Muktinath Yatra Tour
A guided pilgrimage from Kathmandu to Muktinath by way of Pokhara and Jomsom, with the darshan planned for early morning.
- Duration 6 days
- Region Mustang
- From ₹22,999 per person
- Max altitude 3,710 m at Muktinath temple
- Group size 2 - 25 travellers
- Best time Mar - Jun and Sep - Nov
- Pickup Kathmandu, or Gorakhpur by road for pilgrim groups
Overview
Muktinath sits at 3,710 m in the Mustang valley and is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike - one of the eight most sacred Vishnu shrines, and a Buddhist site of the same standing. The hundred and eight water spouts behind the temple are the reason most pilgrims come.
We route the trip through Pokhara and Jomsom so the altitude arrives gradually rather than in one jump, and we plan the darshan for early morning when the queue is short and the wind has not started. Flights to Jomsom are weather dependent, so a jeep alternative is built into the plan rather than improvised on the day.
The trip runs with Hindi speaking guides as standard, and pure vegetarian meals are arranged for the whole group on request.
Destinations covered
- Kathmandu
- Pokhara
- Jomsom
- Muktinath
Highlights
- Muktinath darshan The temple, the hundred and eight spouts and the eternal flame at Jwala Mai, planned for first light.
- Kali Gandaki gorge The deepest gorge on earth, and the riverbed where shaligram stones are found.
- Jomsom and the wind valley A high desert landscape between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna that looks nothing like the rest of Nepal.
- Vegetarian throughout Pure vegetarian meals arranged at every stop on request, including on travel days.
Day by day itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive Kathmandu, Pashupatinath darshan
Airport pickup and hotel check-in, then to Pashupatinath for the evening aarti on the Bagmati, and on to Boudhanath if time allows.
Day 2 – Kathmandu to Pokhara
A scenic highway drive along the Trishuli river with stops on the way, or a short flight if you prefer. Evening free at the lake.
Day 3 – Pokhara to Jomsom, on to Muktinath
Morning flight to Jomsom over the gorge, then jeep up the valley to Muktinath. Rest on arrival - the altitude is felt here.
Day 4 – Muktinath darshan, return to Pokhara
Early temple visit, the hundred and eight spouts and Jwala Mai, then back down to Jomsom and the flight to Pokhara.
Day 5 – Pokhara sightseeing, return to Kathmandu
Morning at Davis Falls, Gupteshwor cave and Bindhyabasini temple, then the drive or flight back to Kathmandu.
Day 6 – Depart Kathmandu
Free morning for shopping in Thamel or a last temple visit, then transfer to the airport or the road home.
What is included
- Five nights accommodation on twin or triple sharing
- Pokhara - Jomsom - Pokhara flights, or jeep transfer if flights are cancelled
- All road transfers in a private vehicle
- Daily breakfast and dinner, pure vegetarian on request
- Hindi and English speaking guide throughout
- Muktinath temple area permits and entry fees
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS where required
What is not included
- Airfare to and from Kathmandu, and the Nepal visa fee where applicable
- Pooja items, donations and priest fees at the temple
- Lunch on the days not marked
- Helicopter charter, used by some groups in place of the Jomsom flight
- Personal expenses, tips and travel insurance
Photos
Frequently asked questions
- Is Muktinath hard to reach for older pilgrims?
- The jeep goes within a few hundred metres of the temple and ponies are available for the last stretch. The altitude, not the walk, is the real consideration - anyone with a heart or lung condition should speak to a doctor first.
- What if the Jomsom flight is cancelled?
- We switch to the jeep route via Beni and Tatopani, which takes a full day each way. Your itinerary absorbs it because we plan for the possibility from the start.
- Can we do the whole trip from Gorakhpur by road?
- Yes, and many of our pilgrim groups do. We pick up in Gorakhpur, cross at Sunauli and drive up through Pokhara. Add one day each way to the plan.