Jomsom Muktinath Trek – 12 Days

Trip Highlights

Trip Durations 12 Days
Trip Destination Nepal
Group Size 1-20
Accomodation Tea House
Trip Grade Moderate
Best Season Sept-Dec, March-May
Max Altitude 3802m
Trip Start Kathmandu
Trip End Kathmandu

Trip Overview

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Introduction to Jomsom Muktinath Trek

Choose the Jomsom Muktinath Trek in Nepal for a perfect mix of nature and culture in the backdrop of the wild Himalayas! Jomsom Muktinath Trek takes you to the Holy Trail to taste the Himalayan adventure and spirituality. The Jomsom Muktinath Trek is a classic trek that takes you to some of Annapurna’s fascinating areas, such as Poon Hill, Kagbeni, Muktinath, Kaligandaki Gorge, and Jomsom.

You start your journey from Jomsom and cross different ethnic settlements. You will continue to walk under the shade of the Rhododendron Forest, enjoying Annapurna’s vista at its finest. Poon Hill is a vantage point in the area that offers magnificent views of the Annapurna panorama. From this vantage point, the sunrise adds beauty to the mountains and leaves you in awe.

The different landscapes and cultures found on this trekking route provide fascinating insights into the lifestyle of rural Nepalese people. At the lower part of the trek is the settlement of Gurungs and Magars. The view of the village and the design of the houses are unique in this area.

Hiking along the deepest gorge in the world, the Kaligandaki Gorge offers you impressive views of the Annapurna panorama and Dhaulagiri Mountain. On one side of the Kaligandaki River is Annapurna Mountain, and on the other side is Dhaulagiri. Between the two ranges, there is a view of eight high mountains.

Muktinath Temple

Muktinath is a popular spiritual site for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. According to Buddhist mythology, Muktinath was a place of meditation for Guru Rinpoche on his trip to Tibet. The gompa in this place enhances its spirituality.

Muktinath is a famous temple of Lord Vishnu, and the eternal flame is the main attraction in this temple. For Hindus, Muktinath is the sacred place of salvation, and they believe that bathing with water will lead to salvation.

There are many accommodation options in Jomsom, from a normal hotel to a new high-class resort complex. The Jomsom Muktinath trek in Nepal is a well-designed trek suitable for those who can walk in high-altitude areas and dry terrain.

You may visit: Bhutan Dagala Trek in 9 days, Trek Path, Distance, Maps, and Itinerary.

The attraction of Jomsom Muktinath Trek

A scenic 15-minute flight from Pokhara to Jomsom.
Hiking along with the deepest gorge in the world, Kaligandaki gorge.
Opportunity to experience local culture, rituals, and traditions.
Amazing view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains.
Muktinath Temple – Nepal’s holiest temple for Hindus and Buddhists.
Tatopani Hot Springs.
Impressive sunrise view from Poon Hill (3,210 meters)

Accommodation in Jomsom Muktinath Trip

During the Jomsom Muktinath Trek, you will find teahouses run by the locals. Teahouses are small lodges that provide food and accommodation for hikers. These are simple rooms with beds, mattresses, and blankets, but extra blankets are available when it is cold, or you can use your sleeping bag.

During the trek, Nepali food, as well as continental food, is available in these teahouses. Depending on the location, some teahouses offer rooms with attached bathrooms, while others have fewer amenities. Hot water for bathing is available in almost all places, but if not, hot water is available at your request.

Jomsom Muktinath Trekking Cost

Trekking costs depend on route, travel agency, service, and many other factors. To determine the cost, trekkers have to decide what kind of service they want to take. You can complete this trek for USD 1200 if you use basic facilities.

The difficulty of Jomsom Muktinath

How difficult or easy any trekking is depends also on the season. Jomsom Muktinath trekking is suitable in the spring and autumn seasons and is also somewhat easier. This trek is somewhat challenging and passes through remote terrain. This trek is moderate, but remember that you need good physical fitness to complete the trek.

