Muktinath Holy Helicopter Trip: 5 Days Luxury Helicopter Pilgrimage & Lakeside Retreat

Meals: Dinner at leisure · Transport: Private luxury car · Sightseeing: about 3 hours

Your first day depends on your flight time, and the plan below suits a midday arrival.

On arrival: Your guide meets you outside Tribhuvan International Airport with a flower garland and a warm welcome, and your driver looks after your luggage. The drive into Kathmandu takes about 15 to 30 minutes in your private, air-conditioned luxury car.

2:00 PM: Check in at Dwarika's with a welcome drink in the brick courtyard. Take time to unpack and freshen up before the sightseeing begins.

4:00 PM: Drive about 10 minutes to Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal's holiest Hindu site, on the banks of the Bagmati River. Your guide explains the rituals along the ghats. Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple but get a clear view from the opposite bank.

5:30 PM: Continue to Boudhanath Stupa and walk clockwise around its base as the sun goes down, among butter lamps, prayer wheels and monks in maroon robes.

7:00 PM: Return to Dwarika's for a relaxed first evening. Dinner is at leisure and at your own cost.

Meals: Luxury Breakfast · Transport: Private luxury car and domestic flight · Flight: about 25 minutes

A morning at the valley's hilltop stupa, then a scenic flight to the lake, ready for tomorrow's pilgrimage flight.

8:00 AM: Enjoy a Luxury Breakfast at Dwarika's, then meet your guide for a morning of sightseeing.

9:15 AM: Drive up to Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple, and climb to the hilltop stupa where painted Buddha eyes look out over the city. Spin the prayer wheels as you go and enjoy wide views across the whole valley.

11:30 AM: Return to Dwarika's, check out and have lunch at leisure (own cost).

1:30 PM: Drive to the domestic airport for your flight to Pokhara, about 25 minutes. Ask for a window seat, as the route often gives fine Himalayan views.

3:30 PM: Your driver meets you at Pokhara Airport and takes you to Temple Tree Resort & Spa. Enjoy a welcome drink and settle in.

5:15 PM: Take an easy sunset walk along the shore of Phewa Lake, a few minutes from your resort. Dinner is at leisure (own cost). Your guide confirms your early pick-up for tomorrow's helicopter flight.

Meals: Luxury Breakfast, boxed breakfast or brunch at Muktinath · Transport: Private helicopter · Flight: about 2 hours in total

Today is the heart of the tour: a private helicopter flight over the Kali Gandaki gorge to one of the holiest temples in the Himalaya.

5:30 AM: An early Luxury Breakfast at Temple Tree, then your driver takes you to Pokhara Airport for your helicopter.

6:30 AM: Take off from Pokhara and fly north-west along the Kali Gandaki, the world's deepest gorge, with Dhaulagiri and Annapurna rising on either side. You pass over Jomsom and the walled village of Kagbeni before landing near Ranipauwa, a short distance below Muktinath Temple.

7:30 AM: Meet your personal pilgrimage guide, who walks you up to Muktinath Temple (a gentle 20 to 30 minute walk, or by pony on request). At the temple, your guide explains the significance of the 108 bull-head water spouts, where pilgrims bathe, and the Jwala Mai shrine, where a natural flame burns beside a spring of water.

9:00 AM: With your guide, take part in the temple rituals at your own pace, and arrange a private blessing with a temple priest (offering costs are extra and paid directly, typically a small amount in NPR).

10:30 AM: A boxed breakfast or brunch is served with a view over the Muktinath valley and the barren, high-altitude landscape of Mustang.

11:30 AM: Fly back over the Kali Gandaki gorge to Pokhara, landing around midday. Timing on the day can shift by an hour or so depending on mountain weather.

1:00 PM: Return to Temple Tree Resort & Spa. The rest of the afternoon is free to rest after an early start.

4:00 PM — Relaxing wellness evening. Enjoy a spa treatment at the resort (own cost) followed by a quiet dinner by the lake at a restaurant of your choice (own cost).

Weather back-up: mountain flying depends on calm winds, especially through the Kali Gandaki gorge, which can turn strong by late morning. If the helicopter cannot fly on Day 3, we try again early on the morning of Day 4 and adjust the rest of your Pokhara plan accordingly.

Meals: Luxury Breakfast · Transport: Private luxury car · Sightseeing: about 4 hours

A calm day on the water and in the hills above the lake, a gentle contrast after yesterday's pilgrimage.

8:30 AM: Enjoy a Luxury Breakfast at Temple Tree with no early start today.

10:00 AM: Board your own private boat on Phewa Lake and cross to the island temple of Tal Barahi, one of Pokhara's most sacred sites.

11:45 AM: Your luxury car meets you on the far shore and drives you up to the World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa), with wide views of the lake, the city and the Annapurna range.

1:15 PM: Lunch at a lakeside cafe with views over the water (own cost).

3:00 PM: Free afternoon to swim, book a spa treatment (own cost) or explore. Your guide can also take you to Davis Fall, Gupteshwor Cave or the International Mountain Museum.

6:00 PM: A farewell dinner at a restaurant of your choice (own cost). Our team can reserve a table for you.

Meals: Luxury Breakfast · Transport: Private luxury car and domestic flight · Flight: about 25 minutes

A last relaxed morning by the lake before you fly back to Kathmandu for your onward journey.

7:30 AM: Enjoy a Luxury Breakfast at Temple Tree, then take a last walk in the gardens or a swim.

11:00 AM: Check out and drive to Pokhara Airport for your flight to Kathmandu, about 25 minutes. The exact flight time depends on the airline's schedule and is confirmed before your trip.

1:00 PM: Your driver meets you in Kathmandu and takes you to your onward flight. We recommend booking your international flight for 5:00 PM or later so there is a comfortable buffer.

Have a morning international flight, or want a rest before you fly? Ask us to add a night at Dwarika's.