This is a nine-day trek on foot from Pokhara to Muktinath and down the Kali Gandaki through Lower Mustang, from USD 915 per person on Budget for a couple. We fly to Jomsom and walk, so you are not sitting in a jeep for days. Permits, flights both ways and one spare day for the Jomsom flight are included, and no restricted-area permit is needed.
Jomsom to Muktinath and Lower Mustang Trek at a glance
| Duration | 9 days (8 on the trail and 1 spare) |
|---|---|
| Start and finish | Pokhara, by plane to Jomsom and back |
| Highest point | Muktinath, 3,800 m / 12,467 ft |
| Difficulty | Strenuous, short days with one long downhill day |
| Walking | Six trail days plus the flights |
| Group size | 1 to 20, always private |
| From price | USD 915 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 1,420, Luxury USD 1,995 |
Why I built it this way
I built this trek so it is clearly not our Muktinath jeep tour or the helicopter day. On those you drive or fly. Here you fly once each way and walk the rest, Kagbeni to Jharkot to Muktinath, then down through Jomsom, Marpha and Tukuche.
I added a night at Jharkot. Going straight from Kagbeni (2,804 m) to Muktinath (3,800 m) is a gain of about 1,000 m in a day, and I do not like that for people who arrive by plane. One extra short day makes it comfortable.
If you want the road version, see our Muktinath jeep pilgrimage or the Lower Mustang jeep tour. If you want the higher, wilder trek, see the Annapurna Circuit, which also ends at Muktinath.
Best time to go, month by month
Jomsom sits in the rain shadow of the Annapurna range, so it is far drier than Pokhara, but the wind and the cloud decide the flights. Here is how I see each month.
| Month | What it is like | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| January | Cold, dry, snow possible at Muktinath. | Only if you are happy with cold |
| February | Cold and dry, clear skies. | Possible |
| March | Warming up, windy afternoons. | Good |
| April | Spring, clear mornings, apple blossom lower down. | Good |
| May | Warm days, more cloud and wind. | Good, early |
| June | Monsoon on the Pokhara side, flights are held up. | Possible, with spare days |
| July | Monsoon, cloud on the flight route. | Risky for flights |
| August | Monsoon, same problem. | Risky for flights |
| September | Rains ease and the air clears. | Good, late month |
| October | Clear and stable. The busiest month. | Best |
| November | Dry, clear, colder nights. | Best |
| December | Dry, cold, short days. | Good, pack warm |
Whatever the month, the flight goes only in the morning and only when the weather allows. That is why day 9 is a spare day.
Permits and costs
| Permit or fee | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area permit | NPR 3,000 | We buy it, included |
| TIMS card | NPR 2,000 | We issue it, included |
| Muktinath temple entry | NPR 200 | Included |
| Restricted permit | None | Lower Mustang is not a restricted area. Upper Mustang, north of Kagbeni, is, and this trek does not go there |
Prices are per person, include VAT and our service charge, and hold for 2027. A child pays the same as an adult. Private or group, the price per person is the same. Here is the full table.
| Group size | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 guest (solo) | USD 1,320 | USD 1,760 | USD 2,765 |
| 2 to 4 guests | USD 915 | USD 1,420 | USD 1,995 |
| 5 to 8 guests | USD 700 | USD 1,220 | USD 1,970 |
| 9 to 12 guests | USD 695 | USD 1,195 | USD 1,925 |
| 13 to 20 guests | USD 650 | USD 1,185 | USD 1,905 |
Not included: international flights, your Pokhara hotel before and after the trek, drinks other than the tea or coffee with meals, tips and the Nepal visa. You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance in Kathmandu. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card, and card payments carry a 3.5% bank charge. We cannot take Nepali rupees from foreign guests.
Getting there and getting back
You start and finish in Pokhara. Pokhara is a 25-minute flight or a 6 to 7 hour drive from Kathmandu. We pick you up from your Pokhara hotel for the flight to Jomsom, and we can book your hotel on request.
The Jomsom flight is about 20 minutes. Only the morning flights run, because the wind in the gorge rises later.
Safety and altitude
Muktinath is 3,800 m. We sleep at Kagbeni (2,804 m), then Jharkot (about 3,550 m), then Muktinath, so you gain height slowly. Drink plenty, walk slowly, and tell your guide if you get a headache or feel sick.
Your guide carries a pulse oximeter and a first aid kit. If someone cannot continue, we go down and, if needed, arrange rescue through your travel insurance. Muktinath can be reached by helicopter.
What to pack
- Warm layers and a windproof jacket, the Kali Gandaki wind is strong
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream
- Comfortable walking shoes or boots, already worn in
- Water bottle and a headtorch
- Sleeping bag and down jacket are lent free by us on every tier
Budget, Standard or Luxury
All three tiers walk the same route on the same days. What changes is the comfort and the help you get.
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porter | None, you carry your own bag | 1 porter for every 2 trekkers (solo: the guide carries up to 10 kg) | A porter for each of you, up to 20 kg |
| Meals | Not included | All meals, tea or coffee with each meal, fruit at breakfast, 2 litres of hot water a day | All meals, plus fruit, nuts, soft drinks and all the hot water you can drink |
| Rooms | Shared | Private | Private, the best room each lodge has |
| Flights | Pokhara to Jomsom and back | Pokhara to Jomsom and back | Pokhara to Jomsom and back |
Read before you book
- Muktinath jeep pilgrimage, 6 days
- Lower Mustang jeep tour from Pokhara, 5 days
- The Annapurna Circuit, 12 days
- Muktinath tour by flight, 5 days
The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
Secure payment by Himalayan Bank.
