Damodar Kunda - Muktinath Trek

Duration: 
22 Days
Altitude: 
5600m
Difficulty: 
Strenuous
Holiday Style: 
Adventures Trekking
Starts/Ends: 
Kathmandu

Holiday Overview

Damodar Kunda-MuktinathTrek: 

Damodar Kunda - Muktinath trek is famous for the Hindu religion. it is situated rain shadow of the High Himalayas north of Annapthethethethe urna range. The elevation of the Damodar Kunda is just 4890 meters; it is a cold and windy place. We recommend that you visit during the full moon of August every year. There is a big festival up there many pilgrimages Hindus and Buddhists visit the full moon of August. Usually, you can visit from April to September every year.

Visiting Damodar Kund:

Festival time will be great for visiting Damodar Kund. From Damodar Kund, the views are great from some viewpoints a bit higher than the lakes, just a short climb up some of the hills. The Tibetan plateau & and Damodar Himal are to the north and the Annapurna Himalayan is massive to the south. The Damodar lakes are located three days walk northeast of the main Mustang trekking route and very close to the Tibetan border. Damodar Kunda lies on a restricted upper Mustang between Kagbeni and Muktinath.

Damodar Himal, is a mountain range in Nepal Himalayas, in the MUSTANG district. Includes Muktinath Himal (6,706m), Bhrikuti Peak (6,364m). There are 65 peaks in this Himal range. MARSYANGDI River takes its origin from this range. If you're planning a trip to the  Damodar Kund here is some information that could be the difference between life and death, and negatively eventful pilgrimage and a relatively clear trek and pilgrimage.

Damodar Kund & Kaligandaki River:

Damodar Kund (Lake) is located in a basin within the Damodar Himal, on the eastern fringe of the Annapurna Range. There are two versions of the origin of the Kali Gandaki River: One from a lake near the Tibetan border called Damodar-kund, situated northeast of Muktinath (requiring a 2–3-day journey on foot). Conversely, others claim the river emerges from a crevice in the Dongmar mountain northwest of Lo Mantang (considerably farther north than the former description), with the waters of Damodar Kund being distinct in their own right. There are several lakes, the area being locally called "Charang the land of hilly lakes."

The Damodar lakes are located three days' walk northeast of the main Mustang trekking route and very close to the border with Tibet. From Damodar Kund, the views are great from some viewpoints a bit higher than the lakes, just a short climb up some of the hills. The Tibetan plateau and Damodar Himal are to the north and the Annapurna Himalayan massive to the south. The walk to the Damodar Kund (lake) is not so difficult but quite a long walking distance and only sometimes a bit steep and almost flat. The only problem is the altitude and I have been aware of this while working out the itinerary for you.

Damodar Kunda - Muktinath Trek hilights:

- Explore the Himalayan Kingdom.

- Interesting and picturesque places.

- Buddhist Monastery, Chorten and Mani walls.

- Tibetan lifestyle in refugee camps and the mystic Landscape.

- Snow-capped Himalayan peaks.

- The famous Damodar Kunda, possible to festival observe if trip on a full moon of August.

- Ancient and isolated villages.

- Mixed culture and purely Tibetan culture.

- The pilgrimage site of Muktinath.

- Lake Valley of Pokhara.

Damodar Kunda - Muktinath Trek

INQUIRY
Choose Date & Price

Holiday Summary

Total Duration of trip: 22 days

Total days of trek: 16 Days
Max. Elevation: 5600m
Trek Grade: Moderate to Strenuous

Trek Start:  Jomsom

Trek End: Jomsom
Journey Starts/Ends: In Kathmandu, Nepal
Accommodations: Comfortable hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara and tents on the trek

 

