Mustang · Nepal
Muktinath
A temple sacred to Hindus and Buddhists at 3,710 m in the Mustang rain-shadow.
Muktinath is an easy pilgrimage in Mustang, Nepal, reaching 3,710 m. The best time to go is March to May and October and November. Plan 4 to 5 days on the ground from Pokhara and about ₹3,500 per person per day.
What to do in Muktinath
The one thing not to miss
The temple
Sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike, with 108 water spouts and a natural flame.
- 2KagbeniAn old mud-walled village at the gate of Upper Mustang.
- 3MarphaApple orchards and whitewashed lanes, south of Jomsom.
- 4The Kali GandakiOne of the world's deepest gorges; the wind rises every afternoon.
A sample plan: 5 days
Day 1
Pokhara to Muktinath
About 8–10 hours on the road. Check in and take a short walk to get your bearings; go gently, you have gained height.
Day 2
The temple · Kagbeni
Details for each are under What to do, above.
Day 3
Marpha · The Kali Gandaki
Details for each are under What to do, above.
Day 4
A free day
Go back to whatever you liked best, or do nothing at all.
Day 5
Muktinath to Pokhara
Leave after breakfast; hill roads are slower than the map suggests.
A starting point built from the things to do above. Move days around to suit your pace.
When to go
- ❄︎Jan
- ❄︎Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- ❄︎Dec
Why go
Pilgrimage plus the Kali Gandaki gorge drive — the deepest gorge on earth.
Why not
Altitude matters for older pilgrims; flights to Jomsom cancel in wind.
Before you go
- Permits
- ACAP permit. Indian citizens need passport or voter ID.
- Guide
- Not needed.
- Safety
- Go slowly above Jomsom; afternoon winds are strong.
- Phone & internet
- Patchy.
Altitude
Muktinath reaches 3,710 m, high enough for altitude sickness to be a real risk whatever your age or fitness.
- Gain height gradually. Above 3,000 m, try not to sleep more than about 500 m higher than the night before, and take a rest day for every 1,000 m gained.
- Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and sleeping pills.
- Headache with nausea, dizziness or exhaustion means stop going up. If it does not improve with rest, go down.
- Breathlessness while resting, a wet cough, confusion or trouble walking straight is an emergency: go down at once, by night if necessary, and get medical help.
- Medicines such as acetazolamide (Diamox) are for a doctor to prescribe; they are not a substitute for going up slowly.
General guidance, not medical advice.
Permits, food and festivals in Nepal →
These details haven't been field-verified yet. Confirm permits, road status and weather locally before you travel.
If something goes wrong
Main hospitals in Nepal: CIWEC Hospital, Kathmandu; Himalayan Rescue Association aid posts, Pheriche (Everest) and Manang (Annapurna); Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara.
All emergency contacts for Nepal →What to pack for Muktinath
Worked out from its season, altitude and terrain. Tick things off as you pack; tap a name to find it in a shop.
Clothing
8 items
- Fleece or light sweater Evenings turn cold in the hills even in summer.
- Thermal inner wear (top and bottom) It is cold at 3,710 m, especially at night.
- Down or padded jacket Your main warm layer for mornings, evenings and high points.
- Woollen cap that covers the ears Most body heat is lost from the head.
- Woollen socks, 2–3 pairs Dry woollen socks for the night matter more than you expect.
- Sun cap or hat Hours in open sun, with little shade above the tree line.
- Compact umbrella Showers are frequent in the rainy months.
- Rain jacket or poncho The season here overlaps the rains.
Footwear
1 item
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip Hill towns mean slopes, steps and wet stone.
For day outings
2 items
- Day pack, 20–30 litres For day outings: water, a layer, a camera.
- Water bottles, 2 litres in total Refill rather than buying plastic bottles.
Health and sun
7 items
- Sunscreen, SPF 50 UV is much stronger at altitude and on snow.
- Small first-aid kit and your own medicines The nearest chemist may be hours away.
- UV-protection sunglasses Protects against snow glare and strong high-altitude light.
- Lip balm with SPF Cold, dry air cracks lips within a day.
- Motion-sickness bands or tablets The approach roads are long and winding.
- Insect repellent Mosquitoes and midges at lower altitudes and in the wet months.
- A word with your doctor about altitudeYou will go above 3,500 m (to 3,710 m). Ask a doctor about altitude sickness before you travel, and plan a slow ascent.
Documents and money
4 items
- Government photo ID and two photocopiesIndians need a passport or voter ID to enter Nepal; other nationals need a passport and visa.
- Enough cash for the whole tripATMs are scarce and often empty beyond the gateway town.
- Permits and registrationsACAP permit. Indian citizens need passport or voter ID.
