depart the USA / Day 2: En route / Day 3: Arrive Kathmandu / Day 4: Fly Pokhara / Day 5: Fly Jomsom & begin trek / Day 6: Acclimatization day / Day 7 - 14: On Trek / Day 15: Helicopter from Lo Manthang to Kathmandu / Day 16: City tour of the capital & farwell dinner / Day 17: Depart Nepal / Day 18: Arrive Home