Day-to-day Brief Itinerary

1
Arrive Kathmandu.
( Altitude: 1300m, Duration: 45 minutes )
Duration: 
45 minutes
Altitude: 
1300m
Destination: 
Kathmandu
Visit Kailash representative welcomes you with a flower garland, Sagun, and drinking water in Kathmandu airport then immediate transfer to the hotel. He / She will deliver a short briefing on immediate and further arrangements. Check in to the hotel, free time for rest.
2
Permit arrangement and Yatra brief.
Altitude: 
1300m
Destination: 
Kathmandu
Pasupati darsan, Guheshwori darsan.
3
Fly to Pokhara
( Altitude: 850m, Duration: 25 minutes )
Duration: 
25 minutes
Altitude: 
850m
Destination: 
Pokhara
Fly to Pokhara, Sightseeing in Pokhara, Overnights stay in Pokhara.
4
Pokhara - Jomsom flight 2720m and trek to Kagbeni 4 hours
( Altitude: 2800 m, Duration: 5 Hours )
Duration: 
5 Hours
Altitude: 
2800 m
Destination: 
Kagbeni
Early in the morning, we fly from Pokhara to Jomsom and view the scenic and majestic Himalayan Ranges just above the deepest Kaligandaki gorge after arrival in Jomsom, we meet with our support staff and will have breakfast. After breakfast, we prepare our trail goes along the Kaligandaki River passing Jomsom’s main village. Then, we walk on the wide bank of the Kaligandaki and move on in the wind. We have a short glimpse of Mt. Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri Himal. On this bank ammonite fossils are often found. From the trail on the bank, we make a small ascent and go down again, and then we reach Eklebatti. We will have our lunch there. After lunch, we continue a slightly ascending and level trail until reaching Kagbeni Village, which is the doorway to the upper Mustang. We will visit the peculiar colors and shapes of the Chhorten and Kani in the village and the ancient Sakya-Pa Sect Buddhist Monastery. From the top of the monastery, we have a great view of Nilgiri Himal, Tilicho Peak, and other snow-capped mountains as well as scenic terraced fields. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
5
Kagbeni to Tsaile (via Tangbe/ Chuksang)
( Altitude: 3100m, Duration: 6 hours )
Duration: 
6 hours
Altitude: 
3100m
Destination: 
Tsaile
In the morning after breakfast, we check in our restricted area permit and we are taking the first step into Upper Mustang. The route will continue on the left bank of Kaligandaki with small ups and downs along the Kaligandaki River. After a long walk, we cross a small stream and climb up on the terraced hill; we will come to Tangbe, the first Mustang village where the village has a medieval atmosphere. We will have our lunch here, and then we continue the trail traversing upward and will reach Chhusang village. From Chhusang, we will go back again to the river shore and move in the upstream direction of the Kaligandaki. When there is an iron bridge where the Kaligandaki River runs through a tunnel built in the huge rock that blocks the river shores and just above the bridge, there are 16 small caves. After crossing the bridge, we make a steep ascent onto the terrace ahead and we will reach Tsaile from where we can see the zigzagging Kaligandaki and Nilgiri Himal further in the interior. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
6
Tsaile to Syangmochen
( Altitude: 3800m, Duration: 7 hours )
Duration: 
7 hours
Altitude: 
3800m
Destination: 
Syangmochen
The morning after breakfast, we leave the village climb up the unstable pebble road, and come to a plateau. We keep climbing the gentle slope and enter an area with the big canyons. We follow the trail that cut out of the cliff and after passing the canyons we will reach a small pass. Then, we move to a gentle mountain flank and continue the slight descent and will reach Samar village surrounded by a poplar grove. We will have our lunch here. After lunch, we descend steeply to a stream, then climb up and descend steeply to another stream, then climb up to a plateau. We keep climbing up the right fork to the Chungsi-La and countering through the amazing canyons until reaching Ranchung Cave whose large stalactites resemble Rangchung (self-arisen; ie not man-made) chhorten. The Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated here in 8th century during his traveling in Mustang. Himalayan griffons nest in the surrounding cliffs. After visiting the cave, we climb gradually past the pasture to Syangmochen. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
7
Syangmochen to Tsarang. (via Geling, Ghami)
( Altitude: 3560m, Duration: 7 hours )
Duration: 
7 hours
Altitude: 
3560m
Destination: 
Tsarang
