7 days Muktinath Temple Tour

What Can We Expect From Muktinath Temple Jeep Tour

Here are some points that you can expect from the Muktinath temple jeep tour:

Pleasing drive: One of the most common things you can expect on the Muktinath Temple jeep tour is an attractive drive throughout the journey. The jeep tour begins in Kathmandu and then gets to the tourist hub of Pokhara and your destination, Muktinath. Throughout the drive, you’ll be pleased with views of mountains, traditional Nepali villages, beautiful flowing rivers, and the diverse landscape of Nepal. 

Cultural Immersion: During the jeep tour to Muktinath temple, you will have a chance to immerse yourself in the diverse cultures of various ethnic groups. As you journey on the jeep tour, you will pass through traditional villages with unique cultures, lifestyles, customs, and traditions. The locals are hospitable, kind, and always willing to welcome you into their culture and share their traditions.

Pilgrimage site exploration: On the Muktinath Temple tour, you can undoubtedly expect to explore the pilgrimage site of Muktinath. At 3800 m above sea level, the temple is a religious place of significant importance for Hindu and Buddhist communities. Travelers can take time to explore the Temple, appreciate its architectural style, and participate in the rituals conducted by resident priests.

Local Cuisine: On the Jeep tour to Muktinath temple, you’ll stay overnight at Jomsom. There, you’ll get to taste the local cuisine. You can also have options for international cuisine, but having local cuisine provides different satisfaction. The local cuisine is tasty and good for your health. 

Driving on the road between Pokhara and Muktinath

While going on a Muktinath tour through a mode of ground transportation, the road condition is the major question that arises in most travelers’ minds. Due to the well-known cities, visitors generally do not ask about the road conditions from Kathmandu to Pokhara. However, the driving conditions from Pokhara to Muktinath are usually visitors’ concerns.

The condition of the road between Pokhara and Muktinath is of three different segments:
Pokhara to Tatopani:
The first part of the drive towards Muktinath from Pokhara takes you to Tatopan. It takes 6 hours of drive to get to Tatopani from Pokhara, covering a distance of 90km. The road conditions from Pokhara to Tatopani involve different conditions. The road is blacktop from Pokhara till reaching Beni. While from Beni, the road is gravel. Thus, you’ll have a smooth drive up to Beni on a well-maintained trail, and then the trail becomes rough with rocky terrain.

Tatopani to Muktinath and return to Marpha:
The second segment of the drive from Pokhara to Muktinath involves driving from Tatopani to Muktinath. It takes 4 hours to reach Muktinath temple from Tatopani, which covers a distance of 64km. From Tatopani to Muktinath, the driving road is gravel, with some rough, bumpy, and rocky sections. After you visit Muktinath temple, you’ll return to Marpha village. The road is gravel, and you’ll return using the same route. It takes a tentative 6 hours to reach Marpha from the Muktinath temple.

Marpha to Pokhara:
From Marpha, the journey returns to Pokhara using the same route taken first to reach Muktinath. Thus, the driving road from Marpha to Pokhara is gravel and blacktop. From Marpha, the road is gravel until reaching Beni, and from Beni, the road is blacktop with well-maintained condition. It takes 7-8 hours of drive to reach Pokhara from Marpha Village.

Overall, the driving road from Pokhara to Muktinath is paved and unpaved. However, road conditions vary depending on the time of the year and weather conditions, especially in unpaved sections. During the dry season, the driving roads are in good condition, but during the monsoon season, the chances of landslides and road closures due to heavy rainfall could be a concern.

Weather and Climate

Throughout the year, the area of Muktinath faces different weather and temperature. The region faces four distinct seasons every year, bringing other weather conditions. In the Spring season, the area of Muktinath faces mild weather with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 14°C (50°F to 57°F). However, the temperature drops close to freezing point during the night. 

In summer, the weather is sunny, with temperatures ranging from 11°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F). Nights are chilly, with temperatures up to zero degrees Celsius. In Autumn, the weather is drier and more apparent due to the post-monsoon season. The average temperature during Autumn is around 15°C (59°F), and the weather is usually sunny and mild. Weather is freezing in Winter, with temperatures dropping below minus degrees Celsius. 

Climate 

In the Mustang district, Muktinath faces a unique Tundra Climate. The climate indicates relatively cold temperatures throughout the year and summer with cool temperatures. Muktinath’s annual temperature is 15.4ºC (59.72ºF), 6.6% harder than the average throughout Nepal. 

