Shinta Mani Mustang: Getting There and Planning a Stay

Shinta Mani Mustang is an all-inclusive resort above Jomsom, in the Lower Mustang region of Nepal. Getting there takes some planning: the flights depend on mountain weather, the resort sits at about 2,740 m, and stays are sold as a set journey of at least five nights.

This guide explains how to reach it, what the stay includes according to the resort's own published information, and how to plan around it. Luxury Retreats Nepal is an independent travel company. We are not part of Shinta Mani; we book stays there for our guests as part of private journeys.

Where Shinta Mani Mustang is

The resort stands on the hillside above the town of Jomsom, in the upper Kali Gandaki valley. Mustang lies in the rain shadow north of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, so the landscape is high, dry and open. From the suites you look across to the Nilgiri peaks.

Jomsom is at about 2,740 m; the airport is listed at 2,736 m. The resort was designed by Bill Bensley and has 29 suites built with local stone, slate and wood, each with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the mountains.

Lower Mustang, including Jomsom, Marpha, Kagbeni and Muktinath, needs the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit but not the restricted-area permit. That permit applies to Upper Mustang, north of Kagbeni.

How to get to Shinta Mani Mustang

By plane, via Pokhara

The usual route is two short flights: Kathmandu to Pokhara, about 25 minutes, then Pokhara to Jomsom, about 20 minutes, through the Kali Gandaki gorge between Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas. With good weather you can do both in one morning. The resort's package includes transfers between Jomsom airport and the resort.

Jomsom flights run in the morning, because strong winds often stop flying after midday. Cloud and wind delay or cancel flights often, at any time of year. This is the main thing to plan for.

By helicopter

The resort says guests can fly by private helicopter from Kathmandu straight to its own helipad, or take a commercial flight to Pokhara and a helicopter from there. Helicopters are not part of the all-inclusive rate and are charged separately. They also need reasonable weather, but they give you more flexibility on timing.

By road from Pokhara

The road follows the Kali Gandaki valley north from Pokhara. Shinta Mani gives the drive as usually 5 to 6 hours; in practice we plan 7 to 8 hours by private jeep, because the road is rough in places and conditions change with the season. In the monsoon, landslides can close it.

Build in a spare night

Because the flights depend on the weather, we add a spare night in Pokhara on the way home. If the flight leaves on time, you simply have a quiet evening by the lake. If it is delayed, your international flight is protected.

Altitude and acclimatisation basics

You sleep at about 2,740 m, and excursions go higher. The resort gives the range of its programme as 2,700 m to 3,800 m; Muktinath, the highest common visit, is at roughly 3,700 to 3,800 m depending on the source.

At this height some people feel the effects of altitude: headache, tiredness, nausea or shortness of breath. Take your first afternoon slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide if you feel unwell. The resort recommends that guests speak to their own doctor or a travel health specialist before the trip, and says it keeps oxygen available. If you have a heart or breathing condition, tell us before you book.

What the stay includes

Shinta Mani Mustang sells its stay as an all-inclusive journey, and its booking page states that five nights is the minimum. Longer stays are possible. According to its website, the rate covers:

• Your suite
• All meals and drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, including meals taken out on excursions
• Private guided excursions and activities in Lower Mustang
• A personal butler, which the resort calls a Bensley Adventure Butler
• Use of the spa (steam, sauna, hot tub) and treatments
• Laundry, Wi-Fi and a daily replenished minibar
• Transfers between Jomsom airport and the resort
• Gratuities and permits

Helicopter flights are the main exception. The core five nights include days in Marpha, a day to Jharkot, Muktinath, Jhong and Kagbeni, a walk to Lubra and a guided valley walk with a picnic. Short morning walks from the resort, mountain biking, horse riding and archery can be added. Check the current inclusions with the resort or with us when you book, as packages change.

The wellness programme: Amchi and Sowa Rigpa

Sowa Rigpa, often translated as the knowledge or science of healing, is the traditional medical system of communities across the Himalaya. Its practitioners are known as Amchi, and the knowledge is passed down through teachers and families.

At Shinta Mani, the wellness programme begins with a consultation with the resort's Amchi, Tsewang Gyurme Gurung, whom the resort describes as the 11th generation of his lineage, or with one of his practitioners. He then suggests treatments that fit into your spa time, such as herbal steam, a herbal poultice or particular oils for massage.