- Indian ₹100 notes, or Nepali rupees₹100 notes are the safest Indian currency to carry in Nepal; larger notes are not always accepted. Change money in Kathmandu or Pokhara before the trail.
Phone and power
3 items
- Power bank Charging is limited, and cold drains batteries fast.
- A SIM that works therePatchy.
- Universal travel adapter Nepal's sockets differ from India's in many lodges.
For what you're going for
3 items
- Light travel tripod For sunrise, night skies and long exposures.
- Spare memory card and camera battery Cold drains camera batteries; there is nowhere to buy spares.
- Car phone mount and charger Hands-free navigation on mountain roads.
Read before you go
1 item
- A guidebook for Nepal Worth reading before you go, and it works without a signal.
Links to shops are affiliate links: if you buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The shop handles payment, delivery and returns.
Share this place
Homestays in Nepal
No homestays listed here yet. Run one? List it.
Getting there
The nearest gateway is Pokhara.
Directions open in Google Maps with today's road time. In the mountains, add a third to whatever it says.
- Normal car?
- No. Take a 4×4 or a local taxi. Mountain roads in Nepal are slow and often rough; allow more time than the distance suggests.
By road
From
Pokhara
- Distance
- about 180 km
- Drive time
- 8–10 hours
- Pokhara
- Beni
- Tatopani
- Ghasa
- Jomsom
- Kagbeni
- Muktinath
Rough beyond Beni. The flight to Jomsom takes about 20 minutes, then a jeep for the last hour and a half.
Live directions from Pokhara
Buses and shared taxis. Buses and shared jeeps run from Pokhara to Jomsom and on to Muktinath. Morning flights to Jomsom depend on the wind.
Pickups & drivers
From Pokhara. Call or WhatsApp the driver directly.
No drivers listed for Muktinath yet. Drive this route? List your cab.
Muktinath: questions people ask
What is the best time to visit Muktinath?
The best months for Muktinath are March to May and October and November. June and September are possible but not ideal. Snow is likely in December to February.
How difficult is Muktinath?
Muktinath is rated easy. No trekking is needed, starting at 2,720 m and reaching 3,710 m.
How many days do you need for Muktinath?
Plan 4 to 5 days on the ground, counted from Pokhara. Add travel days to reach the gateway from your city.
How much does a trip to Muktinath cost?
Expect about ₹3,500 per person per day for a mid-range trip (stay, food and local transport). That is roughly ₹17,500 for 5 days, before the cost of getting to Pokhara.
How do you reach Muktinath?
By road: from Pokhara it is about 180 km, 8–10 hours (Pokhara → Beni → Tatopani → Ghasa → Jomsom → Kagbeni → Muktinath). Buses and shared jeeps run from Pokhara to Jomsom and on to Muktinath. Morning flights to Jomsom depend on the wind. The nearest gateway is Pokhara.
Do you need a permit or a guide for Muktinath?
Permits: ACAP permit. Indian citizens need passport or voter ID. Guide: Not needed.
Is Muktinath suitable for children and senior citizens?
With children it is good; with seniors it is possible with care. It is moderately busy in season. Go slowly above Jomsom; afternoon winds are strong.
What should you pack for Muktinath?
Pack fleece or light sweater, thermal inner wear (top and bottom), down or padded jacket, woollen cap that covers the ears, woollen socks, 2–3 pairs, sun cap or hat, compact umbrella, rain jacket or poncho, comfortable walking shoes with grip. Also carry a government photo ID, enough cash and any permits. The full list is on this page.
Is there mobile network and internet at Muktinath?
Patchy.
Will I get altitude sickness at Muktinath?
Muktinath reaches 3,710 m, high enough for altitude sickness to be a real risk whatever your age or fitness. Gain height gradually. Above 3,000 m, try not to sleep more than about 500 m higher than the night before, and take a rest day for every 1,000 m gained. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and sleeping pills. Headache with nausea, dizziness or exhaustion means stop going up. If it does not improve with rest, go down. This is general guidance, not medical advice.
Who should not go to Muktinath?
Muktinath is not a good choice for older travellers who find long walks or rough roads hard and anyone with a heart, lung or blood-pressure condition unless a doctor has cleared them for 3,710 m. Also keep in mind: Altitude matters for older pilgrims; flights to Jomsom cancel in wind.
Close to Muktinath
Within about 35 km in a straight line. Hill roads are a good deal longer, so check the drive before you combine two.
- Annapurna Circuitabout 8 km
- Nar Phu Valleyabout 19 km
- Annapurna Base Campabout 32 km
More in Mustang
- Upper Mustang4,200 mcompare
- Annapurna Base Camp4,130 mcompare
- Annapurna Circuit5,416 mcompare
- Bandipur1,100 mcompare
- Bhaktapur & Patan1,400 mcompare
- Everest Base Camp5,364 mcompare