TREK ITINERARY
BEST EVER MUKTINATH TREK!! 03 OCT - 30 NOV 2026
TREKKING WITH TERESA (AND EKKI)………www.slowtrekking.com
Are you a trekker? Are you not? We have a mixed bunch for the next trek so we have made a great itinerary which can be managed by ALL LEVELS OF FITNESS. If you are up for it, you can trek every step of the way. And there are some tougher days. If your abilities are no longer quite up to scratch, you can join me, jeep hopping from one destination to another or, and here is the good part, you could do a mixture of both. There are transport options for almost every section of this trek yet some of the terrain, especially in the upper reaches of the Kali Gandaki Valley, are so flat that almost anyone could trek, which includes me. We did test this trek out in late 2024, the Trek Report is online at www.slowtrekking.com.
The trip does require a full month in Nepal. We have included a couple of days in Kathmandu and Pokhara, before and after trekking. We will have logistics in place to trek or jeep every day. No need to decide in advance. Muktinath is a fabulous destination. A pilgrimage site for at least two thousand years, for Hindu and Buddhists alike. The variety of terrain is astounding. Lush, terraced fields lead steeply up to Gorepani, then descend, again quite steeply, to the mighty Kali Gandaki Valley at Tatopani – famous for its hot springs. 
We have a rest day here, for obvious reasons. As we trek upwards, we encounter steep gorges between 8,000 metre peaks, then pine forests, then, gradually sweeping brown treeless slopes dotted with little flat-roofed Buddhist villages known as the Teragaon (thirteen villages) populated by Thakali people. Close to Muktinath the vibe is definitely Tibetan and in Dzong you will feel as if time has stood still. The region is renowned for its hospitality and the lodges are mostly great.
So here is the proposed itinerary. It is not yet finalised, so input is welcome. However, the entire month h of November is needed for such a big adventure. If you really cannot manage all of it, we could help you join us for part of the trip. Read the itinerary and see what you think………
Here is the day by day itinerary:
| Octoiber 31: | Arrive in Kathmandu. We will meet your flight and take you to the International Guesthouse. Google it! Simple rooms. Lovely garden. Great location in the heart of Kathmandu. |
| November 01: | Shopping for trekking gear. Banking. Permits. Time for sightseeing. We can plan on the day. Stay KTM. |
| November 02: | Transport to Pokhara. Our own minibus with Kamal, our trusted driver. Great scenery and a few choice stops along the way. |
| November 03: | Day out in Pokhara. Boating across the lake, trek for an hour up to the Peace Stupa (or taxi?). Test your gear. Shop for extras for trekking. Traditional Nepali dinner. |
| November 04: | Transport to Nyapul and trek to Hille. A fairly easy first day. I will stay in Pokhara to do some day-trips with those not doing the harder trekking. Ekki will lead this group. Lahar as guide. |
| November 05: | TREKKERS – Steep trek up to Banthanti , 2000 m. Very very slowly, lots of stairs. Pokhara members still doing their own thing with me. |
| November 06: | TREKKERS – up to Gorepani 2800 m amazing views, hot showers and dancing…. I will bring the very slow trekkers up by jeep today to Tatopani. |
| November 07: | TREKKERS walk down to Tatopani. Anyone struggling can find transport from not far below Gorepani. All meet up in Tatopani. |
| November 08: | REST DAY. Tatopani means ‘hot spring’ . Relax, have a beer in the garden. Mild weather at 1100 metres. Wash a few smalls? |
| November 09: | TREKKERS – Trek up to Ghasa, via Pairo. Longer day. ME+ can jeep to Rupse Chahara then trek the road on the shadier side of the valley, or jeep all the way. Ghasa.1800m. Pine forests! |
| November 10: | TREKKERS – Trek up to Kalopani. Off the road where possible, or take the Titi Lake trail? Harder. We Slowtrekkers managed to trek the road last time, but transport IS available. 2400 m. |
| November 11: | Pretty easy, flattish trek to Tukche 2700 m, ALL trekking – as always, transport IS available. Pretty village, lovely old lodge. Stunning views. |
| November 12: | Trek to Marpha 2800 m, is easy. We could all trek this? Another village with amazing architecture. |
| November 13: | Marpha to Jomsom, or Kagbeni? Flat, easy. To be decided on the day. Kagbeni is a medieval ruin and very atmospheric. Both villages at 2800 metres. You could fly out of Jomsom. |
