Mustang

Mustang lies on the roof of the world in northern Nepal and is surrounded on three sides by Chinese held Tibet. No visitor has been allowed to set foot in Mustang until 1952. Mustang is synonymous with the Flying Caves of Nepal which are undoubtedly the best kept secret of the Himalayas. Intrepid explorers are busy trying to unravel thousands of holes that are carved into the fragile, sandy-coloured cliffs in a gorge so large that it dwarfs the Grand Canyon, but the mystery continues.

Can't come back without:
Visit Lo Manthang's oldest monastery, Jampa Gompa, dominated by a three-storey high Buddha statue. Traditional Tibetan women touch up the Mandalas- abstract geometric paintings, used as meditation aids in Tibetan Buddhism- in a huge dark room, lit only by spotlights.