Australian Himalayan expert Margie Thomas will lead an immersive adventure to explore the once-forbidden Kingdom of Upper Mustang in Nepal in August 2026. Photos: Supplied.
It was once forbidden to do so, but that is no longer the case, if you want to explore the Kingdom of Upper Mustang in Nepal.
Perspicacious travellers are being invited by World Expeditions to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover this long-prohibited kingdom, whose cultural horizons stretch to the borderlands of Tibet.
Australian Margie Thomas, a Himalayan expert, will be the leader of a 17-day immersive Upper Mustang Yartung Adventure set for 12–28 August 2026. It’s been timed to coincide with the vibrant Yartung Horse Festival, a celebration in the remote walled city of Lo Manthang, which has rarely been witnessed by outsiders.
A veteran trekker, Margie has undertaken numerous treks in the Nepal and Indian Himalaya, but Upper Mustang is an area that has repeatedly captured her heart.
“Upper Mustang is just so different from anywhere else in the Himalaya,” Margie said enthusiastically. “It’s sort of similar to Ladakh, but is far more untouched, and far, far fewer tourists go there.”
Reflecting on her first visit to Mustang in August 2013, Thomas revealed how it had left her spellbound.
“It was really like one of the last bastions of pure Tibetan Buddhist culture outside Tibet. Because it’s just 40 kilometres inside the border of Nepal and Tibet, it’s remained untouched by the Chinese as there was no way that they could infiltrate and break down the culture. So, there’s a rich Tibetan Buddhist culture up in Lo Manthang.”
Celebrate the pageantry of the Yartung Horse Festival in the walled city of Lo Manthang, Nepal. The Queen on horseback at the opening ceremony.
“It was an amazing trek up there,” Margie recalled. “We trekked all the way up along the Kali Ghandaki, the deepest gorge in the world, and across a breathtakingly beautiful remote high-altitude desert … The countryside was absolutely spectacular, and we visited many small settlements, villages and nomad camps including the old royal capital of Tsarang, on the way to Lo Manthang …”
Upper Mustang opened its doors to visitors in 1992. However, this isolated and remote northern region still remains largely unexplored by foreigners.
“I think the great attraction is that … you really saw very little change from the 14th century. Lo Manthang and much of upper Mustang is as it was; hundreds, if not thousands of years ago. I just do not see that anymore. It’s also because its cultural horizons focus toward Tibet, rather than Kathmandu. The lack of tourists is another big plus; things have changed slowly up there.”
It was Margie’s extraordinary journeys among these remote communities and her experiences in such a relatively untouched region that inspired her to successfully continue to trek to Lo Manthang, annually, since 2017.
Margie is keen to share her passion for this unique corner of the Himalaya and its people. She is looking forward to returning with a newly-devised itinerary which encompasses the comforts of staying in lodges in Upper Mustang with day walks and forays on horseback to outlying villages.
At every turn on the Upper Mustang Horse Trek, striking views are to be found.
This exclusive small-group journey (capped at 12 guests) promises an unmatched cultural experience in one of the most restricted and spiritually rich regions of the Himalaya. Hidden in the monsoonal rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, Upper Mustang is a cultural time capsule where traditional Tibetan Buddhist life continues as it has for centuries.
This trek takes you into an incredibly dramatic environment. The Kingdom of Mustang preserves some of the last vestiges of traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture. Situated in the rain shadow of the monsoon, on the border of Nepal and Tibet, tourism is still strictly controlled and limited. It’s one of the finest Himalayan destinations for its rugged mountain landscapes and rich cultural legacy.
This itinerary follows remote trails and ancient trade routes to nomad camps, isolated settlements and Upper Mustang’s oldest gompa at Lo Gekar. These settlements, set amid fields of barley and buckwheat, and home to extraordinary chortens and simple monasteries, reflect the abiding Tibetan Buddhist culture.
“While on this trip you’ll have up-close-and-personal guided tours of monasteries and explore the walled city of Lo Manthang, including meeting the restorers of the jaw-dropping Thubchen gompa. We’ll meet some interesting people like the Amchis (Tibetan healers), as well as witness the skills of the local horsemen in Charang. We’ll visit Chosar village on horseback (it’s like riding through rural Tibet 1000 years ago) and the cave monastery Nyiphuk, Jong cave and Garfuk monastery. You’ll ride traditional sure-footed Tibetan ponies (no previous horseriding experience is necessary) and see a thrilling demo of wild horse-riding skills. The Chosar villagers will showcase their culture …”
It will be an unforgettable journey!
