TREK ITINERARY
MUKTINATH EXPEDITION – OCT/NOV 2011
The trek up to Muktinath is a classic. It has heaps of variety. From the tropics in Pokhara where we will go out on the lake to the windswept plains of the trans-himal in Mustang. There are pine forests, farming communities, old gombas and, of course, massive snowy peaks.
We will spend a couple of nights in Kathmandu, sightseeing, getting acquainted and shopping for gear if necessary. You can line up some great souvenirs too, especially if you like art, craft, felt, funky clothing, trekking gear, paintings (modern and traditional), jewellery, brassware, silk saris.......I think you get the picture. If you don’t like shopping I can arrange for you to go and visit around the valley.
We will take a very comfortable bus down to Pokhara and spend two nights there. On our free day we can go out on the lake and climb to the Peace Stupa for our first really good look at the Anapurnas.
Our own minivan will take as to Nyapul to start the trek, its only about an hour from Pokhara. The trail climbs quite steeply up to Gorepani but don’t worry we will take three days to get there In the morning you will have the option to climb the famous Pun Hill for one of the worlds best views. Then the trail descends through intensively farmed hillsides to the village of Tatopani which has a great view of Nilgiri South and boast a hot spring; a bit ugly but very functional. We take a rest day there as the next day is a fairly long climb into pine forests at Ghasa. The village of Ghasa is lined with traditional whitewashed stone houses and there is a tiny gomba (Bhuddist temple). From Ghasa its a fairly easy day on the road up to Kalopani. The lodge there is a beauty and the views of Daulaghiri and the Anapurnas will astound at sunrise.
After Kalopani the trail is much flatter as we walk across the wide Kali Gandaki valley. It is up to two kilometres wide in places and we might, with luck, find a few saligram fossils. The villages of this region, Mustang, are lovely; Tukche, where we stay in an old converted salt-traders house, Marpha, where we stop for lunch and a look around and then Jomsom which is probably the least attractive village on the trek but has a wild, windswept quality of its own.
Above Jomsom is one of my favourite parts of Nepal. The flat valley floor is easy to walk and the dry, wind-eroded, bare hills have a magical quality of their own, especially as we approach the holy temples at Muktinath. Kagbeni is a crumbling ruin of a place and its a steep climb up to Muktinath but don’t worry, we will use the local ponies to get us up the long climb. It is a nice steady descent the next day.
Retracing our steps to Jomsom we will take an early morning flight (with any luck) back to Pokhara for a couple of recovery days in the warm, tropical environment once more.
The connection from Kathmandu to Pokhara is by bus. It is a magical ride, alongside raging rivers with cups of tea and lunch along the way. Its a great way to see a lot of Nepal in one day and so luxurious to see so much with your feet up after all that trekking.
We will have two nights in Kathmandu for more shopping or sightseeing. Our lodgings are quite near Bouda so I like to walk over there for dinner in the evenings. Also, the Kopan Gomba is worth a visit and only about half an hour’s walk away.
So, here is your itinerary. Remember, it is not written in stone. We may have to adapt to conditions out there on the day. Landslides can block the trail, heavy weather could keep us indoors or force us to turn back. In the ten years I have been taking people up to Muktinath nobody has ever gone home disappointed. It is ALL GOOD. COST IS $2650 (AUD) EX KATHMANDU for 23 DAYS INCLUDING ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF.
