Mustang

Upper Mustang was a forbidden kingdom until 1992 and still feels like another country — a high desert in the rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs, where the culture, language and architecture are essentially Tibetan. You trek through wind-carved canyons of ochre and grey, past cliff-cut caves and whitewashed gompas, to the medieval walled town of Lo Manthang.

Because it lies behind the mountains, Mustang stays dry through the monsoon, making it one of the few rewarding summer treks in Nepal. It is a restricted area requiring a special permit and a guide; the trails are dramatic but moderate, and the cultural depth is the real summit here.