About the Area
Mystique Himalayan Resort is located in the Mustang region - a desert plateau at 12,400 Ft. Dry, desolate and windy, it is a paradise like no other on earth. The strong winds blowing between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains have created a dry desert landscape - dusty and bare in its beauty.

Mustang was off limits to foreigners until 1964 when French anthropologist and author, Michel Peissel, was granted a one-time permit into the region. In 1992, it was partially opened to foreigners. Today, only a limited number of tourists are granted ten-day permits to visit this region. Being a Kingdom within a Kingdom, Mustang is currently ruled by Raja Jigme Palbar Bista, the 25th descendent of the founder of the kingdom of Lo.

The largest settlement in this area is Lomanthang, a small fort city with twenty feet high surrounding walls, sentinel turrets at each corner and prayer flags blowing in the wind.

The whitewashed walls around Lomanthang is shaped like a misshapen L with a short vertical arm oriented north-south and a very fat, almost square horizontal arm. The closely packed houses, the palace and temples are in the bottom portion, the vertical part of the L houses the monastic community and two gompas and this portion of the city wall is painted red. The school, health post, police post and several important chortens are located outside the walls to the North of the gate and East of the monastic part of the city. The city contains 150 houses plus numerous residences for Lamas. The only agricultural land inside the walls is a field owned by the monastery situated near the center of the city. The walls of Lomanthang were once more imposing than it is now. In the mid 1980s, the Raja sold much of the land surrounding the city and as a result, numerous stables, houses and stonewalled fields now adjoin the wall. Nothing will grow in this arid land without irrigation. A small canal flows around the city providing sustenance for a few willow trees and another canal flows under the wall and through the city itself. The surrounding irrigated fields provide one crop a year of wheat, barley, peas or mustard.

Getting There

Trekking in, trekking out
This is the best way to gradually get used to the high altitude. For those who have physical endurance it is a must-take option. It takes about 4 days to trek from Jomsom to Lomanthang, which will surely be among the most memorable trek you will ever take. Passing by the Kali Gandaki Gorge (the deepest in the world), numerous cave dwellings dug into high vertical mountain faces, and the soaring Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and Annapurna mountains behind, you will remember the experience forever.

Fly in, Fly out:
Flying in saves time (from your 10-day permit), which you could spend at the resort instead. For those physically challenged, it is the quickest and ideal way in and out of Lomanthang and also gives you more time to explore the region.

Flying in, trekking out or vice-versa:
If you want to savour both pleasures, then you can trek one way and fly the other. The choice is yours!

About the Resort
The Mystique Himalayan Resort is a nine-bedroom resort located at Lomanthang, Mustang. It provides modern day comforts in a traditional setting. It is under the direct patronage of the King, Raja Jigme Palbar Bista. It is one of the highest located resorts in Nepal where the materials for renovations had to be flown in by helicopter.

Accommodation
Comfortable bedrooms with attached bathrooms (the only ones in the entire area) are available for guests. Hot & cold running water (also a unique feature here) is also available.

These are the basic amenities guests forsake when they decide to travel to Lomanthang. It is a pleasant surprise for most guests.