| November 14: | Trek to Kagbeni (if we stayed in Jomsom yesterday) A very flat, easy trek of just 3 hours. Jeep available. An afternoon walk out to Thiri if bridges are ok. |
| November 15: | Trek up to Jarkot 3400 m. Jeep for some. Another wonderful old crumbling medieval ruin. Muktinath is not far but 3600 m is a bit high. Cosy, cold night. |
| November 16: | Trek, or jeep, up to Muktinath this morning. Visit the temples after a coffee stop in Ranipawa. We can trek on in the afternoon, or stay overnight here. To be decided on the day. How are we doing with altitude, health, etc. ? |
| November 17: | Trek downhill to Dzong. We could all trek this, but a lift should not be a problem. Depends a bit on early snow in gullies, etc. To be planned on the day. Dzong has another 500-year-od monastery and really feels like time has stood still here. Views back to Daulaghiri are stunning. |
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| November 18: | Trek, easily, gradually downhill all the way to Kagbeni. We may have left half our luggage here. No use carrying hot weather clothes or washing to the top and back!! There is a jeepable road, which we will walk on. Jeep is a possibility. |
| November 19: | Trekking back now, to Marpha or Tukuche. To be decided at the time. Jeep for everyone?? Or not? Anyone with less time could fly out of here. |
| November 20: | Trek Tukuche to Kalopani – on the East Bank if possible. We are making this up as we go now. |
| November 21: | Rest Day in Kalopani. A day trip out to Titi Lake or just take it easy sitting in the garden looking at the mountains. Phew! |
| November 22: | Kalopani to Ghasa. We know the way. There is transport on the road – which we will walk on for some of the way. |
| November 23: | Ghasa to Tatopani – over Pairo, or the road, or jeep. As you like. |
| November 24: | Jeeps home to Pokhara, with a probable change at Beni. A pretty long road trip. |
| November 25: | RELAX. Lovely Pokhara. 600 m - enjoy warm weather., Coffee bars, massage, shopping, mountaineering museum….. |
| November 26: | Back to Kathmandu. We can do it in our own bus, stopping for an overnight in Bandipur if we like. Or, we can fly back to Kathmandu and spend an extra day or two there. I am open to suggestions ….. |
| November 27: | Arrive back in Kathmandu (if we stayed in Bandipur last night). International Guesthouse. Same rooms, nice garden. Great shopping nearby in Thamel. Our favourite restaurants. |
| November 28: | Day off in Kathmandu. You can do nothing, or come out for a look at some of the stunning cultural sights. Up to you…. |
| November 29: | You can go home. We will get you to the airport for your flight of course. Or, stay another day and see more of Kathmandu. |
| November 30: | Come on! You really should be going home. |
A whole month in Nepal. Nothing extra to pay. We will cover every hotel, all your food and drink, every taxi and jeep and entrance fee. We will get you a trek permit and hire a great guide and porters. Either Ekki or I will be with you every single day. Ekki with the stronger trekkers which will be guided by Lahar Pun. I am hoping to garner a small group which wants to visit Muktinath but has less ability for sustained hill trekking. We will jeep where necessary. I will check your gear and make sure you have what you need, or guide you to shops which have what you need at very reasonable prices. Of course, you need to be able to walk for an hour or so on flattish terrain, be comfortable going without a shower for a few days at a time and occasionally having to use a squat toilet. The rooms are ALWAYS upstairs!!
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This is a huge trek. A whole month in Nepal with professional back up. It will cost.
It looks like $5250 AUD or 2900 euro. We can work out a lower price for someone who wants to fly back from Jomsom, before or after Muktinath. All possible. We have two definites, Australians, and a few possibles at this stage so there is plenty of room. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the Anapurna up close and wonderful. Please consider. Write to me at teresadb@hotmail.com or vonschwichtenberg@gmail.com if you have questions or want to come with us. I would love to see some of our old customers make one last journey to Nepal, even if the trekking legs are not up to scratch. I know what that is like.
WE CAN DO THIS!!
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Cheers, Teresa and Ekki (all Ekki’s photos)