Treat this as a wellness and cultural experience rooted in a long tradition. It is not a substitute for medical care: keep taking any medicines you have been prescribed, and talk to your own doctor about any health concerns.

What to see around Jomsom

Marpha

A stone-paved Thakali village south of Jomsom, known for its apple orchards and its monastery. A home-cooked Thakali lunch here is part of the resort's programme.

Kagbeni

An old village of narrow lanes and mud-brick houses on the Kali Gandaki, at about 2,810 m. Its red monastery, Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling, is worth the visit, and the village marks the gateway to Upper Mustang.

Muktinath

A temple holy to both Hindus and Buddhists, with 108 water spouts where many pilgrims bathe. It is the highest point most visitors reach on a Lower Mustang stay, so walk slowly here.

Lubra

A small village up the Panda Khola valley that still follows Bon, a religious tradition older than Buddhism in the region. The resort's visit includes the village gompa and a meal in a local home.

Upper Mustang and Lo Manthang

North of Kagbeni lies Upper Mustang, the former Kingdom of Lo, and its walled capital, Lo Manthang, at about 3,840 m. Foreign visitors need a restricted-area permit, arranged through a registered agency and used with a licensed guide. At the time of writing, the Nepal Tourism Board lists the fee as USD 50 per person per day. The rules changed during 2026, so check before you go. Our Upper Mustang Luxury Trek spends three nights in Lo Manthang.

When to go

The resort closes every year in July and August, when monsoon rain makes the roads unsafe. It is open for the rest of the year, and each season feels different:

• Spring (March to May): days around 18 to 20°C, according to the resort, with freezing nights early in the season and clear views by April.
• Autumn (September to November): days from around 15 to 21°C in September down to 10 to 15°C in November, with nights near or below freezing later in the season. Apple harvest time in Marpha.
• Winter (December to February): daytime temperatures from around 0 to 10°C, often with clear, sunny days and snow on the peaks. Check opening dates with us.

Spring and autumn usually bring the most reliable flying weather.

What to pack

• Layers: a warm fleece or down jacket for mornings and evenings
• A windproof jacket for the strong afternoon wind
• Sun hat, sunglasses, high-factor sun cream and lip balm
• A scarf or buff against the dust
• Comfortable walking shoes that slip off easily for temples
• Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for monasteries and Muktinath
• Swimwear if you would like to bathe at Muktinath's water spouts
• Your own medicines and prescriptions
• A soft bag: the small planes have tight luggage limits, so check your allowance and leave extra luggage in Pokhara or Kathmandu

Shinta Mani Mustang: questions, answered

What is the minimum stay at Shinta Mani Mustang?

Five nights. The resort sells its all-inclusive stay with a five-night minimum, and longer stays can be arranged.

How do you get to Shinta Mani Mustang?

Most guests fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then to Jomsom, two short flights that can be done in one morning in good weather. A private helicopter or a long drive from Pokhara are the alternatives.

What altitude is Shinta Mani Mustang?

Jomsom is at about 2,740 m. Day trips go up to roughly 3,800 m at Muktinath, so take the first day slowly.

Is Shinta Mani Mustang open all year?

No. It closes in July and August each year for the monsoon. Winter is very cold, so check your dates with us or the resort.

Do I need a permit to stay at Shinta Mani Mustang?

You need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, which the resort lists in its rate and which we include in our retreat. Upper Mustang, north of Kagbeni, needs a separate restricted-area permit.

Is Luxury Retreats Nepal part of Shinta Mani?

No. We are an independent Nepali travel company, a brand of Zeta Tours and Travels Pvt. Ltd. We book stays at Shinta Mani Mustang as part of private journeys and plan the flights, buffer nights and the rest of your time in Nepal.

Plan it with us

Our Mustang Tibetan Healing Retreat at Shinta Mani Mustang is a 7-day private journey: five all-inclusive nights at the resort with the Amchi consultation and treatments, flights from Kathmandu via Pokhara, and a spare night in Pokhara on the way home. It starts from US$8,430 per person for two guests sharing.

If you would like to see Lower Mustang on a simpler budget, our Lower Mustang Luxury Tour: Muktinath and Kagbeni starts from US$1,420 per person and stays at a family-run hotel in Jomsom. For walking, see the Upper Mustang Luxury Trek, or browse all our Mustang retreats. Or tell us what you have in mind and a planner will reply within 24 hours (Nepal time).