A high desert of ochre cliffs, cave monasteries and the walled capital of Lo Manthang — a once-restricted realm of Tibetan Buddhist culture.
In Nepal’s rain shadow north of the Himalayas, Upper Mustang is a stark, otherworldly landscape that preserves an ancient Tibetan way of life.
Lo Manthang
The walled medieval capital still has a royal palace and centuries-old monasteries painted with vivid murals.
A trekker’s frontier
Trekking here requires a special permit, keeping crowds away and the culture remarkably intact.