The Muktinath helicopter tour package is a newly designed package for travelers who do not want to drive from Kathmandu or Pokhara, which is lengthy and off-road, making it uncomfortable as well. The best way to reach Muktinath is via helicopter only. The helicopter, which departs for Muktinath, is operated from the Pokhara International Airport, and the time taken to reach the Muktinath temple is also very low, which is just a 30-minute flight, and you reach nearby the Muktinath temple, which is the gateway to heaven for the Hindu pilgrimage, as it is believed that when you visit the Muktinath temple and take the bath in the two sacred ponds and 108 taps that come from the Kali Gandaki river, you get rid of the sins, and you are free from the death and birth cycle.
Muktinath temple is one of the Shakti pithas, and Lord Bishnu, who is the supreme God of Hindu Mythology, is worshipped here. The temple is located at an altitude of 3500 meters, which makes it the most visited place for pilgrimages. The Muktinath temple features the beautiful views of the Dhaulagiri ranges along with the perfect vibe of the high-altitude deserts, which are covered in snow during the winter, and during the peaks of autumn and spring, the deserts look beautiful and feel like you have arrived in the Sahara Desert, but yes, with the good temperatures, while adding the mountains at the backdrop.
When you visit the Muktinath temple, it's important for you to take a bath in the 2 ponds and the 108 taps, as it is the main highlight of the Muktinath temple tour because people from all over the world come and take the holy bath to get rid of the sins of their life. When you enter the Muktinath temple, a huge gate with prayer flags written with Om Mane pembe ho welcomes you. As you enter, you will see the stairs that take you to the temple. You can buy the offerings for the god at the gate and carry them. When you reach the temple, you will see the two ponds in front of it, and on the temple's backside, you will see the taps. Please be careful of the slippery tiles, as the temple area is mostly covered with the moist waters as people take baths.
When you reach the Muktinath temple gate, please be patient and wait for your turn. Remove your shoes and socks for God's respect and be in line, and when you enter the temple, be respectful towards the Pujaris. Offer your offerings to the god from a distance, and the pujari (saint) will offer your offerings from your side to the god, and he will return you some. After worshiping, you can visit the never-ending flames, where you can light up and pray. After that, you can take a bath and immerse yourself truly in the perfect vibes of the Muktinath temple.
Why should you choose a helicopter tour for Muktinath instead of driving to the Muktinath temple?
You should choose the helicopter tour to Muktinath Temple instead of the drive because when you are choosing the drive, it will take a lot of time; along with that, it's very off-road, which is uncomfortable and time-consuming. If you are an elderly person and don’t like sitting at a place and don’t want to have an uncomfortable ride, you should choose the helicopter tours only. The helicopter tours also help you to overcome the walking distance and climbing stairs to reach the Muktinath temple, which might be an easy option. Also, if you have very little time and you want to visit the Muktinath temple anyway, the Muktinath helicopter tour is perfect for you.
Cost for the Muktinath Helicopter Tour
The cost for the Muktinath helicopter tour is around 500 USD per person if you are using the commercialized helicopter and not doing the charters. But if you choose to have the charter flight to Muktinath Temple and want to stop in the Muktinath Temple area and stroll around, it means the cost will go up to 2500 USD per helicopter. The seating capacity of the helicopter is 5 people, including the pilot and additional passengers.
Shared Commercial Muktinath helicopter Tour from Pokhara (USD 500 pp)
This is the most economical and regular option for a tourist or an individual group. You will be on a shared helicopter tour with other travelers, usually departing from Pokhara. The helicopter will touch down near the Muktinath Temple, and you will have around 30 minutes to visit the sacred site and perform rituals. This option is ideal if you wish to view Muktinath within a short period of time without spending hours traveling by road or trekking.
Private Charter Muktinath helicopter Tour from Pokhara (USD 480 pp)
The private charter is suited for a family or individuals of a maximum of 5 members who like an exclusive and more personal ride. You decide how long you want to hang around the temple, let the scenic flight sink in, and avoid the restrictions of fixed times. Even though the total cost is higher, when divided among five tourists, the cost per individual is the same as that of a commercial flight, USD 480 per individual, but with more luxury and privacy.
Shared Commercial Muktinath helicopter Tour from Kathmandu (USD 1000 pp)
This is the most economical and regular option for a tourist or an individual group. You will be on a shared helicopter tour with other travelers, usually departing from Pokhara. The helicopter will touch down near the Muktinath Temple, and you will have around 30 minutes to visit the sacred site and perform rituals. This option is ideal if you wish to view Muktinath within a short period of time without spending hours traveling by road or trekking.
