Best Time for Kathmandu to Muktinath Helicopter Tour
The Muktinath temple in the Mustang region is open for pilgrims all around the year. However, you should travel on a favorable season to be safe from any weather-related hassles and challenges. Autumn and Spring season provides excellent weather and a stable climate in the area.
Spring (March-May)
The Spring season starts from the month of March and lasts till May in the region. It brings a delightful atmosphere to the region. There is a soothing climate with fresh winds blowing all day. You can experience plenty of daylight and can observe breathtaking views of glaciers and snow-capped mountains. Flowers bloom all over hills creating a colorful scenario.
Moreover, there are minimal chances of flights getting canceled, which makes it the safest time to travel. The temperature ranges around 25 Degree Celsius in Spring. The awe-inspiring views of snow-capped mountains in clear blue skies are a highlight in the spring season.
Autumn (September-November)
Autumn has moderate temperatures and is a great time for helicopter rides in the region. Moreover, the Muktinath region temperatures range from 19 to 30 Degree Celsius in Autumn. However, you need to wear warm clothes as it can turn quite cold and windy in the region pretty quickly.
Early mornings and nights are quite chilly, even in Autumn. You will have a great time with mild weather and warm days in the region. There are many cultural festivals and religious ceremonies at this time of year. Hence, it is a great time for a cultural exploration of the region as well.
Muktinath in winters can get challenging due to freezing temperatures and harsh wind. Flights get canceled frequently in the Muktinath region in such conditions. The monsoon season comes with foggy weather and overcast conditions which make it difficult for helicopters to take and land flight. Overall, this helicopter tour is favorable on a clear and sunny day.
Kathmandu to Muktinath Helicopter Cost
The total cost of a helicopter trip from Kathmandu to Muktinath is around US$1,350 to US$1,500. It also depends upon the type of service, time duration, and season of travel. The Muktinath tour package price can get high in prime seasons. In peak seasons, facilities like food and water increase as well.
Moreover, the Kathmandu to Muktinath Helicopter cost is higher than a flight but is also quite comfortable. A maximum of 5 passengers is generally allowed on this helicopter tour to Muktinath. If you travel with your friends and family, you can share the cost of a helicopter charter among yourselves.
Things To Consider For the Helicopter Tour
There are various aspects that you should consider before taking this Kathmandu to Muktinath tour package. They are as follows:
Unpredictable Weather
The weather in the high altitude region is quite challenging. The unpredictability of the weather is another significant difficulty of this tour. It also forces many flights to get delayed or canceled. Besides that, there are other weather-related challenges in the region as well. High force winds, low oxygen, and air pressure levels, and unexpected storms are some of the challenges.
Winter climate and temperature are the most challenging. You will experience freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall. Foggy conditions and low visibility make flights in these conditions quite a challenge. Therefore, this helicopter tour is ideal in the months of Spring or Autumn.
Altitude sickness
Muktinath Helicopter tour is a trip in the mountainous region located at a high altitude. Therefore, altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness is quite common in the region. Since you will be gaining a lot of elevation in a short amount of time, you will not have time for acclimatization.
Moreover, symptoms like nausea, headaches, breathing difficulty, and tiredness are quite common. Travelers are quite prone to altitude sickness. Many travelers find it hard to cope with altitude sickness due to lack of oxygen and freezing weather. Therefore, the travelers should rest well and eat light before starting on this tour. You can also avoid these symptoms by taking anti-nausea tablets like Diamox.
Backpack Weight
You should not carry too much weight along with you during the helicopter trip. The Helicopter can only accommodate around 90 kg weight excluding the five passengers. Therefore, you must only carry the essentials required for your pilgrimage to Muktinath temple.
Safety Tips for Kathmandu to Muktinath Helicopter Tour
- Remain seated at all times and do not stand without permission in the middle of the flight.
- Do not throw objects from the helicopter window.
- You should wear your seat belts in the helicopter at all times during the tour.
