Riders on horseback in Nepal
Asia > Nepal Mustang

Horseback expeditions in Nepal

One of the world's greatest trekking destinations, Nepal is one of those countries where time has stopped. On an adventurous riding holiday, explore the fascinating Mustang district on horseback. The region, only recently open to visitors, is an ancient forbidden kingdom that used to be part of the Tibetan empire. Nestled at the foot of the Annapurna massif in the Himalayas and bordered by the Tibetan plateau in the north, it is home to ancient fortified cities, stunning deep canyons and colourful cliffs. Discover a hidden world and set out on a riding expedition off the beaten track, for a truly unique cultural and equestrian experience.
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From the horse’s mouth

  • The Lost Kingdom of Mustang - with Tiji Festival
    May 2018 Adele aged 64
    I did the lost Kingdom of Mustang itinerary without the festival. It was one of my most memorable trips, riding in the mountains, staying in the colourful tea houses ,wandering around the villages and monasteries ,often escorted by the monks, and coming across religious ceremonies along the way. The horses are small... Read all
    More about this trip
  • Himalayas in the early morning light
    Enjoy the beautiful Himalayas
  • Sturdy Himalayan ponies
    Sturdy Himalayan ponies
  • Cliffs in Mustang, Nepal
    The colourful cliffs of Mustang
  • Nepalese culture
    Discover the local Nepalese culture
  • Mustang cliffs and Himalaya mountains
    Discover this beautiful part of the world on horseback

Visa & Health

Formalities

To apply for a visa in the United Kingdom you should contact the Embassy of Nepal, 12A, Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QU (telephone: +20 7229 1594 or 6231 or 5352).

Visas are available on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and at some land borders. To obtain a visa upon arrival by air in Nepal you must fill in an application form on arrival and provide a passport photograph. A single-entry visa valid for 15, 30 or 90 days costs US$25, 40 or 100. At Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan Airport the fee is payable in any major currency (some land crossings insist on payment in US dollars), Children under 10 require a visa but are not charged a visa fee. A Nepali visa is valid for entry for three to six months from the date of issue.

Please visit: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nepal

Addresses of consulates

  • Ambassade du Népal
    45, bis rue des Acacias
    75017 PARIS
    Tél. : 01 46 22 48 67
    Fax : 01 42 27 08 65
    nepalinparis@noos.fr
  • Ambassade du Nepal
    Rue de la Servette 81
    1202 Genève
    Tél. : 022/733 26 00
    Fax : 022/733 27 22
    mission.nepal@bluewin.ch
  • Ambassade du Nepal
    Avenue brugmann 210
    1050 Bruxelles
    Tél. : +32 (0) 2 346 26 58
    Fax : +32 (0) 2 344 13 61
    nepal@pandora.be
  • Ambassade à l'étranger
    Lazimpat BP 452
    Katmandou
    Tél. : +977 (1) 4 412 332
    Fax : +977 (1) 4 418 288

Health

Visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures.

Medical treatment is expensive at western travellers’ clinics in Nepal. Healthcare is poor in most places outside the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. It may be difficult to get rapid helicopter evacuation if you fall ill or suffer a serious accident in a remote area of the country. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad, repatriation and evacuation by helicopter (presently costing between £1,000 and £2,000 per flying hour).

There have been confirmed cases of cholera in Kathmandu, Nepalganj city in western Nepal and in Doti, Bajhang and Gorkha districts.

There have been some cases of avian influenza (bird flu) among birds and poultry in parts of the country. The risk to humans is believed to be very low, but as a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with birds, and make sure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

Please visit: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nepal/health

Insurance

It is a condition of your booking with Equus Journeys that you have travel insurance which covers you for the riding activities to be undertaken. Your travel insurance should cover you for medical expenses and repatriation. Your guides will require your travel insurance details before they allow you to ride and may refuse to let you ride if you cannot provide them. You should take your insurance documents with you.

Country information

Socio-economical data

Summary statistics
Region : Southern Asia
Surface area (sq km) : 147181
Population (proj., 000): 28851
Pop. density (per sq km): 201.3
Capital city: Kathmandu
Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR)

Source: http://data.un.org/CountryProfile.aspx?crName=nepal

History

The history of Nepal has been influenced by its position in the Himalaya and its two neighbors, modern day India and China.

It is a multi-ethnic, multiracial, multicultural, multi religious, and multilingual country. The most spoken language of Nepal is Nepali(नेपाली) followed by other various ethnic languages.

Nepal had experienced a struggle for democracy at times in the 20th century and early 21st century. During the 1990s and until 2008, the country was in a civil strife. A peace treaty was signed in 2006 and elections were held in the same year. In a historical vote for the election of the constituent assembly, Nepalese parliament voted to oust the monarchy in June 2006. Nepal became a federal republic and was formally renamed the 'Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal' ending the 200 year old Shah dynasty.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Nepal

Geography

Nepal measures about 800 kilometers (497 mi) along its Himalayan axis by 150 to 250 kilometers (93 to 155 mi) across. Nepal has an area of 147,181 square kilometers (56,827 sq mi).

Nepal is landlocked by India on three sides and China's Tibet Autonomous Region to the north. West Bengal's narrow Siliguri Corridor or Chicken's Neck separate Nepal and Bangladesh. To the east are India and Bhutan. Nepal depends on India for goods transport facilities and access to the sea, even for most goods imported from China.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Nepal

Useful words

namaste : hello/goodbye
apaaïlaï kasto chha ? : how are you?
thikcha : OK, alright
maïle bujhina : I don't understand
bus : bus
taxi : taxi
kothaa : room
baink : bank
bato : path (hiking)
oralo : downhill
ukao : uphill
daya : right
baya : left
khaana : food/meal
bhat : rice (cooked)
dal : lentils
chiya : tea
daktar : doctor

Choosing the right riding holiday

Choosing the right riding holiday

The Mustang region stands close to the Himalayas and extends northward onto the Tibetan plateau where the former Kingdom of Lo was found. Surrounded by rivers, such as the Marsyangdi to the east and the world's largest gorge carved out by the wild waters of the Kaligandaki to the west, the region is an unspoiled natural treasure. Even though today Mustang is part of Nepal, the Buddhist Tibetan traditions and culture still remain untouched. From the 15th century to the 17th century, this kingdom's strategic location granted Mustang control over the trade between the Himalayas and India.

Our horseback trail rides in Mustang cover most of the trade routes used during this century by the locals and explore the depths of the Mustang region where thousands of  years of isolation has kept the culture, lifestyle and heritage intact.