Mustang

The “fertile plain” of ustang straddles the Himalayas and extends northward onto the Tibetan plateau, home to the former Lo Kingdom of Mustang. The Marsyangdi River flows to the east, and the Kaligandaki River carves the world’s deepest gorge to the west. Mustang, like Tibetans, has a rich Buddhist culture. In this regard, it is a different way to experience Tibetan culture. The most popular trekking routes in Mustang are the Upper Mustang Trek, Jomsom Muktinath Trek, Damodar Kunda Trek, and Lower Mustang Trek. The region is also known for Muktinath yatra and Marpha brandy, in addition to trekking to Lo Kingdom (“Upper Mustang”) and the Annapurna Circuit in lower Mustang.

The most direct route to Upper Mustang is to fly from Pokhara to Jomsom and then begin the trek from there. The flight itself is appealing, flying through the world’s deepest gorge between the Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri mountains. The trail ascends the famous Kali Gandaki river to Kagbeni. Upper Mustang’s restricted area begins from Kagbeni.