Kathmandu — A remote retreat in Nepal’s Mustang region has claimed the top spot on Robb Report’s 50 Greatest Luxury Hotels on Earth 2026 list, outranking properties in Rwanda, Scotland, Japan and Europe.

Shinta Mani Mustang, a Bill Bensley-designed hotel in the Kali Gandaki River Valley, was ranked number one by a panel of 24 luxury travel advisors. Opened in August 2023, the 29-room property is built from local Baglung stone and offers mountain views from every room. Guests can go horseback riding, visit ancient Buddhist monasteries, trek high-altitude trails or experience traditional Tibetan healing rituals.

The ranking highlights experience-led properties over classic glamour. While many travellers picture pink façades, city skyline bars or clifftop Mediterranean views, the list prioritises destinations that deliver distinctive adventures. Nepal’s winner exemplifies this shift: a relatively new, hard-to-reach hotel that immerses visitors in the landscape and culture of Upper Mustang.

Rwanda’s Singita Kwitonda Lodge took second place. Sharing a boundary with Volcanoes National Park, it offers direct access to mountain gorilla trekking. Scotland’s Hope Lodge ranked third, followed by Japan’s Park Hyatt Tokyo (fourth), which reopened after a major renovation and retains its Lost in Translation associations.

The rest of the top 10 includes Shakti Prana in India, Collegio alla Querce in Italy, Claridge’s in London, Le Bristol Paris, Islas Secas in Panama and Casa Bonavita in Malta.

Shinta Mani Mustang’s victory marks a significant moment for Nepal’s luxury tourism sector, showcasing the country’s ability to compete at the highest level with properties that combine design, remoteness and authentic cultural experiences.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​