Upper Mustang Trek

Pilgrims and visitors circle the iconic white dome and golden spire of Boudhanath beneath a clear blue sky.

Wooden crates and sacks overflow with colorful lentils, beans, and dried spices at a Thamel market stall.

Two rhesus monkeys perch on gilded architectural details beneath intricate Buddhist deity carvings at the Monkey Temple.

Buddhist monks in saffron robes chant in unison during a ceremony at a monastery in the Kathmandu Valley.

Snow-capped Himalayan peaks mirror in the still morning waters of Phewa Lake in Pokhara.

The white dome of the World Peace Pagoda commands the Pokhara Valley from a forested hilltop above the lake.

A local bus pauses on the valley floor as clouds cling to the snow-capped summits above.

A lone traveler crosses the expansive, pebble-strewn riverbed beneath towering rocky peaks.

Green agricultural patches contrast with the arid cliffs and distant snow-capped Nilgiri peaks.

Stone houses and terraced fields nestle against a massive snow-capped mountain backdrop.

Wide riverbeds wind through high-altitude desert canyons toward the towering peaks of the Mustang massif.

Rolling arid hills stretch toward a hazy, jagged horizon of distant snow mountains.

A lone hiker crosses a vast snow-covered landscape under a misty Himalayan sky.

Wind-sculpted rock formations and deep desert river valleys unfold across a dramatic panorama of Upper Mustang.

Three shaggy juvenile yaks huddle against a rustic stone wall in a sunlit high-altitude field.

A paved road snakes through the arid, rocky landscape toward snow-capped Himalayan peaks.

Trekkers cross a long suspension bridge spanning a deep, erosion-carved river gorge.

Golden light touches the snow-covered mountains behind the jagged rock formations of the high desert.

A lush green valley floor nestles between dramatic rock formations beneath a massive snow-capped mountain range.

Late sunlight catches the rugged brown foothills as clouds swirl around the glowing Himalayan peaks beyond.

Vast brown landscapes and sharp ridges lead toward a solitary jagged peak under wispy skies.

Trekkers pause to take in the vast snow-capped mountain range on the ascent to Yamda La.

Hikers traverse a narrow mountain road overlooking deep canyons and distant Himalayan peaks.

A hiker climbs a steep, snow-dusted rocky trail through hardy juniper bushes toward Yamda La.

Arid brown ridges and winding trails stretch across the plateau against a backdrop of distant white summits.

A cluster of traditional stone buildings nestles in a valley beneath snow-dusted hills.

Snow-capped Himalayan ranges tower over the rugged, arid Mustang plateau from the vantage point of Yamda La.

Working horses navigate the rocky descent into Ghami village.

A vibrant striped Buddhist stupa overlooks the Ghami Valley at 3,520 m.

A lammergeier soars above the rugged terrain near Nyi La at 4,010 m.

Ancient stone structures rise beneath the legendary red cliffs of Dhakmar village.

A high-altitude desert road winds above Ghami at 3,520 m toward the distant snow-capped Himalayan peaks.

Striking red sedimentary formations tower over the Dhakmar valley floor at 3,820 m.

A fuzzy dzo calf stands in sunlit high-altitude pastures near Ghar Gompa.

The rugged canyons and snow-capped peaks of the Mustang massif unfold below Mui La Pass at 4,170 m.

Red sedimentary cliffs tower over the arid landscape near Dhakmar on the trail toward Ghar Gompa.

The rugged trail opens to dramatic views of the snowy Chogo La ridgeline at 4,325 m.

A herd of goats traverses the arid, high-altitude plains on the approach to Chogo La Pass at 4,325 m.

Trekkers descend toward the historic Ghar Gompa monastery at 3,950 m, nestled in a lush mountain oasis.

Domesticated pashmina goats graze in a stone-walled enclosure near Lo Manthang at 3,840 m.

The historic Lo Gekar Monastery at 3,950 m stands against snow-capped peaks on the approach to Lo Manthang.

Vast arid canyons and snowy summits extend to the horizon from Chogo La Pass at 4,230 m.

A massive five-story ancient cave complex opens into the cliffside of Chosar Valley at 3,900 m.

Looking out from Shije Jhong Cave, Chosar village spreads across the valley floor at 3,900 m.

Erosion-carved cliff dwellings line the canyon walls along the trail to Chosar.

Traditional stone structures frame grazing horses in Chosar at 3,900 m.

The walled city of Lo Manthang spreads across its high-altitude plateau, framed by snow-capped peaks.

Trekkers cross Lo-La Pass at 3,950 m on the return to Lo Manthang.

A sturdy mountain horse grazes in the rocky terrain near Dhi at 3,400 m.

Dramatic clouds roll over snow-covered Himalayan ridges near Lo Manthang.

A trekker navigates the arid canyons on the descent toward Dhi Village.

Dramatic mountain views accompany the rugged trail between Dhi and Luri Gomba.

The red-walled cave monastery of Luri Gomba clings to the cliffside above the valley.

A dusty trekking trail winds through the canyon landscape toward the remote village of Dhi.

Snow-dusted terrain overlooks the arid valleys of Upper Mustang near the 3,900 m pass.

Traditional Buddhist chortens draped in prayer flags mark the trekking trail at 4,005 m.

The snow-capped Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges dominate the horizon from the Yara highlands at 3,607 m.

Porters cross a high suspension bridge over the stony riverbed toward Tangya Village at 3,240 m.

Snow-capped mountain ranges tower over the arid, high-altitude desert landscape of Tangya at 3,240 m.

Storm clouds gather over the ancient Buddhist monastery near Yara at 3,600 m, its chorten and red-walled fortress standing firm against the sky.

The majestic Nilgiri massifs loom over the wide, stony Kali Gandaki riverbed at Chhusang.

Vibrant green terraced fields contrast with the arid cliffs and snowy peaks near Chhusang.

Rugged desert hills meet snow-capped Himalayan ridges along the remote trail from Tangya at 3,240 m.

Clear glacial waters course through the wide Kali Gandaki riverbed at 2,700 m toward snow-capped peaks.

Vivid yellow mustard fields bloom beneath the towering, eroded cliffs of Chhusang.

Densely packed stone houses crowd the narrow lanes of Marpha village at 2,650 m, set against the deep mountain valley.

The Annapurna range fills the horizon beyond the rooftops and terraced fields of Barang Village.

Guests pose for a photoshoot in traditional Nepali attire against a mountain backdrop.

An aerial view captures Barang Village at its most active during the annual rice harvest.

Guests capture the sunrise mountain panorama from the rooftop of their homestay in Barang Village.

A guest learns the traditional technique of milking buffalo alongside their host in Barang Village.

Guests practice yoga in the open air during their homestay in Barang Village.

A host marks the guests' foreheads with a red tika during a heartfelt farewell ceremony in Barang Village.

The Monkey Temple glows at dusk, its prayer flags catching the last light above a courtyard of visitors.

Young monks in saffron robes gather around a stupa as a photographer documents the scene.

A massive white dome strung with prayer flags rises against the clear blue Kathmandu sky.

Three painted sadhus sit in meditation before an ancient stone temple on the banks of the Bagmati River.

Visitors gather around a glass display to photograph an intricate sand mandala at a Kathmandu cultural center.

Trekkers browse a street stall overflowing with fresh vegetables in the lanes of old Kathmandu.

The dense urban expanse of the Kathmandu Valley stretches to the horizon under an overcast sky.

Mount Everest's snow-capped summit pierces the cloud layer in this high-altitude aerial view above the Himalayan range.