Everest Region Annapurna Region Remote Region Wild Life Rafting India Tibet Bhutan

The diversity of the flora and fauna in this route is as amazing as its cultural diversity. This trek is definitely for adventurers with limited time.

GRADE: MODERATE
DURATION: 14 DAYS
(9 DAYS LODGE TREK, 1 DAY POKHARA, 4 DAYS KATHMANDU)

Jomsom or the 'New Fort' is located at an elevation of 2,713 meters. The town was well known from the days of old for its excellent vantage point and serving as a trailhead to Muktinath (the temple of the preserver), Mustang and the land beyond.

In this trip you will witness the bailer of goods by the people of the local hills, the traditions of the Thakalis (previous traders who now have a strong restaurant trade) and you may even visit a Jimi Hendrix restaurant. The trail from Jomsom first leads to Kagbeni (2810m) a township along the Kali Gandaki River banks, the deepest gorge in the world. The town seems to have come straight out of the medieval past. It is a collection of mud houses, dark alleys, an imposing chorten and a large Gompa. The local people still live a life pretty much untouched by Western influences. From here you will walk past piles of trailside rocks erected by pilgrims to honour the deceased and then reach Muktinath.

Horses and mules will accompany you to the temple of the preserver at 3,802 meters. Every year, thousands of pilgrims make it to this place, some in bare feet. They come to worship the eternal flame mentioned in the Mahabharata epics of 300 BC. The temple has 108 sacred springs and a Tibetan monastery called Jwala Mai houses eternal flames. During the full moon of July a horse racing festival is celebrated by ethnic Bhotias as the Hindu festival of Janai Purnima takes place. Heading down to Marpha you may try the famous local cider of fruit preserves. To the south the trail reaches Tukuche a center where Nepal and Tibet traded during the Rana era. The trail passes through a Thakali village where, particularly, you feel the rough winds that make flying aircraft in the region difficult in the afternoons. At Tatopani, you may relax in the hot springs.

Ghorepani at 2853m boasts of 13 varieties of Nepal's national flower the Rhododendrons, thus making the hills as colourful as the festive Magar community that resides here. From Ghorepani you can enjoy the spectacular panorama of Dhaulagiri (the eighth highest mountain in the world at 8167m), Nilgiri (7061m), Annapurna I, Hiunchuli and other summits. Poon Hill offers the best views of the peak.