Days: 9 / Difficulty: 2 of 5 (Moderate)
This is a festival trekking destination in the mid western Himalaya of Nepal. This trek follows the Kali Gandaki valley, between the soaring peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, finally emerges to the north of the main Himalayan range, on the dry desert-like Tibetan Plateau. This trek is specially for families, trekking to Muktinath during their holiday in Nepal. We ran our family treks also during the festival season, when the children and their parents want to enjoy an exciting adventure in Nepal.
We organize a safe, fun, adventurous & memorable holiday of their choice to many regions of Nepal. Our experienced child friendly and helpful guides, lead you on slow-paced steps, along well-used trails through the trekking days. Children under 5 years will have the option of hiking or being carried in Baby Rucksack (which your child is safely harnessed into) by our helpful & smiling crew or ride on a horse.
The Yartung festival is celebrated all over Mustang and is especially celebrated in Muktinath during August (in the full moon day) every year. It is a three day celebration and is celebrated with horse races, drinking and dancing by local Thakali people. During the three days celebration, we have the King's (local king) activities taking place on the first, the monks on the second and the local people's on the third. The most attractive event of this festival is the horse race competition by man and woman. In their language, Yartung means the end of summer; Mela means a festival; Yartung Mela means a festival to send off summer. So, they celebrate this festival with enthusiasm, appreciating the good lives the summer has brought to them. By that time, they have finished harvesting the crops and they have stored the cereal at home. In fact, this festival is for making offerings to Buddha and to receive the blessings from the village chief as well as from respectable senior citizens for an auspicious journey. Their senior honorable priest, called Lama, sets the day for celebrating Yartung Mela, finding the most auspicious day in their calendar and keeping in mind the view of completion of harvesting crops. Usually, their priest chooses the full moon day called Janai Purnima for celebrating this festival.
Highest elevation: 3800m
Trek style: Lodge Trek
Major attraction: Yartung Mela performed by Local People/Monks and Horse Race competition by man and woman, Muktinath temple, Jwala Mai monastery, Culture Dancing, Bonpo Gompa in Lupra, Magestic view of Mt. Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri, Traditional Medical centre
Itinerary in detail:
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
Arrival in Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport and you will be met at the airport by our representative who will be waiting with a Swiss Family Treks sign outside the terminal and transfer to Hotel by private car. Welcome drink and after you settle into the hotel there will be a group briefing with your tour leader. He will discuss the trek details and co-ordinate any last minute arrangements. Overnight at 4 star hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 2: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara 820m by AC tourist bus (7/8 hours),
Drive from Ktm to Pokhara at 7 o’clock in the morning by AC tourist bus. Passing the Riverside of Trisuli and takes about 7 hours to reach the Pokhara valley. Our guide leads you to the Barahi temple on Phewa lake with a boat. Overnight at 4 star hotel in Pokhara.
Day 3: Pokhara to Jomsom 2710m by flight (35min) and trek to Kagbeni 2800m via Lupra 2790m (4/5 hours).
Early in the morning, you go to airport by taxi and you fly to Jomsom and will have breakfast. Then you continue your trail passing the River bank of Kaligandaki to reach Lupra, where you can visit the interesting Bon-Po monastery. It takes about 3 hours. Bon-Po is a sect which mixes pre-buddhist beliefs with religious practices close to Buddhism. You keep walking to Eklabatti. You have lunch here. After lunch, you continue until reaching Kagbeni which takes about 1 hour. You can visit the red-painted Gompa about 1000 years old. Overnight at a lodge in Kagbeni.
Day 4: Trek from Kagbeni to Muktinath 3800m (5/6 hours).
The trail steeply ascent brings you to Kinghar village about 2 hours. Then you continue until reaching Jharkot which takes about 1 hour and visit the old Sakya Monastery and Traditional Medical centre. You have lunch here. After lunch, you ascend a little more to reach Muktinath about 1 hour. You hike to a secret place for Hindus and Tibetan Buddhist in about 30 minutes in its compound. You can see the 108 water spouts. The Muktinath temple stands enshrining Vishnu, a Hindu god. For Hindus, it’s the next most holy place in Nepal after Pashupatinath. The believe says; when you visit the Muktinath temple, you are free/salvation, you'll escape from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Below the temple there is another ancient Buddhist monastery, where the combination of earth-water-fire gives Muktinath’s great religious significance. And you also see the magnificent view of Nilgiri Himal and Daulagiri I. Overnight at a lodge in Muktinath.
