Upper Mustang Trek

The Upper Mustang trek brings you into the hidden world of the old Buddhist kingdom of Mustang, also called Lo. Lo used to be part of the Tibetan empire and is therefore closely tied to Tibet in culture, language and geography.

The regions isolation from the outside world has contributed to a highly preserved Tibetan culture and unspoiled nature. Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the Dhaulagiri massif creating a ruggedly arid land surrounded by rocks in all kind of colors and impressive formations. This barren landscape is dotted with settlements of white washed houses, barley fields and chortens festooned with prayer flags which add a splash of color to the landscape.

The trail follows the ancient salt caravan route through which the people of Mustang traded Tibetan salt for grain from the lowlands. The goal of the Upper Mustang trek is the capital of Upper Mustang, Lo Manthang. From the pass Lo La (3950 m) you can see the walled medieval capital in the distance, the white-washed 6-meter tall wall sticking out in sharp contrast to the barren landscape.

Entering Lo Manthang through the town gate is like stepping into a different world. A world of narrow alley ways, hidden chortens, long walls of beautiful prayer wheels and herds of farming animals sauntering in from the fields in the afternoon to adjourn to their sheds inside the city. The walled medieval capital of Upper Mustang has a name Lo Manthang. Stepping through the town gate into the capital offers a vista of narrow alleyways, long walls of beautiful prayer wheels. And herds of farming animals in the ‘Lost Kingdom’ is an amazing sight to behold.

The architectural extravagance in Lo Manthang exhibits the four-storey royal palace. And the beautiful monasteries like the Thugchen Gompa built in the 15th century. Or, the city wall itself. The amchi museum and school are a must visit to further comprehend the heritage. You will witness the pattern of the history passing from generation to generation. You can take a short stroll to a small monastery and a century old cave dwelling situated high in the rocks. Two weeks of this ultimate trek route promises to be an adventure in its own separate rights. And, being in the rain shadows of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, Upper Mustang is favorable even during the rainy seasons.