Muktinath–Kedarnath–Badrinath Himalayan Dharma Route

Kathmandu → Mustang / Uttarakhand Himalayas

Highlights

• A high-altitude Himalayan pilgrimage from Nepal's Muktinath to India's Char Dham — where earth meets sky.
• Himalayan Dharma · 12 days / 11 nights
• Small group, guide-led

Day-by-day itinerary

1. D1

   Kathmandu to Muktinath — Gateway to Liberation

   Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara (25 minutes), then to Jomsom (25 minutes). Drive or trek 18 km to Muktinath (3,710m). Acclimatize overnight in Jomsom or Ranipauwa. Next morning: ascend 300 stone steps to the temple. Bathe under all 108 icy water spouts — a purifying ritual that takes 20–30 minutes. See the eternal flame (Jwala Mai) burning naturally from earth. The temple requires ACAP permit (NPR 3,000 for foreigners, NPR 200 for Nepalis) and TIMS card. Best seasons: March–May and September–November. Carry warm layers — temperatures drop below freezing. No leather items permitted inside.

   Mustang / Uttarakhand Himalayas As per plan

2. D2

   Cross into India — Sonprayag and Kedarnath

   Descend from Muktinath to Jomsom, fly to Pokhara, and travel overland to the India-Nepal border. Cross at Mahendranagar/Gadda Chauki (far-western Nepal) or return to Kathmandu and fly to Delhi. From Delhi, travel to Sonprayag/Rishikesh. The Kedarnath trek (16 km from Gaurikund) ascends to 3,583m. Alternative: helicopter from Phata/Sersi (INR 7,000–8,000). Kedarnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, sits in a glacial amphitheater of breathtaking beauty. The Mandakini River flows below. Overnight in basic lodges near the temple. Register for Char Dham Yatra online before arrival.

   Mustang / Uttarakhand Himalayas As per plan

3. D3

   Badrinath — The Abode of Vishnu

   Travel from Kedarnath/Guptkashi to Badrinath (190 km, 7–8 hours) via Joshimath. En route, witness the Panch Prayag — the five sacred river confluences. Badrinath Temple (3,300m) sits on the banks of the Alaknanda River between the Nar and Narayan mountain peaks. Take a holy dip in Tapt Kund's natural hot springs before darshan. Visit Mana Village — the last Indian village before Tibet — and Vyas Gufa where Vedas are believed to have been composed. The evening aarti at Badrinath, set against snow peaks, is profoundly moving.

   Mustang / Uttarakhand Himalayas As per plan

4. D4

   Return via Rishikesh and Haridwar

   Descend from Badrinath to Haridwar (10–11 hours), stopping at Joshimath (one of the four cardinal mathas established by Adi Shankaracharya). Attend the evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar — one of Hinduism's most important daily rituals. From Haridwar, take the train/flight to Delhi. International pilgrims: fly from Delhi to Kathmandu to complete the circuit. Indian nationals may return overland via the Sunauli or Mahendranagar borders. The complete circuit requires good physical fitness and acclimatization — consult a doctor if you have heart or respiratory conditions.

   Mustang / Uttarakhand Himalayas As per plan

Price includes

• Local storyteller guide
• Stays as per itinerary
• Daily breakfast
• All ground transfers

Make it yours (upsells)

Everything apart from the trip itself is an upsell — tick what you want.