Muktinath by Flight: How to Reach the Temple, What to Expect and What It Costs

Last updated 10 October 2026.

Short answer: The easiest way to reach Muktinath at the moment is to fly Kathmandu to Pokhara, then Pokhara to Jomsom, and take a jeep up to the temple at about 3,800 m. Our 5-day tour does this with a spare day for the weather, from USD 1,780 per person for 2 to 4 people. The road from Pokhara to Jomsom is damaged and closed for repairs, which is why the tour flies.

Muktinath is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Nepal, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Many of the people who write to me are older pilgrims who cannot walk for days, or families bringing a parent. For them the route matters as much as the temple. You can see the plan on our Muktinath Tour by Flight, 5 Days page. A licensed guide goes with you for all five days.

How do you reach Muktinath?

I do not offer a Muktinath helicopter tour today. If you are interested, ask me and I will tell you what is possible, rather than guess here.

What does the 5-day tour look like?

The spare day on day 3 is there because mountain flights do not always leave on time. One delay does not cost you the temple. If the weather stops the flights for longer, we rebook the next available flight and tell you what it means for your onward travel.

How high is Muktinath, and is it safe for older pilgrims?

The temple is at about 3,800 m. Some maps give 3,710 m, so you may see both figures. You sleep at Jomsom, 2,720 m, which is lower than the temple, but you fly straight to 2,720 m, so walk slowly and drink plenty. Our guide carries a pulse oximeter. Tell us about any heart, lung or blood-pressure condition before you book, and ask your doctor if you are over 65.

What is Muktinath?

For Hindus it is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the holiest shrines of Lord Vishnu, and pilgrims bathe under the 108 water spouts known as Muktidhara. For Buddhists the complex is Chumig Gyatsa, "hundred waters", linked to Guru Padmasambhava, who is said to have meditated here. Hindus and Buddhists worship in the same complex. Temple entry is included in the tour price. The tour also visits Kagbeni and Marpha. My guides to Kagbeni and Jomsom describe them.

When is the best time to go?

Who is this tour for?

It is for pilgrims, for older travellers, for families bringing a parent, and for anyone who wants Muktinath without the Annapurna Circuit. There is no trekking, the days are short, and the group size is 1 to 8. It is graded Moderate because of the altitude and the flights, not because of any hard walking. If you are fit and want to arrive on foot, the circuit is the other way in, but it takes many days and a different plan.

What can go wrong?

The flights and the road. Jomsom flights run in the morning only, and wind or cloud can cancel them. Small aircraft have tight baggage limits, so pack light. The Beni to Jomsom road is under repair after the floods. We check the flight and the road 48 hours before departure, and if it is not open we move your dates free. My update on the Jomsom road has the current position. Extra nights caused by a weather delay are not included in the price.

How much does it cost?

Prices are per person and are the live prices on the trip page. The tour includes the flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara and between Pokhara and Jomsom with your guide, airport transfers, a private jeep for the Jomsom, Kagbeni, Muktinath and Marpha days, four nights, a licensed guide, the Annapurna Conservation Area permit, the TIMS card and Muktinath temple entry. Budget gives you simple twin-share rooms and breakfast. Standard gives you private rooms and all meals. Luxury gives you private rooms with an ensuite bathroom where the lodge has one, and all meals. Lodge standards in Jomsom are modest on all three, and I would rather say that now. Kathmandu hotel nights, international flights, the Nepal visa, insurance and tips are not included.

What are the terms?

Group size is 1 to 8, and every tour is private. Buy travel insurance at home that covers domestic flights, altitude up to 5,000 m and trip delays. We do not recommend insurance bought in Nepal. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice, to any date within one year. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu, in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients. We tell you your guide's name after you book. Tell us if you are vegetarian or eat no egg, and we tell every lodge.

Questions people ask

How do I get to Muktinath from Kathmandu? Fly to Pokhara, fly to Jomsom the next morning, and take a jeep to the temple. Our tour does this over five days.

Is the road from Pokhara to Jomsom open? At the last check, on 2 October 2026, it was damaged and closed for repairs. If it reopens we can quote a private 4WD drive from Pokhara instead.

What if the Jomsom flight is cancelled? Day 3 is a spare day, so one delay does not cost you the temple. If the weather stops the flights for longer, we rebook the next available flight.

How high is Muktinath? About 3,800 m. Jomsom, where you sleep, is 2,720 m.

How much does the Muktinath tour cost? For 2 to 4 people it is USD 1,780 on Budget, USD 1,960 on Standard and USD 2,520 on Luxury per person. A solo traveller pays USD 2,485, USD 2,730 or USD 3,820.

Is it suitable for elderly pilgrims? It involves no trekking, but the altitude is real. Tell us about any heart, lung or blood-pressure condition, and ask your doctor if you are over 65.

Do I need a permit? Yes, the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card. We arrange both and they are in the price.

What is the best time to visit? March to November. Nights are cold from November to March.

How do you book?

Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates, how many of you are travelling and your ages, and I will tell you straight what is realistic and send the exact quote.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.