This easy trek leads through the world's deepest canyon of the Kali Gandaki River, on which the 8,000-meter peaks of the Himalayas cast their shadows. The charm of this environment is enhanced by the picturesque villages with their stone houses and streets, Buddhist monasteries and prayer walls. During the trek spectacular views of the Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri peaks open up as well as a glimpse of the Tibetan landscape North of Jomsom. The trek is mostly flat and progressively leading uphill on local roads, through local communities, over suspension bridges and through a wide and flat river bed. Muktinath is a holy place for both Hindus and Buddhists. Its temple is also called 'Mukti Kshetra', meaning 'place of salvation'. Jomsom and Kagbeni are considered the gates to the restricted area of Upper Mustang. The landscape around Jomsom and the former kingdom of Upper Mustang is reminiscent of the Tibetan plateau and gives a taste of the Tibetan culture and traditions in this trans-Himalayan region, which is protected from the monsoons by the high passes and mountains to the South. A dramatic change of scenery comes North of the Himalayan crossroads when the Tibetan plateau opens up with bare, rugged scenery.