| October 29 | Arrive in Kathmandu, airport pickup and settle into our local hotel. A short walk somewhere in the late afternoon for dinner. |
| October 30 | Into Thamel (tourist area) of Kathmandu for gear shopping and sightseeing around the old bazaars. Pay me and do some banking. |
| October 31 | Bus trip to Pokhara. It takes about 7 hours with a few tea and pee stops and a lovely break for buffet lunch. Evening wander around the Lakeside area of Pokhara. |
| November 1 | Out on the lake in the morning and a short climb up to the Peace Stupa. A ‘gear check’ and last-minute shopping. Evening, meet the porters and hold pre-trek briefing. |
| November 2 | Minibus out to Nyapul to start our trek. Trek 45 minutes to Birethanti for morning tea, lunch along the way and trek to Tikedungha. All uphill but fairly gently. Always feels a bit tough the first day. |
| November 3 | A hard day up an endless stone staircase. We will go very slowly. Should reach Banthanti just after lunch. Afternoon recovery time. |
| November 4 | Uphill again but not so steeply now. Through rhododendron forest in deep shade to Gorepani at 2800 metres. Might get a view if clear pm. |
| November 5 | Early morning climb Pun Hill (optional). The view from the lodge is pretty good anyway. Downhill to Sikha, lovely old village. |
| November 6 | Downhill again, back to 1100 metres, at Tatopani. Hot Springs, good cooking, comfortable rooms, nice garden. Warm conditions. |
| November 7 | Stay in Tatopani again. Why not, its really nice here. |
| November 8 | Our hardest day. Its quite long and there is a steep climb in the middle. We will take it very slowly. Stay overnight at Ghasa. |
| November 9 | Uphill again to Kalopani. We should be there for a late lunch. Stunning valley with Daulaghiri and Tukche Ice Fall behind and Anapurna 1 and Barasikhar in front. |
| November 10 | A much easier trek now as we enter the upper reaches of the Kali Gandaki river. Wide open river flats with rocks and fossils along the way. Tukche, in a beautiful old salt traders house overnight. |
| November 11 | Another flat, easy day with lunch stop at Marpha, another architectural gem, and overnight at Jomsom, via Upper Shyang (old unspoiled village). |
| November 12 | Another easy day’s walking – just three hours – to Kagbeni. The river valley is a wildly beautiful environment. Afternoon, optional side-trip up to Thiri. Offload excess gear for the overnight to Muktinath. |
| November 13 | Ponies will carry us up to Muktinath (there is a jeep for those who prefer). High and wild, glimpses of Thorong La, ancient temples. 3800 metres with the views you would expect. Very Tibetan. |
| November 14 | This is always a lovely day. Strolling fairly gently downhill all day with a good look around Jarkot on the way – 500-year-old gomba. |
| November 15 | Retracing our steps to Jomsom for another night at the Marco Polo Lodge ready for an early flight next morning. If the weather is fine we might go for another short walk in the pm. |
| November 16 | Early morning flight down to Pokhara. This flight will blow you away! Nothing to do today. Wash some clothes, go shopping, go out on the lake, lie around, eating, sleeping. Its your day! |
| November 17 | Another free day in Pokhara. Morning trip up to Sarankot for the view, out on the lake if you didn’t go yet, tandem paragliding ?? (This day is a built-in spare just in case our flight doesn’t go) |
| November 18 | Back to Kathmandu. Heaven to sit on the bus watching the splendid scenery goes by – no effort required. Nice dinner at Bouda?? |
| November 19 | A chance to see some more of Kathmandu, perhaps some shopping. Happy to arrange whatever you would like. |
| November 20 | GO HOME! We will make sure you get to the airport for your flight. |
If you do wish to ‘stay on’ for a bit I can help with arrangements or take care of you myself. Extra days are $100 which includes EVERYTHING plus a guide to take you wherever you want to go. I can arrange for Chitwan National Park before or after your trek.
A few things to remember:
You can leave luggage at Kathmandu and Pokhara. You don’t have to take all your ‘city clothes’ with you on trek. They could be washed for your return!
I will check your gear and let you know if you are under or over-equipped. I will take you shopping for anything you might need – sleeping bag, jacket, water bottle, overpants, etc.
You will be well briefed before the trek about safety, trail and lodge etiquette, photos, etc.
If you can’t get a flight for the exact dates we can accommodate that.
If the itinerary sounds a bit daunting remember I’ve had two people, Don and Irene, both 82 years of age complete this trek and lots of people well into their seventies. Take heart!
YOU CAN DO THIS!!
teresadidi@slowtrekking.com or vonschwichtenberg@gmail.com, teresadidi@slowtrekking.com
Cheers, Teresa