In the morning after breakfast, we climb up to a small pass where there is a colorfully painted square chhorten. We will see a large valley of Ghiling spreading out in front of us. We continue descending to the right towards Ghiling, cross a stream, and move on along the stone walls in the farm fields. Here are two ancient monasteries and big huge chhortens and we will visit them. After visiting the monasteries, we walk through the big village and climb up the gentle slope with shrubberies, and will join in the main trail. From here, a long ascent continues to Nyi-La. When we cross over this pass, we will enter the center of the Mustang, which used to be called the Lo Region. We descend the gentle slope and go around the valley ahead towards the left. We will be overlooking Ghami village and we descend a steep zigzag slope and will reach the village. We will have our lunch here. After lunch, we leave the village and cross a river using the suspension bridge. We climb onto the terrace and pass along the longest Mani Wall in Mustang. The effect of the erosion on the cliff ahead attracts attention to its strange forms and the varieties of colors such as red, blue, white, etc. It is like a Mandala painted on the cliff. The trail goes around to the right and a steep ascent starts in a rocky gully, then traverses to the Tsarang-La. On the top of the pass, we find a big stone pile, and the Annapurna Himal in the back looks beautiful. Then, we keep walking a long and gentle descent until reaching Tsarang Village. There is a huge Chhorten at the entrance of the village. This village is a long greenery settlement and can see farm fields spread out and surrounded by stone walls. We also can see the Gompa, which is painted in stripes of Red, White, and Black as well as the prominent five-storied Old Palace. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
8
Tsarang to Lo-Manthang.
( Altitude: 3840m, Duration: 5 Hours )
Duration: 
5 Hours
Altitude: 
3840m
Destination: 
Lomangthang
In the morning after breakfast, we will visit the Old Palace and Ancient Buddhist Monastery which is said to be that Tibetan Buddhism flourished in Upper Mustang from this Monastery. Then, we descend to the gorge of the Tsarang Khola, making a big traverse upstream and crossing by an Iron Bridge over the River. We ascend to about the same height as Tsarang on the rocky gully. Now we enter the valley and the dirt road turns north and climbs gently to a large isolated Chhorten that marks the boundary between Tsarang and Lo-Manthang. The road crosses a stream and then becomes a wide thoroughfare traveling across a desert-like landscape painted in every hue of grey and yellow. Finally, we arrive in Lo-La from where we can see the first view of the walled city of Lo-Manthang and the prayer flags are flapping in the wind. A short dusty descent leads onto the plain of aspiration; the trail crosses a stream by the wooden bridge. Now we climb up onto the plateau of Lo-Manthang, crossing an irrigation canal at the southern wall of the city of Lo-Manthang. In the evening, we meet with the King of Lo and visit the Insight City as well as ancient Buddhist Monasteries. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
9
Explore the Lo-Manthang City and Hike to Surrounding mountains
( Altitude: 3840m, Duration: 7-8 hours )
Duration: 
7-8 hours
Altitude: 
3840m
Destination: 
Lomangthang
Today, we will explore the eastern valley of Lo-Manthang is Chhoser, the site of Garphu and Nyaphu Gompas, and some fascinating cave-dwelling structures. This is the main trading route to Lhasa. The ruins of numerous forts along the trail lend credence to this observation. First, we descend to the small stream and cross by a wooden bridge. Then we ascend for a while and continue along the level trail until reaching Garphu and Nyaphu village. We visit the scenic Monastery situated inside the Cliff and Cave with numerous rooms, then we return from the opposite side of the valley after passing old villages. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
10
Lo - Manthang trek to Yara. (via Dhi),
( Altitude: 3900m, Duration: 7 hours )
Duration: 
7 hours
Altitude: 
3900m
Destination: 
Yara
We start our trek after breakfast; we leave the village and keep by gently ascending until we reach Day-La with a dusty trail from where the last view of the Lo-Manthang. We continue our trail for a while and follow the left trail after skipping the trail to reach Tsarang. The trail gently climbs on the ridge viewing the scenic landscapes until reaching a small pass. Then, we climb down a steep and dusty descent in the narrow path. We again come to a wide plateau and descend a rocky gully and knee-crunching trail until reaching Dhi village. We will have lunch here. After lunch, we cross a suspension bridge over the Kaligandaki River and make a short steep climb. Then, we follow along the upstream of Puyung Khola viewing the unbelievable landscapes and innumerable caves at the stone walls until reaching Yara village. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
11
Yara trek to Ghuma Thanti. (via Luri Cave)
( Altitude: 4800m, Duration: 8 hours )
Duration: 
8 hours
Altitude: 
4800m
Destination: 
Ghuma Thati
Today, we climb up to reach Luri Cave Monastery and visit that interesting Cave Monastery. After that, we followed the barren valley after crossing the 5100-meter pass; today we prepared a pack lunch due to no appropriate cooking possibilities on the trek. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
12
Ghuma Thanti trek to Damodar Kunda.
( Altitude: 4890m, Duration: 8 hours )
Duration: 
8 hours
Altitude: 
4890m
Destination: 
Damodarkunda
On this day, we start after breakfast, the trail continues with ups and downs. After crossing another 5600-meter pass we will reach High Altitude, Damodar Kunda. We need to make lunch packs due to no appropriate cooking possibilities on the trail. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
