Go to above 12,000 feet in one of the remotest corners of the planet. You will be in Mustang, the legendary region which lies beyond the Himalayas, in one of most arduous journeys there is in the world.
The Muktinath Mandir is one of the highest shrines of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and liberation. And once you get there and see pilgrims reaching the temple from all over the world and taking a dip in freezing water as worship to the god, you will feel that this place really does have some power. The foot trails to this holy destination run through tiny villages resting along world’ deepest gorges and have the magnificent Himalayas as the background to give you a trip combined with both nature and culture.
A Mountain Kick representative will receive you as you land into Kathmandu (4,600 feet) and take you to your hotel.
We will drive you from one monument to another in Kathmandu so you get a sense why this ancient city is so popular among tourists. Kathmandu has been included in Unesco’s list of World Heritage Sites for its cultural, aesthetic, religious and historical importance so you won’t be disappointed. We have a pre-trip meeting scheduled for the day where we run you through the itinerary.
We will leave for Pokhara in the morning in a luxurious tourist bus. It’s a seven-hour ride through serpentine roads in the hills with stops for lunch and snacks. There are several small towns among green hills and it’s certain that you will not be bored. We reach Pokhara in the afternoon and the beautiful city on the bank of the Phewa Lake offers an amazing nightlife to relax you ahead of your trekking trip.
A short drive to Nayapool village begins the day. This is where the trekking circuit around Mount Annapurna begins. We will walk to Tikhedhunga to begin our own expedition. It is an easy six miles of walking alongside forests and streams.
Steps have been laid all the way up to Ghorepani. Walking up the steps for five to six hours will definitely put a lot of pressure on your legs but we will pass through several villages and stops to keep you fresh. The forests and hills provide a very good distraction from your fatigue.
Having used up your energy climbing up the earlier day, we will trek downhill to Tatopani. Poon Hill which lies on the way is one of the best destinations in the country to watch a sunrise so we will wake up early to make it. It takes slightly less than eight hours to Tatopani and we again pass through several villages and forests. Tatopani, translates into hot water in Nepali, and you will spend the evening in the natural hot water spring here that will heal your body of all the pain of walking so much.
This will be a long and tough day of trekking. It takes around eight hours to reach Ghasa but there are waterfalls all along the way which provide a scenic relief. Ghasa lies in the lower Mustang region and you will feel how remote the place starts to get from here.
We will embark on a five-hour trek to Larjung. The Annapurna massif will be on the background throughout the trek as we pass through some more forests and villages. At Larjung, you will witness how the mountain people live in such harsh conditions in homes built by laying stones upon stones.
Our trek starts in the morning and we will reach Marpha in time for lunch. Apple orchards will come into view as we move towards Marpha which is famous for its apple brandy. There are souvenir shops, a monastery and breweries around the village if you wish to go for a leisurely stroll.
It takes two to three hours to trek to Jomsom. The landscape to Jomsom is all waterfalls and steep mountain ridges. This tourist town lies on the either side of the Kali Gandaki River and you will find whatever you need here. Vegetation cease to appear further from here and it is all rocky and barren terrain.
A three-hour hike takes you to Kagbeni, a village made up of mud houses. You will walk up the Kali Gandaki gorge, the deepest in the world, to get there. Winds are so violent this high that even stones get blown away. The beautiful Mustang Valley below and the Himalayan range above are clearly visible from Kagbeni.
Muktinath is six hours of hiking away from Kagbeni. The Muktinath Mandir is one of the holiest shrines for both Hindus and Buddhists as is believed to be the home of the god of liberation, Lord Muktinath (Lord Shiva). A lot of devotees, including holy Sadhus, make the pilgrimage to this place. The Muktinath Mandir is the highest point in this trip.
We will walk back to Jomsom today. It is a downhill trip and you will be getting further away from the Himalayas as you reach Jomsom.
A less-than-twenty-minutes flight takes you to Pokhara. There are plenty of places to visit in Pokhara like the Devi’s Falls, the Bat Cave, the World Peace Pagoda, the Phewa Lake, the Sarangkot Hill and many more. Pokhara is a great place to go shopping in the day and partying in the night.
We take the same road back through which we had arrived at the beginning of our journey. Look out the window from your bus to see what places you remember. The view of the Himalayas in the distance will surely remind you of your travel there. We will host a farewell dinner for you before you leave.
You will be on a plane back home and we will be there to see you off. Thank you and come again.
In Kathmandu, you will stay in a three-star hotel while you will be staying at standard guesthouses during your travel. There will be electricity, internet, laundry and hot showers in all of the places you stay. You will have to share your room with a fellow traveller in our typical package. Single supplement will be served on request and will cost an additional USD 250.Also note that single rooms is easily available in Kathmandu and the trekking regions at lower elevation but it might be difficult to find them at higher elevations.
You have to book your own international flight from your country to Nepal and back according to your trip departure dates.
A chauffeur from Mountain Kick will come receive you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Representatives of the company will visit you at the hotel itself and brief you on your trip.
