Mani Rimdu Festival Trek
Trip Overview
Overview
The Mani Rimdu Festival Trek is a captivating journey that combines the natural splendor of the Himalayas with the vibrant cultural experience of the Mani Rimdu festival, also celebrated by the Sherpa community in the Everest region of Nepal. Lasting around 15 days, this trek offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich traditions and breathtaking landscapes of the Khumbu region. The trek commences with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, followed by a trek through picturesque Sherpa villages like Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and Dingboche, offering stunning views of snow-capped peaks, terraced fields, and rhododendron forests along the way. The highlight of the trip is the Mani Rimdu festival, held at the Tengboche Monastery, which falls during the full moon of October or November. This sacred Buddhist festival is a spectacle of color, music, dance, and religious rituals. Monks adorned in elaborate costumes perform masked dances, symbolic of the triumph of good over evil. Pilgrims and trekkers alike join in the festivities, receiving blessings from the Rinpoche, the spiritual leader. The journey continues towards Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, where trekkers can marvel at the majestic presence of Mount Everest and surrounding peaks. The region's unique geography and Sherpa hospitality make this trip a memorable adventure. During the trek, accommodations are in tea houses, providing a chance to connect with fellow trekkers from all over the world. The route takes trekkers through the Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ensuring glimpses of rare wildlife, including the elusive snow leopard and Himalayan thar. While the trek can be physically demanding due to the altitude, prior trekking experience is not essential. However, participants should be reasonably fit and prepared for varying weather conditions.Conclusion and Summary
The Mani Rimdu Festival Trek is an opportunity to witness ancient traditions in a mesmerizing landscape, offering a profound and unforgettable experience for anyone seeking adventure, spirituality, and cultural immersion in the heart of the Himalayas.Trip Highlight
- The Everest Base Camp trip allows you to experience the natural beauty of the Himalayas.
- View renowned peaks like Mount Everest and other 8,000-meter peaks.
- Visit charming villages and lush forests.
- Discover the Sherpa people’s distinct culture and traditions.
- Tengboche Monastery hosts the Mani Rimdu Event, a traditional Tibetan Buddhist festival.
- Enjoy the colorful mask dances, chanting, and deity offerings.
- Discover the Sherpa people’s rich cultural legacy.
- Trekking might be physically demanding, but the experience is outstanding.
- Explore most highlights of UNESCO World Heritage sights in Kathmandu.
Itinerary
After landing at the Tribhuwan International Airport, we will be greeted by a representative of Friendship World Treks who will drop us off at our hotel. We then check-in at the hotel, freshen up and if time permitted visit our office to pay the rest of bill, collect the information and signup the trip agreement or not enough time office authorize person will come to your hotel to collect the payment. Overnight at Hotel
We tour Durbar Square, Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa and Bouddhanath stupa which are all world heritage sites. The Durbar Square sheds light on the life of the royals in ancient times. Pashupatinath temple is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for all Hindus. Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple and Baudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. At late afternoon, we introduced with mountain/trek guide. Overnight Hotel
After a good night’s rest and wholesome breakfast, we drive to the domestic airport for a scenic flight to Lukla. At Lukla, you will be meeting the local porters with whom you will start trekking adventures all along the Dudh Koshi River. Following the trail, we reach Cheplung (2,700 m) and then a place called Ghat (2,530 m). From here, an hour’s walk reaches the small settlement at Phakding. Overnight in a guest house at Phakding.
After an early morning breakfast, we begin our walk through a pine forest and move all along the trail north that takes us to the Benkar valley. We then cross the Dudh Koshi River and pass through Chumoa and Monjo villages, which serve as the entrance to the Everest National Park. We then cross a suspension bridge before Jorsale village and walk alongside the Dudh Koshi River. Beyond this, a steep climb awaits us before we reach Namche Bazaar. This is by far one of the largest Sherpa-inhabited towns in the Everest region. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Today is meant for laid-back exploration and rest at Namche Bazaar. This is one of the most important towns in the Everest or Khumbu regions. This town is a mini-world in itself. It has government offices, ATMs, internet cafes, shops, restaurants, and a vibrant market.
You have the choice of spending your time here or hiking up to the Sagarmatha National Park to get the first glimpse of the sunrise. The panoramic views of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kongde, and so on, are rewarding.
If you are looking for more than a hike, Khumjung Village is an ideal option to get a closer look at Sherpa culture and tradition than Namche. We will also visit the Hillary School and a monastery that comprises a skull known to be that of a yeti and an abominable snowman. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
From Namche, we start trekking and reach Phunki, which is an easy and pleasant walk. We then make an ideal ascent for reaching as far as Tengboche village. This village is known for its world-class Tengboche Monastery, the largest monastery in the Everest region. The monastery is lapped against the backdrop of Mt. Ama Dablam and offers the best view of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Thamserku. Overnight in Tengboche
Today we begin our day with a lovely morning at Tengboche. After having our breakfast and knowing the designated time for the blessing, we go towards the Tengboche monastery and attend some meditation, and soon after that, we receive the blessing from the monk and spend our day with the locals.