- Get the captain’s permission before smoking on the flight.
- Do not move towards the rotor fan as it is quite dangerous. It keeps moving even after the flight has landed.
- Don’t rush to get out and only do so after getting the captain’s permission.
Major Attractions of Muktinath Region
Jwala Mai Temple
Jwala Mai temple near Muktinath is a famous temple that has an eternal fire. The ever-burning fire is due to underground natural gas. The Jwala Mai temple is quite significant religiously. The eternal fire remains quite important amongst Buddhist devotees.
108 Stone Taps
The Muktinath temple is famous for 108 stone taps. These stone taps have a unique exterior and are culturally and architecturally significant. Bathing in them is widely believed to cleanse all sins of the person and help them attain “moksha” or salvation. Therefore, many pilgrims take a bath in these 108 stone taps when they arrive in Muktinath.
Mharme Lha Khang Gompa
The Mharme Lha Khang Gompa remains located on the Northside of the Muktinath Temple. Mharme Lha Khang means a thousand holy lamps in the local Tibetan language. The temple remains dedicated to Guru Rinpoche and is quite revered by Buddhist pilgrims. The Hindus also refer to this Gompa as “Narsingh Gompa”. Narasimha is a lion-headed God in Hindu mythology.
Kali Gandaki River Shaligrams.
The Muktinath temple remains located near the Kali Gandaki river. You can find many ancient fossils along the banks of the Kali Gandaki river. However, these fossils are quite hard to find by yourself. Therefore, you can find them in souvenir shops in the temple area as well. The ‘Shaligram’ on the bank of the Kali Gandaki river carries a high religious significance.
COVID-19 Safety Guidelines and Protocols
There are specific safety guidelines and protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These steps ensure the safety of all passengers taking this tour:
- Every passenger must undergo thermal screenings before boarding this flight.
- Every passenger taking this helicopter tour must wear masks and face shields.
- The team members, including the pilot, will also follow these safety protocols. They use masks, face shields, and sanitary gloves as well.
- Use of Hand Sanitizers and Social distancing is essential during the tour.
Some Essential Aspects of Muktinath Helicopter Tour
- If the weather is not favorable, we cannot fly to the region.
- The tour gets scheduled based on the weather conditions.
- The helicopter flight will land at the next best place if we cannot land.
- You can also customize this trip based on your schedule and requirements.
- Your pilot may provide you some extra time upon your request to view snow-capped mountains. However, it is only possible in good weather conditions in the region.
- If you cannot take this tour due to various reasons, you can also reschedule the flight.
Kathmandu to Muktinath Helicopter Tour – Packing List
The Kathmandu to Muktinath tour is a short duration trip of just around 4 hours. You should pack light with only those items that are necessary. You should wear warm clothes that are ideal in high altitude conditions.
Temperatures remain cold most of the time of year. There are other facilities of supplemental oxygen for emergencies. Some of the essential items required for the Kathmandu to Muktinath tour package are as follows:
- Gloves and socks
- Insulating thermals
- Sunglasses
- Down jacket
- Bottled water
- Sunscreens
- Camera
- Fleece jacket
- Wind/waterproof trousers and shirts
- Lip balms
- Some Light snacks including Dry fruits, Chocolates
The Final Say
The Muktinath helicopter tour is an incredible aerial trip. It takes you to one of Nepal’s most important pilgrimage sites. This tour allows you to observe snow-capped mountains and other beautiful surroundings of the Mustang region from the top. This is a short duration journey that takes you to your destination in just an hour.
Moreover, the green hills, vast meadows, deep valleys, and medieval palaces alongside the Kali Gandaki River are highlights of this tour. You will also get to explore the temple premises and other beautiful surroundings of the region.
Annapurna, Tukuche Peak, and Dhaulagiri look incredibly beautiful from up above on a helicopter. We hope you learned about Kathmandu to Muktinath helicopter tour in detail through this article. Contact us for an itinerary and other details about this trip. Happy traveling!
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