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Duration 13 Days
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Difficulty Moderate
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Max Elevation 3,800m
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Best Season Aug-Nov and Feb-April
![muktinath temple](https://www.nepalroyaltreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/muktinath-temple-500x300.jpg)
Jomsom Muktinath Trek as its name suggests is a trek from Pokhara to Jomsom and to the pilgrim site of Muktinath. The physical beauty that can be observed along the Jomsom – Muktinath trek is magnificent. The scenery of forests surrounded with red rhododendrons and desert of Mustang is overwhelming. The trek follows the Kali Gandaki River which forms the largest gorge of the earth. Kali Gandaki is a quarter of a mile wide river bed which is dry during the winter but during the summer monsoon, it is filled with rainwater and melting snow.
As the trip treks up the Kali Gandaki valley, it will pass through the traditional villages of Tukuche, Marpha, Ghasa, and Jomsom. The clean and traditional homes of Thakalis are converted into lodges which are also known as the most gracious and successful inn-keepers in Nepal. After passing Jomsom the trek reaches the arid Tibet-like landscape of Mustang. Below the Thorung La pass at Muktinath, trekker will get the chance to explore the temple and villages and enjoy majestic mountain views.
The entire trek will remain below 3,000 meters which avoids the danger of altitude sickness. As a whole, the trek will provide you an easy and comfortable way of observing some of the unusual and majestic sights of the earth.
Jomsom Muktinath Trek ~ Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350m/4,428 ft).
After landing at the Tribhuwan International Airport, we will be greeted by a representative of Himalayan Glacier who will drop us off at our hotel. We then check-in at the hotel, freshen up and take a rest. In the evening, a welcome dinner will be hosted by Himalayan Glacier. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 2
Kathmandu: sightseeing and trek preparation.
We tour Durbar Square, Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa and Bouddhanath stupa which are all world heritage sites. The Durbar Square reveals the life of the royals in ancient times. Pashupatinath temple is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for all Hindus. Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple and Boudhanath stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, we are introduced to our fellow participants and discuss our trip at Himalayan Glacier’s office. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 3
drive /Fly to Pokhara (823m/2,700 ft) and trek to Tikhendhunga (1,552m/5,090 ft): 30 min flight, 4 - 5 hrs trek.
We fly to Pokhara early in morning and enjoy amazing views of the valleys, hills and mountains from our airplane. After landing in the Pokhara airport, we drive to Naya Pul (1 hour and 20 minutes) if you want to take drive from Kathmandu to nayapul we have to start journey early morning and start the trek. We walk towards the Bhurundi Khola after which we ascend through lush forests and trails on the side of cliffs. Next, we cross a suspension bridge over the Modi Khola (river) and reach Tikhedhunga. Overnight in Tikhedhunga.
Day 4
Tikhedhunda to Ghorepani (2,750m/9,020 ft): 6 - 7 hrs.
We descend and cross a bridge over the Burundi Khola. From here we begin ascending to Ghorepani. The trail leading up to Ulleri is very steep. We continue ascending further and reach Ghorepani which literally means “horse-water” in Nepali. The village used to be an important campsite for horse traders before it became a trekker’s stop. Overnight in Ghorepani.
Day 5
Ghorepani to Tatopani (1,190m/3,904 ft): 5 - 6 hrs.
We enjoy views of Annapurna South and Nilgiri mountains in the morning before starting our trek to Tatopani. We begin with a descent to Sikha Village and continue descending to Ghar Khola Village. After crossing a suspension bridge, our trail climbs up to Tatopani. While here we can enjoy hot spring water and relax. Overnight in Tatopani.
Day 6
Tatopani to Ghasa (2,110m/6,922 ft): 5 - 6 hrs.
We begin our trek after breakfast and ascend gradually on a trail with Kali Gandaki River on our right. We cross a suspension bridge over the river and continue our walk. The trail passes through the beautiful waterfall, Rupse Chhahara. We ascend further to Ghasa which is beautifully located in the lower part of the Kali Gandaki Valley and is warm and green. The village is also a popular place for bird-watching enthusiasts. Overnight in Ghasa.
Day 7
Ghasa to Marpha (2,680m/8,792 ft): 4 - 5 hrs.
We ascend on a steep trail through a forest to the Lete Khola (stream). After walking further, we reach the Lete village. Next, we continue our trek on a trail east of the river and reach Larjung Village. On our trek today we also see beautiful apple orchards and vegetable farms. Marpha is known in Nepal for its tasty apples. Overnight in Marpha.
Day 8
Marpha to Kagbeni (2,810/9,218 ft): 4 - 5 hrs.
From Marpha we trek on a trail that clings to a valley. We ascend gradually on a ridge and reach Jomsom Village. From here we trek to the north towards Kagbeni, up the Kali Gandaki River which is the deepest gorge in the world. It gets windy after walking a while so it’s important to walk carefully at a steady pace. We pass through Eklebhatti village and continue towards Kagbeni. From Kagbeni, we get great views of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri and Tukuche peaks. Overnight in Kagbeni.
Day 9
Kagbeni to Muktinath (3,710m/12,170 ft): 5 - 6 hrs.
Our journey starts with a special permit check and then onwards to the riverbank of Kaligandaki up stream. During the walk we will have scenic picturesque places to stop by and admire. From Kagbeni the path climbs steeply to re-join the direct trail leading to Khingar at 3200m. The trail climbs through a desert landscape untill Jarkot Village. A further climb reaches us to Muktinath.
Day 10
Muktinath to Jomsom (2,715m/8,910 ft): 5 - 6 hrs.
Muktinath is an important place of pilgrimage for Nepalese of both Buddhist and Hindu faiths as these two religions are intricately woven together in Nepal. We visit the main temple in the morning and tour its surrounding. We can admire the waterspouts before paying a visit to a Buddhist monastery nearby. From Muktinath, we retrace our steps back to Jomsom, enjoying good views of Mt. Dhaulagiri. Overnight in Jomsom.
Day 11
Fly back to Pokhara: 15 min flight.
We take an early morning flight to Pokhara. The airplane passes through a gorge between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains making the flight itself an amazing experience. After arriving in Pokhara, the beautiful ‘Lake City’, we can spend the rest of the day in leisure. Boating in the Fewa Lake and strolling in the quaint streets of ‘Lake Side’ is a popular choice among visitors. Overnight in Pokhara.
Day 12
Drive/ flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu.
After breakfast, we say goodbye to the beautiful northern skyline of Pokhara and drive towards Kathmandu. This will be a journey along riverbanks with wonderful views of terraced hills and the rural Nepalese lifestyle. After reaching Kathmandu, we take a rest or do some souvenir shopping. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 13
Final Departure.
Our Jomsom Muktinath Trek in Nepal comes to an end today! A representative from Himalayan Glacier will take us to the airport approximately three hours before the scheduled flight. On our flight back home, we take with us amazing memories of our Lo Manthang trip and Nepal.