Mustang, the high, dry valley of the Kali Gandaki behind the Annapurnas, offers some of the most extraordinary places to stay in Nepal, from simple family lodges in whitewashed villages to the hotel that, in 2026, was named the best luxury hotel in the world.
Quick answer: Shinta Mani Mustang, near Jomsom, was ranked No. 1 in Robb Report's 50 Greatest Luxury Hotels on Earth 2026. It has 29 suites, was designed by Bill Bensley, and has a five-night minimum stay. Elsewhere in Mustang, you stay in comfortable family-run lodges in Jomsom, Marpha, Kagbeni and Muktinath, and simpler lodges in Upper Mustang and Lo Manthang.
Shinta Mani Mustang: the world's No. 1 luxury hotel
In July 2026, Robb Report placed Shinta Mani Mustang at the top of its annual list of the 50 Greatest Luxury Hotels on Earth, ahead of properties in Rwanda, Scotland, Japan and India. Robb Report called it "a palace of fantasy", with breathtaking views, and "the ultimate retreat for the body, mind and spirit".
- Location: just outside Jomsom, at about 2,800 m in the Kali Gandaki valley.
- Rooms: 29 suites.
- Design: by the renowned hotel designer Bill Bensley, as part of the Bensley Collection, in a joint venture with Sherpa Hospitality Group.
- Opened: August 2023.
- Stay: a five-night minimum, with guided excursions to villages, monasteries and traditional Tibetan doctors, plus spa and wellness, hiking, biking, yoga, archery and birdwatching.
- Food: a menu devised by Nepali-born chef Santosh Shah.
Guests usually fly from Pokhara to Jomsom. We can arrange your stay, flights and a combined itinerary with Kathmandu, Pokhara or a helicopter flight to Upper Mustang. Contact us for availability.
Jomsom, Marpha and Kagbeni
The lower Mustang villages have comfortable family-run lodges, many with en-suite rooms and rooftop views of Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri.
- Jomsom: the district centre and airport, with the widest choice of hotels.
- Marpha: a beautiful whitewashed village famous for apples and apple brandy, with charming lodges.
- Kagbeni: a medieval village at the gateway to Upper Mustang, with lodges overlooking the river.
- Muktinath (Ranipauwa): lodges for pilgrims and trekkers near the temple.
Upper Mustang and Lo Manthang
In the restricted area of Upper Mustang, lodges in villages such as Chele, Ghami, Tsarang and Lo Manthang are simpler, built of mud brick and stone, but warm and welcoming, with home-cooked food. A few lodges in Lo Manthang offer more comfortable rooms. See our Upper Mustang jeep tour, Upper Mustang trek and Upper Mustang golf tour.
Tips
- Mustang is windy and dusty in the afternoons and cold at night, especially from November.
- It lies in a rain shadow, so it can be visited during the monsoon.
- Upper Mustang needs a restricted area permit (US$50 per person per day) and a licensed guide.
Read our Upper Mustang guide.
Sources: The Kathmandu Post; Euronews.