Day 5: Exploration and Culture experience with Yartung Mela:
On this day you'll enjoy the festival. In the early morning, they first visit the Goddess of Flame called Jwala Mai and make offerings to her, then Muktinath to offer prayers to Lord Muktinath, and then to the monastery called Nursing monastery, to offer butter lamps to Lord Buddha. Thus, they spend the morning of Yartung Mela performing religious offerings to their deities. As Yartung Mela usually coincides with the Hindu festival called Janai Purnima, Hindus from far away visit Muktinath to change their sacred thread on this day. First, they wash their bodies in the water coming out of 108-water spouts surrounding the Muktinath temple starting at the first spout and ending at the last one. Then, they wear new sacred threads and go to make offerings to Lord Muktinath in the temple. On the festival day, the local chief called Mukhiya previously the king of Jharkot dressed up in the traditional royal attire, riding a horse, leads a royal procession from Jharkot to Muktinath. The royal group performs dances at the stadium. The head of the royal group stays at the center while other members around him rejoice and perform dances. They circle him a number of times while performing various sorts of dances. This enjoyment goes on for several hours. Then he blesses all people one by one. Again you can watch other sports activities. Finally, the main game of the show is the Horse Race by male and female. They are coming to participate from Lamjung, Manang, Upper Mustang and Lower Mustang. After completion of the games, the Mukhiya distributes prizes to the winners of the various games. That's how Yartung Mela ends. You'll have a great memorable event to remember with your children. Overnight at a lodge in Muktinath.
Day 6: Trek from Muktinath to Jomsom 2710m (5/6 hours).
The trail is descending until reaching Eklabatti which takes about 3 hours. You will have lunch here. Then after, you keep following the level trail passing in the bank of Kali Gandaki river. Finally you arrive in Jomsom about 3 hours walk. Overnight at a lodge in Jomsom.
Day 7: Jomsom to Pokhara 820m by flight (35min).
Early in the morning, you fly back to Pokhara. You have full day sightseeing in Pokhara like Devi’s Fall, Gupteswor Cave and World Peace Stupa etc. Overnight at 4 star hotel in Pokhara.
Day 8: Pokhara to Kathmandu by AC tourist bus (7/8 hours).
Early in the morning, drive from Pok to Ktm by AC tourist bus passing the Trisuli river. Transfer to Hotel. Overnight at 4 star hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 9:Final Departure from Kathmandu
Your trip will come to an end today after breakfast. Your leader will be on hand to advise and assist with your onward travel arrangements and transfer to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport by our private van around 3 hours before your flight schedule and flight back to your home/other travel destination.
Pricing for Group Size Basis:
All inclusive Trek Price for single trekker; USD 1935
All inclusive Trek Price for 2 trekkers basis; USD 1450 per person
Join with us on a Yartung Mela Family Lodge Trek to Muktinath in 2023/2024.
Customize Your Trek: This is a general itinerary, which can always individually be “tailormade”. The trek package can be redesigned or redeveloped as per your taste, For more information please e-mail us at snftnepal@yahoo.de
Important: In case of emergency during the trip, Helicopter will be arranged by Swiss Family Treks & Expedition GmbH. The charges must be paid by the clients themselves.
| 1 Person |
2 Persons |
Status * |
USD 1,935
EUR 1.804
SFr 1.790 |
USD 2,900
EUR 2.703
SFr 2.683 |
Trip is available |
* Dates can be flexible, please contact us for individual dates.
Our Trek Package Cost includes;
* Airport/Hotel/Airport pick up and transfer by private car/van.
* 2 nights deluxe accommodation in twin bed sharing basis with breakfast at 4* Kathmandu Guest House or Dalai-La Boutique Resort in Kathmandu.
* 2 nights deluxe accommodation in twin bed sharing basis with breakfast at 4* Hotel Temple Tree Resort in Pokhara.
* Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) with Tea & coffee and hot/cold filter water during the trek.
* Lodge to lodge accommodation during the trek.
* 1 experienced, helpful and friendly guide, porters (1 porter for 2 peoples), their food & accommodation, salary, equipment & insurance.
* Domestic Flight Ticket from Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara and airport tax.
* All transportation by private vehicle and tourist bus.
* Annapurna Conservation Area Permit.
* All necessary permits.
* Office Service charge
* All Government Tax.
Our Trek Package Cost doesn't include;
* Any meals ( Lunch and Dinner) in Kathmandu and Pokhara other than breakfast.
* Travel insurance.
* International air fare to and from Nepal.
* Nepal Tourist Visa fee.
* Items and expenses of personal nature.
* Any kind of alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, laundry, phone call, internet.
* Personal Trekking Equipments like sleeping bags, jackets (can all be hired in KTM)
* Emergency Evacuation (Helicopter Rescue).
* Any costs which arise due to a change of the itinerary, because of landslides, domestic flight delays, political disturbance, and strikes etc.
* Any other costs whatsoever, that is not mentioned in the cost included.
* Horse renting and additional porters due to natural calamities during the trek.
* Tips for guide, porters, driver...
Tipping is expected but it is not mandatory.
Yartung Mela Lodge Trek to Muktinath, 9 Days (For the Full Moon of August 2023)
Swiss Family Treks & Expedition GmbH, Switzerland
Swiss Himalayan Family Treks & Expedition P. Ltd
Address
Ganeshtan-6, Pharping Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone +977 4710390
Cell +977 9803200543 Stephan
Cell +977 9849193453 Ashta
Email snftnepal@yahoo.de
