Holy Muktinath perched at the zenith of the Himalayas and down through pilgrimage draws thousands of devotees and adventure seekers every year. Placed in the Mustang district of Nepal, for some spiritual powers, the temple is revered by Hindus and Buddhists alike. While trekking to Muktinath seems spiritually rejuvenating, the road trip to the place is highly exhausting and time-consuming. Given the convenience, helicopter tours would make for a pleasant option but largely at higher costs.
This article has some handy saving tips in case a helicopter trip to Muktinath becomes a part of your Nepal trip itinerary.
- Plan and Book all the time in Advance
One of the best options you have is to book your helicopter package into an itinerary way in advance. Select one usually accompany high last prices because of the heavy demand and the limited number of seats: to chance, to make sure that you have opportune seats for your date, you may want to look into operators for valuation against some offers. Many agents will structure discounts on early-bird prices if a client should make a booking months ahead of time. Should one plan to get to Muktinath tour package from Gorakhpur, it is worthwhile to see if there are any integrated packages with ground transportation to the helicopter line. Quite often, this is cheaper than purchasing the two separately.
- Travel in a Group
In general, helicopter charters function per flight basis, not per person. And this means a helicopter will be charged the same whether two or five passengers are coming along on the tour. A group formation for pro-rata charges or sharing of costs greatly cuts down on individual charges.
If you have booked through tour operators offering the Muktinath tour package from Gorakhpur, check whether they organize group departures or could pair you with some other tourists, so that you could save money. In addition, this will improve your experience, since you go with like-minded pilgrims or tourists.
- Selecting an Appropriate Season for Travel
The helicopter tours to Muktinath are highly dependent on weather, making timing everything. The best months to travel would be spring months of March to May and autumn months of September to November, when good weather and clear visibility reduce the chance of cancellations or delays.
More importantly, traveling should be affordable on the off-peak season, such as early March, or late November, as operators will rather sell seats at a lower price during those times. But check the weather forecasts, too, and consult your tour operator while considering if it is safe to proceed ahead with the plan.
- Compare Multiple Tour Operators
Muktinath helicopter packages can be rather differently priced by different operators. It is advisable to check and compare more than one service provider before setting down on one. Look for operators that are registered and have a good rating, but never think that the most expensive one is the best. In case you are to begin your trip with a Nepal trip arranged through some local agency in Kathmandu or Pokhara, it may grant you discounts on bundled packages including helicopter travel, accommodation, and local sightseeing. Those packages can be a promise for good value if that package is rightly checked.
- Option for Shared Helicopter Flights
If private charters are not within your budget, then shared helicopter flights offer a good option. Several agencies run shared tours, wherein one pays for their seat here, and the flight takes off once all seats are filled.
These are quite common in the zenith of pilgrimage seasons. You could check with the agencies providing Muktinath tour package from Gorakhpur if they have initiated partnerships with helicopter companies for shared tours. It decreases costs; it also lowers the environmental impact that the flight might cause.
- Be Flexible with Your Dates
Now this one is worthy of doing for the deals. Sometimes a helicopter company will lower rates for a certain day just because of an empty seat. In any case, if your itinerary allows, looking out for last-minute deals for a day or two could save you some easy money.
This trick is more relevant for those already in Nepal. For example, when you are in Pokhara for a few days on your Nepal tour, you can keep on checking with the local travel agents daily for availability and any last-minute discounted deals for helicopter tours to Muktinath.
- Avoid Middlemen
Try booking directly with the helicopter operator or a trusted travel agency, not going through several brokers. Each layer of brokers gets a commission, which raises the overall price. When you’re unfamiliar with the local scene, use one of the many platforms or websites that connect you directly with verified service providers.
If you buy a Muktinath tour package from Gorakhpur, ensure that the agency handling the trip has the helicopter ride as part of the quoted price with transparent pricing. Sometimes they don’t even include the aerial segments in their packages and later offer them as costly “optional” extras.
- Understand What’s Included
Not all helicopter tour packages are alike. Never miss out on asking for a detailed itinerary and the list of inclusions and exclusions. Some packages have taxes, permits, and enter fees included; some do not. It will be better to pay slightly more for an all-inclusive package than to pay hidden costs.
An example would be a well-organized trip to Nepal providing helicopter transfers, hotel accommodations, meals, and ground transportation. A quick cost-benefit analysis of the inclusions will help you in making your final call.
Final Thoughts
Helicopter tour to Muktinath is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially for spiritually inclined individuals or those with very little time to spare. It initially seems overly-priced, but a slick sort of planning can allow many opportunities for its affordability.
With these tips in your grasp, be it for starting the trip in Nepal from Kathmandu or taking a Muktinath tour package from Gorakhpur, you will have a smooth and cheap trip. Right planning will get you fast above the Himalayas on your way to the sacred place with a little money spent.
