Mani Rimdu Special Trek

As soon as you land at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, our staff will pick you up and bring you to our hotel in Thamel. If your day/evening is free, you can stroll around the streets of Thamel, or go to one of the many bars/pubs or restaurants for drinks or dinner. If you are interested, you can also visit religious temples inside Kathmandu, specifically Pashupatinath where there is a group worshiping or “Aarti” program every evening around 6.

(30min flight) + 3 hrs walk
In the early morning, you will be picked for your flight to Lukla. It is a picturesque flight that will mesmerize you with the scenery of mountains all along the way. After landing in Lukla, we will walk 4 hours and arrive at Phakding following the Dudh Kosi River. Trek to the first camp of Phakding is through Cedar woods and pine forests. We will stay at Tea House in Phakding.

6 hrs
After having breakfast, you will begin your trek to Namche Bazar, enjoying close-up views of Ama-Dablam, Phortse peak, Thamserku, Kusungkangru, Kantega, Lotshe, and Mt. Everest. Finally, you will reach Namche Bazar and stay overnight at a lodge.

Namche Bazaar lies at a height of around 3440m. We take this day to get used to the height increase. You can use this day to get to know the local people, just have a day off from all the exploration or buy necessary supplies.

5 hrs
After 4-5 hours of trek, we arrive at Tengboche through Chortens Stupas, Rhododendron forests, and a Mani wall to reach Phunge Thanka where we stop for lunch. After lunch, we start climbing for around 1.5 hours to reach Tangboche by crossing a suspension bridge. The trail gets relatively tougher after this point. As soon as you reach Tengboche, you will be pleasantly surprised by the view of the mountains backdropping the largest monastery in the Khumbu region. In the evening, you can be a part of the live ceremony in the monastery performed by the monks.

Sand Mandala and Wong
The Wong (The empowerment) is the first day of the ceremony where Mani Rilwu and Tshereel (blessed pills), are given to everyone attending.

Today, a sand mandala is constructed using colorful sand that represents the home of Chenpo, the lord of Dance. The mandala is surrounded with weapons that are a symbol of deities and on the centere, there is a bowl placed with Mani Rimdu pills (spiritual medicine). The Buddha of Kindness is the main god who is worshipped in Mani Rimdu. Lamas chant mantras and imagine kindness flowing through their body towards the Mandala. It is believed that the kindness releases out through the Mandala and blesses everyone at the festival.

On the second day of Mani Rimdu, dances are shown that demonstrate the triumph over symbolic demons. The main theme of this dance is the fight of positive energies with the demons. During the dance monks are believed to entre a state of trance and become godlike being. This dance is only performed during Mani Rimdu as they are scared to be performed for the propose of entertainment.

In the last day of festival is the fire puja (Jinsak). Jinsak is done in the yard a day after the dances. In this day, the goof of fire “Agni” is worshipped and it is regarded as an offering to the godd of fire to dispel all dangers of the world. By dissolving into the grain and butter being burned to envisioned harm. Afterward, in the temple sand mandala is dismentaled into pieces, and the sand is given as an offering to the snake god ( Nagas). With this festival ends at we stay that night at a lodge in Tengboche.

4-5 hours
The trail goes downwards with a few sharp uphill climbs for about an hour from the bridge at Phunke Tenga, near Sanasha. The trek to Namche is amazing on a long windy track. Passing through the traditional villages of Khumjung and Khunde, the path leads us to Namche where we stay overnight.

5hrs
After having breakfast, you will begin walking through Sagarmatha National park and reach Phakding. From here, the Dudh Koshi River trail ascends to Lukla.

30 min flight
Today, you have an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you can get some rest and explore more of the city.

Finally, on the last day of your trip, we will drive you from our hotel in Kathmandu to Tribhuvan International Airport for departure.