Mani Rimdu Festival 2023Mani Rimdu Festival 2023

Mani Rimdu Festival 2024

  • Duration13 Days
  • Destination Nepal
  • Difficulty Level Strenuous
  • Activity Trekking & Hiking
Trip Highlights
  • Explore Sherpa museum in Namche Bazar.
  • Panoramic view from Syanbu-che Everest View Hill.
  • Explore Historical Old Tyangboche Monastery.
  • Explore Mani Rimdu Festival with Buddist Monks. 

Mani Rimdu Festival Trek provides you an opportunity to explore the rich cultural and ancient heritages of Everest region and experience the adventurous trek in the region at the same time. Mani Rimdu Festival is the highlight of this region which is celebrated after full moon of October, November and December in Tengboche, Chiwong and Thame monasteries. Worshipping Phakpa Chenrezig, the god of compassion, in this festival locals believe that his blessings bring peace and good fortune to the region. The festival is celebrated over 19 days out of which the final three days are open to public and is marked with worships and spiritual masked dances which spread Buddhist teachings to the audience through the dances and prayers. Besides the spiritually awakening festival, Mani Rimdu Festival Trek provides the trekkers a chance to experience the lushness of landscape, grandeur of the Himalayas, diversity of flora and fauna and warm hospitality of legendary Sherpa community.

Mani Rimdu Festival Trek begins with the medieval city of Kathmandu and then heads to Lukla, the gateway to Everest region. Exploring the rich landscape of the region, our trek shall trek along the mighty Dudh  Koshi River and across several suspension bridges, past Mani walls and prayer stones, settlements of Chheplung and Nurning to culturally rich Phakding village. Through lush forests and some sections of uphill trek, we shall then explore the Sherpa hub of Namche Bazaar ahead of which we shall trek to the Tengboche village with ancient Tengboche Monaastery, the host of Maani Rimdu Festival. Beginning with the construction of Mandala, a geometric and concentric structure representing universe and the distribution of sacred pills, Mani Rimdu Festival then moves into the day of dances. The second day of this festival has the famous Mask Dance performed by monks in colorful and sacred dresses besides other interesting rituals. On the third and last day of Mani Rimdu Festival an offering is made to the god of fire and the serpent god and ended with nightlong singing and dancing by the locals. After witnessing this ancient festival which celebrates the victory of Buddhism over evil and ancient Bon religion, we shall retrace our steps back to Namche and Lukla before heading to Kathmandu for ending this adventure.

Mani Rimdu Festival Trek in Tengboche usually falls in the month of November, though the exact id decided as per the Lunar calendar. In this moderately strenuous trekking experience, you are required to have an average physical fitness, ability to trek in the rough trails for 5-6 hours a day in an average and open mind to grasp the essence of Buddhist teachings reflected in the ancient Mani Rimdu Festival.  Join the professional team of Outshine Adventure in this enlightening trekking adventure which is a perfect fit for the trekkers who wish to combine trek with the glimpse of festivals celebrated in Nepal.  

 

Trip Itinerary
9 Nov 2024Day

    Welcome to the nation of Himalayas, cultural diversity and traditional richness, Nepal. As you arrive in Kathmandu airport and complete the formalities, you shall be welcomed by our representative. You shall then be transferred to the hotel for your stay. Get relaxed in the hotel and later in the afternoon you may stroll around the streets of Thamel or continue with your rest. In the evening enjoy the authentic cuisine in the hotel and prepare for the trip from the following day. Stay overnight in Kathmandu. 

    10 Nov 2024Day

       Today we shall begin with our journey with the colorful Mani Rimdu Festival in our mind. We shall take an early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. This short and scenic flight over the vast landscape, green and lush hills and valleys, terraced cultivation fields, fast flowing rivers flowing in and out of the valleys and the view of glowing Himalayas overlooking these landscapes shall take us to Tenzing-Norgay Airport in Lukla. After meeting the remaining members of the team we shall prepare for the introductory trek in the region, to the beautiful Phakding village. The trek begins as we descend from the Lukla airport and take on the trail beginning from near the airport itself. Past the Mani walls and prayer stones, Buddhist heritages and some small settlements we reach to the company of Dudh Koshi River and then follow its upstream to reach our destination for today. Intermittently we shall encounter several suspension bridges festooned with prayer flags, culturally rich settlements including Thado Koshigaon, Chheplung, Nurning and others, view of Kusum Kanggaru Mountain and other peaks and the train of fellow trekkers, porters and locals. Stay overnight in Phakding. 

      11 Nov 2024Day

         In a day that shall be marked by the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, you shall start today’s trek after breakfast. Beginning with the walk past ancient monastery, you shall gradually trek through the dense rhododendron forest, several suspension bridges, cool waterfalls, view of Himalayas including Kongde Ri just after Phakding and Everest later in the trek today, beautiful valley of Benkar and several chortens, prayer stones and unique settlements. You shall enter the national park at Monjo after which you shall reach to Larja Bridge over the confluence mighty Dudh Koshi River stretching over a long gorge and then to the viewpoint of Mount Everest. The last section of today’s trek shall take you through a steep ascent in a twisting trail to the Namche Bazaar perched on the hillside facing the majestic Himalayas. The ups and downs past small farm houses, lushness of landscape, green valleys and company of fellow trekkers make this trek interesting. Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar. 