Today is our second day of the festival, and today we celebrate with the locals. We can observe the locals and the monks doing various rituals, people wearing various costumes and masks waiting for the locals and the monks to do the rituals and music, and people dancing all along while wearing the masks.
Today is the last day at the festival, and today is the last day at Tengboche, where we witness the jinsak. offering to Agni (the god of fire) and to the gods of the mandala to allay all harm in the world. After the destruction of the sand mandala, sand is given as an offering to the serpent gods
The day begins with an ideal descent and also a long walk through the forested route of birch, conifer, and rhododendron trees. As we move on, we will be greeted by the best views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam.
We then walk downhill to Debuche and cross the Imja Khola River to reach as far as Pangboche. Taking the upper Pangboche trail and observing the magnificent Himalayan vistas, we reach Pangboche Monastery.
Taking the route that follows the Imja Valley and Lobuche River, we make a climb toward Dingboche. Dingboche is a small yet scenic village decorated with beautiful barley, potato, and buckwheat fields. Overnight in Dingboche.
The eleventh day of your 18 days at Everest Base Camp is meant for acclimatization and rest. As we have time on our hands, we pay a visit to the Dingboche monastery and hike up to Nangkhartshang Peak. Besides that, the panoramic views of Mt. Everest, Amadablam, Lhotse, Tawache, Nuptse, Kwangde, etc. at a striking distance make it eventful. Stay overnight in the guest house.
After a quick breakfast, we set out on a trail with excellent views written all over it, especially the likes of Taboche and Cholatse, which made it refreshing. We pass through the yak meadows and then over the wooden bridge to Duglha. Next, we make a steep climb for almost an hour up towards the graveled terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. A large group of stones dedicated to the memory of lost climbers and Sherpas during their Everest expedition can be found here. From here, the awe-inspiring views of Khumbutse, Lingtren, and Pumori are more than rewarding. We then walked along the valley and climbed for an hour to reach Lobuche. Overnight in Lobuche.
Be prepared for a long day’s walk as we follow the windblown, rocky path along the arid Khumbu moraine to the last settlement of Gorakshep. An ideal stopover for getting fueled up for reaching the world’s highest base camp is understandable. We follow the trail that leads us on to the Khumbu Glacier, infamously known for its treacherous icefall, which is scary yet acceptable. This is the most challenging part of an Everest ascent. From here, we trek back to Gorakshep. Overnight in Gorakshep.
Be prepared for a long day’s walk as we follow the windblown, rocky path along the arid Khumbu moraine to the last settlement of Gorakshep. An ideal stopover for getting fueled up for reaching the world’s highest base camp is understandable. We follow the trail that leads us on to the Khumbu Glacier, infamously known for its treacherous icefall, which is scary yet acceptable. This is the most challenging part of an Everest ascent. From here, we trek back to Gorakshep. Overnight in Gorakshep
There is something special on the trekking menu today as we get up early to brace ourselves for a pre-sunrise glimpse without the cloud cover. We climb for 2-3 hours uphill with the goal of reaching Kala Patthar (5,545 m/18,192 ft). This is an excellent vantage point to enjoy the sunrise on the top of the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest. Taking on a fairly steep trail at a gradual pace, we get a splendid sighting of the tremendous views of the Lingtren, Khumbutse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Changtse mountains, and many more. Here we spend some time admiring the sunrise views and kissing the adjacent mountain peak, which is memorable. Later on, we retrace our steps back to Gorakshep, take our breakfast, and then descend down to Pheriche. Overnight in Pheriche.
Today we leave Pheriche for Namche Bazar. Following a descending trail that involves various ups and downs with ideal rhododendron and juniper trees along the way, we then cross a bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. We climb rapidly down a forested trail where we can discover mountain goats, pheasants, and other wild animals and birds. The same trail takes us to Sansa, from where we get a great view of the Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Nuptse mountains. An unwinding zigzag trail through the forest leads us to the Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar
This is the last day of your 14 Day trek from Everest Base Camp up into the mountains. After breakfast, we descend, following a trail all along the Dudh Koshi River. We then crossed several suspension bridges and passed through several monasteries and villages before arriving in Lukla. After reaching Lukla, we take a much-needed rest and indulge in a celebration with our porters for our achievement and success. Overnight in Lukla
An early morning rise is on the cards as we will be boarding the Lukla flight back to Kathmandu. Once in Kathmandu, we will get back to our hotel room. Farewell dinner and overnight in Kathmandu.
This is the final day of your Nepal Everest Base Camp Trek. Friendship World Treks representative will drive you back to Tribhuvan International Airport. You will then board your flight back home, carrying memories that will captivate your imagination for the rest of your life.
Departures & Availability
The set departure dates listed are specially quoted and specified for group joining option. Let us know if the set departure dates are not suitable for you- another dates which are suitable for you can certainly be added by us.
Check Available Dates
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All trip prices are per person based on double occupancy, are subject to change without notice and do not include airfare. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars.
