heritage hotel · Kagbeni
Red House Lodge
A lodge in an old Kagbeni building, restored with care and painted the deep red that gave it its name, set inside the mud-walled village beside the Kali Gandaki. Simple rooms, a warm dining room and the old village at the door make it our favourite place to sleep in Kagbeni.
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Red House Lodge has been hosting travellers in Kagbeni for decades. It occupies a traditional village building, joined to neighbouring structures with little modern intervention, and the oldest part is said to be about 300 years old, with an old shrine room that is still part of the house. The lodge takes its name from its colour, painted red long ago and still red today. Rooms have attached bathrooms and are simple but comfortable.
What you are paying for here is the setting. Step out of the door and you are in Kagbeni's tunnel lanes, a few minutes from Kag Chode gompa and the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and the stream from Muktinath. The kitchen serves local food, and the dining room is warm in the evening. We book it for a night before Muktinath or before entering Upper Mustang, which begins at the checkpost just north of the village.
Why we use it
- A restored old building inside Kagbeni's medieval village
- Minutes from Kag Chode gompa and the river confluence
- Ideal first night before Muktinath or Upper Mustang
Questions
Why is it called the Red House Lodge?
The lodge takes its name from its colour: the old Kagbeni building was painted red, and the name stuck. The building is a traditional village structure, parts of which are said to be around 300 years old, restored to keep its character while adding attached bathrooms and a warm dining room for guests.
Is Red House Lodge in Upper Mustang?
No. Kagbeni sits just south of the Upper Mustang restricted area, so you can stay at Red House Lodge with only the usual ACAP permit and TIMS card. The checkpost for Upper Mustang is at the northern edge of the village. Many travellers stay here the night before entering the restricted area.
How do I get to Red House Lodge in Kagbeni?
Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom, then drive about 30 minutes north to Kagbeni, or walk 2.5–3 hours along the Kali Gandaki. The lodge is inside the old village, so vehicles stop at the edge and you walk the last few minutes through the lanes. Porters or lodge staff can help with luggage.
Trips
Trips that use Red House Lodge
Mustang & Dolpomax 3,710 mMuktinath pilgrimage by air via Jomsom
A four-night pilgrimage from Kathmandu to Muktinath, flying to Jomsom to avoid the long road, with a night at Kagbeni for shraddha …
Mustang & Dolpomax 4,010 mLo Manthang and Ghar Gompa loop
An 11-night loop that walks into Lo Manthang the old way, by the red cliffs of Dhakmar and the monastery of Ghar …
Mustang & Dolpomax 3,710 mLower Mustang and Muktinath by road
Six nights by private jeep from Pokhara up the Kali Gandaki, the deep gorge between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, to the apple village …
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