        12 Nov 2024Day

           This day is separated for the rest and acclimatization in the Sherpa hub of Namche Bazaar as we try avoiding altitude sickness with proper adaptation to the increasing altitude. In this rest day we have several day hike options so as to assist with our acclimatization. The hike to Everest View Hotel, a Guinness record holding restaurant for being at the highest altitude, is the most popular among the trekkers and climbers. The amazing view of majestic Mount Everest, Ama Dablam and other peaks is breathtaking. The hike to the twin villages of Khumjung and Khunde is another good day hike option. Famous for ancient monastery with the scalp of Yeti, the mythical Himalayan animal, and the Hillary School built by Sir Edmund Hillary, Khumjung is an outstanding settlement. Khunde, the nearby village hosts a small hospital built by the legendary Hillary as well. Hike to Thame village is a longer hiking option from Namche. These hikes shall assist us to adjust with the increasing altitude as our trek continues to higher altitudes. Explore the Sherpa cultural museum in Namche Bazaar itself besides the cafes, restaurants, interesting shops and weekend markets. Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar. 

          13 Nov 2024Day

             As we inch closer to our much awaited destination for witnessing the Mani Rimdu festival, we shall feel increasingly excited. In a trail surrounded by astounding panoramas, we shall make our beginning out of the Namche valley along a stone paved trail that becomes increasingly unpaved and narrower at several occasions. Through the walk surrounded by oak and rhododendron forest, we march ahead to the trail junction for Gokyo valley and Everest Base Camp through the settlements of Sanasa and Kenjoma. Ahead we encounter stone steps before descending to the riverbed of Dudh Koshi River and climbing to the small yet beautiful settlement of Phunke Tenga past water driven prayer wheels. The uphill climb ahead this to the ancient Tengboche monastery is a rather steep trek for couple of hours. This trek shall be a steady and gradual march through lush landscape and scenic environment, alpine vegetation and suspension bridges clad with prayer flags which makes it and enriching experience. Stay overnight in Tengboche. 

            14 Nov 2024Day

               Our wait and endurance for the famous and colorful festival shall start paying us back in the form of Mani Rimdu Festival that has today as its first day. In this day, the initial day of final three days of this festival that runs over nineteen days, the public event begins with the monks giving blessings to the public, special mask dances followed by the singing and dancing by the Sherpa community in the following days. Today we shall have the preparations including the making of Sand Mandala and Tormas which is the symbolic offerings made of colored butter and barley flour. The Mandala which symbolizes the palace of Lord of the Dance has Defensive blades, which symbolizes deities, around it and the bowl of Mani Rilwu pills placed above the centre. Another ceremony today is ‘Wong’ or The Empowerment in which the sacred Mani Rilwu Pills and Tshereel or Pills for long life are passed to everyone attending the festival today. After observing today’s ceremony, we shall return back to the guesthouse. Stay overnight in Tengboche.

              15 Nov 2024Day

                 Today is the second day of the last three days of Mani Rimdu Festival where more interesting rituals shall unfold before us. Today we have the iconic Mask Dance being performed by the monks. Also known as Cham in local language, in this dance the Lamas wear brocade gowns and wonderfully painted papier-mache masks during the dance. This spiritual dance offered to the deities is a chief source of attraction for the public attending the festival. In this dance the symbolic demons are either conquered, chased away or transformed for the protection of Dharma. The dance takes place with the theme of positive forces fighting with the forces of disorder and teaches the Buddhist teachings at different levels. The monks performing this dance are believed to become diving being.  Today we shall also have Ser-Kyem which is another dance performed with offering of spiritual nectar made and has six dancers representing tantric magicians.  Several other dances are performed today, the day of dances. With orange silk robes, yellow crescent shaped hats perched precariously on their heads, the monks carry several instruments including giant conch shells, long brass horns and bugles made of bones during the dance ceremonies. Stay overnight in Tengboche. 

                16 Nov 2024Day

                   Today is the third and final day of this colorful festival in Tengboche Monastery. After the dances in the previous days, today we shall witness the Fire Puja or Jinsak in the courtyard of the monastery. This is an offering to Agni, the god of fire and to the Gods of mandala, to alleviate all harm in the world. Later on, the sand mandala in the temple, made of colorful sands, is dismantled and the sand is given as offering to the serpent gods or Nagas at the spring below the monastery.  Besides this offering to the deity, we shall also have Chhingspa in the final day celebration. The dance illustrating the Four Protecting Ghings defending the Buddhist faith against attack by demons has the faces of dancers hidden with mask. Another Dakini Dance is performed by five priests with slow motion steps as a tribute to Padhmasambhav and other female spiritual figures.  Later in the day locals have an all night spiritual singing and dancing to mark and end to this festival.  Stay overnight in Tengboche. 