Best Seasons for Jomsom Muktinath Hiking

Autumn and spring are the best times for the Jomsom Muktinath trek. There is not much rain and not much cold during these seasons, which makes it easier for trekkers to complete the trek. However, you can do trekking according to your vacation throughout the year as per your wish.

What about security during Trek?

There is no doubt that this trek is safe for trekkers. The safety of our customers is the most important thing to us. All of our guides and other support teams have been carefully selected for your trip. Guides are licensed by the government of Nepal, and porters are trained. Our guides and porters will protect you and your belongings. But during the Jomsom Muktinath Trek, we advise you to take care of your personal belongings as well. Take your personal belongings with you to your room in a tea house, and lock your room when you need them.

Trip Itinerary

After breakfast on the first day of the trip, you leave Kathmandu early in the morning for a drive along the Prithvi National Highway to Pokhara. On the way to Pokhara, you can enjoy the beautiful views of rivers, settlements, and mountains. The drive takes approx 7 to 8 hours to reach Pokhara. After reaching Pokhara, you spend the night in a hotel by the lake in the lovely ‘City of Lakes’.

This day you are ready for Jomsom flight in the morning. The flight duration from Pokhara to Jomsom is short but it will be an exciting flight for you. The view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains is beautiful. Enjoy a short and amazing flight and land at the small airport in the beautiful mountain town of Jomsom.

We spend some time getting ready for the first day of trekking in this wonderful mountain area and start walking to Kagbeni along the Kaligandaki River. Although the trail is not very difficult, it is very windy here during the day which may make it a little difficult to walk with the wind and the dust around. You spend the night in Kagbeni village along the Kaligandaki River.

After breakfast, your destination today is Muktinath, a holy place for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. The trek on the second day of this trip takes us to the highest point (3,800m). Muktinath is a popular temple of Lord Vishnu and the eternal flame is the main attraction in this temple. For Hindus, Muktinath is the sacred place of salvation and they believe that bathing with water will lead to salvation.

After breakfast on this day, you now start descending from the upper point. Returning from Muktinath, you descend to Marpha village. Approx. 6 to 7 hours walk from Muktinath you reach Marpha village which is famous for apples. Don’t miss the apple pie and apple juice. You will spend the night in a lodge of this beautiful small village.

After breakfast on the fifth day of the trip, you are ready to walk to Kalopani village. It takes approx 6 to 7 hours to reach your destination Kalopani through Kaligandaki valley. Along the way, you can see beautiful small villages. This trail offers beautiful views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains. You will spend the night in a lodge at Kalopani.

After breakfast today you trek to Tatopani. The trail takes you along the Kaligandaki river gorge to Tatopani. On the way, you can see a beautiful waterfall called Chhahara. Once you reach the Tatopani, you can bath in the natural hot springs. Tatopani is a popular destination for trekkers as bathing in hot water is believed to cure your pain and fatigue.

After breakfast on the seventh day of the trip, get ready for the next destination Sikha. Crossing the Kaligandaki river, you slowly climb up the hill to Sikha, a small village inhabited by Magars. After walking for 5 to 6 hours, you reach Sikha and spend the night in a lodge.

Today you trek to Ghorepani where you will be welcomed by beautiful views of the mountains. You can also enjoy the beautiful forests full of rhododendrons. Ghorepani is a Magars settlement that takes approx 4 to 5 hours to reach. Your night will be spent in this beautiful village Ghorepani.

Early in the morning, you walk uphill for 45-minute to Poonhill for a sunrise view which is the best and most famous place to see the sunrise in Nepal. From here, you can see the amazing views of Annapurna Range, Dhaulagiri Range, Nilgiri, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and others. After spending some time in Poonhill, you return to Ghorepani and after breakfast start your trek to Tadapani.

