Muktinath is beautifully nestled on the upper portion of the River Kali of Buri Gandaki on the northern part of the main Himalayan Range and south of Lo-Manthang or Mustang. The exact location of Muktinath is 29° 11’ N. latitude and 83° 53’E longitude at an elevation of 3,8000m (or approximately 12,500 ft) on the western slopes of the Damodar Himal, northern extension of the Annapurna Himalayan massif.
Muktinath is situated in high Himalayan arid region surrounding the China Tibetan Autonomous Area (Xizang). The northern part of Nepal is known as Bhot and the residents are called Bhotia. The holy shrine of Muktinath is located near headwaters of Jhong River; it is the tributary of Kali Gandaki.
Day 01: Kathmandu Arrival
Arriving at Kathmandu and our representative will receive you and transfer you to the hotel. They will brief you about the entire tour. Take rest and relax for the day and stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 02: Kathmandu Tour
Breakfast, you will start your tour with the Kathmandu sightseeing tour of Pashupatinath, Budhanilkantha, Bouddhanath Stupa and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Overnight stay in the hotel
Day 03: Kathmandu – Pokhara:
Drive to Pokhara and check in hotel for refreshment and relaxation. Walk along the Lake side and enjoy sometime in the Pokhara market in the evening. Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 04: Pokhara – Jomsom – Muktinath Darsan via Beni – Tatopani- Marpha. ( 10-12 Hrs)
Early Morning, we will begin our road journey from Pokhara by our private Landcruiser. It will take about whole day to arrive Jomsom which is the district headquarter of Mustang District. Mustang also known as forbidden kingdom is very popular not only because of its ancient tradition / culture but also is very rich because of its natural diversities such as Huge Himalayan ranges as well as deep Gorge of Kali Gundaki Valley. Moreover, this fascinating overland trip starting from mesmerizing Pokhara to the lap of Annapurana’s trekking trail following amazing river side via Hot spring at Tatopani to apple Village Marpha & Jomsom will finally take you to the worlds well known Pilgrimages spot Muktinath at an elevation of 3950 meters above from the sea level.The whole day drive from such a low altitude is definitely a hectic day however once you take holy bath in 108 natural water taps, you will feel much comfortable right away. Our yatra will continue to worship in Muktinath Temple & nearby Jwalamai etc. The remarkable surroundings of the Temple, will offer you enchanting magnificent views of so many peaks. Muktinath offers nice accommodation as well as delicious meals as per the taste of different pilgrimage. This is the entry point of Annapurna circuit Trek beside from Beshi Sahar.
At the end of the day, we return back to Jomsom. Refresh and stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 05: Jomsom – Pokhara by road.
Breakfast, you will be transferred to to Pokhara following the same road. Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 06: Pokhara – Kathmandu
Drive to Kathmandu and take rest for the day and shop around in the market of Kathmandu, Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 07: Departure
This is the last day of the tour where you will be transferred to the international airport for onward journey.
Muktinath and Jomsom Tour (Overland)
(Guaranteed Fixed Departure Date 2015/016) |
Months |
Fixed Departure Dates |
April |
22, 29 |
May |
06, 13, 20, 27 |
June |
03, 10, 17, 23, 26 |
July |
01, 08, 15, 22, 26 |
August |
05, 12, 19 |
September |
02, 09, 16, 23 |
General
- 4 seasons Sleeping bag (Optional/we can provide one if you need it but is to be returned after the trek)
- Duffel or Rucksack bag or suitcase (We will provide one complimentary ACE duffel bag for you to keep.)
- Daypack
- Down Jacket only if you are travelling in the cold season i.e January, Feruary, November and December(Optional/we can provide if you need one but is to be returned after the trek)
Upper Body – Head / Ears / Eyes
- Shade hat or baseball cap – some people drape a bandana down the back of their head and then put a baseball cap on to hold it is place. This can be a flexible alternative while keeping the sun off your ears and neck.
