Compare Nepal Adventure by Intrepid Travel vs Jomsom Muktinath Trek by Travel Max Guide
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Trip |
4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 10 days | 14 days |
Price From | $ 1,775 | $ 1,920 |
Price Per Day | $ 178 | $ 137 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
Physical Level |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
Activities |
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Meals Included | N/A |
13 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 9 Dinners |
Description |
Capture the spirit of Nepal on a stupa-endous journey rich in history, culture, and spiritual exploration. Witness the wind catch prayer flags amid mountainous backdrops, trek through changing landscapes to beautiful Buddhist monasteries, explore ancient trading towns deep in the Kathmandu Valley, and relax in a village retreat surrounded by Himalayan vistas. Then, before you get too zen – experience the thrill of rafting down the Trisuli river and spend a night camping under the Nepalese stars. From the labyrinth of bustling bazaars that crowd Kathmandu to the tranquil ambiance that encircles hill-top temples, it will be hard not to feel enlightened on this breathtaking adventure, Namaste! |
Jomsom Muktinath is a compound word, the name of the two popular places, one of the famous treks and takes place in the Annapurna Region in Nepal. Jomsom is renowned in the world for being the windiest place, while Muktinath is one of the sacred places for the Hindus. Precisely speaking, during the Jomsom Muktinath Trek, you will be in Mustang District, famous for its sweet apples. And as you head to the Mustang area, which is renowned for its unique Tibetan culture, you will have an opportunity to dip into natural hot water, known as Tatopani in Nepali; you will also come across marine fossils because millions of years ago, this region was covered with sea. This region is the second famous trekking destination after Everest. There, you will find many trekking trails which are short, long, and scenic, creating options for the trekkers. Overall, the Jomsom Muktinath Trek is about seeing the incredible view of the Himalayas, the breath-taking ones, standing in the midst of the beautiful landscapes as well as being on the Tibetan Plateau, the world's highest tableland. One of the main highlights of the Jomsom Muktinath Trek is the Valley of Kali Gandaki River, the world's deepest gorge. |
Day 1 Kathmandu
Namaste! Welcome to Nepal. If you arrive early today, why not explore Kathmandu – an incredible mixture of legend and modern development with a rich artistic and cultural heritage. Narrow lanes lead to small squares and courtyards where ornately carved balconies overlook shrines and temples. Buzzing markets and bazaars are the centre of Nepali life, where stalls and small hole-in-the-wall shops sell everything from bangles to Buddhas to beetroot. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. After, why not get to know your new travel buddies over a plate of momo – Nepal’s answer to dumplings.
Day 2 Kathmandu
This morning, take a walking heritage tour of Kathmandu’s old bazaars – Hanuman Dhoka and Durbar Square. The labyrinth of backstreets and alleys leading from one bazaar, or ‘chowk’, to another is a true highlight of the city. Visit one of the holiest Hindu temples in the world – Pashupatinath – and let your leader bring the fascinating story behind this temple to life. Nearby is the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal. Follow the pilgrims' circle around the stupa, spinning the prayer wheels and if you like, take the opportunity to offer your prayers to Lord Buddha by lighting a traditional butter lamp at the main entryway. There may be the option for lunch at a rooftop restaurant with an enticing view over the stupa, followed by free time this afternoon to continue exploring Kathmandu at your own pace.
Day 3 Bhaktapur
Journey further afield from chaotic Kathmandu to the medieval town of Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur preserves the old-world charm of the Kathmandu Valley. Its timeless craftsmanship is evident in its temples and squares, and its people are still fiercely devoted to the ways of life and faith passed on from their ancestors. Enjoy an afternoon walking tour of the town, including the temples of Taumadhi Tole and Durbar Square, then spend the rest of the time exploring on your own. Tonight, you’ll stay in Bhaktapur.
Day 4 Balthali
Head to the fringes of the Kathmandu Valley, stopping at the ancient town of Panauti before reaching Khopasi. From here, you can stretch your legs on a 1-hour hike through the thick forest or continue by 4WD to the hill-top village of Balthali. A world away from the ‘Coca-Cola’ hub of Thamel, this peaceful community nestled within a setting of verdant hills and lush rice paddies remains largely undiscovered. Soak up the tranquil ambience as you relax in your accommodation for the night, with its commanding views of villages and farms and the mighty Himalayas rising on the horizon.
Day 5 Namobuddha
Pack a daypack ready for your hike today, while your main luggage is transported to your next destination – Namobuddha. Make your way off-road, cutting through the vast terraced fields, followed by a sharp descent. Continue along the trail bridge, where you’ll meet a steep, uphill winding track through open pastures and onto the dirt track that leads to Panauti. Pass a few villages, briefly entering a dense forest, then prepare to be wowed by the revered Buddhist pilgrimage site of Namobuddha. Visit the stupa and impressive Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery before settling into your accommodation for the night.
