Jomsom Muktinath Trek

We take an early morning short flight to Jomsom airport, which nestles between Nilgiri and Mount Dhaulagiri on the Kaligandaki valley. Also, Jomsom, the headquarters of the Mustang district has a direct road connection from Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Sunauli (Border of India and Nepal). The mountain flight provides Ariel Mountain View of Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, etc. On arrival at Jomsom airport certainly the scenery change into the mountainous and the arid valley. We then trek along the Kali Gandaki River to Kagbeni village, the old-style mountain village with a flat roof. The route from Jomsom to Kagbeni village is pretty easy on the sandbank also enjoying the mountain culture and the mountain vista. We pass some local tea shop and apple orchid en route to Kagbeni and avoiding the jeep track and follow the trekking trail. The village set a few meters above the river where high chance to find the fossils. Kagbeni is the entrance of the Upper Mustang region and the village has beautiful Buddhist monasteries with numerous traditional Chorten.

It is short trekking to Muktinath temple on the arid terrain. We follow the walking trail north from Kagbeni village and ascent up to a tiny ridge that offers a picturesque view of Kagbeni village and Nilgiri Peak with together Kali Gandaki valley. Our trek continues on the barren land, passing an animal graze and villages then we have our lunch at Jhong. Often we cross the suspension bridge over the stream reach to Muktinath temple. Muktinath temple has great value for both devotees Buddhist and Hindu. All the important sights are inside the white-walled, the sacred area is decorated with five-color Buddhist flags. You will be exploring 108 brass water tapes, the temple of Laxmi and Vishnu, Narsing Gumba, Jwala Mai, Sakyamuni Buddha Statue. Mostly all the pilgrimages take a bathe with deep in the holy pond on the lap of Muktinath temple and 108 brass water tapes. Now trek down to the lodge and evening short walk to Guru Rinpoche Viewpoint to see sunset on Mount Dhaulagiri.

After breakfast leave from Muktinath village with following trekking path on the large meadow that offers expansive mountain topography with an inspiring view of the high mountains. We strolling downhill on the stony path and then arriving Lupra village, a small hamlet with rich Bon culture. Then 2 hours trek to Jomsom after that 40-minute gentle climb through the apple farm to Thini village. If the time permits side trek to Leopard cave and Thini/Jomsom viewpoint tower.

We following the route east bank of the auspicious Kaligandaki River also get a close and striking view of the Dhumba Lake where we see an image of the snow-clad mountains. A trail passes through pine forest, apple orchid, villages also crossing several streams. The off the beaten route provides an amazing view of the villages Marpha, Tukche and meandering river on the bottom of Mount Dhaulagiri. It is slightly descending to Kalopani. Kalopani is a large village, you will have a breathtaking view of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South and Nilgiri plus Dhaulagiri Icefall.

We trekking on the Kaliganddaki valley through the boulder gorge, rice terrace, picturesque villages and stunning waterfall to Tatopani also passes the deepest gorge of the world nestle between Mount Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I. It is beautiful trekking to Tatopani with melodramatic scenery of the diverse landscapes. We fallowing downhill trail along the Kali Gandaki River into the pine forest and steamy lush green valley. A rich charming mix culture en route to Tatopani makes your day fabulous. Tatopani, natural hot spring is the highlights where possible to dip into and believe it help a lot to remove the many diseases and sure the muscle pain removed after Dipping.

We have about 5 hours trekking to Sikha village, early part of the route following on the Kali Gandaki corridor to Ghar Khola. Then straight climbing up through cultivate landscapes and the villages. It provides breathtaking Mountain View of the Dhaulagiri also landscapes. We have a fantastic culture excursion in the villages where we meet different ethnic groups.

Our Jomsom Muktinath trek leads into the dense rhododendron forest beyond the Shikha village. It is a solid 5 hours climb to Ghorepani village, during the spring (March-April-May) the forest filled-up with red, pink, white color because of the blossom of rhododendron and other wildflowers. Also, spot the different species of the animals. The Ghorepani laying 2870 m above sea level on the ridge and it provides 270-degree Mountains view of Annapurna mountain range.

Today we have a one more great opportunity to watch the superb mountain views from Poon Hill. 1hrs steady climb up brings us at Poon Hill. We can see panoramic mountain in 270º degrees then retracing to Ghorepani. After delightful breakfast trek continues with descending into the dense rhododendron forest to Bhanthati then through the villages to Ulleri. On arrival Ulleri village catch jeep and drive back to Pokhara through terrace of rice field till Nayapul then drive onward to Pokhara.