Everest Base Camp Trek with Mani Rimdu FestivalEverest Base Camp Trek with Mani Rimdu Festival

Everest Base Camp Trek with Mani Rimdu Festival

  • Duration17 Days
  • Destination Nepal
  • Difficulty Level Strenuous
  • Maximum Altitude 5545
  • Activity Trekking & Spiritual Tour
  • Group Size 1-99
  • Accommodation Guest Houses
  • Meals Breakfast ,Lunch & DInner
  • Best Time October & November
Trip Highlights
  • Explore the Sherpa museum in Namche Bazar.
  • Panoramic view from Syanbu-che Everest View Hill.
  • Explore the historical old Tyangboche Monastery.
  • Explore the Mani Rimdu Festival with Buddhist monks.
  • World's Highest Viewpoint (Kalapathar, 5550 Meters).
  • Explore the Sherpa culture of the Solukhumbu region.

The Mani Rimdu Festival Trek provides you an opportunity to explore the rich cultural and ancient heritages of the Everest region and experience the adventurous trek in the region at the same time. The Mani Rimdu Festival is the highlight of this region, which is celebrated after the full moon of October, November, and December in the 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 the public and are marked with worships and spiritual masked dances, which spread Buddhist teachings to the audience through the dances and prayers. Besides the spiritually awakening festival, the Mani Rimdu Festival Trek provides the trekkers a chance to experience the lushness of the landscape, the grandeur of the Himalayas, the diversity of flora and fauna, and the warm hospitality of the legendary Sherpa community.

The Mani Rimdu Festival Trek begins with the medieval city of Kathmandu and then heads to Lukla, the gateway to the 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, and through the settlements of Chheplung and Nurning to the 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 the ancient Tengboche Monastery, the host of the Maani Rimdu Festival. Beginning with the construction of Mandala, a geometric and concentric structure representing the universe and the distribution of sacred pills, the 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 the Mani Rimdu Festival, an offering is made to the god of fire and the serpent god, and the festival ends with nightlong singing and dancing by the locals. After witnessing this ancient festival, which celebrates the victory of Buddhism over evil and the ancient Bon religion, we shall retrace our steps back to Namche and Lukla before heading to Kathmandu for the end of this adventure.

Where and when is the Mani Rimdu Festival celebrated?

The Mani Rimdu Festival Trek in Tengboche usually falls in the month of November, though the exact date is decided as per the lunar calendar. In this moderately strenuous trekking experience, you are required to have an average physical fitness, the ability to trek in the rough trails for 5-6 hours a day on average, and an 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 a trek with a glimpse of festivals celebrated in Nepal.

The Everest Mani Rimdu Festival 2026 will take place on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of November 2026 at Tengboche Monastery. To fully experience this unique cultural and trekking journey, travelers are advised to arrive in Kathmandu by 21st October 2026. This allows ample time for sightseeing, trek preparation, and proper acclimatization before traveling to the Khumbu region.

Trip Itinerary
01Day

    The airport representative will welcome you at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, holding the nameplate of Outshine Adventure on arrival, and then we will transfer to the hotel. After your check-in at the hotel, we take you to our company for documentation and information.

    02Day

      Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast at the hotel, and then around 9 am we start the tour for Kathmandu Durbar Square, Syambhunath, Buddhanath, and Pashupatinath. We provide an expert tour guide to explain the monuments and a private car for the sightseeing. In the afternoon you will have some time for equipment shopping or preparation.

      03Day

        A half-hour flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. We have breakfast at Lukla Airport in the guesthouse. From the hotel or guesthouse, you can see the airport and mountain scenery views. After breakfast we trek down to Phakding, which is gradually down (200 meters). It takes about 3 hours to get at Phakding following the Dudh Koshi river (white river), and we take a rest on the day.

        04Day

          Today is a quiet, long day for a walk compared to the first day. It takes around 5 hours, and we climb about 850 meters up to Namche Bazar. We follow the Dudh Koshi river with the nature of the Everest region to get to Namche Bazar. Namche Bazar is a big village in the Everest region, which includes Namche Bazar (market). Many people go to Namche Bazar for shopping also. After a long walk and your beginning days of trekking to clump up, you feel tired on this day.

          05Day

            Today we have the whole day for acclimatization and rest. We climb up to the Everest View Hotel to see the Everest panoramic ranges, including views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kusum Kangaru. It takes about 2 hours to go up, and we will have a tea break for an hour with the panoramic view of Everest at Everest View Hotel, and then we will go back down to Namche Bazar.

            06Day

              After a day's rest in Namche Bazar, we continue our trek to Tengboche. It takes about 5 hours to get to Tengboche. Tengboche is an amazing village in the Everest region; from this village you can have the chance to see a wonderful view of Ama Dablam mountain and an old monastery. In the morning and evening the Lama does worship in the monastery, when you can go and visit the monastery, and you even have a chance to do meditation in the monastery.

              07Day

                Approximately five hours' walk to Dingboche, you can enjoy the rhododendron-covered area to emerge to a pleasant level area. Having the amazing view of Ama Dablam and Kantega (6779 m), you continue your trek as they appear on the opposite bank. Climbing gradually up, winding above the river, you get to a big Mani stupa. Continuing the walk is fairly moderate as you enter the Imjatse Valley on the lap of the gorgeous Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and Lhotse with views of the eastern snow-capped mountains, including the Island Peak (6,189 m), and we reach Dingboche.

