Jomsom Muktinath trekking is among the most fascinating in the Annapurna and Mustang region. Naturally blessed with various geographical structures, cultures, religions, different ethnic groups, and remote villages, the Jomsom Muktinath trek is an entire once-in-a-lifetime experience. Jomsom Muktinath Trek has striking views of the incredible mountain vistas, unique temples, and monasteries along the windy valleys. It is the classic lodge trek in the Mustang region.
Jomsom Muktinath Trek is in the North of Pokhara. It is the classic lodge trek in the Mustang region. The highlight is a trek through the deepest gorge in the world, Dana(1450m), carved by the Kali Gandaki river, which originates in the Tibetian plateau and eventually flows into the Ganges in India. Jomsom Muktinath trek reaches the maximum altitude of 3800m. This is a moderate-level trek that anyone with moderate-level fitness can complete. It is suitable for a family trek. Although it is a moderate-level trek, there are few challenges, and the view is advantageous. The trek offers a view of Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri on its side. Both exceed their height of 8000 m. It has hundreds of years old monasteries as well as caves. This also has local tribes and the scenic beauty of the different landscapes.
Jomsom Muktinath Trek is more than just the marvellous scenic views of mountains and landscapes. The diverse landscape and culture found along this trekking route give great insight into the way of life of Nepali people of various ethnic groups. As the trekking route continues from Gurung and Thakali villages, you will experience pristine Gurung and Thakali culture.
You will find Muktinath, the famous pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus, just a short distance from Jomsom. To Hindus, Muktinath is a sacred place of salvation. They believe that bathing in the waters here guarantees salvation after death. To Buddhists, Muktinath is where the great sage Guru Rinpoche(Padmasambhava), who brought Buddhism to Tibet, came to meditate. The area is a perfect place to find fossilised ammonites, known as Shaligram, which are found all along the upper reaches of Kali Gandaki.
Jomsom Muktinath Trek begins from Pokhara. It follows the world’s deepest gorge on the way up. It takes you to an almost treeless barren. This trek has steep rocky trails up as well as down. The treks begin in the Annapurna regions and ascend through rice terraces and villages. The treks get interesting in Tatopani village. You will have an opportunity to relax in natural hot springs. Passing all the important villages of the Mustang region, you will reach the Jomsom. It reveals Nepal’s spectacular diversity at its finest. It flaunts many people and terrains, from subtropical jungles to high and dry landscapes. It resembles the Tibetan plateau.
The Jomsom Muktinath Trek starts from Pokhara and makes its way towards Nayaphul, Poon Hill, Ghasa, Tukche, and Kagbeni, with the last destination being Muktinath. The distance between Jomsom and Muktinath is more than 46km, and if you trek 7-8 hours per day, you will reach the destination in 7 to 9 days. The trekking route from Jomsom to Muktinath is one of the most enjoyable as you travel from small Sherpa village, Tamang settlements, apple vineyards, tall and old monasteries, and the curvy terrains of hills and mountains. So, if you are intrigued by the Jomsom to Muktinath trek plans, you are most welcome to book your trip with us.
Muktinath is a sacred religious place at the bottom of Thoranga La mountain pass in Mustang, Nepal. Muktinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who plays a vital role in the religious history of both Hindus and Buddhists. It is among the world’s tallest temples, located at over 3800m, and is the only Divya Desams among 107 Divya Desams outside India.
It is one of the Char Dhams in Nepal and is considered the Mukti Kshetra. The old folks and temple priests believe the person visiting any Char Dhams is cleansed of their sins and will live a happy and prosperous life. They will also get Mokshya in the afterlife.
Muktinath is also the only home of Shaligram Shila or Shaligram stone, a type of fossilised stone worshipped as one of the abode of Lord Vishnu, who was cursed to live several years as a stone.
The famous Tibetian Guru Rinpoche found a considerable temple where he used to rest while he was visiting Tibet, making the place sacred to Buddhist people since the Hindus believe Lord Vishnu rested on the bank of the Gandaki River the place, a temple was formed which became Muktinath.
Hence, Muktinath is essential for the local people and people from the Hindu and Buddhist countries. Still, it is also an equally famous and popular place for tourists from Western civilisation, mainly because of the attractions that they can explore during the treks.
Several unique attractions can tempt many trekkers worldwide to go on a Jomsom Muktinath Trek. The remote landscape, small village settlements, huge mountainous vistas, barren landscapes, apple vineyards, etc., can be considered attractions. Still, three main places that captivate the heart of the trekkers are described below.