Today you are ready for your next destination beautiful village Ghandruk. The trek to Ghandruk takes approx 3 to 4 hours through the jungle and downhill. Along the trail, you will enjoy majestic mountains, Rhododendron forests, and birds. Ghandruk is a beautiful Gurung village with its own language, dress, traditions, and special food.

On this day after breakfast, you walk approx 5 to 6 hours from Ghandruk to reach Nayapul. Any means of transportation can be easily accessed from Nayapul to Pokhara. In the evening, go for a walk along the beautiful lake of Pokhara and stay at a convenient hotel for the night.

On the last day of the trip, after breakfast, you drive to Kathmandu. On the way back to Kathmandu, you can still enjoy the beautiful view of the river, the settlement, and the mountains. After a 7 to 8 hour drive from Pokhara, you arrive in Kathmandu and spend the night at a hotel.

Why not list the price?

Each client's needs may be different. The price of the trip varies according to the size of your group and the service you want. The cost of the trip is calculated according to the type of service and accommodation chosen by our customers.

Each trip is customized to fit the client's needs and group size, so the price of each organized trip is different. Please let us know the service you want and the size of the group. We create trips to suit your taste and travel budget per your requirements. Hope you find our price calculation reasonable according to your needs and preferences.

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Frequently asked questions about this trip

How difficult is the trek?

The difficulty depends on where and how long you want to trek. The short trek is easy while the long trek requires some physical fitness.

What is altitude sickness?

Altitude sickness is normally known as acute mountain sickness. This can happen when people rapidly climb up to an altitude of more than 3000 meters. We ensure minimal risk by adding rest to our trekking itineraries. Most people will feel some effects of altitude, some shortness of breath and possibly light headache, this is normal enough. Acute mountain sickness patients are quite different and usually have a serious headache, sickness, and lose awareness. In almost all possible cases there are sufficient warning signs to take action properly. Descending to a lower altitude is usually enough to prevent any further problems.

What type of accommodation is available during the trekking?

There are mainly tea houses and lodges available for trekking and they are usually made using local materials and are very comfortable. These accommodations are often family-run and usually provide single and double rooms. The dining room is on the ground floor and is often on fire. All food will be cooked in order in the family kitchen. Toilet facilities are sometimes separate and sometimes outside. Most lodges provide mattresses and blankets. It's a good idea to always have a sleeping bag, which can be useful, and perhaps an inflatable pillow.

How long do we walk every day on trekking?

Trekking programs are classified into three different categories: soft, moderate and hard. Soft treks are only about 7 days to 10 days in duration. They generally do not go above 4000 meters; you can expect to walk about 4-5 hours each day. Moderate treks are challenging enough and long treks that go to the high hill country. Physically exhausting, this involves trekking along the cliffs of the mountains for about 6-8 hours. Harder treks are longer treks that go farther away from the general abode of trekkers and tourists. These physically challenging treks involve walking for 7- 9 hours each day.

How much weight do I need to carry on the trek?

You carry some of your personal belongings, such as warm clothing, water, snacks, sun block, cameras and more. Generally, these items will be lightweight, from 5 to 10kg (10 to 20 pounds). Our porters are available for other heavy goods and for your information one porter would be sharing by two people. The maximum weight carried by one porter is total 20 kg. this means 10 kg. per person is allowed for the trek. In case if you wish to carry more than this weight then you need to hire additional porters.

What is the best time for trekking in Nepal?

October and November are considered as the best times for trekking in Nepal due to dry season. December and January are also considered good times for trekking but it is extremely cold at high altitudes.

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Guest reviews

Thank you a lot for your organization about my trek. It was a superb experience; all was perfect. Karma is a very nice person and a good guide. I appreciated trekking with Odyssey (a reliable Nepal trek operator). If I come back to Nepal, I will be happy to...

Have just returned from my fourth trip to Nepal and as always Odyssey Treks organized everything superbly. We visited Makalu relatively late in the season and were rewarded with empty trails and amazing weather. Karma was as entertaining, friendly, and informative as ever along with Ang Dawa Sherpa who...