KATHMANDU: Nepal has earned a coveted spot on one of travel's most prestigious lists, with Mountain Lodges of Nepal's Manang Lodge featured in Time magazine's World's Greatest Places of 2026 — the only Nepali property on a list of 100 extraordinary destinations spanning the globe.

The international magazine included the 14-room Mountain Lodges of Nepal (MLN) Manang Lodge in its list of outstanding destinations to stay around the world this year.

Introducing the lodge, TIME wrote that Manang is no longer just a destination for hardcore trekkers along the famous Annapurna Circuit. The newly established lodge represents a shift toward more comfortable and upscale travel experiences in the region.

Located above the Marsyangdi River valley and surrounded by views of the Annapurna mountain range, the stone-built lodge offers modern amenities including floor-to-ceiling windows and heated beds, providing comfort despite the high-altitude setting of 11,312 feet.

According to the magazine, improved road access has made the area easier to reach, with Manang now accessible via a 10-hour drive from Kathmandu or a short helicopter flight from Pokhara.

From the lodge, visitors can explore nearby attractions including Manang village, the 600-year-old Braga Monastery, glacial lakes, meditation caves, and trekking routes such as the lower base camp of Annapurna IV. The area is also known as one of the best places in Nepal to spot the elusive snow leopard during winter.

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) welcomed the recognition, calling it a proud moment for the country’s tourism sector.

“We are delighted to share that Mountain Lodges of Nepal (MLN) Manang is featured in TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2026,” the board said.

Mountain Lodges of Nepal also expressed pride over the recognition, stating that the listing highlights Nepal’s unique hospitality and mountain experiences.

Each year, TIME compiles the list based on nominations from its international correspondents, contributors, and applicants worldwide, focusing on destinations that offer new, exciting, and meaningful travel experiences.

The 2026 list also includes notable destinations such as Songtsam Lodge Cizhong in China, Oberoi Rajgarh Palace Resort in India, Masiya’s Camp at Royal Malewane in South Africa, Hotel Plesnik in Slovenia, Avantgarde Refined Caves of Cappadocia in Turkey, andBeyond Suyian Lodge in Kenya, Tinajani in Peru, One&Only Moonlight Basin in the United States, Home Tale Laya in Bhutan, Flockhill in New Zealand, Park Hyatt Johannesburg in South Africa, and Jnane Karwan in Morocco, among others.

The 2026 list arrives against a backdrop of continued global travel growth — in 2025, approximately 1.5 billion tourists travelled abroad, around four percent more than in 2024, with Egypt, Brazil and Bhutan each recording tourism growth of 20 percent or more.

For Nepal, the recognition of Manang Lodge reinforces a broader narrative — that the country's tourism offering has matured well beyond base camps and backpacker trails, and is increasingly capable of drawing the world's most discerning travellers to its Himalayan landscapes.