Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection

A family affair. Three years ago Bill’s longtime friend and associate in all projects melding luxury, adventure and conservation, Jason M Friedman, started working with the Sherpa family. Based in Nepal, the family has lodges across the Everest and Annapurna routes, which Jason helped them to consolidate into the Mountain Lodges of Nepal Group. These mountains truly run in their blood – Namgyal’s mother was in fact the first woman to climb Everest! Now arrives a new offering from the group, which will be presented as a Shinta Mani Mustang – Bill Bensley Collection. Perched high in the mountains, it offers a more comfortable alternative to the usual circuit lodges of Nepal. Here we have the most comfortable and luxurious lodge in the country, a la BENSLEY, offering guests a base camp for 3 to 7 days of exploration. As with Shinta Mani Wild in the Cardamoms, guests will experience the full gamut of adventure: trekking, horse riding, archery, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and yoga. The BENSLEY Butlers will return here with their renowned service – paired with the spirit of Sherpa Hospitality. There is no one better to share the beauty of Nepal with visitors.

The 29 room Shinta Mani Mustang Resort will be managed by its owners, Sherpa Hospitality Group. Prior to opening as a Shinta Mani, Bensley will add his creative design touches to the property, with warm toned fabrics and materials to reflect the colors of the surrounding landscape, which can be admired from every window of the property. Huge fire pits on the outdoor terrace will allow guests to admire thousands of stars in warmth as the temperatures dip. Inside, every area will be complemented by the artwork of the late artist Robert Powell, a friend of Bill’s who drew the region’s vernacular architecture in mind-boggling detail. Upcycling also plays a part, as Bill scoured local antiques shops and “junk yards” to turn discarded doors and all kinds of materials into treasure with a bit of ingenuity and TLC.

“This is perhaps one of the most exciting projects we have ever had. I have never seen such wildly dramatic landscapes as the mountains and valleys of Mustang, and am thrilled that Shinta Mani can be the first to introduce this Forbidden Kingdom to international adventurers. This will be their base camp for explorations all around these phenomenal mountains, as always guided by our kind and infinitely knowledgeable BENSLEY Butlers, for the experience of a lifetime.”