Am I allowed to enter the temple if I am Christian?

Yes, you are allowed to enter the temple regardless of your religion. Being a secular country, Nepal has no restrictions on any other religion. So enjoy the religious site.

How big is the hot spring?

The hot spring is not that big. It only fits around 15-20 people. You are not allowed to swim in the hot springs. It is advisable to bring your bathing suits with you.

What happens if the flight from Jomsom to Pokhara is canceled?

If the flight from Jomsom to Pokhara is canceled due to bad weather or other reasons, you can get back to Pokhara from Jomsom in a jeep or other private vehicles. The packaging company will provide you with a private vehicle for transferring you to Pokhara rest assured.

How difficult is the trek?

The trek is not as difficult as the other treks in this region. However, proper preparation and professional guides help. The roads are bumpy and dusty so choosing the best time to go is the key to a beautiful memorable trip.

What can I do in Pokhara?

Pokhara has a lot of tourist attractions. The beautiful lakes of Pokhara and boating there is a major attraction. However, if you are not up for it, you can also visit religious sites like the Bindabasini temple. You will not get bored in Pokhara. If you reach Pokhara in the evening, you can enjoy the nightlife in the Pokhara lakeside filled with music and people. It's like a festival every day.

Jomsom Muktinath Trek 10 Days Itinerary

Trek Duration

10 Days
Trek Distance

60-75 kilometers
Avg Walking Hrs

6-7 hrs
When to Go

Spring/Autumn
Transportation

Flight/Public/Private Vehicle
Accommodations

Hotel / Tea Houses
Difficulties

Moderate
Viewpoint

Muktinath
Max Altitude

3,800 m

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

Useful Info

Faqs

Review

Overview

The Jomsom Muktinath trek is a short 10 days trek that takes you through the rough beaten path with 5-6 hours of walk every day. The trek is not a difficult one as the highest altitude you will be reaching is 3710 meters. With proper rest and acclimatization, you can reach the Muktinath Temple with no complications or issues.

With beautiful views of the rivers along the way and the indigenous people with their innate hospitality will make your trek much more memorable. The climb to the temple of Muktinath as you enter the religious pilgrimage site is a different kind of feeling.

With the locals along with tourists from around the world coming together for the blessings of the temple, you will see the traditions of the country and its people here. With people coming to bathe in the freezing cold from the 108 sprouts of Muktinath, you will learn the cultural and historical background of the place.

Highlights of Jomsom Muktinath Trek

Muktinath Temple

One of the major highlights of the Jomsom Muktinath Trek is the Muktinath Temple which has become a major pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. With pilgrims coming from around the world to bathe in the 108 holy sprouts of the temple, the temple is almost always swarmed with devotees.

Kagbeni

The village of Kagbeni is very popular among tourists as it displays the Tibetan lifestyle. It’s a win-win situation as you get to visit the temple and get to see the Tibetan lifestyle. The village has many attractions besides the lifestyle. The Red Monastery along with the holy cave known as Lhungfu Cave also attracts many tourists here.

Jomsom Marpha Village

You haven’t visited Jomsom if you haven’t gone to the Jomsom Marpha village. Jomsom is most popular for its aesthetic views of the mountains. The apple orchards and the products made from this sweet apple is pretty famous among internal and external tourists. Marpha, a wine produced with these apples named after the place itself is one of the most popular products of the village along with dried apple snacks. So grab yourself a bottle for later.

Great views

The view from the Jomsom region is awestruck. Jomsom region provides the best views of the Annapurna massifs along with the Dhaulagiri peak. You can see the magnificent views of the Kali Gandaki river and the Annapurna mountains from this area.

Unique roads

The road to get to Muktinath and Jomsom is different from other treks. The road is mostly dusty and gives off a desert vibe. It is also known as the desert road. With high winds, you can sometimes barely see the road ahead from the dust flying. This road is mostly used for cycling and mountain biking.

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Day 1 :

Kathmandu to Pokhara(Flight) and trek to Ulleri

The trek starts as you get on the flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The scenic 30 minutes flight to Pokhara will show you great views of the Valley and the landscapes. After reaching Pokhara, you will get on a private vehicle and be transferred to Nayapul where the actual trek begins. After an hour’s drive, you will walk through the valley of Hille and a steep staircase of stones will lead you to the village of Ulleri. This is a small Magar village where you will stay overnight.

Day 2 :

Ulleri to Ghorepani

The very next day after some breakfast, you will leave the beautiful Magar village. This marks the beginning of the ascend. The ascend ends in Ghorepani after a trek of around 5-6 hours. Ghorepani means horse water in Nepali. The village of Ghorepani used to be a horse traders campsite before it became a campsite for trekkers.

