Jomsom Muktinath Trek - 12 Days

You will just find it wonderful flying into Kathmandu on a day that’s crystal clear. The views of snow-capped mountain peaks sprawling down below you are almost ecstatic, beginning a whole connection of memorable experiences that stay with you for a real long time. An escort and driver from our office will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The representative will help you check into your reserved hotel. At the hotel, you will be oriented about your daily activities. It’s your first overnight in the city of temples, the most in the world.

It is a day for Sightseeing Tour in Kathmandu Valley and trek preparation with making permit etc. We will arrange a professional tour guide for you and a private tourist vehicle with a driver to explore between monuments. The tour guide will take you to UNESCO World Heritage Sites such Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath Stupa, the historical and cultural sites you’ll visit today.

After completion of your day tour, you will be having meeting with your trek guide at our office/hotel. He will brief you about the Trek and all the essentials. The Thamel has many trekking gear shops, where you can buy missing gear in the late evening and get ready for the driving to Pokhara.

We hop a flight to Pokhara and drive to Nayapul, trek to Ulleri [2000m] it takes around 30 minutes to fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara. While flying to Pokhara, you can enjoy the wonderful views of glistening mountain ranges and stunning landscapes below you. You will be met at Pokhara airport by your trekking crew. A short drive of about 45 minutes brings you to a trailhead at Birethanti, a bustling village of lodges, shops and houses. You commence your trek with a gradual ascent along the left bank of the Bhurungdi Khola. You then move away from the river and follow a trail along the upper edge of terraced fields through Hille to Tikedungha. After this, you cross a stream beyond the village and then drop down to the suspension bridge over the Bhurungdi Khola. Then you climb a long, steep and seemingly endless stone staircase, which eventually leads you to the village of Ulleri. At this scenic village, there are fine views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

On ascending along a route that brings you to a forest, you will find Annapurna South, hidden by a ridge. Beyond Banthanti, there are magnificent forests of oak and rhododendron. After crossing several crystal-clear mountain streams, you arrive at the village of Nangathanti. After a few hours of trekking through the forest, you enter Ghorepani. Ghorepani literally means “horse water” and is a popular watering spot for mules, which have plied this route for centuries from Pokhara to Jomsom and beyond. A short hike takes you to a small pass and further to the village of Deurali. To get you acclimatized with your surroundings, you rest at Ghorepani.

The views of the sunrise are ideal from the point of Poon Hill. After breakfast, you descend to Tatopani through the rhododendron forest amidst magnificent natural vistas. As you near Chitre, you experience breathtaking views of Dhaulagiri range. The path then leads through terraced fields to Sikha, a Magar village clustered on a ridge. You continue descending, gradually at first and then more steeply to cross the Ghar Khola. After a short climb, you hike across the Kali Gandaki on a large suspension bridge and from here onwards, it is only a short distance upstream to Tatopani. Tatopani derives its name from the hot springs near the river below the village.

You now go by the trail that ascends gently up the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest in the world, towards the village of Dana, which is surrounded by beautiful orange groves. En route, you see the local folks selling baskets of oranges. Further down the road is the small hamlet of Rupse, where a thundering waterfall cascades down beside the trail, exposing its naked beauty. Further-a-foot, the trail enters the steepest and narrowest section of the gorge. You will come across a layered stone path well-constructed and wide. As the rock cliff ends, you head towards Ghasa, an old-world Thakali village. You can see several flat-roofed Tibetan style houses in Ghasa. [Walk approx 5 – 6 hours]

After breakfast you trek from Ghasa towards Larjung. Few hours of descents soon follow other rock-strewn ascents through forests of fir, cypress and juniper along the riverbanks of the Kali Gandaki. As soon as you reach Larjung, you cannot but literally marvel at the architectural grandeur of this small town; tunnels, narrow alleyways and houses built in traditional style presents an interesting sight for snapshots of this unique village on the mountains.

From Larjung, the trail follows the wide valley of the Kali Gandaki, passing through Khobang and Tukuche. As we hike the walks, we keep seeing narrow alleyways and houses built around enclosed courtyards as a buffer against the unpredictable winds of the Kali Gandaki gorge. The trail further meanders through stonewalled orchards. Soon, you come across a stone gate that marks the entrance to Marpha. You also spot several white-walled houses. Marpha has a well-maintained drainage system and is highly popular for its local apple brandy. After a lunch in Marpha, you now hit the trail towards Jomsom. As you approach your destination, the landscape becomes increasingly arid and eye-catching with its mixture of browns, yellows and grays that contrast with the white snowcapped peaks of Tilicho and Nilgiri.

After breakfast, you continue your trek along a path that is a vast gravel riverbed of the Kali Gandaki. You come across a stream and fertile vegetation. On crossing a small ridge to Chhancha Lhumba at 2730 meters, you continue heading towards Muktinath with Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri attracting your sights as you ascend to Khingar (3200 meters). More meadows, streams and lush vegetation can be seen along the trail as it paves your way to Jharkot (3500 meters). You encounter the ruins of the Dzong and the serene villages of Purang and Changur. As you trek past mule stables and steep barren hillside, you enter Ranipauwa. Pilgrims & hikers have, for years, been using Ranipauwa as an ideal haven for rest. On trekking further, you finally enter Muktinath. Temples and religious shrines are some of the major attractions of this holy site. Pilgrims flock to the Buddhist gompa and pagoda-style temple of Lord Vishnu.  Muktinath is a prime pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists.

As you leave Muktinath behind, you start retracing your steps to Jomsom glimpsing once again at the majestic views of Nilgiri. This is an Easy day, the trail gradually ascends to Eklebhati at Kali Gandaki River valley, walk another two hours along the wide sandy and windy valley. The trail moves between two hills. You bunk out for the night in Jomsom. At eventide, you celebrate the completion of your trek with your hardworking crew, whom you have come to know so well over the last 9 days.

The flight from Jomsom to Pokhara takes about 25 minutes. The flights are available during the morning time. The strong breeze blows during the after and frequent change of the waether prevent the flight being landed and taken off in the afternoon. During the flights in morning, the sky looks very clear which makes you able to enjoy the splendid views of different mountain peaks.After landing in Pokhara we take some rest and drive back to Kathmandu.

We drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara by tourist bus (sofa seat), while driving from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you head up to Damauli, Dumre, Muglin and Kurintar where the Nepal’s first Cable car is operated to reach to Manakamana Temple. En route, you could enjoy the mountain views, green sceneries, rice terrace fields, vegetable fields and people being engaged in their daily life activities. From Naubishe you climb up to Thankot, the gateway to capital city. You can also fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu which takes about 25 minutes. In the evening, we will visit a well known Nepali kitchen for dinner; & as you savor your meal, you will be entertained to an exciting cultural dance performed by the local belles. This is a complimentary outing on behalf of Higher Limits Trek & Expeditions for the good welfare of our guests. Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.

As we have successfully completed the trip, it is time to return home or embark on your next journey. Even you can join our next adventures trips in the Himalayas if you wish too. If not, our airport team will take care of your airport escort and say you our last goodbye till the next adventure holidays.