A kingdom within a kingdom. The previously forbidden kingdom of Mustang lies on the leeward side of Himalayan range, jutting out into the Tibetian highland plateau, to the north of Pokhara and Jomsom.
The capital is Lo-Monthang (which in Tibetan means "plain of aspiration"). In the Land of Lo life goes on as it has for centuries. The culture of Mustang is distinctly Tibetan. With numerous Gompas (monasteries) and omnipresent prayer flags performing their eternal ritual, a trip into Mustang is bound to be one of self-realization, inspired by the ancient Buddhist cultures.

North of the Annapurnas, the ancient and mysterious 'Kingdom of Lo' (Mustang's proper title) is geographically and culturally a part of Tibet. This isolated kingdom prospered in the 15th Century, when its strategic location enabled it to dominate the salt trade between Tibet and Nepal. The excellent drover's trail which cuts through the region, together with a number of impressive wayside inns, are a legacy of this trade. Crossing passes of up to 4000 metres (13120 feet), we encounter a succession of picturesque white painted villages and monasteries, set against a backdrop of distant snow-capped peaks. Lo Manthang, a fairy-tale walled city quite unlike anything else in Nepal.


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