How to Reach Muktinath: Flight, Jeep, Trek & Helicopter

The Four Routes at a Glance

Muktinath sits at about 3,710 metres in Lower Mustang. The gateway for the whole journey is Pokhara, and every route passes through or near Jomsom (2,720m), the regional hub. Here is how the options compare.

By Flight via Jomsom (Fastest Scheduled Option)

The quickest scheduled way is to fly from Pokhara to Jomsom on a short, spectacular 20–25 minute mountain flight straight through the gorge between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. From Jomsom airport it is a 1.5–2 hour jeep ride up to Ranipauwa, then a short walk to the temple gate.

• Flights operate in the early morning only, before the valley winds rise, and are frequently delayed or cancelled by weather.
• Always keep a buffer day if you have a fixed onward flight, this is the single most common way pilgrims get stranded.
• Fares are quoted in the cost guide; one way runs roughly NPR 8,000–12,000.

By Road (Jeep or Bus up the Kali Gandaki)

The classic overland pilgrimage runs from Pokhara to Beni, then up the Kali Gandaki valley through Tatopani (hot springs), Ghasa, Marpha and Jomsom to Ranipauwa and Muktinath.

• Shared and private jeeps make the trip; the lower section is paved, the upper valley is rough, dusty mountain road.
• Allow a long day or, better, two days from Pokhara (roughly 8–10+ hours of driving in total), breaking at Tatopani, Marpha or Jomsom to acclimatise.
• Local buses run as far as Jomsom from Beni and Pokhara but are slow and crowded.
• Because you are on the road, note that the ACAP permit is still required, see the cost & permits guide.

This is the same corridor used by the Kathmandu-to-Muktinath route, which adds the Kathmandu–Pokhara leg on top.

On Foot (Trek In)

The most rewarding way for trekkers is to walk in over the Thorong La pass (5,416m) on the Annapurna Circuit, descending to Muktinath from the high pass, a classic multi-day trek that approaches the temple from the north. Others walk the shorter Jomsom–Muktinath trail or the wider Lower Mustang route up the Kali Gandaki in a day or two from Jomsom or Kagbeni.

Trekking gives the best acclimatisation and scenery but needs a week or more (for the full circuit) and proper preparation. On foot you gain height gradually, which greatly reduces the altitude risk that fast flights and helicopters carry.

Helicopter & the Final Climb

For pilgrims short on time or unable to manage the road, helicopter tours run from Pokhara (and sometimes Kathmandu) directly to a helipad near Ranipauwa, often as a half-day round trip with a couple of hours at the temple. It is the fastest, most comfortable option and popular with older devotees, but it is expensive and the rapid gain to 3,710m gives no time to acclimatise, go slowly and watch for altitude symptoms.

However you arrive, the last stretch is the same: from Ranipauwa it is a steady 15–20 minute uphill walk to the temple gate. Older pilgrims can hire a pony or a short local jeep for this final climb, which is steep at altitude.