You will trek in the Himalayas in a group of international travellers fully assisted by our guides, porters and local support staff. We will take care of your entire trip as soon as you land in Kathmandu and safely take to your preferred destination and back as per the package you choose. Travel will involve plenty of sightseeing and mixing with local culture.
A regular person can complete the trip with help from our guides and porters. But it is important that you are healthy and have no physical injuries. Trekking for long hours in high altitude and difficult terrain will surely put a strain on your body and you might suffer severe physical and mental breakdown, especially if you are trekking in the Himalayas for the first time. It is, therefore, expected that you have taken light endurance training especially for longer trips.
On most days of your trips, you will trek for a couple of hours only. But some trekking days require as much as six hours to eight of walking in high altitude. However, there will be plenty time each day for rest and acclimatization.
In Kathmandu, you will stay in a three-star hotel while you will be staying at standard guesthouses during your travel. There will be electricity, internet, laundry and hot showers in all of the places you stay. You will have to share your room with a fellow traveller in our typical package. At some destinations, especially in the Himalayas, you will have to stay in a tented camp. If you want to make separate living arrangements, talk to us beforehand and we can arrange single rooms for additional $250. Some guesthouses at very high altitudes and remote places may not have attached washrooms or single rooms.
All your major meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in your trekking package except in Kathmandu (where only breakfast is provided for). You will be served local food at all places we dine but you can order anything you like on the menu which you will have to pay for yourself. You will have a range of options so there won’t be a problem if you are a vegetarian or vegan. We make sure you get healthy and hygienic food throughout your travel.
Our guides and porters always put your safety and comfort first. We have English-speaking guides who take you to all major attractions throughout the travel and are happy to answer all your queries. We have one porter assigned each for two travellers and you will have to pay separately if you want to hire extra porters. We have local support staff in all villages and camps you reach to assist you in any way possible.
The guides always carry a professional first aid kit with them to treat with minor injuries. We also have health professionals at villages and camps along the journey. The travel insurance you take (which is compulsory) covers any and all emergency rescue and evacuation.
We are always happy to accommodate your wishes during the travel so far as they do not conflict with schedules and other travellers. If you have special plans, you can talk to us beforehand so that we can arrange a customized trip for you.
You have to bring all travel equipment yourself. Please see the equipment section for a standard list of required equipment prepared by our guides. Most of the items are easily available in Kathmandu in case if you miss any and we also lend you some of the gears for the duration of the trip for a small fee.
There is internet and telephone connection in all of our stops for the day throughout the journey. You will be able to call back home or post your pictures on Facebook every day.
As soon as you land into Kathmandu, we take care of all your travel documents required during your trip. You just need to bring your passport and a copy of your travel insurance. Tourist fees and permits to enter certain areas will be arranged for by Mountain Kick.
Most of the trekking routes are open throughout the year but September through to December and March to May are the best months to travel.
Rides for sightseeing and reaching destinations within city limits are done in a private vehicle like a car, a jeep or a microbus. Most of the long distance travel is done in luxurious tourist buses hired exclusively by the company. In some journeys, you may also need to take a public bus but as you will travel in a group with our guides and support staff, you need not worry about your safety or comfort.
Around $50 will be enough to buy you lunch and dinner in Kathmandu. During your travel, you can get by with around $25 a day. But it depends on how much you want to spend. Due to the exchange rate and predominantly rural economy of Nepal, things are pretty cheap in Nepal.
Almost all international credit cards are accepted in Nepal. However, not all places, especially during your travel, accept them. There may be a fee involved in processing your card.
Our staff do not expect you to tip them. Generally, travellers tip them if they are satisfied with the service as a means of gratitude. Even when travellers tip the guides and porters, there is no fixed rate. However, if you like to tip them, follow customs of your own country for tipping (which, as we have learned, is 10 to 15 percent of total cost for most western countries).
You can obtain a visa at your home country through Nepal’s embassy or consular office. But you can easily get a visa upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. You just need two passport-size photographs. A tourist visa with multiple entry for 30 days costs $40 while the same for 90 days costs $100.
Click Book Now to enter your details and we shall contact you. You can contact us directly for any further information or to prepare a customized itinerary for you. For payment information, see our Terms and Conditions.
General
We give you the power to choose the departure date that suits your group best. A private trip is a perfect solution if you can’t find a published departure date that you and your companions agree on. You can set up a private departure for most of the trips we offer.
We never force our customers to follow our set itinerary.You can customize your itinerary exactly the way you want. Please share with us your ideas.
As one of the core guiding principles for Mountain Kick, we always give back to the mountain community in any way we can as a means of gratitude. The people who live in the Himalayas and share their homes with us deserve to have all their little problems fixed which seem very basic for outsiders but are commonplace in rural Nepal. The people lack proper access to healthcare, sanitation and education but a little effort from travellers goes on a long way to solve these issues. Mountain Kick has made it its corporate social responsibility to help improve the living standards of the local community. We make donations to their cause, organize social campaigns and programs and also have a few trips designed to mix a little volunteer work in your holiday.
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