Trip Overview
Nepal is home of diverse attractions from nature to culture. Therefore, there are countless trekking routes where trekkers can find solace in the lap of nature’s wonders including lofty snowy mountains and get a spiritual awakening too. There are lots of myth and mystical wonders to behold in Nepal. Annapurna region of Nepal is considered as the jewel of the Nepalese Trekking industry. There are a plethora of attractive trekking routes to trek in this region. In the Lower Mustang region of Nepal under the Annapurna Trekking zone, Jomsom Muktinath Trek is the most thrilling and mystical trekking route to trek. Nepal High Trek has successfully knitted a fine itinerary of five days to complete the course.
5 Days Jomsom Muktinath Trek Itinerary Overview
Trekkers take a flight from Pokhara to Jomsom. The flight experience is very thrilling as the aircraft hovers over the Kaligandaki River. The landscape change as the aircraft move higher can be an enticing sight to behold. On the bank of Kaligandaki River, Jomsom is a beautiful town. The place is popular not only to foreigners but also the most popular holiday destination for locals or domestic tourists. The construction of road from Pokhara to Muktinath has increased the number of tourists visiting the place. Locals visit the destination either on local bus or on the motorcycle. If yo wish to do the trip in motorcycle or by four wheeled jeep, it is possible. Contact our travel planners and we can knit the best motorcycle or Jomsom Muktinath tour from either Kathmandu or from Pokhara.
Trekking starts from Jomsom. Trekkers walk along the banks of the Kaligandaki River towards the village of Kagbeni. The village is inhabited by Tibetan-orientin Nepalese people mainly Thakalis and Tibetan-origin people. They have their own culture and traditions. You can stroll around the village and visit monasteries present in the village. It is also the village that has religious significance. Some travelers visit Nepal and head to the Kaligandaki area to find fossils. Yes, the place is also famous for doing fossil research tour. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that fossils found in the banks of Kaligandaki River is the emblem of Lord Vishnu. Such is the sacredness of the place.
Muktinath Temple and Buddhists Nunnery
Trekkers trek uphill to Muktinath temple from Kagbeni. The altitude increases and it is a relatively hard day of trekking. Muktinath temple has 108 taps and two ponds. It is believed that if you bathe in these taps then all your sins will be washed away. You will get pardoned to all the sins that you have committed. All your sorrows will vanish and help you to succeed in life. There is ever flaming flame inside a nunnery near Muktinath temple. The location of the Hindu temple and Buddhist nunnery in the same place provides the best example of religious harmony present in Nepal.
Muktinath temple area is also the final destination on the Annapurna Circuit Trek. The word Muktinath comes from an ancient Sanskrit word that means to be free or liberate oneself from sins and wrongdoings. In short, a heaven and freedom from the life cycle and reaching Nirvana, the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. A Hindu main god besides Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. Similarly, for Buddhist followers, the place is famous as Chumming Gyatsa. The place is also famous and sacred for Buddhists as this is the place where Guru Rimpoche meditated and received enlightenment in 7th century.
Can I do the Upper Mustang Trek after the Jomsom Muktinath Trek?
Yes, you can do the Upper Mustang Trek after the Jomsom Muktinath Trek. However, you must fulfill the criteria of restricted trekking regions before heading to Upper Mustang. The lower Mustang region doesn’t require a special immigration permit. For Upper Mustang you must attain certain permits. Jomsom is at the crossroads of Upper Mustang Trek and Annapurna Circuit Trek. If you love to do long detour and want to include Muktinath in your trekking itinerary then do either Upper Mustang Trek or Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Before embarking on this trekking trip, make sure that you inform our travel planners in advance. You can’t make an immediate decision to do Upper Mustang Trek as it requires lots of planning and formalities to cover.
Motorcycle or Jeep Tour to Muktinath Temple
Contact our travel planners to book the Motorcycle or Jeep Tour to Muktinath Temple. You can either start your trip from Kathmandu or from Pokhara. The road condition is okay as it is black topped in the majority of sections. If you are on a road trip, the places like Rupse waterfall, Marpha village, and Kaligandaki gorges. This is also the best way to spend a quality Muktinath holiday in Nepal.
At an altitude of 3800 m, Muktinath temple is also a risky place in terms of altitude sickness. Therefore, you must be very careful while trekking in this trekking route. Don’t underestimate the altitude. You will be transferred to Jomsom on flight. Immediate increase in altitude is the biggest factor of altitude sickness. Therefore, heed the instructions of your trekking guide and always communicate with your trekking guide about your conditions.
