Mani Rimdu Festival

The trip starts with your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Our company representative will welcome you at the airport. Then you will be transferred to the hotel for your overnight stay.

From Kathmandu, you take an exciting 40-minute flight to Lukla. The landing in Lukla itself is an experience of a lifetime thanks to its short runway and terrifying location. From Lukla, the trek starts on a beautiful trail alongside Dudh Koshi River. You walk pass the Buddhist monuments and cross many Sherpa villages on the way to Phakding. Overnight stay at Phakding.

The trail follows Dudh Koshi River and passes a few suspension bridges. On this route, you can admire the stunning views of Thamserku (6,623 m) and Khumbila (5,761 m) as well. You enter the Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo and head down to the village of Jorsalle. Then, you climb through the pine forest and make your way to Namche Bazaar. Overnight stay at Namche Bazaar.

As you will have gained high elevation in a short period of time, you take this day for acclimatization. You can walk up to the Everest Hotel and enjoy the panoramic views of mountains or just stroll around Namche and explore the Sherpa museum and Buddhist monasteries. Khumjung, Khunde, and Syangboche are excellent hiking destinations as well. Overnight stay at Namche Bazaar.

Heading out of Namche, you ascend with the picturesque view of the town behind you. You also get to enjoy the views of Everest (8,848 m) and Ama Dablam (6,856 m) on today’s trek route. From Sanasa, you descend to Phunki Thanga and climb steeply to reach the entrance of Tengboche. The Mani walls, prayer wheels, and Chortens signal your entry into Tengboche. Overnight stay at Tengboche.

Mani Rimdu Festival is a sequence of nineteen-day celebration that ends with the three-day public festival. The opening of the public ceremony is called Wong. It is performed on the day of the full moon. The prayers and rituals bless the ones attending the sacred ritual. Everyone attending the festival is given Mani Rilwu (sacred pills) and Tshereel (pills for long life). Overnight stay at Tengboche.

On the second day, you can see the dances during which the symbolic demons are conquered or chase away. These dances also convey different levels of Buddhist teachings and dramatize the triumph of Buddhism over Bon. You can see the colorful lama dancing with paper painted masks and brocade gown. These monks are said to enter a trance during the ceremony and become the very embodiment of the deities themselves. Overnight stay at Tengboche.

The fire puja (Jinsak) is performed on the third and final day which is an offering to Agni (the god of fire). This puja is performed in the courtyard after the dances. With the prayers singing for peace across the world, the final day of the festival ends. A lot of locals and foreigners gather to witness the worship. Overnight stay at Tengboche.

After the festival ends, you say goodbye to Tengboche and trek down to Monjo. The trail takes you down steeply along the Bhote Koshi River and reaches the confluence of the Bhote Koshi and Imja rivers. Descending further downwards, you reach Larja Dobhan to make the descent to Jorsalle. You cross the river a few more times before arriving at Monjo. Overnight stay at Monjo.

This is the final day of trekking. From Monjo, you walk to Ghat and then pass through the villages of Phakding and Chuthawa. Most of the trek is easy and downhill except the last portion which is a steep climb. After making the climb and descending for a short while, you arrive at Lukla. Overnight stay at Lukla.

You say your farewells and goodbyes and depart from Lukla early in the morning.Upon arrival at Kathmandu, you can stroll around the city and take some time for souvenir shopping. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.

The 12-day trip comes to an end. A company representative will accompany you to the airport from where you take the flight back home.