Trail & Weather

The Himalayan trek that looks like another planet

Ochre canyons, eroded cliffs, ancient sky-caves and a walled medieval capital — Upper Mustang is the most otherworldly landscape in Nepal, and one of…

By Laxman Rawal · Jun 13, 2026

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Most people picture Nepal as snow peaks and green foothills. Then they see Upper Mustang and assume it is a different country — or a different planet. North of the Annapurna massif, in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, lies a high desert of wind-carved ochre…

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Why it looks alien

The same Himalayan wall that soaks the rest of Nepal blocks the rain here, leaving a parched, lunar landscape of red and grey rock eroded into fins, towers and caves. Thousands of mysterious man-made caves honeycomb the cliffs near Chhoser, some still holding…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

The trek that breaks the mould

Beyond the scenery, Upper Mustang is special for two practical reasons. It is one of the very few Nepal regions you can trek through the summer monsoon, because the rain never reaches it — perfect when the rest of the country is under cloud. And since late…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

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Upper Mustang Trek — 12 Days

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