Thakali Food and Beautiful Landscape of Lower Mustang
Besides Newari food, Thakali food is a national identity in terms of cuisine. Yes, the food of Thakali people living in Jomsom and its periphery is one of the staple diet of Nepalese people. Dal, Bhat, Achar, Tarkari, Meat, and Ghee are the major dishes of the Thakali food. Apart from food, the place is equally mesmerizing and splendid. Green lush alpine forests, mountains like Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna, etc. in the backdrop and river banks make the place feel as if it is a beautiful canvas of the painting. The Jomsom Muktinath Trekking trail combines the popular Annapurna Circuit Trek, Ghorepani Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp.
Book the Jomsom Muktinath Trek in Nepal with us. Explore the divine place worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhist followers. Relish the chance to witness great harmony between two religions and a great symphony of nature and culture. Do the Jomsom Muktinath Trek in Nepal with your family as well. It is the best place to take your family and let them explore the great combination of nature’s best wonders and cultural grandeur.
Related Picture Gallery
Details Itinerary
Day 01: Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom 2,715 m with overnight at Jomsom.
Morning from the hotel in Pokhara, depart for an early flight to Jomsom, during airborne. Enjoy the grand vista of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himalaya range of peaks, as small aircraft lands at Jomsom small airport. On arrival transfer to a nice hotel, Guest House / Lodge. Rest of the day with time to browse around Jomsom, the headquarter town of Mustang district. A necessary stop at Jomsom for acclimatization before reaching the high Muktinath area.
Day 02: Trek to Kagbeni 2,820 m- 04 hrs.
Morning from Jomsom, having breakfast start the walk heading towards the wide Kali-Gandaki River valley, a windswept country. Walk on Kaligandaki plains on a pleasant trail with a few short ups and down to Kagbeni village.
Kagbeni is the gateway to Upper Mustang and Tibet border, at Kagbeni check into a nice lodge. An interesting village of strong Tibetan influence in culture and custom of old Buddhism heritage. Kagbeni is also a holy site for Hindus to perform and offer prayer to the departed souls.
Kagbeni in the Hindu Myth story describes the earlier life of Kak Bhushundi, was a mischievous disciple of Lomas Muni (a great Guru) and a true devotee of Lord Shiva and was reborn as a crow, and came close enough to know about Rama and understood the purpose of Lord Vishnu’s incarnation among humans and then composed the great epic Ramayana. The sage- a crow came to be as Kak-Bhushindi.
Day 03: Trek up to Muktinath at Pani-Pawa village 3,800 m -04 hrs.
From Kagbeni a steep climb for a few hours to holy Muktinath and its near village. Our route leads uphill to an interesting old village at Jharkot.
A place with a number of old houses and a ruined fortress known as Dzong, with a monastery on top of the hill. An hour climb to the village of Rani Pauwa, close to Muktinath Temple premises. On arrival transfer into a nice lodge facing views of Mt. Dhaulagiri and a range of peaks.
Day 04: Visit the Muktinath Temple premises and trek to Jomsom-04 hrs.
After a pleasant overnight, morning a short climb to the Muktinath Temple complex, enjoy the serene surroundings. The purity of Muktinath goes back to the antiquity of 2,300 years ago, both Hindu and Buddhist visits for pilgrimage.
For worship and as well to witness the sight of the natural spiritual power of Muktinath and its 108 water spout. After a holy bath or wash, visit the main pagoda temple that houses the idol of Lord Muktinath. One of the various manifestations of Lord Vishnu. After getting blessed visit the temple monastery of Jal Devi, and witness the natural blue flame. Which is under the hidden floor of the monastery’s main prayer hall, an amazing site full of natural wonders.
Enjoy the morning tour and worship at Muktinath temple. Return journey with a long descent to Kaligandaki River Valley, and then back at Jomsom for overnight halt.
Day 05: Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara and transfer to the hotel.
Early breakfast and walk to Jomsom airport and then board in a small aircraft for the sweeping scenic short flight. The air journey of less than half-hour, an exciting flight overlooking grand views of snow-clad peaks. Finally the plane lands at Pokhara airport and then transfers to your hotel, after a wonderful experience on Jomsom-Muktinath Trekking.
Jomsom Muktinath Trek Map
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