Luxury holidays in Mustang

You’ll need to muster up some adrenaline before visiting Mustang, a formerly closed-to-visitors Buddhist kingdom contoured by towering Nepali mountains, rugged ridgelines and deep-cut valleys. What feels like off-the-beaten-track trekking actually follows the ancient trade route used by spice merchants; a circuit on a par with those of Everest and Annapurna. Mustang’s just-touching-Tibet location informs local culture: fluttering prayer flags decorate the khaki Kali Gandaki valley, and ancient caves adorned with Buddhist murals, on-high trekking trails and sacred stupas interrupt the limitless landscape.

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When to go

Mustang’s adventurous appeal lasts all-year long: spring sees wildflowers pepper the typically barren terrain; in summer, spot Tibetan wolves; autumn boasts the clearest skies; and snowy peaks surround it come winter.

Getting there

  • Planes

    Fly into Kathmandu, then catch a 30-minute connecting flight to Pokhara. It’s then a 20-minute flight to Jomsom, where you can connect by road to Lower or Upper Mustang. A word of warning: planes are dependent on the region’s changeable weather, which tends to be less windy in the morning.
  • Automobiles

    For those who believe it’s not about the destination but the journey, driving from Kathmandu to Jomsom takes about 12 hours. Hiring an off-road vehicle, motorcycle or local driver is recommended for tackling the beautiful but bumpy territory.