Day 6 Trisuli River
After breakfast, leave Namobuddha and follow Kathmandu Road to the Trisuli River – the launching place for your two-day rafting experience. Meet the crew who will run through the safety briefing and prepare you for the adventure. Trisuli River is an ideal introduction for first-time rafters, with reasonably calm waters and only minor rapids – meaning you can relax and really enjoy the ride! Soak up the scenery (and the splashes) as you traverse impressive gorges and beautiful valleys. Depending on the water conditions, you’ll be on the river for approximately 4 hours, with a stop for lunch. Tonight, you’ll stay in a permanent tented camp on the riverside and enjoy a group dinner.
Day 7 Trisuli River/ Chitwan
After breakfast, continue your rafting adventure and drift along clear Himalayan white water, occasionally battling the rapids (and maybe your fellow rafters). Your rafting experience will finish around lunch. Say goodbye to your crew and put on your safari hat as the group drives down to the lowlands and onto Chitwan National Park. UNESCO declared this park a World Heritage site in 1984, and it offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Asia. Look out for rhinos, deer, monkeys, beers and a wide array of birdlife here, including the infamous Nepalese wild chicken. Your accommodation here is a real treat – built in traditional Tharu village style, you’ll be surrounded by nature and the exotic sounds of the jungle.
Day 8 Chitwan National Park
Today is all about exploring Chitwan National Park and discovering the wildlife that lies within. After breakfast, hop aboard a jeep and take a 4-hour safari drive through the park – if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of one of the Shere Khan-esque Bengal tigers that call the park home. After your safari, you’ll float down the Rapti River in a dugout canoe, keeping an eye out for the great Indian rhino as well as deer, exotic bird life and the marsh mugger crocodiles that inhabit the riverbanks. A birdwatching walk through the forest and across the grasslands is also a great way to connect to the land. Later, you’ll attend a cultural performance before heading to your jungle resort for dinner.
Day 9 Kathamndu
After breakfast, this morning is free to explore the jungle or go birdwatching. This afternoon, take a transfer to Kathmandu. When you arrive, you can join a walk through the backstreets and the vibrant local markets of the city to Ashan Bazar and Indra Chowk near Kathmandu Durbar Square. See the old royal palace and numerous beautiful temples nearby, and browse the stalls of merchant's wares. Hunt for the perfect souvenir (Tibetan prayer flags, Thanka paintings, singing bowls and pashmina shawls are popular) and perfect your bargaining skills. Tonight, maybe grab your group for a farewell feast of momo (dumplings) to celebrate an incredible trip.
Day 10 Kathmandu
Your trip ends after breakfast today, and you can leave any time after checkout. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400 m)
Accommodation: Overnight at a Hotel
We are waiting for you at Tribhuwan International Airport. From there, we will take you to a hotel, or we will take you to our office. At the hotel, ask us questions, and then take a rest. After rest, if you have a lot of time in the evening, then you can use it to visit Thamel, the tourist hub of Kathmandu.
Day 2: Kathmandu: sightseeing and trek preparation
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at a Hotel
On this day you will receive the TMG’s staff and move to the Kathmandu valley sightseeing with the private vehicle.
During sightseeing, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are in Kathmandu. Their names have been given below.
Kathmandu Durbar Square is located at the heart of Kathmandu. It was a palace, and the locals call it Hanuman Dhoka. It was a palace where kings were crowned and have spectacular Nepali architectures. Now, this palace is a museum, and the monuments that you see here such as temples and statues date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Some are older than these.
Swayambhunath is more than 2,000 years old. It is also known as Monkey Temple and located on the top of the hill. It’s four sides bear the faces of Lord Buddha. It is also a stupa which has statues on its base, and they represent five Dhyani Buddhas – Vairocana, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi, and Aksobhya. Each of these represents the five qualities of Buddhist wisdom.
Pashupatinath is the temple of Lord Shiva and located not far away from the heart of Kathmandu. It is one of the holiest temples of the Hindus. Only Hindus are permitted to enter from the main gate to Pashupatinath Temple. As a visitor, you will enjoy the rich architectures of the temple from a distance. Inside the temple, there is a sacred Linga or the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. If you are lucky, then you might see the Hindu Cremation taking place on the bank of the Bagmati River.
Bouddhanath is also a stupa. It is one of the holiest pilgrimages of the Buddhists. It has a white doom just like Swayambhunath and contains the bones of Kasyapa Buddha (Buddha incarnation), while others say it contains the bone of Lord Buddha. Around the base of the stupa are 108 small images of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha.
