This Design-Focused Lodge Is Nepal’s Most Thrilling New Luxury Hotel

The Dinogo Perspective

A partnership between Nepal’s Sherpa Hospitality Group and Bangkok designer Bill Bensley, Shinta Mani Mustang marks the debut of luxury lodgings in Lower Mustang, a northern Nepalese region with Tibetan heritage tracing back to the 14th century. Bensley has turned a simple hillside hotel into a design-forward retreat that pays homage to traditional Tibetan Buddhist architecture. Nestled on over 17 acres adorned with alpine shrubs and a 2,000-tree apple orchard, the lodge boasts stunning views of the Nilgiri Himal mountain range and the village of Jomsom, the entryway to the once-closed kingdom of Upper Mustang.

Bensley’s sustainable design features upcycled wooden chairs and tables from the previous hotel, along with local decor like a hand-carved wooden minibar and copper Tibetan boxes for eco-friendly bathroom essentials. Throughout the lodge, expansive windows showcase breathtaking vistas of the three snow-capped Nilgiri Himal peaks. Room rates include daily excursions; be sure to embark on a hike with a Sherpa guide to a sacred lake, monastery, or historic Buddhist village.

Who’s it ideal for?

Couples and solo travelers seeking thrilling off-road experiences (imagine hour-long journeys over rocky riverbeds and unpaved paths leading to secluded Tibetan Buddhist villages).

The setting

Lower Mustang, adjacent to Upper Mustang and Tibet, boasts some of the tallest peaks in the world, with sandstone cliffs that house ancient meditation caves.

Reaching this destination is quite the challenge. Guests have the option of taking a private helicopter, which costs $4,800 per person for an hour's journey from Kathmandu, or a 25-minute ride from Pokhara for $2,700. Commercial flights operate in the mornings from mid-September to early December and from mid-March to early June, as strong winds during the monsoon season, from June to August, can disrupt travel plans. The flight path is Kathmandu to Pokhara (25 minutes), followed by another 20 minutes to Jomsom. However, travelers should be prepared for frequent cancellations due to unpredictable weather. While flying is advisable when conditions allow, visitors can also opt for a six-hour drive to Jomsom over rough, unpaved roads filled with rocks.

The Accommodations

The hotel boasts 29 stone-walled suites that range in size from 380 to 560 square feet, each offering stunning mountain vistas. They are adorned with charming details such as Nepalese artisan pillows and furniture made from locally sourced yak fur. Bedrooms feature etched Sanskrit poems on the walls, and there are playful elements like a cashmere orange bed runner showcasing black and white goats, as well as a handmade rug depicting a Tibetan tiger set against sleek black timber floors. Each morning, a knock at my door signaled the arrival of a steaming cup of chai.

Culinary Offerings

Breakfast begins on the expansive stone terrace with fresh apple juice from the hotel's orchard. Guests can enjoy cow butter tea, chia pudding, homemade granola, or buckwheat crepes accompanied by eggs and bacon. For lunch, guests are treated to multicourse meals during outdoor excursions, featuring dishes like pan-seared trout and pumpkin soup served atop a monastery roof or by a sparkling emerald lake.

Dinner is hosted at the lodge’s Nilgiri Restaurant, where skilled Nepali chefs craft themed menus using local ingredients and traditional techniques. One evening, a Silk Road-inspired feast included Tibetan laphing (a spicy cold noodle specialty) alongside tandoori chicken, while another night showcased five delectable courses of regional momo dumplings filled with beets, cheese, and even chocolate. Meanwhile, the Aara Bar offers cocktails inspired by local flavors, such as the Marpha Appletini made with apple brandy sourced from a nearby village.

Service and Staff

The hotel is predominantly staffed by locals, with around one-third of the team hailing from the Mustang region. Each guest is assigned a personal butler and a guide, ensuring that the staff is genuinely attentive and well-informed.

Accessibility Features

Unfortunately, the hotel does not offer any rooms or facilities designed for travelers with disabilities.

Tibetan Wellness

The spa offers breathtaking mountaintop views from its two treatment rooms. It is led by Tsewang Gyurme Gurung, an 11th-generation 'amchi'—a practitioner of Tibetan medicine, and one of only two in the Mustang region. When he isn’t treating patients at his clinic in Jomsom, he provides guests with guidance on therapies that utilize local oils and herbs, including cupping, deep tissue massage, and foot reflexology.