Day 3 :

Ghorepani to Tatopani

Ghorepani to Tatopani requires a walk of 5-6 hours. The walk is a descent till we reach the Sikha Village to Ghar Khola Village. We shall reach Tatopani after crossing a suspension bridge. The natural hot springs of Tatopani are popular for having healing properties. It is said to heal anybody aches you have. So enjoy your hot medical bath as we stay overnight in Tatopani.

Day 4 :

Tatopani to Ghasa

After a warm breakfast, we will start our trek to Ghasa today. Walking the roads surrounded by the beautiful scenic views of the peaks like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Tukuche, you will head towards the Narchyang Village. Crossing the Kali Gandaki river, you will head to Ghasa. After walking around 4-5 hours, you will reach Ghasa and stay the night there at a lodge.

Day 5 :

Ghasa to Marpha

Ghasa to Marpha is a beautiful road filled with great scenery. After around 4-5 hours of walking, you will reach Marpha. Marpha is popular for its apple orchards. After about halfway, you will start seeing the apple orchard on the way along with beautiful views of the mountains.

Day 6 :

Marpha to Kagbeni

With a stomach full of tasty breakfast, we will now set to Kagbeni Village. After a small ascend, we will reach Jomsom Village. To the north is Kagbeni. Walking up the Kaligandaki River, you will reach Kagbeni with a windy atmosphere, you will get to see the beautiful views of the Annapurna peaks along with Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri peaks. This trek will take you around 4-5 hours of walking.

Day 7 :

Kagbeni to Muktinath

Today, we will reach the most famous destination on our trek. The famous pilgrimage site, Muktinath temple is 5-6 hours trek away from Kagbeni. Walking up the riverbank of Kaligandaki stream, you will enjoy the picturesque views of the mountains alongside the river. The trail provides a desert landscape and a climb through this desert trail takes you to Muktinath. Crowded with pilgrims from around the world, you will see the holy temple today.

Day 8 :

Muktinath to Jomsom

Early morning visit to the Muktinath temple will allow you to see people performing holy rituals. The 108 holy sprouts is another highlight of this place. People from different parts of the country come to take a quick trip[ under these sprouts saying these are holy sprouts that will purify you. You will see the lifestyle and the culture of the Nepalese people here. After the morning visit to the temple, you will now return back to the beautiful village of Jomsom.

Day 9 :

Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara

After the religious visit to the Muktinath Temple, today we will fly back to Pokhara from Jomsom. The scenic flight from Jomsom to Pokhara is a lifetime experience, you get to see the beautiful landscapes of Jomsom along with the beautiful lakes of Pokhara. Catching an early flight to Pokhara means you get to visit the major attractions in Pokhara and maybe even try some boating.

Day 10 :

Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu

This is the last day of your memorable Jomsom Muktinath Trek. Today you will fly back to Kathmandu from Pokhara after an adventurous journey to one of the most popular attractions of Nepal. The flight will take around 45 minutes. You can enjoy the scenic view from the flight and enjoy the view of the valley as well.

When is the Best Time?

Autumn is the best time for Jomsom Muktinath Trek. with the monsoon rain washing off all the dust in the roads, the trek is much easier and clear during this time. The months of September and November are the best time for the trek. The slight drizzle during the month of September will help keep the roads wet and minimize the dust in the air. During this time you can see the clear views of the mountains and awesome landscapes.

The months of March to May is also a good time for the Jomsom Muktinath trek. These months have favorable temperatures as it is not very cold during this period. However, the winds are pretty strong during this time so be prepared for the wind.

The months of December to February are usually cold. If you want to see the snowfall and visit the temple with the snow, this is a good time for you. But keep in mind that the roads are slippery during this period due to the snowfall. So be careful not to slip mainly on the stairs to the Muktinath temple.

Difficulties You May Face

Jomsom Muktinath trek is considered one of the short easy treks. However, there are some difficulties you may face during the trek. Some of them are listed below so you can avoid these difficulties through proper preparation.

Acclimatization

Being at an altitude of 3710 meters, you would think acclimatization wouldn’t be a problem. But there is a chance of altitude sickness in trekking from Jomsom to Muktinath. To avoid any altitude sickness try to have proper acclimatization in Jomsom. Mainly with the Marpha intake, people tend to get altitude sickness in Jomsom. So make sure to save the alcoholic treat for later and focus on the trek for now.

Tough roads

The roads may seem easy and not so steep but the terrain of the roads makes it hard. The bumpy roads of the trek make it hard for you to overcome it. Walking 5-6 hours a day on those bumpy beaten roads is a difficult task. So make sure you are well prepared for the task.

So if you are looking for a short trek with beautiful views fused with some cultural experiences, the Jomsom Muktinath Trek is the one for you. With beautiful views of the mountains along with the religious and cultural experience, the Jomsom Muktinath Trek is a wholesome trip for you.