5 Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling to Mustang & Muktinath

The Journey Matters as Much as the Destination

Mustang Muktinath travel tips often start with one lesson: the road is just as important as the temple at the end.

Ramesh and his cousins had dreamed of visiting Muktinath for years — the sacred temple, the snow peaks, the prayer flags fluttering in the wind. They booked the cheapest local jeep from Pokhara, thinking the ride itself would be part of the adventure.

The first hour was fine. The jeep rattled along the highway, windows down, dust swirling in. But soon, the road narrowed into rocky tracks. More passengers were crammed in at every stop. With no AC, the heat inside grew stifling. The smell of fuel mixed with sweat. Knees pressed against metal seats. Every bump jolted their backs.

Past Beni, the Kali Gandaki Gorge opened up — but they barely noticed. The driver was in a hurry, stopping only for quick tea breaks. No time to explore Rupse Falls. No pause to take in the apple orchards of Marpha. The villages blurred by in a haze of dust and fatigue.

By the time they reached Muktinath, the sun was gone. The mountains were just dark outlines. The temple courtyard was quiet, the famous 108 water spouts dripping in the cold night air. They had missed the golden light on Nilgiri, the slow walk through Kagbeni’s ancient alleys, the stillness of the high plateau.

The next morning, clouds rolled in. No mountain views. No photos worth framing. They left with sore backs, a few rushed snapshots, and the heavy feeling that the journey had been all road — and no reward.