Horse ride to Namgyal gompa and Tingkhar

Horses have always been central to life in Lo, for travel, trade, farming and festival races, and Mustang's small, strong horses are well suited to the altitude and terrain. We arrange horses and handlers from Lo Manthang families. You do not need riding experience; the handler walks beside the horse and leads it on steeper ground. Helmets are not standard locally, so bring your own if you want one. Most horses are gentle and used to visitors.

We ride out of the city and climb gently over the open hills to the west, about an hour to Namgyal gompa, the 'monastery of victory', which stands on a ridge with wide views over the plain. A caretaker or monk may open the hall. From here the trail continues to Tingkhar, a small village of farmers and herders, with chortens, a few houses and fields in a quiet valley.

On the ride back the walled city appears below, the palace and gompas clear against the plain, a view that shows how compact Lo Manthang is. The whole trip takes about four hours. Wear long trousers, a hat and sun protection; the saddles are traditional Tibetan-style and can be hard after a few hours, so bring something to pad them if you are not a regular rider. Tip the handler at the end.