With its cold temperatures and distinct seasonal changes, Muktinath’s Tundra climate signifies its unique environment. From the greenery of summer to the calm snowscapes of Winter, Muktinath invites travelers on a mesmerizing journey through nature’s beauty. 

Distance from Kathmandu to Muktinath

The distance from Kathmandu to Muktinath varies depending on the route. The Boundless Adventure itinerary breaks it down into three parts: Kathmandu to Pokhara (201.2 km), Pokhara to Jomsom (158.7 km), and Jomsom to Muktinath temple (23.6 km). The distance between Kathmandu and Muktinath is approximately 383.5 km (238.3 miles). The travel time depends on the Jeep’s speed, rest stops, traffic, and road conditions.

Transportation services from Kathmandu

Boundless Adventure provides ground transportation according to your Group’s size. Because the cost is hugely different, we’ll give a car to 3/4 people from Kathmandu Pokhara and a plane or Jeep to Muktinath. But, If you are traveling in a Group, we will provide a private bus from Kathmandu and a Plane or Jeep from Pokhara.

Muktinath temple tour by Jeep

The Muktinath jeep tour takes 8 to 9 hours from Pokhara to Marpha. You will spend one night in Marpha village, and the following day, you will drive to Muktinath temple, explore the Temple, and drive back to Tatopani overnight. The Pound of Tatopani is a natural hot spring at 52 degrees Celsius near the Kaligandaki River.

Similarly, the entire distance traveled is 219 kilometers on paved and unpaved roads—the first 100 kilometers from Pokhara to Beni. The rest of the 119 kilometers are a series of winding lanes. The majority of our journey is along the bank of the Kaligandaki River.

After a great bath in the natural hot spring, you will drive to Pokhara overnight. However, it will add two days to the trip if you would like to drive a Jeep from Kathmandu to Muktinath and back to Kathmandu. You may end your journey at Pokhara and turn into the Sunauli, Panitanki, and Raxul borders by bus or car.

However, if you are interested, we’ll pick you up and drop you off by bus or car at the edge.

Muktinath tour by plane

Because there is no direct connection from Kathmandu to the nearest airport to Muktinath Temple, the nearest airport to Muktinath is Jomsom Airport. There are morning flights from Pokhara only.

As a result, you must first travel to Pokhara by road or domestic plane and then take a plane to Jomsom the next day. Similarly, fly back to Pokhara by plane and drive to Kathmandu on the same or the following day.

In this situation, you must stay one overnight at Pokhara and another at Jomsom. If you are short of time, you can arrive in Kathmandu by connecting flights from Jomsom to Pokhara and Pokhara to Kathmandu.

But, we suggest you better have one overnight at Pokhara due to bad weather in Jomsom, and the flight can be canceled due to weather.

Muktinath Temple Travel by helicopter

Boundless Adventure provides a direct helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Muktinath and returns to Kathmandu within four hours, including 2 hours of ground landing at the nearest helipad of Muktinath. Also, you may have alternative options from Kathmandu to Muktinath and back.

Drive a car or fly into Pokhara by fixed wind plane overnight; in Pokhara the next day, fly to Jomsom by plane and Jeep to Muktinath.

Take a helicopter from Pokhara to Muktinath temple and return to Pokhara on the same day.
Riding the chopper from Pokhara on round trips will take two hours, including a one-hour helicopter ride at the Muktinath helipad.

Best season for the tour to Muktinath

Muktinath has a wide range of average temperatures. March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, and December are the finest seasons to visit Muktinath temple. The weather will be transparent throughout these months, allowing you to glimpse the snow-capped mountains up close. The holiest pilgrimage place has excellent Himalayan views, beautiful scenery, and perfect weather conditions. Similarly, we are not suggesting you during January and February. It might be cold and snowing around Ranipauwa and Muktinath Temple.

Permits for Muktinath Temple tour

Muktinath Temple is in the Annapurna Conservation area. Everyone must have permits to get to Muktinath Temple; no worries, Boundless Adventure provides permits from Kathmandu. You need to send us your passport, Adhar card, or Voter ID; any of them will be fine, but a picture is also required for a permit.

If you cannot get permits in Kathmandu, you must pay a double permit fee at Jomsom airport. These are the rules of the Annapurna Conservation Area.