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Mustang Trek
 The
Kingdom of Mustang had been a
forbidden land until just recently
when it was opened for only a
limited number of trekkers.Lo
Manthang (Mustang) is located north
of the main Himalayan chain between
the snow capped mountains on the
east and west bordering Tibet. It
forms a relatively wide and leveled
ridge towards the north with passes
not lower than 4600m. The climate
and land is dry and arid making it
an amazing high altitude desert.
Villages are located in the valley
at altitudes of 3300m to 4000m where
important and historical sites can
also be found. Mustang is famous for
being an important salt trading post
in the Trans Himalayan belt, thus it
has seen its fair share of yak
caravans and traders in its time.
From Kagbeni to Tzug as you walk
north towards the Kali Gandaki
Valley the land extends and becomes
broader.
The walk to Samar is littered with
ruins of temples and fortes. The
famous cave speaks the history of
this Valley of Lo before the advent
of Buddhism. Travel through High
Mountain passes scattered with
ancient ruins and natural beauty,
while in the distance you will see
the ancient monastery of Tsarang. In
the monastery there are ancient
fresco paintings of a thousand
Buddhas, hanging thankas, antique
ceilings, and other sacred objects
depicting its rich cultural past.
After Tsarang the walk to Lo
Manthang is short. Enclosed in this
village fortress is land dotted with
houses and monasteries. The route to
Lo has been used for centuries by
traders and a few scholars, and now
by a few trekkers. A journey to
Mustang is a journey of remarkable
contrasts. Stark Tibetan landscape
in contrast with lush rice fields,
Hindu shrines, and cliff hanging
monasteries make a magnificent
retreat.
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