13
Damodar Kunda holy bath & Puja.
Altitude: 
4890m
Destination: 
Damodarkunda
Early morning exploring the high-altitude Damodar Kunda/Lake, Stay overnight at a tented camp.
14
Damodar Kunda return trek to Ghuma Thanti
( Altitude: 4800m, Duration: 8 hours )
Duration: 
8 hours
Altitude: 
4800m
Destination: 
Ghuma Thati
Today, we return all the same way passing over the 5600m high pass. The trail is again up and down same as before. We will make our lunch in some small stream on the trail. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
15
Ghuma Thanti trek to Yara.
( Altitude: 3900m, Duration: 7 hours )
Duration: 
7 hours
Altitude: 
3900m
Destination: 
Yara
We come back all the same route before we climb up. The trail continues downhill until reaching Yara Village. We prepare our lunch on the trail. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
16
Yara trek to Tangye
( Altitude: 3240m, Duration: 8 hours )
Duration: 
8 hours
Altitude: 
3240m
Destination: 
Tangye
Today is also a difficult and long day for us. Therefore, we start early in the morning. We first have a short and steep ascent and then a long flat way trail. Then the trail continues steeply down to Dechhyang Khola whose origin is from Damodar Kunda. It takes about 30 minutes. We find everywhere Saligrames (the black fossils of marine animals). Then the trail steeply ascents and leads us to the top of the pass where we have our packed lunch break, so we need to pack lunch in Yara due to no appropriate cooking possibilities on the trail. After lunch, the trail goes up and down and then we are on a huge plateau and cross it for reaching to Tangya village. We can see several big Chhortens. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
17
Tangya trek to Tetang .(via Paha)
( Altitude: 3040m, Duration: 9 hours )
Duration: 
9 hours
Altitude: 
3040m
Destination: 
Tetang
Today is also a long day again. Therefore, we start again really early in the morning. We leave the village, cross the suspension bridge, and follow the short river route. After crossing the river, we steeply climb up to reach a small pass. Then the trail goes straight to Paha (shelter house) where we make our lunch. Here is a small water tap for drinking water. After the lunch break, we continue crossing many small passes until we reach the top of the hill. It takes about 2 hours. Then the trail steeply descends and we encounter strong winds until we reach Tetang village. We have a superb view of Nilgiri Himal, Dhaulagiri I, Tukuche Peak, and other snow peaks during the trail. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
18
Tetang trek to Muktinath.
( Altitude: 3700m, Duration: 6 hours )
Duration: 
6 hours
Altitude: 
3700m
Destination: 
Muktinath
In the morning after breakfast, we follow our trail through the village after passing the scenic Mani walls. Then, we climb up to the wide valley. After walking the plateau, we keep ascending until reaching a small pass from where we can see the high mountains and picturesque view of Muktinath. Then, we drop down to the small stream and cross by a suspension bridge. After that, we enter the village of Chhyongar and follow the level trail until reaching Muktinath passing Kani/gate. In the evening, we explore to secret place for Hindus and Tibetan Buddhists in about 30 minutes in its compound. We can visit the 108 brass water spouts, and Muktinath temple stands enshrining Vishnu, a Hindu god. When we visit Muktinath Temple at once, we are free/salvation or escape from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Below the temple, there is another Buddhist monastery where the combination of earth-water-fire gives Muktinath great religious significance. And we can also see the magnificent view of Nilgiri Himal and Daulagiri I. Stay overnight at a tented camp.
19
Drive to Jomsom
( Altitude: 2700m, Duration: 1 hour )
Duration: 
1 hour
Altitude: 
2700m
Destination: 
Jomsom
Early morning Muktinath Darsan puja and back to hotel for breakfast, we leave the village and drive via Jharkot village where we visit the ancient Sakyamuni Buddhist Monastery and Traditional Medical Center. Then, we follow the dusty road trail for a while and choose cut cut-left trail until reaching Eklebatti where we have our lunch. After lunch, we follow again dusty and strong wind road-level trail along the Kaligandaki River to reach Jomsom. Stay overnight in a guest house.
20
Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara
( Altitude: 850m, Duration: 20 minutes )
Duration: 
20 minutes
Altitude: 
850m
Destination: 
Pokhara
Early in the morning after breakfast, we fly back to Pokhara which takes about 20minutes approximately, then, transfer to Hotel in Pokhara. After lunch, we visit in and around the valley. Stay overnight in Hotel.
21
Fly to Katmandu
( Altitude: 1300m, Duration: 25 minutes )
Duration: 
25 minutes
Altitude: 
1300m
Destination: 
Kathmandu
Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu, domestic airport picks up by private car and transfers to hotel.
22
Trip Conclude
Transfer to Kathmandu International Airport and departure at your destination.