One of the major attractions of Jomsom Muktinath Trek is Poon Hill. Poon Hill is a beautiful hill station that lies at an altitude of 3210m. You will reach Poon Hill from Pokhara to Poon Hill in 2-3 days. After trekking from Pokhara, you will reach Nayapul, TikeDhunga, and Ghorepani and stay overnight at Ghorepani. The next day the trekkers are advised to hike towards Poon Hill early in the morning for the time of sunrise. The 360 panoramic mountainous view is one of the best views in the entire country. The Poon Hill trek, in its separation, is one of the best treks in Nepal, but if you are going to Poon Hill while trekking from Jomsom to Muktinath, it is an additional bonus.
Marpha is another stunning village in the Mustang district in the Dhaulagiri zone. The small town is mainly known for clean roads, helpful, welcoming villagers, and apple vineyards. You will reach Marpha and trek from Tukche for a few hours. Another main attraction of Marpha is the different types of apple dishes like apple pickles and Marpha, which is the local drink made of apples. It is also mainly known for the stone-tilted houses in the village. Although the town is small but impressive, many trekkers following Annapurna Base Camp Circuit generally stay in Jomsom rather than Marpha, making it less touristy and relatively peaceful.
Throng La Pass is one of the stunning passes between Manang district and Muktinath. The said pass lies on the eastern side of the Muktinath Temple and is the Annapurna circuit’s highest elevation point. It lies at an altitude of over 5460m north of Annapurna Himal and in the middle of Damodar Himal. Throng La Pass is famous for the trekkers who are trekking along the Annapurna region, but many traders from Manang and Mustang also use the trail quite often.
You’ll be welcomed by the company representative once you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Transfer to the hotel and meet with the rep once again to get a detailed itinerary of the Jomsom Muktinath Trek once you freshen up. Once the briefing is over, the company guide will tell you about the things you can do here in Kathmandu.
After having breakfast, you will be going on a guided city tour. The tour will be for 4-5 hours and you will see UNESCO-enlisted world heritage sites of Kathmandu. In the evening you can stroll around the streets of Thamel and Prepare for your Trek.
We start our journey early in the morning traveling by tourist bus out of the valley and along the scenic view of the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers. The beautiful scenery along the way includes rivers, terraced fields, villages, and sights of the snowy mountains, including Ganesh and Manaslu peaks. Pokhara is a tourist hub with numerous adventure activities. It’s like a paradise for tourists.
Today, we enjoy a short drive through a fascinating landscape on the way to Nayapul, our trek starting point. Here we start our trek officially. The route follows a pleasantly through the fertile jungle and terraced fields along a rushing river. We pass through several rural settlements and gradually reach Tikhedunga.
Today we trek from Tikhedunga to Ghorepani. It involves a lot of walking as we climb a long, steep series of stone steps on our way to Ghorepani. After the challenging steps, we journey through scenic villages and timberland. Although a difficult climb, along the way, we can take in fascinating views of the snowy peaks including the Annapurnas, Machhapuchhare, and Hiunchuli. Our destination is Ghorepani, a spectacular settlement located on a ridgeline.
We start our hike very early before sunrise today to reach Poonhill for the breathtaking view of sunrise on the Himalayas. The majestic panoramic view from Poon Hill includes Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, the Annapurnas, and much more. After enjoying the views, we follow a pleasant forest trail through rhododendrons and villages with terraced farmland to eventually cross the Kali Gandaki river and arrive at Tatopani with nearby hot springs where we take a dip and savor the experience.
Today he heard towards the north, we follow upriver in the Kali Gandaki valley. We explore newly developed trails away from the motor road. We will pass through beautiful farmland with rural villages surrounded by terraced fields. We are hiking up the world’s deepest gorge, with Dhaulagiri, the world’s seventh-highest peak on one side, and Annapurna I, the tenth highest on the other. We ascend to the beautiful village of Ghasa, mainly populated by the Thakali people of this region.
We continue our journey up the Kali Gandaki. We pass through peaceful forests to the large settlements of Lete and Kalapani and as we continue the journey north, the territory becomes noticeably drier and the lush vegetation and forests give way to more desert-like terrain. The culture, too, begins to change from the lowland Hindu style practices to a Buddhist lifestyle. Tukche is a picturesque village with surrounding orchards and a monastery. The local brandy from Tukche is famous throughout Nepal and a hit with many trekkers.
We pass through the scenic village of Marpha, famous as part of the Annapurna Circuit for its apple pies before road building dramatically decreased tourism. We enjoy exquisite views of the surrounding peaks and marvelous landscapes. Jomsom is the next town and district headquarters of Mustang. The route then follows the arid valley of the Kali Gandaki River to the fort of Kagbeni, an ancient trade post with a Buddhist monastery, too. Kagbeni is just south of the restricted area of the Upper Mustang.
