Mountain Lodges of Nepal – Manang named one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places to Stay for 2026

KATHMANDU: Mountain Lodges of Nepal (MLN) – Manang has been named one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places to Stay for 2026. The recognition spotlights the lodge’s new approach to high-altitude hospitality in the northern Annapurna range.

Managed by Sherpa Hospitality Group, the 14-room stone lodge at 3,500 metres is being presented as a pioneering base-camp model that allows guests to remain in one well-appointed location while exploring the valley on curated day trips.

The lodge’s model departs from the traditional trek-and-move pattern. Instead of changing lodges each night, visitors settle into MLN Manang and set out each day on guided hikes, cultural visits and alpine excursions before returning to heated beds, ensuite bathrooms, hot showers and nourishing cuisine.

The approach is designed to make the Annapurna region accessible to a broader spectrum of travellers, from seasoned trekkers to those seeking high-altitude adventure without sacrificing comfort and style.

TIME highlighted the lodge’s setting and regional significance, writing, “Perched above the yak-dotted Marsyangdi River valley, Mountain Lodges of Nepal’s 14-room, stone-built Manang Lodge is the first upscale accommodation in the region.”

Manang Valley itself is described as uniquely suited to this base-camp style. Perched above the yak-dotted Marsyangdi River, the valley is ringed by soaring peaks, glacial lakes and ancient villages. Within a short radius, travellers encounter monasteries, chortens, prayer-flag-lined trails and living mountain cultures, offering a concentrated mix of natural drama and spiritual tradition that reveals new layers on successive outings.

Accessibility is part of the lodge’s appeal. Road and helicopter links from Kathmandu make it possible to reach this off-the-beaten-path environment with relative ease, allowing guests to step into remote alpine landscapes without the logistical complexity that often accompanies high-altitude travel.

Mountain Lodges of Nepal positions itself as the embodiment of “#TheNewNepal,” a family-owned collection of heritage lodges along the Great Himalaya Trails. For more than 30 years, MLN has provided warmth, welcome and guidance to trekkers across the Everest, Annapurna and Manang regions, and the Manang lodge is presented as the latest step in that legacy.

The company emphasises simplicity and recovery, saying it seeks to “honour both the mountain and the traditions of Mountain Hospitality,” and to lift the “Soulful Sportsmen through the Sherpa way.” MLN has also stressed its commitment to local communities, employing and training staff from nearby villages so guests receive a genuine mountain welcome and fully supported trips and accommodation.

For travellers who want to explore the Annapurna highlands from a single, comfortable base and return each evening to thoughtful service and modern comforts, MLN Manang is being promoted as a compelling new option in Himalayan travel. The TIME recognition underlines the lodge’s role in bringing upscale hospitality to a valley long known for its rugged beauty and deep traditions.