Mani Rimdu Festival Trek

You take an early morning flight from Kathmandu and fly to Lukla. The landing at the Tenzing Hillary Airport itself is an exciting affair owing to the thrilling runway at the airport. You meet the rest of the crew at Lukla and then start trekking downhill to Phakding. The trail passes through several farmlands and small villages and ends at Phakding which is located at the side of Dudh Koshi River.

From Phakding, the trail climbs up and crosses the Dudh Koshi River a few times. You then enter Sagarmatha National Park, a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. The walk takes you through rhododendron and magnolia forest and climbs uphill to reach Namche Bazaar. Namche is the capital of the Everest region and is filled with hotels, restaurants, cyber cafes, and shops.

You have gained high altitude in a small amount of time. So, you take this day for acclimatization. During your stay in Namche, you can hike up to the Everest Hotel and enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayas. This will also help you in getting adjusted to the conditions quickly. In the free time, you can explore the Sherpa museum and the local market of Namche Bazaar. Everest View Hotel is another possible destination to acclimatize to the high altitude.

On the fifth day, you leave Namche behind and continue the trek towards Tengboche. The trek continues on a well-maintained path and passes through a couple of teahouses before descending down to Phunki Tenga. Then you make an uphill climb through pine and rhododendron forest to reach Tengboche. On the way, you may encounter numerous yaks and mules carrying supplies.

The main highlight of this trek, the Tengboche Monastery is also the biggest monastery in the Everest Region. Today, you head to the Tengboche Monastery and participate in the Mani Rimdu festival. It is a 19 days long celebration for Sherpa, Lama, and the Tibetan community. The first day is the main day and it involved prayers and sacred ceremonies of empowerment. On an opening day, Mani Rilwu (sacred pills) and Tshereel (pills for long life) are given to all the attendants.

The second day is the day for dances known as “Chham’’. It is a sacred dance only performed on the second day of the Mani Rimdu festival. The dance is like a fight where symbolic demons are defeated. A dance called, SerKeym is performed by six dancers representing Tantric magicians. Alcohol is offered from silver vessels and small tormas to Lamas, Yidam (personal deity), Khandro (wisdom dakini), and Shi-Dak (Earth Deities).

On the last day, spectators get to see humorous dances and monks chanting prayers. People from all around the Everest region come to witness the end of the Mani Rimdu Festival. At the end of the ceremony, a special fire puja is performed in the courtyard. The Mandala is dismantled and the serpent gods (Nagas) in the spring nearby are offered its sand. You can explore around the village as the festival comes to an end.

After enjoying the festival, you start trekking again. The route takes you steeply down to the Dudh Koshi River. After crossing the river, you pass through Jorsalle and cross the river a few more times to reach Monjo. On the way, you can savor the majestic Himalayan vistas of Everest and Lhotse ranges one last time.

This is the final day of trekking. From Monjo, you walk towards Ghat and then make your way through the villages like Bengkar, Phakding, and Chhuthawa, and ultimately arrive at the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate. The gate marks the completion of the trek as you enter through the gate onto Lukla.

You take an early morning flight from Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu. The weather in Lukla can be unpredictable so an early morning flight is the best option. After checking into your hotel in Kathmandu, you can take some time to explore the city and do souvenir shopping if you want. Later in the evening, you will join the rest of the group for a farewell dinner hosted by the company.

The 12-day trip comes to an end today. A company representative will accompany you to the airport and bid you farewell with the hopes to see you for future trips.