Today we will make a thrilling journey up the valley in the direction of Thorong La Pass. We make a scenic climb up the Jhong River valley with majestic scenery along the way. The trail passes ancient villages on the way to Muktinath, a temple that has long been a pilgrimage destination for Hindus and Buddhists alike. The temple’s walled complex has a Buddhist monastery and Hindu shrines, 108 bathing spouts, and even an ‘eternal flame’.
We are almost in the final days of our trek. The journey heads down the valley we lose elevation and gradually rejoin the Kali Gandaki River valley bottom and the trail back to Jomsom. Jomsom’s market area may seem different from the upper valley, it is more urbanized and facilitated. We enjoy our last day in Jomsom by exploring the market or we can just rest and refresh in our lodge.
We make our final goodbyes to Mustang and head back to the tourist hub of the country, Pokhara. Our scenic flight returned us to Pokhara. Finally, after a vigorous trek and adventure, we relax on the lakeside. Pokhara is a beautiful city, and also the vacation capital of the country. We can then connect with a flight back to the ancient city of Kathmandu, or take a day of exploration of Pokhara and a tourist bus to Kathmandu the following day. I recommend taking a rest day in Pokhara and exploring the city or just in a tourist haven. Pokhara is worth exploring.
Today is an early start as we depart by tourist bus for a return to Kathmandu. The 200 km route follows first along the Marsyangdi River and then the Trishuli River offering a good look at the natural scenery and farmland. The bus makes one last climb and we are back in the valley of the gods, Kathmandu.
A representative from Adventure Walkway will drop you at Tribhuwan International Airport for your Departure. You will then proceed with your immigration.
We offer fixed departure dates. If these dates are not suitable for you or if you prefer to schedule your own departure, please contact us.
Jomsom Muktinath Trek is relatively easy compared to many trekking routes in Nepal, especially in the Mustang region alone. The Upper Mustang Trek is restricted and arduous; however, the Jomsom Muktinath trek is still challenging and will provide thrill and adventure to trekkers worldwide. There are also a few trekking difficulties you must overcome to enjoy them thoroughly, so let’s take a look at them.
One of the less probable trek difficulties trekkers tend to suffer during the Jomsom-Muktinath trek is the chance of altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is becoming sick at a higher altitude, generally from 3000m above sea level. The Jomsom-Muktinath trek is generally a lower-level trek, so the chances are slim for trekkers with any experience. Still, it might affect someone with a history of previous sickness.
The symptoms of Altitude sickness are feeling dizzy, difficulty walking, headache, fever, fatigue, and shortness of breath. You will get medicine such as Diamax for a quick remedy, and if you lower the altitude towards Kagbeni, the body can feel much more relief.
The main trek difficulty that trekkers might face during the Jomsom-Muktinath trek is the religious trekking for several days. Trekkers must walk 6-7 hours daily, which can cause fatigue, tiredness, soar back, and soar feet. However, the trek must be easier if you are physically fit and go for a walk or run every morning. Hence, if you are planning the trek, it is essential to be physically healthy months before the start of the trek.
Although Jomsom Muktinath is a reasonably easy to moderate-level trek, it is still essential to prepare for the trip if you are going on a dangerous trek. The essentials in all the lower-level treks are different, and you also do not have to carry heavy items like ropes, heavy bags, extra clothes, gloves, or shoes.
Some of the essential items that you must carry during the Jomsom Muktinath Trek are a Sleeping Bag, Maps, Water Purifiers, Trekking items like shoes, ropes, and sticks
Hence, these are the prerequisite items you must carry whenever you go on a trek, whether a lower- or higher-level trek. In a higher-level trek, you must take some extra items alone or with a porter.
Moreover, you must carry additional clothing or items based on the season. If you trek during the winter season, it is essential to have more woolly clothes, but if you travel in the summer, then simple windcheaters or jackets will do the job.
Although hiring a porter is optional if you are alright carrying your bags, hiring a guide is compulsory as it falls under government regulations.
Yes, Drinking or mineral water is available at almost every stop, town, village, or city during the trek. You can also ask for hot water in the lodge, hotel, or teahouse where you stay.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit is a must to trek the Jomsom Muktinath Trek route.
The Autumn season, from September to November, is considered the best time for the trek, and the second best season is Spring.
The highest elevation you will climb during the trek is 3800m, the top of the Muktinath Temple.