Once called the “The Forbidden Kingdom”, Mustang is high and remote Himalayan valley bordering the Tibetan plateau. Sheltered by 8000 meters peaks, It was once a thriving trade route between India and Tibet. No longer forbidden, a limited number of foreigners can now discover unique culture and nature of this valley.

A view of the Anapurna seen from the cockpit of a propeller plane taking travellers from Pokhara to Jomsom, gate to Mustang valley. The remoteness of Mustang makes flying the fastest way to reach its door, albeit not the safest. Flights are frequent
Along the the Kali Gandaki river, the village of Chhusang surrounded by high cliffs. The river, a tributary of the Ganges, takes its source in Mustang at the border with Tibet. Mustang was one of the main route for Tibetan refugees to escape during
On the rooftops of the village of Ghara, farmers are putting hay to dry.
Farmers harvesting in Yara village. There are over 10 000 inhabitants in Mustang, many of which move to lower valleys when winter comes.
In Charang village, surrounded by buckwheat fields, locals are picking up hay which will feed their cattle.
Chortens (stupa) in the village of Tangge. Stupas and monasteries dot Mustang where Tibetan Buddhism with some elements of Bon religion is fervently practiced.
Kunsang Tsering a Buddhist monk from Ghami on his way to to work in the fields allocated to the local monastery.
Kunsang Tsering, a Tibetan Buddhist monk perform the nightly puja (prayer) at the family home.
A novice monk flying a kite at Charang monastery.
Cliffs poked by caves near Yara. One fascinating feature of Mustang are thousands of cliff dwellings, some highly inaccessible. Some skeletons and partially mummified bodies, 2 to 3000 years old, have been found in some of the caves.
In Tashi Kabum cave, a local guide looking at a fresco representing Chenresik, the bodhisattva of compassion. In 2007, explorers discovered, in the Mustang caves, ancient Buddhist decorative art and paintings, dating back to the 13th century. It is
Due to the inaccessibility of the Mustang caves many works of art remain to be discovered. These murals have survived largely intact for centuries but are not protected and are under risk of earthquakes.
The village of Ghami, with its fields of barley and buckwheat.
A ruined fortress (dzong) overlooking Lo Manthang the capital of Mustang.
Locals carrying basket pass by prayer wheels near Lo Manthang.
A man at his window in Lo Manthang, former capital of the Kingdom of Mustang.
Restoration of the mural paintings at Thubchen Monastery. The work has created controversy as the restoration is done by painting over the ancient artwork.
A local artist busy at the restoration of a mural painting at Thubchen Monastery in Lo Manthang.
A nomad's necklaces: turquoise and corals, image of Buddha.
A nomad milking her sheep in the grasslands of Samduling.
Farmers harvesting barley in Lo Manthang.
A farmer stands in barley and buckwheat fields near Lo Manthang.
The terraced fields of Chhusang.
The canyons of the Kali Gandaki river sculpted by erosion.
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