Price include
- All airport pick-up drops are by private vehicle (for both international and domestic flights).
- Welcome and farewell dinner in an authentic restaurant.
- 03-night twin/double sharing deluxe accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu.
- Guided sightseeing tours in Kathmandu with private vehicles (Entrance fees extra)
- Kathmandu to Lukla to Kathmandu flight with airport departure tax
- National Park entrance fee and Trekkers’ Information Management System( TIMS card).
- A high experience, helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, English-speaking, well-trained, Government license holding guide. Price includes his salary, food, drinks, accommodation, transport, and insurance.
- 02 guests to 01 porter with their insurance, salary, food, accommodation, and equipment.
- We provide an assistant to guide his salary, food, drinks, accommodation, transport, and insurance walking with the group to support where necessary as per the group size.
- Twin/double shearing lodge accommodation in the mountain during the trekking.
- Three meals a day; breakfast, lunch, and dinner and tea/coffee during the trekking.
- safe drinking water.
- First aid kit box.
- Friendship World Trek’s a sleeping bag, down jackets, T-shirt, cap, duffle bags, city and trekking route maps – if necessary.
- Arrangement of emergency evacuation service (should have insurance for emergency evacuation and will be paid by your travel insurance company).
- Oximeter to check your pulse and oxygen saturation and heart rate twice daily during the trek (very useful to check Altitude Mountain Sickness(AMS) symptoms). This helps ensure your trek is in the safest hands possible.
- All applicable government and local taxes per the itinerary.
- The sharing bus ride from Kathmandu to Ramechhap for lukla flight is included both ways.
- Fresh fruits after dinner every night as dessert during the trek.
- Cookies and biscuits during the trek for cookie time after reaching the tea house.
Price Excludes
- Your Nepal Visa fees.
- All the International airfare to and from Kathmandu.
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu.
- Meals during the traveling time.
- Entrances fees extra for Kathamndu tours
- Personal travel and health insurance as well as insurance for helicopter evacuation.
- In case of extra nights’ accommodation, lunch, and dinner in the city due to early arrival and late departure as well as early back/return from mountain/trekking (due to any reason) than the given time period of the itinerary. We can help you arrange an extra night’s accommodation.
- Your personal expenses such as (laundry, baggage charge, phone calls, battery recharge, bar and beverage bill, boiled or bottled water, hot and cold shower, extra porter.. etc).
- The tips to the trekking crews and drive.
- Extra expenses due to flight delays, strikes, weather conditions or any event out of our control.
- Taking a private jeep towards Ramechhap will cost extra, but it will be worth it.
Gears And Equipment
Mani Rimdu Festival is a vibrant and culturally significant event celebrated by the Sherpa community, primarily in the Khumbu region of Nepal, particularly at the Tengboche and Chiwong Monasteries. This festival usually takes place in the autumn, specifically in October or November, following the Tibetan lunar calendar.
Here’s some information to help you plan your trip to witness the Mani Rimdu Festival:
- Location: The festival is mainly celebrated at Tengboche Monastery, located in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The monastery sits at an altitude of approximately 3,867 meters (12,687 feet) amidst the stunning backdrop of the Himalayas.
- Duration: The festival usually spans over several days, typically ranging from 8 to 10 days. The main ceremony takes place on the full moon day of the Tibetan lunar month.
- Significance: Mani Rimdu is a religious festival celebrated by Sherpas to mark the establishment of Buddhism in the region by Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). It includes various rituals, mask dances, prayers, and blessings performed by the monks.
- Planning Your Trip:
- Permits: You’ll need permits to trek in the Everest region. The most common permits required are the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card.
- Travel: To reach Tengboche, you typically start with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, followed by trekking through picturesque villages and landscapes. The trek usually takes around 5 to 7 days, depending on your pace and itinerary.
- Accommodation: There are teahouses and lodges along the trekking route where you can find accommodation. It’s advisable to make reservations in advance, especially during peak trekking seasons.
- Altitude Acclimatization: It’s crucial to acclimatize properly to avoid altitude sickness. Take your time ascending and listen to your body. The trekking route provides opportunities for acclimatization stops.
- Pack Appropriately: Pack warm clothing, as temperatures can drop significantly, especially at higher altitudes. Additionally, bring essentials like a good pair of trekking boots, a sleeping bag, sunscreen, sunglasses, and personal medications.
- Guide/Porter: Hiring a local guide or porter can enhance your trekking experience by providing cultural insights, assistance, and support throughout the journey.
- Respect Local Customs: While attending the festival, respect the customs and traditions of the Sherpa community. Follow the guidelines provided by the monastery and be mindful of the significance of the rituals.
- Post-Festival Trek: After experiencing the Mani Rimdu Festival, you might consider continuing your trek to other destinations in the Everest region, such as Everest Base Camp or Gokyo Lakes.
Remember to check the latest travel advisories and regulations before planning your trip, as conditions and requirements may vary. Enjoy your journey to witness the colorful and spiritually enriching Mani Rimdu Festival!
Mani Rimdu Festival Trek Route Map
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
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