Trekking in Nepal:
The Kingdom of Mustang

21 Days- Departures in March-December, 2008

Trip Difficulty: Challenging

Mustang, considered a "lost Tibetan kingdom," is one of the last restricted (and least visited) areas in Nepal.  The region is a part of the Tibetan plateau and sits in the rain shadow of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas on the North side of the main Himalayan Range.   It is a high altitude desert split by Grand Canyon-size river gorges and surrounded by towering, snow-covered peaks. 

The Lobas, or people of Mustang, boast a long and proud history that dates back to an independent state in the 5th Century A.D.  Incorporated into the Tibetan Empire in the 7th Century, they regained their independence in 1430 and have remained a relatively isolated and peaceful state.  Their livelihood is based on subsistence farming and Buddhist Culture influences many aspects of their daily life.  

The Kingdom has enjoyed relative autonomy within Nepal and was only opened to a limited amount of tourism in 1992.  Today, fewer than 1,000 tourists venture into this remote region annually.  Consequently, travel here is like stepping back in time.  One can imagine what much of Nepal and the many small, Himalayan hamlets were like before the onset of mass tourism.

Mustang, like many remote and developing regions, is falling victim to modernization.  Plans to complete a road from the Tibetan (or Chinese) border, through the heart of Mustang and into Nepal are underway.  Though construction of a road will have many benefits for the local people, rapid modernization will forever change what is the heart and soul of this remarkable Buddhist Kingdom.

The time to visit Mustang is now, before the completion of this road.  Many traditional cultures are at risk of being lost forever.  Our children and grandchildren will only read about these beautiful cultures but we still have an amazing opportunity to see and experience them first-hand.

Please contact us for more information about 2008 Dates and Prices or to schedule your Custom or Private Adventure into the heart of the Himalaya