Upper Mustang valley Trek

Upper Mustang sits in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, a dry, wind-carved landscape of eroded sandstone that feels closer to Tibet than the Nepal of the popular trekking routes. Because it barely rains here, this is one of the few treks you can do even in monsoon season, when much of the rest of the country is clouded in.

This is a walk through a formerly restricted kingdom rather than a high-altitude scramble. You'll follow the Kali Gandaki gorge, pass cave dwellings once used by local Lobo tribes, and end up in the walled city of Lo-Manthang with its centuries-old palace and monasteries.

Expect wide open views rather than dense forest or jungle — over 35 peaks above 6000m ring the route, including sightlines to Nilgiri, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.

What you'll do

• Walk the Kali Gandaki gorge, among the deepest in the world
• Explore the walled city of Lo-Manthang and its four-storey palace
• Visit the centuries-old Gyokar Gompa monastery
• See cave dwellings once used by the Lobo people
• Take in 180-degree views of the Nilgiri, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges