Mani Rimdu Festival Trek

At the airport; you will be meet by representative of our company and transferred to the Hotel, where you will meet us. A pre-trek briefing will be held at approx. 6:00pm to 7:00pm in the evening and is a great opportunity to get acquainted with your fellow group members before heading out to dinner. Welcome dinner at the authentic and typical Nepalese cusine with culutural dance.

• SWOYAMBHUNATH, also known as the monkey temple, is climbed by a long set of steps and has great views of Kathmandu.
• BOUDHANATH STUPA has many traditional Gompas hung with strings of multi-coloured prayer flags; it attracts many Sherpas and Tibetans for the circumambulations of the stupa (koras).
• PASHUPATINATH is a Hindu temple with burning Ghats on the banks of the Bagmati River.
• KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE, which is one of the old capitals of the Kathmandu valley, has a blend of Hindu and Buddhist temples

Your day begins early as you head for Kathmandu airport to catch to Lukla flight. Assuming the flight departs without much delay, you will have fine weather with stunning views of Himalayan peaks. The trail leaves Lukla through a Kaani or gateway. Soon you are walking down gently descending trails, past rolling farmlands that extends over what seems to be a wide promontory overlooking the canyon of the Dudh Koshi River. The snow peak at the head of the valley is Kumbila (5716m), the mountain sacred to the sherpas. On the way to Phakding, you will notice a huge boulder printed with Tibetan religious mantras (mostly; Om mani padme hum). About 3 hours walk, you will be in Phakding. Overnight in Phakding.

We continue north following the Dudh Koshi River and on to Jorsale where we enter the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park. From here it is a short walk to the confluence of two rivers, the lmja Drangpa (Imja Khola) and the Nangpo Tsangpo (Bhote Kosi) followed by a steep climb (for about 2hrs.) to Namche Bazar, the main town in the Khumbu region. Namche is a prosperous Sherpa town and an important trading centre with a weekly Saturday market. Distance: 10.5km/6.5miles approximately 5 hours walks.

After a breakfast, head to Namche Gompa on the far side of the village and then turn right and ascend the path that curves around and above Namche. Take path that climbs steeply to Syangboche (3760m) often called Everest view point with grassy slopes with Mt. Thamserku as backdrop and before long you are on the edge of the stone paved runway. Enjoy mountains view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Khantega and many more mountains. Now the trail is regular with gentle climb through forest. You will have gentle descend at the end of the trail to Khumjung. Khumjung is big settlement of Sherpa community. It is also known as the “Green village of Nepal”.

The trail picks its way through cultivated fields that stretch over a mostly flat terrain. After about 2.5km, the path meets the Namche-Tengboche trail at Sanasa (3600m). The trail descends deep into the Dudh Koshi Valley at Pungki Thanka; from here it ascends the right flank of the Dudh Koshi valley to Tengboche Monastery (3865m). It is the spiritual center of the Khumbu; the climb is long, but more than adequately compensated by views of Mt. Ama Dablam and on a clear day, views of Mt. Everest and its surrounding peaks.

The Wong is the opening public ceremony. It's performed on the full moon day of the tenth month in the Tibetan lunar calendar. His Holiness Trulshig Rinpoche, gives the empowerment on this auspicious occasion; for long life, happiness and prosperity. The sacred Mani Rilwu (sacred pills) and Tshereel (pills for long life), are given to everyone attending.

The dance takes place on the 2nd day of Mani Rimdu festival. This offering of spiritual nectar is made in many ceremonies. The six dancers represent Ngag-pa (Tantric magicians). They make offerings of alcohol from silver chalices, and small tormas, to the Lama, Yidam, Khandro, and Shi-Dak (Earth deities).

The Fire Puja is performed in the courtyard the day after the dances. Most of the village people have gone home, and Chiwong has a quiet, almost family atmosphere. The Fire Puja is an offering to Agni (the god of fire), and to the Gods of the mandala - to allay all harm in the world. The harm is visualized as dissolving into the grain and butter is burned. Afterwards, the sand mandala in the temple is dismantled, and the sand is given as an offering to the serpent gods (Nagas), at the spring below the monastery.

We trek back along the Dudh Koshi River through a magnificent Rhododendron forest and past brilliant waterfalls. After Namche the trail descend to Larja dobhan (confluence of two rivers) though the pine forests before you reach at Larja Dobhan you may get last opportunity to see Mt. Everest and Lhotse. After cross the bridge at Larja Dobhan the trail descends for while and then walk along the Dudh Koshi River. Re-cross the Dudh Koshi continue level walk to Jorsale. Beyond the Jorsale the trail leads a bit ascend after that re-crosses the suspension bridge then short steep climb to Monjo (2,835m) overnight at teahouse.

From Monjo the trail leads descends for a while and cross Dudh koshi over the suspension bridge to Benkar. After Benker the trail follows a bit up and down and level walk along the Dush koshi valley then after re-crossing the suspension bridge you reach at Phakding (2610m). The trail after the long suspension bridge follows the up wards route as far as Chablung, then turns off towards Lukla. From there the trail follows through scrub forest above the school and houses of Chaurikharka village then final climb up of your trek about half and hour reach Lukla.

In the morning, we take the tiny aircraft to flight from Lukla to Kathmandu which is very interesting scenery flight journey on the earth. After arrival in Kathmandu airport we drive you to hotel.