Private Charter Muktinath helicopter Tour from Kathmandu (USD 900 pp)
For those who don't wish to experience any group coordination and prefer to experience a personalized flight from Kathmandu instantly, the private charter is the perfect option. With 5 passenger capacity seating, you can have wonderful bird's-eye views and experience flexible ground time at Muktinath Temple. This is ideal for religious pilgrims, VIP clients, or photo enthusiasts who need more ground time.
| Departure | Tour Type | Total Cost | Seats Available | Cost Per Person USD | Ground Time |
| Pokhara | Shared Commercial | 2500 USD | 5 | 500 USD | 30 Minutes |
| Pokhara | Private Charter | 2400 USD | 5 | 480 USD | Flexible |
| Kathmandu | Shared Commercial | 5000 USD | 5 | 1000 USD | 30 minutes |
| Kathmandu | Private Charter | 4500 USD | 5 | 900 USD | Flexible |
Will I fly over the mountains during the Muktinath temple tour?
Yes, during your Muktinath temple tour, you will be flying over the mountains, as from Pokhara only the mountain ranges are seen, and during your flight, you will not be completely fly over the peaks of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, or any ranges, but yes, you will be some mid-flight just flying parallel to the mountains. When you are on the flight, you will witness the beautiful views of the mountain ranges and the valley, rivers, glaciers, and many more.
Best time to do the Muktinath Temple Tour via Helicopter
The best time to do the Muktinath temple tour via helicopter is during the months of spring (March to May), autumn (September to November), and winter (December to February). Let's discuss each month in detail.
Spring (March to May)
Spring, from March to May, is the best and peak season for visiting Muktinath Temple, and the weather is clear, and everything looks clean and green. The mountains over the Dhaulagiri range and surrounding ranges look breathtaking as the winter has just completed its process of dropping snow on the mountains. The day temperatures of Muktinath Temple during the spring are 12°C to 18°C, which is perfect for travelers.
Disadvantages of visiting the Muktinath temple in spring
If you are planning to fly to Muktinath during the spring, then you must consider the heavy costs for flights and the limited availability of flights, as the flights are pre-booked and there will be a crowd of people, due to the peak season, everyone visits at this time.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn is another peak season to fly to the Muktinath temple, as during this time, just like in the spring, the landscapes are fresh as the monsoon is just over. The air is crisp, and the mountain ranges look beautiful. If you are flying in the morning, then you may witness the sunrises, which look perfect to witness. Autumn also provides the best time for travelers to witness the valleys, rivers, glaciers, and mountains from the helicopter. The day temperatures of the Muktinath temple during the autumn season are 10°C to 17°C.
Disadvantages of visiting the Muktinath temple via helicopter during the month of autumn
A disadvantage of visiting the Muktianth temple via helicopter during the month of autumn is the limited availability of the flight schedule, as it's already pre-booked in the off-season. If you get the flight, then it will also be very costly compared to the other seasons. Also, it is the time of the festival, which is Dashain and Tihar, due to which you will see the crowds everywhere, and during this time, there will be heavy crowds for the national and international travelers, as the festival means holidays in Nepal.
Winter (December to February)
You might be thinking winter is the months of December and February, and it is in the mountain areas due to which there will be heavy snowfall, and it might be dangerous. But yes, you are correct, but it's not the complete truth, as winter is also the peak season to visit Muktinath Temple because at that time there is sunrise, and the snowfall happens in the night, due to which it is completely safe and normal to visit the temple. You will witness breathtaking views at night and during the day, and you will witness breathtaking views and snow all over the landscapes, making them beautiful and scenic. He said temperatures during this time can vary from 0 to 5°C.
Disadvantages of the Muktinath Temple Tour in Winter
There is no such distance to visit the Muktinath temple, as you will have enough flight availability and everything is perfect, but yes, you might encounter cold air and snow all over the landscapes during your flight, which is itself a new experience and the best thing to witness also.
Monsoon (June to August)
The monsoon season is not suggested for the Muktinath tour via helicopter or by road. As it is the month of rains, Nepal faces heavy falls in this month, causing flight schedule disruptions, floods, and landslides, which are risky, due to Nepal has very few travelers during this month. You can get the helicopter flights from Pokhara to Muktinath, but if there is bad weather or the conditions are not good, you may need to wait, or sometimes it is canceled and the amount you paid is refunded.
Permits Required for Visiting Muktinath Temple via Helicopter
If you are flying from Pokhara to Muktinath, then the permit required is the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), which is obtained from the Tourism Board office in Kathmandu and Pokhara. But if you are flying from Pokhara to Muktinath and your flight schedule is also back on the same day, in that case, the ACAP permit is exempted.
