For centuries, the mystical valleys of upper Mustang remained isolated from the rest of the world, echoing little more than the hymns of the religious pilgrims and the lulling chimes of the bells hung around the lumbering fleets of yaks and horses. A path that served as a route for ancient traders, these winding and unforgiving terrains were our paths into the ancient Kingdom of Lo.

Under the banner of Jimbu Thakali by Capital Grill in association with Isuzu Nepal, Contech, CFMoto Nepal, and Artseum, the expert organization of Gaurav Man Sherchan – the expedition head and crew, the #thakalitrail unraveled into a trip of a lifetime for the guest from India and the hosts. A driving haven for any enthusiast, here is a look at the epic trip into the arid deserts in the mountains: Lomanthang.

Lo Manthang, also known as the kingdom of Lo, is a challenging journey that unveils a majestic view as you scale higher. As it is popularly said, the risk is worth the reward, #thethakalitrail took on this epic feat of traveling up to the kingdom of Lo. The event started on March 12, 2021, after the arrival of six Indian Journalists, Consultants & Influencers to cover the true essence of Thakali culinary arts before the launch of the Jimbu Thakali branch in Delhi, India. The ground team of 18 people including guides, engineers, chefs, and support team headed towards Beni, their first pitstop of the trip with an entourage of Isuzu MUX SUV, two Isuzu Dmax 3.0L pick-up trucks, 2 CFMoto ZForce 550EX SSVs, and Mahindra Scorpio SUV.

The guest and the hosts boarded a chartered Summit Airlines twin otter aircraft to Pokhara on the morning of March 13, 2021. The guests enjoyed their food at Crazy Gecko which was followed by boating at Phewa Lake before calling it a day at the Temple Tree.

The next day, the team boarded an early morning flight on the same plane to Jomsom. The view of the mountains was a sight to behold. Upon arrival at the Jomsom Airport, the team was greeted by the ground crew which had reached Lete a night earlier. The two-days stay at Lete was dedicated to sightseeing and other activities like visiting the local gumba and exploring the local thakali culture, visiting the 120 years old ancestral home of Vivek and Gaurav, and few culinary activities like sheep shearing, making local sausages, brandy and local liquor tasting, before ending the day with a game of local Archery.

On March 16, 2021 #thethakalitrail started their journey to Upper Mustang, a 6-hour dusty drive greeted by breathtaking landscapes and hairpin bends. This was also the first time an SSV had explored the rugged terrains of the Forbidden kingdom, a first in the Nepalese Automotive landscape.

The CFMoto ZForce indeed provided an exhilarating experience.  The entourage made it to the Majestic Lo Manthang with no issues at all.  Upon reaching Lo Manthang, the team spent the rest of the evening reminiscing the adventurous drive and feasting on the sumptuous Mutton and Trout dinner at 3800 meters.

Another first for the CFMoto ZForce SSVs was a drive to the Korala Pass situated at 4660 metres, the highest any SSV has reached to date.