Luxury Muktinath TourThe Temple of Liberation, in Comfort
Eight days from Kathmandu to Muktinath and back, flying to Pokhara, taking a chartered helicopter up to Mustang and driving the rest in private cars. Luxury hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, a mountain lodge in Jomsom, and a sunrise over the Himalaya from Nagarkot on the way home.
Journey at a Glance
- Max Altitude
- 3,710 mMuktinath Temple
- Duration
- 8 Days7 nights
- Group Size
- 5 or more1 to 4 quoted on request
- Difficulty
- EasyNo trekking needed
- Best Season
- Mar to Jun, Sep to Nov
- Start and End
- Kathmandu
Package Cost
USD3,600
per person
(Group of 17 or more)
- 5 to 8 travellers
- $4,200
- 9 to 16 travellers
- $4,000
- 17 and above
- $3,600
Last updated
Overview
A Pilgrimage by Helicopter, in Comfort
Muktinath Temple stands at 3,710 metres in the Mustang district of the Annapurna region and is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike. Hindus count it among the 108 Divya Desams of Vishnu, and pilgrims come for its 108 water spouts and the flame of Jwala Mai that burns over water.
This tour flies from Kathmandu to Pokhara, then takes a chartered helicopter up the Kali Gandaki gorge to Muktinath, or to Jomsom with the last stretch by private car. You sleep in Jomsom at 2,743 metres rather than at the temple, and go back down to Pokhara by helicopter the next morning. Groups of one to four are quoted on request, because the helicopter is chartered and its cost is shared by fewer travellers.
The way home runs through Nagarkot, where the sunrise takes in Everest and the Langtang range, and Bhaktapur, the best preserved of the three royal cities of the Kathmandu Valley. It needs no trekking and no particular fitness, and it suits travellers of every age.
“A flight to Pokhara, a helicopter to Muktinath, luxury hotels throughout.”
Journey Highlights
- Helicopter from Pokhara
- 108 water spouts
- Nagarkot sunrise
- Luxury stays throughout
Detailed Itinerary
8 DaysKathmandu, Pokhara, Muktinath, Jomsom, Nagarkot
| Day | Route | Overnight | Travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 01 | Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m) | Kathmandu, 1,400 m | Private airport pickup |
| Day 02 | Full-day sightseeing in Kathmandu | Kathmandu | Private guided sightseeing |
| Day 03 | Fly to Pokhara (822 m) and sightseeing | Pokhara, 822 m | Short flight |
| Day 04 | Helicopter to Muktinath (3,710 m), overnight in Jomsom (2,743 m) | Jomsom, 2,743 m | Chartered helicopter from Pokhara, then private car |
| Day 05 | Helicopter from Jomsom to Pokhara | Pokhara | Chartered helicopter |
| Day 06 | Fly to Kathmandu, drive to Nagarkot (2,195 m) | Nagarkot, 2,195 m | Flight to Kathmandu, then by road |
| Day 07 | Nagarkot sunrise, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu | Kathmandu | By road, via Bhaktapur |
| Day 08 | Departure | Departure | Private airport transfer |
Day 01Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)
You are met at the airport with a garland and taken to your hotel in a private car, with a briefing on the tour. In the evening, a Nepali dinner with a cultural performance.
Day 02Full-day sightseeing in Kathmandu
A private guided day at the World Heritage sites of the Kathmandu Valley, with entrance fees included.
Day 03Fly to Pokhara (822 m) and sightseeing
A short flight to Pokhara, sightseeing around the city and a boat on Phewa Lake.
Day 04Helicopter to Muktinath (3,710 m), overnight in Jomsom (2,743 m)
An early chartered helicopter from Pokhara up the Kali Gandaki gorge to Muktinath, or to Jomsom and on by private car, for darshan, the 108 spouts and Jwala Mai. Then by private car down to a mountain lodge in Jomsom for the night.
Day 05Helicopter from Jomsom to Pokhara
The helicopter back down the gorge to Pokhara in the morning, and the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 06Fly to Kathmandu, drive to Nagarkot (2,195 m)
Back to Kathmandu by air, then up to Nagarkot on the valley rim for the night.
Day 07Nagarkot sunrise, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu
Sunrise over Everest and the Langtang range, then Bhaktapur Durbar Square on the way back to Kathmandu, and a farewell dinner.
