Route · Mustang & Dolpo
Jomsom to Muktinath
Muktinath is about 22 km from Jomsom, 1–1.5 hours by jeep or bus to Ranipauwa village below the temple. On foot it is a two-day walk via Kagbeni, or a longer day through the Bon village of Lubra. The climb is about 1,000 m, so altitude matters.
Jeeps and buses leave Jomsom from the bus stand north of the airport, follow the Kali Gandaki riverbed to Eklebhatti, then climb past Khingar and Jharkot to Ranipauwa at about 3,700 m. From there it is a 10–15 minute walk up steps to the temple; horses can be hired. Go in the morning, before the wind, and return the same day or stay a night in Ranipauwa.
Walk 2.5–3 hours north along the riverbed from Jomsom to Kagbeni and stay a night in its old lanes. The next morning climb 4–5 hours via Khingar and Jharkot to Muktinath, with Dhaulagiri behind you and the Jhong valley's fields and ruined forts on the slope opposite. This is the best way to acclimatise, and it brings you to the temple on foot, as pilgrims once came.
A quieter trail turns east from the Kali Gandaki up the Panda Khola to Lubra, Mustang's Bon village, about two hours from Jomsom. From Lubra a higher path climbs over the ridge and drops to Muktinath in another 5–7 hours. It is a long, steep day with no lodges between villages, so we plan it with a guide and an early start.
Worth a stop on the way
- Eklebhatti
- Kagbeni (side trip)
- Lubra (walking route)
- Khingar
- Jharkot
- Ranipauwa
Local tip
If you have flown in from Pokhara the same morning, spend a night in Jomsom or Kagbeni before sleeping at Muktinath.
Questions
How long does it take from Jomsom to Muktinath?
About 1–1.5 hours by jeep or bus for the 22 km to Ranipauwa, then 10–15 minutes on foot up to the temple. On foot, allow two days with a night in Kagbeni, or one long day of 6–8 hours via Lubra. Most pilgrims drive up in the morning, visit the temple and return to Jomsom by afternoon.
Can I visit Muktinath as a day trip from Jomsom?
Yes. Leave Jomsom early, spend two or three hours at the temple, the 108 spouts and the flame shrine, and return before the afternoon wind. The catch is altitude: Muktinath is about 3,710 m, roughly 1,000 m above Jomsom. If you feel a headache or breathlessness, rest and come down. People with heart or lung conditions should ask a doctor first.
Do I need a permit to go from Jomsom to Muktinath?
Muktinath is in Lower Mustang, inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need the ACAP permit, as we understand it NPR 3,000 for most foreigners and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, plus a TIMS card. No restricted-area permit is needed. Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in conservation areas must walk with a licensed guide. Check current status before you travel.
Can I hire a horse or motorbike to Muktinath?
Horses with handlers wait at Ranipauwa for the short climb from the village to the temple, which helps older pilgrims. Motorbikes can be hired in Jomsom, but the road is rough and the wind strong, so we recommend them only for experienced riders. For most travellers a jeep up and a walk down to Kagbeni is the better plan.