TREK ITINERARY
MUKTINATH - October/November 2010
OUR planned start date is in Kathmandu on 30 October. Spending two nights in Kathmandu, we will explore some of this city’s magnificent treasures. Our accommodation is near Boudanath making it an easy 20-minute stroll into this historic area for the evening prayer circuit. We will also spend a day ‘downtown’, shopping for gear, exploring the back alleys of the old bazaars and enjoying a pleasant meal while we get to know each other.
We will then travel by bus (a good one) down to
Pokhara. Th is is a really scenic ride with a nice lunch
on the way. We will spend two nights in Pokhara in
a small, family-run lodge while we obtain our trek
permits, shop for last-minute trek provisions and
connect up with porters.
Our trek starts just a couple of hours from Pokhara
and will take about 14 days, flying down from
Jomsom on day 15 of the itinerary. We will first
climb up to Ghorepani. Most people do this in two
days, some do it in one. We will take three days just
to break you in gently. Aft er the stunning mountain
views at Ghorepani and perhaps an early morning
climb of Pun Hill, we will head off down the easy
trail to Sikha. We will take two days to reach Tatopani
and then stay there for two nights. You can try the
hot springs, do a little washing and generally catch
up with yourself.
The next day is a hard one up to Ghasa but we will
take it slowly – there is a jeep on the other side of the
valley if anyone feels they can’t do this section.
After Ghasa it is still uphill but not so steeply to
Kalopani for more amazing views of Dhaulagiri and
Annapurna I. The following days are extremely flat so
very easy trekking, especially with the famous winds
behind us. After a few days up the Kali Gandaki
valley with its wide open river bed full of interesting
rocks and, if you are lucky, saligram fossils, we reach
the ancient crumbling village of Kagbeni, one of my
personal favourites. If we want to we may be able
to walk into the previously forbidden kingdom of
Upper Mustang to visit Thiri village.
From there we will take sturdy ponies next day to
climb the steep hill to Muktinath at 3,800 metres.
With its tiny old gomba housing the mysterious
‘flame and water in the rock’ and glimpses of the
famous Thorong La pass we will spend the night and
then walk the easy trail back down to Kagbeni next
day. The trek concludes with a three-hour flat walk
back to Jomsom for a spectacular flight the following
morning that will take us back to where we started
in just 25 minutes.
We will recover in Pokhara for a couple of days and
then return to Kathmandu for another couple of days sightseeing, shopping or just ‘recovering’ ready
for the trip home.
The cost will be $2450 AUD and includes everything
you can think of. You will be met at the airport, all your
accommodation and every meal is included. Your
personal porter (including his proper registration
and insurance), internal flights, bus tickets, trekking
permits and entry fees to everything we visit. I don’t
cover alcohol (who does?) and you may want to
tip your porter generously. Your personal expenses
should be minimal. However, the temptations of
shopping in Nepal are great. Be warned! Trekking
gear, art and handicrafts, casual clothing and
jewellery – all are very reasonably priced.
If this sounds like something you would want to do
please get in touch at teresadidi@slowtrekking.com or vonschwichtenberg@gmail.com, teresadidi@slowtrekking.com and I
will get back to you in person if you give me your
phone number. I am in Germany for the summer.
We like to take a maximum of ten people.
So, here is the proposed itinerary – remember, it’s
not written in stone, we may need to be flexible here
and there depending on weather and conditions.
The trail through the village of Phalate, near Sikha
| 30 October | Arrive in Kathmandu and settle into our local hotel. A short walk somewhere in the late afternoon for dinner. |
| 31 October | Go into Thamel (tourist area) of Kathmandu for gear shopping and sightseeing. |
| 1 November | 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. |
| 2 November | 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. |
| 3 November | 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. |
| 4 November | A hard day up an endless stone staircase. We will go very slowly. Should reach Banthanti just after lunch. Afternoon recovery time. |
| 5 November | Uphill again but not so steeply now. Through rhododendron forest to Ghorepani at 2,800 metres. |
| 6 November | Early morning climb of Pun Hill (optional). The view from the lodge is pretty good anyway. Downhill to Sikha, lovely old village. |
| 7 November | Downhill again, back to 1,100 metres, to Tatopani. Hot springs, good cooking, comfortable rooms, nice garden. Warm conditions. |
| 8 November | Stay in Tatopani again. Why not, it’s really nice here. |
| 9 November | Our hardest day. It’s quite long and there is a steep climb in the middle. We will take it very slowly. Stay overnight at Ghasa. |
| 10 November | Uphill again to Kalopani. We should be there for a late lunch. Stunning valley with Dhaulagiri and Tukuche Ice Fall behind and Annapurna I and Barasikhar in front. |
| 11 November | 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. Tukuche, a beautiful old salt traders’ village overnight. |
| 12 November | Another flat, easy day with lunch stop at Marpha, another amazing piece of architecture, and overnight at Jomsom, via Upper Shyang. |
| 13 November | 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. We could leave some excess baggage here. |
| 14 November | Ponies will carry us up to Muktinath (there is a jeep for those who prefer). High and wild, glimpses of Thorong La, ancient temples. 3,800 metres with the views you would expect. Very Tibetan. |
| 15 November | This is always a lovely day. Strolling fairly gently downhill all day with a good look around Jharkot on the way – 500-year-old gomba. |
| 16 November | Retracing our steps we backtrack to Jomsom for another night at the Marco Polo Lodge ready for an early fl ight next morning. If the weather is fine we might go for another short walk in the afternoon. |
| 17 November | Early morning flight down to Pokhara. Nothing to do today. Wash some clothes, go shopping, go out on the lake, lie around, eating, sleeping. It’s your day! |
| 18 November | Another free day in Pokhara. Morning trip up to Sarangkot 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.) |
| 19 November | Back to Kathmandu. Heaven to sit on the bus watching the splendid scenery go by – no effort required. Nice dinner at Bouda?? |
| 20 November | A chance to see some more of Kathmandu, perhaps some shopping. Happy to arrange whatever you would like. |
| 21 November | GO HOME! We will make sure you get to the airport for your flight. |
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 help check your gear and let you know if you
are under or over-equipped.
You will be well briefed before the trek.
If you can’t get a flight for the exact dates we can
accommodate that. Extra days are $100 AUD which
includes a guide to help you do whatever you want.
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!
Jharkot
YOU CAN DO THIS!
Cheers,
Teresa
teresadidi@slowtrekking.com or vonschwichtenberg@gmail.com