                008Day

                  This is another acclimatization day trip to Chhukung Valley and back to Dingboche in the evening. The gorgeous scenery of the north face of Ama Dablam and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge as you explore the Chhukung Valley that leads up to Island Peak. After exploring Chhukung Valley, you have time to relax in the afternoon. You also can enjoy the panoramic view of Island Peak, Ama Dablam, Tawoche Peak, and other mountains.

                  009Day

                    Today we walk for about 5 hours. Trek along the Dughla Valley; Lobuche is reached by hiking alongside frozen rivers where stone houses sit in an icy wilderness of stunning beauty. You will be able to feast your eyes on the Khumbu Icefall, Pumori, and many smaller peaks from ridge tops on the track.

                    10Day

                      It takes about 3.5 hours to get to Gorakesh, and you will hike for another 3 hours to go and back to Everest Base Camp. It makes it more comfortable for the altitude to hike up and come down for the night stay. Today it seems like a great day for your trekking because you will reach your destination. Trek up the valley for a short look at the Khumbu Glacier, following the rocky path, on the lap of Kala Patthar (5545 m) and Mt. Pumori (7145 m). Gorakshep is situated at the original Everest Base Camp. The panoramic view of Nuptse, Lho-La, and Khumbutse emerges at the forefront of you. There is also a chance to hear the sound of the avalanche, and it can also be seen on the way.

                      11Day

                        It takes about six hours. It starts early in the morning with a hike up to Kalapatthar (5545 m), an excellent viewpoint to observe the mountain. Everest and innumerable spectacular mountain views from the top of Kala Patthar, which is also an amazing point of this trek. The panoramic view of the Everest Himalayan ranges you will never forget in your life. You start to feel better and less tired because of the altitude, and also you chose a great destination.

                        12Day

                          Our wait and endurance for the famous and colorful festival shall start paying us back in the form of the Mani Rimdu Festival, which has today as its first day. On this day, the initial day of the 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, and 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 are the symbolic offerings made of colored butter and barley flour. The Mandala, which symbolizes the palace of the Lord of the Dance, has defensive blades, which symbolize deities, around it, and the bowl of Mani Rilwu pills is placed above the center. 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.

                          13Day

                            Today is the second day of the last three days of the 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 the local language, in this dance the Lamas wear brocade gowns and wonderfully painted papier-mâché 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 divine beings. Today we shall also have Ser-Kyem, which is another dance performed with an 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 and 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.

                            14Day

                              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 the 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 an 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 Things defending the Buddhist faith against attack by demons has the faces of dancers hidden with masks. 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 an end to this festival. Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar .

                              15Day

                                After around a five-and-a-half-hour walk, you get back to Lukla today. On the last day of your trek, you will walk from Namche Bazaar via Phakding (your first night) to Lukla. Also a marketplace in the Everest region to enjoy the rest of your day in Lukla. There are some bars, restaurants, and shops to pass the rest of your day in Lukla.

                                16Day

                                  Exciting to be back in Kathmandu after a while without getting in touch with family and friends. A knock on the door early in the morning for breakfast. The same view as the first flight up to Lukla—a huge chance to see the panoramic Everest range again through a small window—what you have done recently. After a half-hour flight, you'll be back to Kathmandu with unforgettable memories of your trip.

                                  17Day

                                    After your breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the international airport according to your flight time. We could increase the tours or extra activities if you have extra days available according to your desire.

                                    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). if you will be more than 3 nights in kathmandu you need to pay extra.

                                    • 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.

                                    • 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 & entrance fees in City.

                                    • Alcoholic, cold and hot drinks, laundry.

                                    • Personal trekking Equipments.

                                    • Tips for trekking staff and driver--Tipping is expected.

                                    • Any others expenses which are not mentioned on Price Includes section.

                                    Dates & Availability
                                    Start DateEnd DateStatusPrice 
                                    Start DateStarts: WednesdayNov 04, 2026Group JoiningEnd DateEnds: FridayNov 20, 2026StatusStatusGuaranteedPricePriceUS$1675
                                    Start DateStarts: ThursdayNov 05, 2026Group JoiningEnd DateEnds: SaturdayNov 21, 2026StatusStatusGuaranteedPricePriceUS$1675
                                    Start DateStarts: FridayNov 06, 2026Group JoiningEnd DateEnds: SundayNov 22, 2026StatusStatusGuaranteedPricePriceUS$1675
                                    Private Trip
                                    Travelers Review
                                    • T
                                      TyalorBulgaria,December 11, 2022
                                      rating star

                                      An Enchanting Cultural Extravaganza !

                                      Attending the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival was a dream come true. The festival offers a unique glimpse into the rich Sherpa culture and Tibetan Buddhism. The vibrant costumes, intricate mask dances, and the melodious chanting created an enchanting atmosphere. Witnessing the traditional ceremonies and the sense of community among the locals made the experience truly unforgettable. It's a must-see for anyone interested in cultural festivals or spiritual traditon . Thank you so much Goku making my dream true.
                                       

                                      Posted onGoogle
                                    • Z
                                      Zeytin STurkey,November 30, 2021
                                      rating star

                                      A Spiritual Journey Amidst the Himalayas

                                      The Mani Rimdu Festival in the Everest region is more than just a celebration; it's a spiritual journey. The festival's blend of religious rituals and cultural performances is incredibly moving. I was particularly touched by the genuine warmth of the Sherpa people and their hospitality. The majestic backdrop of the Himalayas adds a mystical touch to the entire experience with Outshine Adventure team. If you’re looking to connect with local traditions and witness a sacred ritual in a stunning setting, Outshine Can be best choice. Thank you Gokul.
                                       

                                      Posted onGoogle
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