What's Included

  • Airport / Hotel / Airport pick up & transfer by car / Van.
  • Domestic Flight Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara- Kathmandu.
  • 5 nights’ accommodation with breakfast at 2-3* Standard hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
  • Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with Tea & coffee, and hot water during the trek.
  • Restricted area special permits (USD 700/ 14 Days) and ACAP permit
  • All ground transportation as per itinerary
  • All trekking equipment (Tents and Kitchen Utensils).
  • 1 experienced, trek guide, 1 cook and 1 helper, 1 sherpa, porters
  • (1 porter for 2 people), their food and accommodation, salary, equipment and  Insurance
  • Tourist service charge, VAT.
  • Guide and support staff insurance and salary

What's not Included

  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
  • Medical and travel insurance.
  • International airfare from/to home and Nepal Tourist Visa fees.
  • Items and expenses of a personal nature.
  • Any kind of alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, snacks, laundry, phone calls, internet.
  • Personal Trekking Equipment.
  • Any costs that arise due to a change of the itinerary, because of landslides, domestic flight delays, political disturbance, strikes, etc.
  • Any other costs whatsoever, that are not mentioned in the cost included.
  • Horse renting and additional porters during the trek.
  • Tips for guides, porters, drivers...

Holiday Extensions

Date & Price

Arrival in Kathmandu
Departure from Kathmandu
Availability
Tour Cost
Customize your own date
Customize your own date
Available
Contact us for the best deal

Reviews

Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.
chevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram