Damodar Kunda Trek

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Damodar kunda trek

Damodar Kunda Trip Summary

    1. Damodhar Lake Hike Duration: 11 Days
    2. Difficulty level of Damodhar Kunda: Moderate Hikes
    3. Highest Elevation: 4,890m/15,990 feet
    4. Trekking Hour: 7 Hours daily
    5. Group-Size: 2 – 12 People
    6. Best Time: March, April, May, October, November and December
    7. Trip Mode: Tent Basis Trek
    8. Meals on Trek: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
    9. Transportation: Car/Plane/bus

Overview

The Damodar Kunda Trek offers an opportunity to explore the unspoiled beauty of the Himalayas and experience the rich local culture and traditions of the region. It provides a sense of adventure and solitude that is cherished by many trekkers.

Damodar Kunda trekking is considered very special for several reasons. Firstly, it is a sacred pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. Located in the Mustang region of Nepal, Damodar Kunda is believed to be the abode of Lord Vishnu and a place of spiritual significance. Many devotees undertake this trek to seek blessings and perform religious rituals.

Secondly, the natural beauty of Damodar Kunda adds to its allure. The trek takes you through breathtaking landscapes, including snow-capped mountains, high passes, and serene lakes. Annapurna region is known for its rugged terrain and unique geological formations, making it a visually captivating experience.

mustang hikes

Furthermore, Damodar Kunda is relatively remote and untouched by mass tourism, which adds to its charm. It’s an isolated Rain shadow areas north of the Annapurna region of Nepal that situated at an altitude of 4,890 meters that mainly visited by the holy sages and saints to fulfill their meditation purpose and pay attention to Lord Shiva.

For the same purpose, many pilgrims also believe in combine to visit Damodar lake combine with Muktinath Darshan. However, trekking in the rain shadow areas you experience a unique barren landscape having low vegetation. Muktinath Himal (6,706m), and Bhrikuti Peak (6,364m) including several snow-capped mountains are the most visible from Damodar lake.

Travelers can also visit those places taking a chopper flights within day. However, the trek is possible at any time from April until September throughout the year.

goats

How much does for Damodar Kunda Trek Package Cost?

The cost of the Damodar Kunda trek package with a Gokyo Treks Agency (a local trek operator agency in Nepal) ranges between US$ 1650 to 2499. Certainly, the Damodar Kunda trek cost will change as per the group size you are traveling to and the accommodation service you choose. Typically the price includes transportation, a guide/porters, hotels, food and accommodation, and hiking permit facilities.

However, we basically arrange a private trip in order to avoid group tours with strangers. A private hiking tour gives you a better experience on your hikes. If you value personalization, flexibility, and in-depth experiences, a private trip customized to your personal needs will be the best option.

It’s a standard trip package price for 11 days trek to Damodhar Kunda in Mustang territory. If you are 2 people for Damodar Kunda trek cost US$ 1825 for 11 days trek. We can modify the trek route and the price as per your own demand. Here is the price list for the Damodar Kunda hike.

Price Per Person for 11 days Damodar Kunda Trek

Number of TouristPrice Per Person
1 PersonUS$ 2499
2 PersonUS$ 1825
3 PersonUS$ 1825
4 to 6 personUS$ 1725
7 to 9 PersonUS$ 1698
10 and more than 10 PersonUS$ 1650

If you’re wondering to know about what is included and what is excluded from this trip price, kindly check on the cost given on a tab button.

Itinerary

The Damodar kunda trek itinerary detail

Hiking at Damodhar Kunda is a short and express itinerary compared to most walks in the upper Mustang zone. The trans-Himalayan trek route is designed for world explorers who wish to hike to the upper mustang but are restricted time-wise. Travelers who wish to reach Damodar lake without going to Lo Manthang can try this itinerary.

1 DayDrive to Pokhara city (900m/2,953 feet), 6 hours.

Early morning, we drive to Pokhara by tourist bus. On the way, we will see the natural beauty like the Trisuli river which is the most popular in Nepal for rafting and we will follow the way to almost the bank of the Trisuli and Marshyangdi River when we arrive in Pokhara transfer to the hotel.

Pokhara Tour
2 Day Fly to Jomsom airport. Reserved a Jeep ride to Yara (3,650m/11,976 feet), 5-6 hours

Early morning, take a pleasant flight from Pokhara to Jomsom airport. Jomsom airport is situated at an elevation of 2,720 meters above sea level with spectacular views of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche peak, and Dhampus peak.

Jomsom is the District headquarters of Mustang and the gateway to exploring Mustang trekking trails and offers several comfort lodges.

Jomsom flight

We take a delicious breakfast in Jomsom Bazaar Lodge and take a private jeep tour to Yara village. The most important thing to do today is to register your name and travel date at the Upper Mustang check post located in Kagbeni fort. Besides the Nepali people, every trekker should require a special trekking permit (called restricted area permit – RAP) to hike into the upper part of mustang territory.

The jeep tour today from Jomsom airport to Yara takes about 4-5 hours. Stay overnight at the guesthouse and arrange all camping gear for Damodhar Kunda trekking.

mustang pony trekking
3 DayYara to Luri Gumpa trek (3,840m/12,599 feet), 3 hours. Exploring around.

It’s a first day of your trekking therefore, we walk about three hours to get better acclimatization. Today, we climb up to reach Luri Cave Monastery (Luri Gumpa) to get to know about 400-year-old monastery and see around to active their legs. Luri gompa is an isolated monastery located 2 kilometers away from Yara village in upper mustang the legendary kingdom of Lo. Famous Luri monastery situated at about 190 meters high on steep rock cliffs in remote area of mustang. Tourists can optionally hike the small mountains nearby to have a glimpse of the Tibetan Plateau and Upper Mustang Zone.

4 Day Luri Gumpa to Ghuma Thanti trek (4,855m/15,929 feet), 7 hours

Walk continue towards an exposed terrain following past Yak herder’s summer pasture with a temporary shelter of stone huts. Continue a faint path with a climb to a ridgeline about 5,010m, leaving villages and human settlements with picturesque scenery, we reach Ghuma-Thanti.

Ghuma-Thanti travelers and pilgrims rest place on route to holy Damodar Kund (pond). Overnight camp on a nice level ground facing views of surrounding high snow-capped peaks. The distance from Luri Gumpa to Ghuma Thanti is bout 6km that takes seven hours roughly to complete.

5 Day Damodar Kunda Trek (4,890m/16,044 feet), 7 hours

Start the day tour with breakfast, the hiking path continues along with ups and downs. Cross another pass at 18,374 feet to reach Damodar Kunda’s highest elevation. Lodges are not available along the journey. Therefore, the Gokyo agency cook will prepare a special packed lunch for every tourist.

6 DayDiscover the day around Damodar lake Darsan. Return down.

We spend the day at Damodar Kund and perform all the required rituals and take a holy bath at the lake like in Mansarovar in Tibet. After performing pooja, and havan, and taking the holy bath, we will have lunch.

Explore the divine trail and feel against the high-altitude adventure. Determine the three other prime lakes which are situated around the main kunda. They are Brahma Kunda, Rudra Kunda, and Ananta Kunda. In Hindu culture bathing in Damodar Kunda take out all the sins done in previous and current lives.

That’s the main reason that many pilgrimages visit Damodar Lake and collect Shaligram fossils on their way back. Shaligram is typically fossils of ammonite shells from the Devonian-Cretaceous period of 400 to 66 million years ago. Around the afternoon, we return downhill to stay at a campsite.

7 DayHike to Yara (3,900m/12,795 feet), 7-8 hours

Return back all the way with the same route to Yara village passing villages, high passes, pastures and Luri cave. The sandy and muddy trail continues downhill until reaching Yara Village. We serve lunch half away from home/campsite. Our camping crew will search for the best camping ground to set up a campsite to stay overnight in Yara village.

8 DayHike from Yara to Tangye (3,240m/10,630 feet), 7-8 hours

Not the Longest day comparing others so we first have a short steep ascent and a Long flat hiking trail steeply down to Dechhyang Khola whose origin is from Damodar Kunda. We find them everywhere Saligrames (the black fossils of marine animals).

The trans-Himalayan trail steeply ascents and leads us to the top of the pass where we have our packed lunch break. Up and down and we are on a huge plateau and cross it for reaching Tangya village. We can see several big Chhortens.

9 DayTrek from Tangye to Tetang village (3,040m/9,974 feet), 8-9 hours

Long day hikes, therefore, we start early in the morning. We leave the village, cross the suspension bridge, and follow the short river route. Crossing the river, we steeply climb up to reach a small pass. The trail goes straight to Paha (shelter house stays with drinking water tap).

Continue to cross many small passes until we reach the hill top and hike over the barren trail steeply descends to encounter strong winds to Tetang village. We have a superb view of Nilgiri Himal, Dhaulagiri I, Tukuche Peak, and other snowy peaks along the journey.

10 DayTetang to Muktinath Trekking (3,700m/12,139 feet), 6-7 hours

We keep ascending until reaching Gyu la at 4,077m from where we can see the high mountains and picturesque view of Muktinath. Walk down to the small stream and cross by a suspension bridge, we arrive at Chhyongar. In the evening, we explore a secret place for Hindus and Tibetan Buddhists for about 30 minutes in its territory.

We can visit the 108 brass waterspouts, Muktinath temple stands to enshrine Vishnu, a Hindu God. When we visit Muktinath Temple at once, we are the free/salvation of escape from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

Below the temple, there is another Buddhist monastery where the combination of earth-water-fire gives Muktinath great religious significance. Nilgiri Himal and Dhaulagiri first can be seen from the temple premises.

Muktinath, Mustang, Nepal
11 DayHike to Muktinath temple premises. Overland drive to Pokhara, 8-9 hours

In the morning before breakfast, we hike to the Muktinath temple premises to pray and puja. Muktinath is a Vishnu temple, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, located in Muktinath Valley at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass in Mustang, Nepal.

Purpose of the Hindu pilgrimage to visit Muktinath Temple at 3,800m is one of the world’s highest temple can help by connecting them with Brahman. Through pilgrimage, they can show their belief in God and gain a better understanding of an important holy site. It is also a way of meeting other Hindus who share their beliefs and trying to work towards achieving moksha.

Return to the hotel to get a special breakfast. Pack the hiking gear and take a regular jeep/bus [sharing basis] to return to Pokhara passing via Kaligandaki River valley. The landscape of Mustang is magically marked as the windiest valley where every day big wind blows. Travelers can see amazing waterfalls at Rupse and also Natural hot spring along the journey to Pokhara. Trip finish!

Not satisfied with above plan?

Interested in planning a custom trip? this might take 2 to 3 minutes.

Cost

How much does the Damodar Kunda trek package price?

It’s a 11 Days cultural trail Damodar Kunda Trek price start at US$ 1650 and might reach up to US$ 2499 per person on double occupancy basis. Taking flights to and from Pokhara saves your time and riding the bus reduces the trip expenses. Gokyo Treks and Expedition agency notify this express Damodar Kunda trek package price for 2024 and 2025 based on group size you are travelling with.. Likewise, Pokhara – Jomsom – Pokhara round-trip flight is included in the price, however, taking flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara to Kathmandu saves your time, and riding the bus reduces the trip expenses.

For the deluxe and luxury trekking tour package, we add Kathmandu – Pokhara – Kathmandu round trip airfare. Likewise, 3-5 star category hotel deluxe air-conditioned room in Kathmandu and in Pokhara with breakfast. AND WE ARE OPEN TO CUSTOMIZING YOUR TOUR AND PACKAGES PRICE AS PER YOUR REQUIREMENTS.

Cultural Damodar Kunda trek package price includes:

  • Tourist Bus transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara trip for a guide and guest.
  • 2-night double bedroom accommodation in a Tourist standard hotel in Pokhara Phewa lakeside.
  • 10 Breakfast serve with a cup of tea/coffee, 11 Lunch and 9 Dinner [main course] during the trek routes.
  • Required camping gear for camping accommodation and kitchen utensils for the Damodar Kunda camping trek.
  • Domestic flight from Pokhara to Jomsom sector one-way airfare with airport tax.
  • Muktinath to Pokhara transfer by available Bus/ Jeep on a Sharing basis.
  • Required Jeep private transfer from Jomsom airport to Yara as written on the above itinerary.
  • Fully escorted trek with English-speaking certified trekking guide cum cook.
  • Required a number of Porters/donkeys as per the group size. Basically, 2 tourists = 1 porter basis as each porter carries a maximum of 24 kilos of your backpack.
  • Annapurna Conservation Area permits and their fees
  • Upper Mustang restricted area permits cost USD 500 for each guest every 10 days.
  • Food and accommodation, salary, and Travel and Medical Insurance for Damodhar Kunda hiking team.
  • First aid medical kit including Oximeter to check heart rate and oxygen level every day to save from higher risk.
  • >
  • Agency’s duffel bag (50 liters capacity) and hiking poles if Necessary – return after the trek.
  • Trek completion certificate, Damodar Kunda trek map – keep them as a souvenir.
  • Nepal Government Tax, VAT, and as well as Company service charge.

Damodar Kunda trek package exclude :

  • Lunch and Dinner during the staying in Kathmandu and Pokhara city.
  • Pokhara city sightseeing (Devi’s fall and Gupteswor Mahadev cave) transfer by private vehicle at an extra cost if extend.
  • Any kinds of battery charges, laundry service, phone calls, and hot showers during the trek.
  • Travelers Personal trekking gear and Clothing.
  • Personal nature expenses, all types of bottle drinks.
  • Travel Insurance which covers emergency Rescue and Evacuation.
  • Donation and monuments entrance fees.
  • Gratuities for guide and porters [Tip is a culture, so they expect highly].

Group join

We can organize either a group join or a private Damodar Kunda trek starting at any date. We can also run this private trip if that works for you at your favorable departure date. Please contact us for more information.

FAQ

Question: Do I need experience for the Damodar Kunda tent trek?.

Answer: It is suitable for keen trekkers/walkers who are able to walk around 4 or 5 hours a day, with a lightweight daypack. For this trekking – yes, you need to have experience in high altitude – somehow about 3000 meters above sea level.

Question: Is pick up service available on my arrival day in Kathmandu?.

Answer: Yes sure !! If you provide us with your flight details. You should do a request to us, our representative will come to pick up you at Kathmandu international airport.

Question: Can I store my luggage/stuff in Kathmandu?

Answer: Yes, you can leave your luggage at your hotel or at our office. Store your stuff in the Gokyo Treks agency office for free.

Question: Is this trekking Safe for Solo women travelers?

Answer: Absolutely. Nepal is a safe country to travel to for solo travelers; this trek is perfectly safe for solo woman travelers. For Mustang trekking, solo trip is possible only if we can manage to make your permits otherwise, we need minimum to guest to get special permits from the department of immigration of Nepal.

Question: What kind of accommodation can I expect on the Damodar Kunda tent trek?.

Answer: We provide you a tourist standard accommodation along the trekking routes in the possible places. Likewise, we offer you tent accommodation where the tea house are not available. However, we recommend you take your own sleeping bags if you have one with you otherwise, you may rent them while you are in Kathmandu.

Question: What kind of food can I expect on Damodar Kunda short trek?.

Answer: Our cook will prepare a delicious range of vegetarian foods every day. They are Pasta, tuna bakes, noodles, potatoes, eggs, dhal, rice, bread, soups, and fresh vegetables every day. Available vegetables depend upon the months you go.

Question: What opportunities will I have for a shower along the Damodar Kunda camping trek?.

Answer: Mustang lodge trek, as you are on camping trekking days – we provide you a hot water bucket then you will take a bucket shower.

Question: How do I get drinking water?.

Answer: In some places en route, you can buy mineral water to drink. But we advise against buying mineral water in plastic bottles, as currently there are no provisions for disposing of plastic waste. Instead, we do provide you with purified water along with camping outdoors.

Question: Can I charge my digital camera or other batteries on my trip?

Answer: Most days are not possible to recharge the battery. Thus, we advise you to bring an extra pair in case. Remember to bring your adapters! .

Question: Are there any communication facilities on express Damodhar Kunda Trek?.

Answer: At Damodar Kunda nature trail, buy a local SIM CARD to get a telephone call. And also buy a data pack to use 3G internet service.

Question: Can we use credit cards in Trekking?

Answer: No. You need to have cash Nepali rupees to maintain your daily indirect expenses as the direct meals are included in the plan.

Question: When should I book my trip and what are the payments terms?.

Answer: Our camping trips book up months in advance. So, we recommend booking early to avoid any kind of confusion. We will, of course, make every effort to accommodate last-minute bookings. And regarding the deposit, we prefer a 15% advance deposit [not refundable] of the total price of the trip in order to confirm your camping trip reservation before your arrival. The remaining part of the payment, you can pay on your arrival in Kathmandu before 12 hours of trip departure.

Question: Who will carry my luggage on the Damodar Kunda trek?

Answer: We provide porters to transfer your luggage. As we are a responsible trekking tour operator agency, every porter carries a maximum of 24 kilos of your backpack which means 2 guests (12 kg luggage of each guest): 1 porter basis.

Question: How much distance do I walk each day?

Answer: When walking/trekking in the mountains, the distance you cover each day can vary greatly due to gradient, terrain, and altitude. As such it is very hard to give specific distances for each day, however, you have to be prepared to walk for roughly about 5 hours each day.

Question: Do I need walking poles for the Damodar Kunda trek group?

Answer: It is better to hike with walking poles. Learn how to use trekking poles for balance and stability, whether on the sidewalk or on trails. Walking poles can help prevent slips and falls. They are just recommended but not compulsory.

Question: How much additional money do I need per day?

Answer: You can allocate US$ 08 – 10 for a lunch/dinner in Kathmandu and it depends on your spending habits. US$ 7 to 10 US$ each day will be enough to buy bottles of water, chocolates, tea coffee, and some drinks while you are on your trek.

Damodar Kunda trek Highlights

  • Discover Annapurna and Dhaulagiri family and some of the border mountains.
  • Walking through dry cultivated fields, Excellent views of Dhaulagiri and Blue Mountain.
  • Visit and bath in Damodar sacred pond/Kunda takes away from all sins done in a previous and current lifetime.
  • Muktinath is a Vishnu temple, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.
  • Hidden kingdom with World’s deepest gorge Kali Gandaki valley
  • Meet the mixed communities with the shaky pa Buddhism and their lives in Jharkot Monastery..

Best time for Damodar Kunda trekking

The best time for Damodar Kunda trekking is during the spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) seasons in Nepal. These months offer the most favorable weather conditions and visibility for trekking in the region.

During the spring season, the weather gradually warms up, and the rhododendron forests along the trekking trail come alive with vibrant colors. The skies are generally clear, providing excellent views of the surrounding mountains. However, be prepared for occasional rainfall during this time.

The autumn season is characterized by stable weather, clear skies, and mild temperatures. It is considered the peak trekking season in Nepal, including the Damodar Kunda region. The lush greenery from the monsoon season adds to the scenic beauty, and the trails are usually less crowded compared to spring.

It’s important to note that the Damodar Kunda region in a rain shadow area, so it receives significantly less rainfall compared to other parts of Nepal. However, winter (December to February) and monsoon (July to August) are generally not recommended for trekking in this region due to colder temperatures, potential snowfall, and the risk of landslides.

It is always advisable to check the current weather and trail conditions before planning your trek and to be prepared for changing weather patterns even during the recommended seasons.

Notes for Damodar kunda trekkers:

Visit Damodar Kunda – lake information stated above is just a guide and standard template that we provide you. However, the trip is possible to modify at your request to accommodate your specific needs. Local politics, landslides, cancellation of local flights, weather, transport, or a multitude of other factors that are beyond our control can result in a change of itinerary during on trip.

It is, however, very incredible that the daily travel plan would be extensively altered. If alterations are necessary the leader will decide the best alternative option, taking into consideration the best interests of the whole party. When a change does occur, we do everything we can to minimize its effect, but we cannot be responsible for the results of changes or delays.

What makes Damodar Kunda trek special?

the combination of spiritual significance, stunning natural surroundings, and the sense of exploration makes the Damodar Kunda trek a truly special and memorable experience for those who undertake it.

We at Gokyo Treks and Expedition believe in quality service so first safety and satisfaction is our prime concern. We are a team of professional, experienced, and licensed local guides who know the destination much better than others. Not only this but also we give benefits to the local communities and help to conserve natural resources which reduced costs and consumption.

Damodar Kunda Trek Review

Damodar Kunda Camping Trek in Mustang

Rated 5.0 out of 5
June 14, 2018

I was traveling with my husband and two others family members to Damodhar Kunda plus Muktinath for a pilgrimage purpose. We spent 17 days in Nepal to complete this trip with Gokyo Treks company. Needless to say about the beauty of the Himalayas and the hospitality of Nepalese people. We were warmly met and hosted in every camp we have stayed.

But the organization and safety of our trip were fully supported by Guide Kamal including a strong camping crew. Me personally very thankful for the smart organization and interesting knowledge we got in that unforgettable country.

I wish good luck to Gokyo Treks organization in all charity projects they organize for kids in Nepal. For sure, that is the first but not the last time of my trekking in Nepal!

Avatar for Sandeep and Jamuna Agarwal, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Sandeep and Jamuna Agarwal, Pune, Maharashtra, India

From US$ 1834

2% Off US$ 1825See Group Discount
No. of peoplePrice Per Person
1 USD 2499
2 USD 1825
3 USD 1825
4 - 6 USD 1725
7 - 9 USD 1698
10 + USD 1650
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