Mani Rimdu Festival Trek

We'll spend a day touring different UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. One of our tour guides will assist you and introduce you to the monuments. You will learn about Nepali culture, heritage, art, and architecture. The tour takes you to places like Monkey Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhnath Stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. During the tour, we will also explore local markets.

In the late afternoon/evening, meet us in our office for a trek briefing and introduction with the mountain guide. We then proceed to pack our duffel bags and do last-minute shopping.

We have a fascinating morning ahead of us. Per our flight departure time, we'll leave the hotel and drive to either Kathmandu Airport or Manthali Airport. The flight to Lukla is short and scenic. You will be thrilled by the views and the landing. Our other team members will join us at Lukla airport. We slowly leave Lukla and follow the Dudh Koshi River through the forested path to Phakding.

The trail passes Ghat village and crosses numerous suspension bridges. The highlight of this day is the view of Kantega and Kongde Ri.

We will follow the Dudh Koshi River and trek through small settlement areas via Rhododendron forests. The trail crosses multiple suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River throughout the day.

We'll reach Monjo and enter the Sagarmatha National Park from here onwards. The trail goes uphill to Jorsale and continues through dense forests to Namche Bazaar. The final uphill walk is a bit steep, so be careful.

We have an acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar before we head to Tengboche village. In the morning, follow your guide to Hotel Everest View, enjoying views of Thamserku, Kangtega, and Konde Ri. At Hotel Everest View, you will see the first view of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. If you want to continue the hike, we will take you to Khumjung Monastery and then return to Namche Bazaar.

For the remaining day in Namche Bazaar, explore the Sherpa Culture Museum and Everest Photo Gallery. Relax and walk around the busy market.

The trail follows an uneven ridge from Namche Bazaar and gradually descends to Phunki Tenga. It is located on the Dudh Koshi River. From here, we'll cross a bridge and ascend following the steep uphill path to Tengboche village. This village contains the Tengboche monastery. We will spend the next three days there, participating in the Mani Rimdu festival.

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and rhododendron trees, Tengboche is a great place.

Today is the first day of the Mani Rimdu festival. On this day, the monks make the Sand Mandala and Wong. They use colored sand to build and decorate the complex with distinct designs.

Surrounding the Mandala, they put sharp defensive weapons. It refers to deities. They then placed the Mani Rilwu pill in the center of the mandala. It is regarded as spiritual medicine. The Mandala signifies the palace of Chenpo, the lord of the dance. They also placed the statue of Buddha, the deity of kindness.

After that, the monks chant mantras and meditate. As they chant and meditate, they believe the kindness flows through the mantra into the Mandala and Mani Rilwu pills. Later, they relieve the kindness from the Mandala and bless the attendees.

The traditional dances are shown on the second day of the Mani Rimdu festival. The dance shows triumph over demons, which signifies positive energies fighting with the demons.

Likewise, the dances carry the teachings of Buddha on many levels, from the simplest to the most metaphysical. During the dance, the monks are believed to enter a trance and become godlike beings. This traditional dance is considered powerful and sacred, so it is only performed during the Mani Rimdu festival.

The third day is the last day of the Mani Rimdu festival. Today, monks perform the fire Puja, which is performed in the yard after the traditional dances. The fire Puja is a gift to the god of fire, Agni, and the gods of the mandala. The monks ask to dispel all harm in the world.

As the grain and butter get burned, harm is envisioned dissolving. After the puja, the monks dismantle the sand mandala in the temple to pieces. Sand is offered to the snake god Nagas, marking the end of the Mani Rimdu festival.

Today, we will be trekking back to Namche village. The route is the same as before. From Tengboche village, we will descend on a steep track for an hour to reach a bridge at Phunki Tenga. Crossing the bridge, we will begin the uphill walk to Namche Bazaar.

After a warm breakfast, we will begin retracing the trail to Lukla. First, we steeply descend from Namche Bazaar and walk through pine trees. The trail takes us to the confluence of the Bhote Koshi River.

From here, we walk through rhododendron and magnolia forests, crossing various hanging suspension bridges. From Monjo, the trail gradually climbs to Phakding. From Phakding, we trek for another three hours to reach Lukla.

As the Mani Rimdu festival trek has ended, we will fly back to Kathmandu. We will take an early flight, which offers excellent landscapes during the flight. Our team will transfer you to the hotel upon landing at Kathmandu airport. We have kept the rest of the day leisurely.

Today is your last full day in Kathmandu, and this is a buffer day in case we need extra days on the trek or to fly to Lukla and return. The Lukla flight may be canceled or delayed cause of bad weather sometimes. We will organize a guided tour of Bhaktapur and Patan if you want. These two historical sites' architecture, wood carvings, statues, and shrines will leave you mesmerized. Later, spend the day shopping and join us in the late evening for farewell dinner.

We will drop you at the Tribhuvan International Airport three hours before your flight departure time.