Mustang Tibetan Healing Retreat at Shinta Mani Mustang
Five all-inclusive nights at Shinta Mani Mustang in Jomsom, with a consultation and treatments from the resort's Amchi, a doctor of traditional Tibetan medicine, and private walks to Marpha, Kagbeni and the Bon village of Lubra. A spare night in Pokhara on the way home protects you from Jomsom's weather-dependent flights.
7 days · Jomsom, Lower Mustang: Shinta Mani Mustang · From US$ 8,460
Enquire- Duration
- 7 days
- Location
- Jomsom, Lower Mustang: Shinta Mani Mustang
Overview
Mustang lies in the rain shadow north of the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri: a high, dry valley of wind-carved cliffs, apple orchards and whitewashed villages along the Kali Gandaki. Tibetan medicine, practised here by doctors called Amchi, is still part of daily life.
Shinta Mani Mustang, in Jomsom at about 2,700 m, is a small all-inclusive resort designed by Bill Bensley. Its stay covers meals and drinks, private guides, daily excursions and the wellness programme, which begins with a consultation with the resort's Amchi and continues with Tibetan-inspired treatments such as herbal compresses and hot stone baths. It asks for a minimum of five nights, which is exactly what this retreat gives you.
Your days combine treatments with gentle walks: Marpha and its orchards, the monasteries of Kagbeni and Jharkot, and Lubra, one of the few villages in Nepal that still follows the Bon religion. On the Comfort level you stay in a Junior Suite; on the Luxury level in a larger mountain-view suite.
Jomsom flights run only in the morning and are often delayed by wind or cloud. That is why we add a spare night in Pokhara on the way home: if the flight leaves on time you simply enjoy a quiet lakeside evening; if it is delayed, your onward plans are protected.
Highlights
- Consultation and treatments with a resident Amchi (Tibetan doctor)
- Five all-inclusive nights at Shinta Mani Mustang, Jomsom
- Monasteries of Kagbeni and Jharkot, and the Bon village of Lubra
- Thakali lunch with a local family
- A buffer night in Pokhara built in for weather
Gallery
Your days
An early flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara (about 25 minutes), then the morning mountain flight to Jomsom (about 20 minutes) through the Kali Gandaki gorge between Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas. Check in at Shinta Mani Mustang and take the rest of the day slowly to adjust to the altitude. If the Jomsom flight cannot operate, we drive from Pokhara instead (about 7 to 9 hours) and adjust the days.
A consultation with the resort's Amchi, who uses pulse reading and questions about your health to recommend treatments. Later, a gentle walk to Marpha, a stone-paved Thakali village known for its apples and its monastery, and your first Tibetan healing treatment back at the resort.
A drive and walk up the valley to Kagbeni, a medieval village at the gateway to Upper Mustang, and to Jharkot (about 3,500 m) with its old monastery and fort. Evening meditation at the resort.
A walk along the Panda Khola valley to Lubra, one of the last villages in Nepal that follows the Bon tradition, older than Buddhism in the Himalaya, and a home-cooked Thakali lunch with a local family.
A free day for treatments, yoga or meditation, and rest. An optional horse ride can be arranged on request. In the evening, a farewell dinner at the resort.
The morning flight from Jomsom back to Pokhara and a private transfer to your hotel: Fish Tail Lodge on Phewa Lake (Comfort) or a villa at The Pavilions Himalayas The Farm (Luxury). This night is built in as a buffer: if the Jomsom flight is delayed, it is used up and your onward plans stay safe.
Transfer to Pokhara airport for the flight to Kathmandu, then a private transfer to your hotel or the international terminal.
What’s included
Included
- Airport pickup and drop in Kathmandu by private car
- Flights Kathmandu–Pokhara–Jomsom and Jomsom–Pokhara–Kathmandu, with airport taxes
- Five nights all-inclusive at Shinta Mani Mustang: Junior Suite (Comfort) or mountain-view Suite (Luxury)
- At Shinta Mani: all meals and drinks, private guides, daily excursions and the wellness programme, including the Amchi consultation and treatments
- One buffer night in Pokhara with breakfast: Fish Tail Lodge (Comfort) or The Pavilions Himalayas The Farm (Luxury), with airport transfers
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
Not included
- International flights and Nepal visa
- Travel insurance with cover for altitude and helicopter evacuation
- Extra nights in Jomsom or Pokhara if flights are cancelled beyond the buffer night
- Helicopter flights, if you prefer to fly by helicopter (on request)
- Optional horse ride, if charged by the resort
- Meals in Pokhara other than breakfast, gratuities and personal expenses
Dates & departures
Private, starting on any date the resort has five nights free. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) bring the most reliable flying weather. Mustang lies in a rain shadow, so it stays fairly dry even in the monsoon, but flights from Pokhara are more often cancelled then. Winter is very cold; please check with us whether the resort is open for your dates.
Questions, answered
What is an Amchi?
An Amchi is a doctor of Sowa Rigpa, the traditional Tibetan system of medicine. At Shinta Mani Mustang the Amchi begins with a consultation, often using pulse reading, and suggests treatments such as herbal compresses and baths. It is a wellness practice, not a replacement for your own doctor.
Why is there a minimum of five nights?
Shinta Mani Mustang sells its all-inclusive stay with a minimum of five consecutive nights, which also gives your body time to adjust to the altitude. This retreat is built around exactly five nights.
What happens if the Jomsom flight is cancelled?
Jomsom flights run only in the morning and are often affected by wind or cloud. On the way in we can wait for the next flight or drive from Pokhara (about 7 to 9 hours). On the way out, the spare night in Pokhara absorbs a one-day delay. Extra nights beyond that are charged at cost.
Is the altitude a problem?
Jomsom is at about 2,700 m and the highest point on the walks, Jharkot, is about 3,500 m. Most healthy travellers manage well if they take the first day slowly and drink plenty of water. Tell us about any heart or breathing conditions before you book.
What is the difference between Comfort and Luxury?
The programme and inclusions are the same. Comfort uses a Junior Suite (36 m²) at Shinta Mani and Fish Tail Lodge in Pokhara. Luxury uses a larger 48 m² mountain-view suite and a villa at The Pavilions Himalayas in Pokhara.
What should I pack?
Warm layers, a windproof jacket, sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sun cream: the sun is strong at this height and the afternoon wind in the valley is cold. Domestic flights have a baggage limit of about 10 to 15 kg.
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