As your request, you can make it happen by the private vehicle, cycling, rickshaw, by walk near the hotel. Other you need to take the vehicle or by cycling.
Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara by tourist bus (823m/2,700ft) Duration: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at a Hotel
At around 6:30 TMG representative will arrive at your hotel to drop you to the tourist bus station. Nearby 7:30 tourist bus will leave to Pokhara. At the time of the bus trip, you will pass through the terrace farming, natural landscapes, small towns, rivers, and rocky gorges, dons and the beautiful hills capes. Arrival at the Pokhara, check in to the hotel. You can have the rest time and after that in the evening, have an evening walk to the Fewa lake where you can see the reflection of the Machhapuchhre and Annapurna. Boat around the lake. Enjoy the nightlife in the Lakeside, Pokhara
Day 4: Drive to Nayapul and Trek to Ulleri (2,000 m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
Duration: 5 hours
You drive from Pokhara to Naya Pul, the starting point of the trek. On the way, there are sub-tropical valley forests, steps, boulders, steepness, cliffs, bridges, and villages. There is also a village called Tirkhedunga, and you reach Ulleri via it. When you reach Ulleri, it would be afternoon.
Day 5: Ulleri to Ghorepani (2,750m/9,020ft)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
Duration: 4 hours
After breakfast, you head to Ghorepani by reaching Banthanti and Nangethanti. In order to reach these villages, you have to walk through oak and rhododendron forest, and it is in Nangethanti, you will have your lunch. The trekking trail that you follow is easy and gentle. This is how you reach Ghorepani, the village that shows the perfect view of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna Ranges.
Day 6: Ghorepani to Tatopani (1,190m/3,904ft)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
Duration: 5 hours
Poon Hill is a viewpoint, and it cannot be compared with other viewpoints of the Annapurna Region because it offers the rewarding and panoramic view of the mountains. In addition to seeing these, you will also see the amazing view of Mustang and Pokhara.
Day 7: Tatopani to Ghasa (2,110m/6,922ft)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
Duration: 5 hours
After breakfast, you start your trek. On the trekking trail, there is an uphill route. Walking there, you reach the Kali Gandaki River. Over the river, there is a suspension bridge. There are also beautiful waterfalls. Rupse Chhahara is one of them. The trekking trail ascends and heads to Ghasa.
Day 8: Ghasa to Marpha (2,680m/8,792ft)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
Duration: 7 hours
You follow an uphill trekking trail. You reach a forest. You reach a stream. You also reach a village named Lete. By following more up trekking trail, you reach a river and another village named Larjung. Today's trek highlight also includes apple orchards. Marpha has a lot of these.
Day 9: Marpha to Kagbeni (2,810 m/9,218ft)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
Duration: 5 hours
The trekking trail takes you to a valley as you ascend gradually. On the way, there is a ridge and Jomsom village. There is also the Kali Gandaki River. The river also has the deepest gorge in the world. There, the trekking trail winds like a serpent. The trail takes you to Eklebhatti village and Kagbeni. From Kagbeni, we see the stunning view of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri and Tukuche peaks.
Day 10: Kagbeni to Muktinath (3,710m/12,170ft)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
Duration: 5 hours
You walk by the Kali Gandaki River uphill. From the trekking trail, you will see the stunning view of the mountains. The trekking trail becomes steeper and heads to Khingar. Later, it takes you to a desert type place and then to a village called Jharkot and finally to Muktinath.
Day 11: Muktinath to Jomsom (2,715m/8,910ft)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
Duration: 6 hours
Muktinath is the place of religious significance to the Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. You see the devotees coming from India. There, you also see Vishnu Temple and a Gompa. From Muktinath, we retrace our steps back to Jomsom, enjoying good views of Mt. Dhaulagiri. This mountain is 8000 m plus.
Day 12: Fly back to Pokhara
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at a Hotel
Duration: 15 minutes flight
You take an early morning flight to Pokhara. The small aircraft passes through a gorge and between two 8000m mountains, such as Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, giving you an amazing experience. After arriving in Pokhara, you can spend the rest of the day in leisure.
Day 13: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Hotel
Duration: 6-7 hours
We take a bus early in the morning and head to Kathmandu, the city of temples. We pass through scenic countryside. When we reach Kathmandu, we will check into a hotel. At the evening time, we will have dinner in the Nepali typical restaurant with the TMG representative.
Day 14: Final departure
Meals: Breakfast
From the haphazard city, as well as from nature's dramatic set, you fly out from Nepal. The proceedings of your flight begin by picking you up from the hotel. You trekked in a paradise, and now you are heading to your native land. Before you head, we pick you up from the hotel prior to 4 hours.