- Warm wool or synthetic hat that cover your ears ( only if you are travelling in the cold season i.e January, February, November and December)
- Goggles or sunglasses for sunbeam, dust and wind.
- Headlamp – Black Diamond and Petzl both make several good ones. Make sure to bring extra batteries and that they are lithium batteries so that they will last in the colder temperatures. These are indispensable for getting around at night, reading, etc. so, don’t go cheap here.
- Some people like ear-muffs; These are optional; a good hat, balaclava, and hooded jacket should really be sufficient, but this is a personal choice for some people (optional).
- A neck warmer is another piece of gear for extra warmth if you feel you will need it and is for cold season (optional).
Hand
- 1 pair liner gloves, thin wool or synthetic, useful alone on mild days or as a layer inside other gloves / mitts for additional warmth.
- 1 pair warm gloves (This is required if your are travelling in cold season i.e January, February, November and December).
- Instant hand warmers are always nice in a pinch, but really shouldn’t be necessary on the trek. Bringing appropriate hand protection as recommended above, should be sufficient (optional).
Core Body
- T-shirts (2).
- Fleece jacket or pullover.
- Fleece Wind-Stopper jacket (optional).
- Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket.
- 2 women sports bras, Synthetic, no cotton!
Lower Body – Legs
- 2 pairs nylon hiking shorts – Quick drying type, not cotton!
- Underwear, stay away from cotton (4).
- 2 pairs lightweight long underwear – capilene or other synthetic.
- 1 pair soft shell pants – synthetic, full zip from top and bottom preferable.
- 2 pairs trekking pants, preferably that zip on/off at the knees so they double as shorts..
- 1 pair cotton pants (loose jeans/khakis).
- All clothing should be kept dry using waterproof stuff sacks or large puncture resistant plastic bags.
Feet
- 2 pairs of liner socks, synthetic or capilene.
- 2 pairs heavy weight socks to be worn over liner socks preferable for cold season.
- 2 pair light weight socks, a good option for the lower / warmer parts of the trail.
- 1 pair light to medium weight water proof hiking/trekking boots. Ensure a good fit with layered socks and you have worn then before to get used to it (otherwise you will get lots of blister).
- 1 pair light trekking shoes or sneakers. Good for around the camp/lodges and in Kathmandu.
- 1 pair hiking gaiters, good for keeping dust and rocks out of your shoes / boots as well as keep your feet dry as necessary (Optional).
- 1 pair sandals (Optional).
Medicines and First Aid Kits
(Please note our guide will also carry the first aid kit bag during the trek. However we still recommend you to bring your personal first aid kit as well)
- Extra Strength Excedrin for altitude related headaches.
- Ibuprofen for general aches and pains.
- Immodium or Pepto bismol capsules for upset stomach or diarrhea.
- Diamox (commonly prescribed as Acetazolamide) 125 or 250mg tablets for altitude sickness. Please discuss with us before starting to take this medicine.
- 1 small personal sized first-aid kit with blister treatments such as mole skin, band-aids, some waterproof tape, anti-infection ointments, etc. Your guides will have more extensive medical gear, but you should have the basics for general use.
Miscellaneous, but Important !
- Passport and extra passport photos (4 copies).
- Airline ticket (Please make a copy and leave on at our office in KTM just in case if you need to change the date of your).
- Durable wallet / pouch for travel documents, money & passport.
- Lip balm. At least SPF 20, 2 sticks. A string taped to the stick is helpful, to hang around your neck and some are now being sold with a cord already attached. Handy as it avoids you from having to stop and look for it.
- SPF 40 is recommended and should be relatively new since it loses its’ effectiveness over time.
- Pocket knife or small Swiss Army type.
- Water purification Iodine tablets or Polar-pure crystals.
- Toiletry kit. Be sure to include toilet paper stored in a plastic bag, hand wipes, and liquid hand sanitizer, towel, soap, etc.