THE NO LONGER HIDDEN KINGDOM
Long isolated from the outside world, Mustang is one of the few places in the world that was, until recently, inaccessible to outsiders. This isolation helped the people of Mustang to maintain a way of life almost unchanged for centuries. Hidden behind the Himalayan giants of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, Special Area Trekking Permits are required for Mustang. While a Mustang trek can be completed in 14 days by flying into Jomsom, We recommend the 21 days trek beginning from Pokhara in order to acclimatize properly and to appreciate the contrast in the lifestyle and culture of different ethnic groups, and the ever-changing landscape. In the 21 day trek, we follow the course of the Kali Gandaki, a majestic and the fast flowing river which in its rush to the plains through the high Himalayas has carved a deep gorge-claimed to be the deepest gorge in the world. Climbing up a steep canyon, we hike a few more days to the walled capital city of the Lo Mantang, virtually untouched since the timelessness and appreciation for an ancient culture as we discover the ruins of old forts, monasteries rich in art and history, and caves replete with the magnificent religious statues. Our trek concludes with a scheduled flight from Jomsom to Kathmandu.
Good To Know
Asian Trekking is a Nepali expedition operating company established 41 years ago. According to Paragraph 26 of the Tourism Act (2035), no foreign expedition teams or companies are allowed to provide expedition services in Nepal directly and any foreign company must work through a Nepali company licensed by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Nepal. As such, Nepali companies are the ones that provide all the legal, administrative, logistical, guiding and support services in Nepal, while also being legally responsible for the safe and responsible conduct of the expeditions. Booking through foreign expedition companies naturally makes the cost to the customer higher due to the extra layer of administration and profit margins, without necessarily adding any extra value.