                  17 Nov 2024Day

                     After observing the colorful and interesting Mani Rimdu Festival in Tengboche, now it’s time for us to return back from Tengboche. Beginning the trek after breakfast, we shall initially encounter a steep descent to the riverbed of Dudh Koshi River from Tengboche via settlement of Phunke Tenga with water driven prayer wheels. After crossing the fast flowing river on a suspension bridge, the trail then makes us ascent to the trail junction through stone steps and then to the settlement of Sanasa and Kenjoma. After these settlements the trail is rather a straight walk with usual ups and downs of the trek, through the dense and lush forest areas with diverse vegetation including the beautiful rhododendron, until our destination for today, the Namche Bazaar.  Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar. 

                    18 Nov 2024Day

                       Moving further away from the interesting Khumbu valley we shall today trek to Lukla, the exit of our stay in the Everest region. After breakfast our trek shall begin with a steep downhill walk through the pine trees and an Everest viewpoint to reach the high and vertiginous suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. Ahead in the trail we traverse though the trail accompanied by mighty river and the village of Jorsale and Monjo. Exiting the national park at Monjo village the trek continues along the twisting and turning trails through several settlements, lush and green hillside and valleys, terraced landscapes, Mani walls, prayer stones and prayer flags, ancient monasteries, culturally rich settlements and of course several suspension bridges clad with colorful prayer flags. Take proper rest in the hotel at Lukla and prepare for travelling back to Kathmandu after ending this wonderful cultural experience in the foothills of Himalayas. Stay overnight in Lukla. 

                      19 Nov 2024Day

                         Today we shall return back to Kathmandu after an enriching and adventurous travel to the Everest region. We shall take on the early morning flight so as to avoid the disturbances caused by weather later in the day. After flying over scenic landscapes, we land at the domestic terminal of Tribhuwan International airport and get transferred to the hotel. Take proper rest in the hotel and later in the day you may go for some souvenir shopping or strolling around, though we shall have a free day tomorrow. Stay overnight in Kathmandu. 

                        20 Nov 2024Day

                           After exploring the Everest region it’s time to explore the ancient heritages of Kathmandu valley that carry with them the legacy of this medieval aged settlement listed in the UNESCO World Heritage site list. As per your interest in the sightseeing of the historical monuments we shall organize this sightseeing of Kathmandu. Amongst the heritages in Kathmandu the Hindu pilgrimage of Pashupatinath Temple at the bank of holy Bagmati River, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhunath and Boudhanath which are some of the most sacred places for Buddhists and Durbar Squares of Kathmandu and Patan are the star attractions. You may also utilize this free day in Kathmandu for shopping of some souvenirs for your near and dear ones or for taking a whole day rest, as per your interest. Stay overnight in Kathmandu. 

                          21 Nov 2024Day
                          • Max. Altitude:1350
                          • Meals:Breakfast
                          • Accommodation:Hotel Kathmandu Suite Home

                           Today your Mani Rimdu Festival package comes to an end. If you are interested in extending your stay in Nepal, we shall organize some other packages for you in other interesting destinations within Nepal. In other case, our representative shall assist you for your departure by escorting you to the international airport as per your flight schedule. We hope that you had a wonderful stay in Nepal and that you shall provide other opportunities to welcome you to this beautiful nation. Have a happy and wonderful journey ahead. 

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                          Cost Details
                          Price Includes
                          • Airport / Hotel / Airport pick up & drop by private car.
                          • Standard accommodation at hotel in Kathmandu. This will be for 3 nights in total ( two nights before trek and one night after the trek as usual). 
                          • Guided city tour in Kathmandu by private car.
                          • All your standard Meals during the trek.
                          • Best available Guesthouses accommodation during the trek.
                          • Local Sherpa licensed English speaking Guide.
                          • Porters to carry your luggage during the trek ( share for two people or clients).
                          • Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment and medicine for all staff.
                          • Everest National Park permits.
                          • Down Jacket and sleeping bag by Outshine Adventure Trekking.
                          • Airfare from Kathmandu - Lukla - Kathmandu including airport departure tax in Kathmandu and Lukla airport.
                          • Surface transfer from and to Kathmandu.
                          • .All our government taxes.
                          Price Excludes
                          • Lunch and dinner whilst in Kathmandu.
                          • Your travel insurance & Alcoholic, cold and hot drinks, laundry.
                          • Tips for trekking staff and driver--Tipping is expected.
                          • Any others expenses which are not mentioned on Price Includes section.
                          Starting fromUS$1450US$1500rating starbased on 1 review
                          We Offer Group Price
                            
                          1 paxUS$1450
                          2 - 14 paxUS$1300
                          Total Amount 1 x 1450US$1450
                          Travelers Review
                          • A
                            Ana MariaColombia,July 23, 2024
                            rating star

                            A Vibrant Display of Tradition and Unity with Outshine Adventure.

                            Outshine Adventure Provided an outstanding experience at the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival. Their team was incredibly knowledgeable and attentive, offering detailed insights into the festival’s traditions and ensuring that every aspect of the trip was well-coordinated. The vibrant ceremonies and the strong sense of community were made even more accessible thanks to their excellent service and organization. The guide Kumar enthusiasm and the seamless management of accommodations and transport contributed to a truly enriching festival experience. Outshine Adventure’s dedication made this cultural event truly special.

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