Day 08Departure
Private transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
What's Included
- Private luxury airport transfers in Kathmandu
- Luxury hotels, resorts and lodges in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Jomsom and Nagarkot
- Domestic flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back
- Chartered helicopter from Pokhara to Muktinath or Jomsom, and from Jomsom back to Pokhara
- Private guided sightseeing in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Bhaktapur, with entrance fees
- Meals as stated in the itinerary, mostly breakfasts with some Nepali lunches and dinners
- Welcome and farewell dinners with cultural performances
- Private vehicles for all sightseeing and transfers
- English-speaking guide throughout
- Boating on Phewa Lake
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and TIMS card
- All applicable taxes and service charges
What's Not Included
- International flights to and from Kathmandu
- Nepal visa fee, available on arrival or online
- Travel insurance, strongly recommended
- Meals and drinks not stated in the itinerary
- Optional activities such as horse riding
- Excess baggage charges on flights and the helicopter
- Extra costs from any delay that is not Sama Yatra’s fault, such as weather or road closures. Sama Yatra still arranges everything needed, and the cost is the traveller’s
- Medical and evacuation costs
- Any rise in government taxes or fees after booking
- Personal expenses such as shopping, tips and laundry
Before you book
Questions Travellers Ask
Do I need trekking experience for the Luxury Muktinath Tour?
No. The Luxury Muktinath Tour uses flights, a chartered helicopter and private cars throughout and involves no trekking, so no particular fitness or trekking experience is needed.
Where do you stay the night at Muktinath?
You visit Muktinath by helicopter from Pokhara and sleep in a mountain lodge in Jomsom at 2,743 metres, nearly a thousand metres lower than the temple, which is easier on the body at altitude.
Which permits does the Luxury Muktinath Tour need?
An Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and a TIMS card. Both are included.
How much does the Luxury Muktinath Tour cost?
The Luxury Muktinath Tour costs USD 4,200 per person for 5 to 8 travellers, USD 4,000 for 9 to 16 and USD 3,600 for 17 or more. Groups of one to four are quoted on request, because the helicopter is chartered and its cost is shared by fewer travellers.
What is the route of the Luxury Muktinath Tour?
The Luxury Muktinath Tour takes 8 days and 7 nights from Kathmandu. It flies to Pokhara, takes a chartered helicopter to Muktinath and sleeps in Jomsom, returns to Pokhara by helicopter, flies back to Kathmandu, and returns by way of Nagarkot for the sunrise and Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
Which flights are included in the Luxury Muktinath Tour?
The Luxury Muktinath Tour includes the flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back, and a chartered helicopter from Pokhara to Muktinath or Jomsom and from Jomsom back to Pokhara. International flights to and from Kathmandu are not included.
Is the Luxury Muktinath Tour suitable for older pilgrims?
Yes. The Luxury Muktinath Tour needs no trekking and no particular fitness, and it suits travellers of every age. You reach Muktinath at 3,710 metres by helicopter and sleep lower down, in Jomsom at 2,743 metres.
When is the best time for the Luxury Muktinath Tour?
The best months for the Luxury Muktinath Tour are March to June and September to November.
Which meals are included in the Luxury Muktinath Tour?
The Luxury Muktinath Tour includes the meals stated in the itinerary, mostly breakfasts with some Nepali lunches and dinners, and a welcome and a farewell dinner with cultural performances. Other meals and drinks are not included.
What happens if weather delays the helicopter to Muktinath?
Any delay that is not Sama Yatra’s fault, such as mountain weather holding the helicopter, is an extra cost to the traveller and is not included in the price of the Luxury Muktinath Tour. Sama Yatra still arranges everything needed.
What rituals do pilgrims perform at Muktinath?
Pilgrims take darshan at the main temple, bathe under the 108 water spouts and pray at the Jwala Mai flame shrine, offering flowers or prasad. A special puja with a priest, or Buddhist prayers through the local community, is arranged on the spot, and no published tariff exists for either. Janai Purnima in August, Buddha Jayanti in April or May, and Dashain and Tihar bring special observances.
What is the booking and cancellation policy for the Luxury Muktinath Tour?
Sama Yatra takes a 30% deposit to confirm a booking for the Luxury Muktinath Tour. Bookings cannot be cancelled, but the journey can be postponed for up to two years at the same cost.
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