In 1952, Swiss geologist Tony Hagen embarked on an incredible journey, covering 18,000 miles of the Himalayan trail on foot. He became the first European to reach Lo-Manthang, Mustang’s walled capital in trans-Himalayan Nepal, surrounded on three sides by Tibet. Hagen explored the great castles, monasteries, and remote villages, immersing himself in a medieval world where the wheel was unused, the earth deemed flat, and polyandry still practiced.
Following him, few foreigners ventured this way, including Austrian climber Herbert Tichy, Italian Tibetan scholar Professor Giuseppe Tucci, and Frenchman Michel Peissel. Mustang began attracting International trekkers after restriction was lifted in 1992. There is presently a royalty fee of US$ 500 (€465) per person allowing a 10-day stay in the upper region.
In 2023, Mustang welcomed 18,166 foreigners, with 10,733 trekking through Manang via Thorong-La Pass (5,416 metres altitude), according to The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). The region’s accessibility increased with the opening of a gravel track between Jomsom and Lo Manthang in 2011.
Mustang gained attention when The New York Times listed it among 52 must-visit destinations in 2024. To cater to high-end travelers, the former royal family of Mustang opened a luxury boutique hotel outside Lo Manthang, raising the bar for visitors who opt for comfort in trekking or take a 4WD overland trip via Jomsom and a chartered helicopter out of Lo-Manthang. Similarly, another luxury property, Shintamani Mustang in Jomsom, was featured on the cover of Condé Nast, further elevating the region’s appeal.
As adventure travellers increasingly seek unconventional experiences, Mustang is expected to attract more visitors, posing challenges in balancing sustainability with competitiveness. Tourism has brought economic benefits and cultural exchange opportunities but also challenges such as cultural degradation, resource pressure, waste management issues, loss of traditional livelihoods, infrastructure development pressures, and socioeconomic disparities.
Jigme Bista, General Manager of Royal Mustang Resort and Prince of Mustang, aims for sustainable development of destination Mustang to combat outward migration. His hotel allocates 15% of the its proceeds to conservation and sustainability projects. While the $500 royalty fee may seem steep, it’s essential to preserve Mustang’s exclusivity in Himalayan region amidst Bhutan’s luxury lodge expansion and Tibet’s overcrowding.
Promoting sustainable practices in Mustang honours Tony Hagen’s pioneering adventure in the Himalaya. It’s not an easy thing to do but it’s surely the right thing to do.
