The remote Kingdom of Mustang was for years sealed off and out of bounds to foreign trekkers, its desert landscapes and fabled walled city shrouded in the mystery and intrigue that forbidden places inspire. Since 1992, a limited number of visitors have discovered the breathtaking beauty of the region, trekking among its strange eroded canyons and dusty medieval villages, which are steeped in the Tibetan culture of the Lobas people.
Founded in the 15th century, the Kingdom lies on a major trade route running from the Tibetan plateau, through the Kali Gandaki Valley that bisects the Himalayan Range, between the Annapurnas and the Dhaulagiri Massif. We fly past these impressive peaks to land at the airstrip at Jomsom, where the trek begins. We head up the valley, towered over by the icy east wall of 8119m Dhaulagiri and 6879m Tukuche, to the village of Kagbeni, strategically located at the gateway to Mustang.
Over the next days our trail continues along the upper reaches of the Kali Gandaki, passing many villages, whose traditional homes are of mud and stone, painted in white and ochre. In spite of the low rainfall, a patchwork of plots cultivated with barley, buckwheat, wheat and apple orchards surrounds many of the settlements. The deeply scored valleys are predominantly in hues of rust and brown, their fluted cliffs lined with inaccessible caves, and as we are now north of the Himalaya, the peaks are lower and more rounded. Peppering this extraordinary landscape are isolated fortresses, and monasteries and chortens, their prayer flags fluttering in the wind.
Climbing over several passes, we dip down to explore some of the region's remote valleys before arriving at the walled city of Lo Manthang. Mustang's 'capital' is a living museum of about 150 houses lining a labyrinth of narrow alleys, four major temples and the King's Palace. Though the King's role is largely ceremonial, he is much respected by his subjects and is a keen horseman and breeder of the fierce Tibetan mastiffs. We have two days exploring in and around Lo Manthang before returning via the highland route of upper Mustang to rejoin the trail in near Ghami. What you have to bring with for to do Trekking please Click here
Fitness & Experience : Our trek in Mustang mostly follows the ancient trade route which is still used by the mule trains of today. Though the trekking is not especially difficult, the remoteness, dry and dusty nature of the terrain and occasional strong winds can make it more challenging.
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