(24 days, GOKYO VALLEY, KALAPATHAR TREK including TYANGBUCHE MANI
RIMDU FESTIVAL
DAY TO DAY ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival to Kathmandu, Nepal. Our office staff will be waiting
in arrival gate. Meet our staff and transfer to your Hotel. Short briefing
will be followed about necessary formalities and rest of the program.
Depending on arrival time you will have choice of visiting nearby sanctuaries
or have a rest day.
Day 2: Free day At kathmandu. We provide the Hotel at the very center
of Kathmandu so one can walk near by sanctuaries like Kathmandu Durbar
Square and Soyambunath stupa etc.
Day 3: Kathmandu to Lukla 2866m. Phakdingma 2652m. 40 minutes fly,
3 hours trek Early in the morning drive to Kathmandu Airport and
fly to Lukla. It is an Excellent Mountain flight of 40 minutes, weather
permitting one can enjoy a wide range of mountain chain. After arrival
shortly visit Lukla village and continue trek for about 3 hours to
overnight campsite Phakdingma.
Day 4: Phakdingma to Namche Bazaar 3440m. Trek time 5 hours. Your trek Continues through villages of Toktok and Jorsalle to the
foot of Namche. A direct climb to Topdanda, nearby Namche Bazaar, you
can see Mt. Everest and Tengbuche valley. The route is very enjoying
with lush forest and giant mountains. After half an hours trek you
are at Namche Bazaar, the "capital of Khumbu valley".
Day 5: Rest day. Namche Bazaar decorated by all beautiful mountains is recommendable
place to have a rest day. Your guide will take you to visit Monastery
of Namche, Sagarmatha National Park museum and the Sherpa house museum.
Some time if you arrive Friday, there will be a Bazaar every Saturday;
all the local people arrive to fill Namche Bazaar. In Khumbu valley,
it is forbidden to kill any kind of animals, people from lower valley
come here in Saturday to sell meat and every need of the daily life. Optional: use your rest day by hiking to Thami Village or to Khumjung/Khunde
village; or one may hike up to the 5 star Hotel Everest View.
Day 6: Namche to Dole (4084 Mtrs.)
Trek begins with pleasant view until Phortse Tenga. From on Phortse
Tenga a new heavenly valley lures you up to Gokyo. A gently climb,
from Phortse Tenga, offers a surprising view of the tip of Mt. Cho-Yu
like a smiling baby. The way enters to the summer pastureland. Giant
mountains with a pleasant view border every sides of this valley.
Day 7: Phortse Tenga to Machhermo (4465 Mtrs.)
Trail leads with a gentle climb through a bare hill. It offers beautiful
scenery of mountains, among which the most interesting are Kang-Thega,
Cho-Yu, Gyachung Kang, Tawu-Che, Cholhat-Che and Macchermo-Che etc.
The Macchermo situates in a small valley.
Day 8: Machhermo to Gokyo (4750 Mtrs.)
The trail leads through a carved cliff and crosses a gushing glacial
river. Finally you are at the first lake of the Gokyo; many times one
can see a couple of colorful mountain Duck swimming in the lake to
enjoy the harmony of peace and beauty of this valley. Continue further
more to Gokyo crossing second lake and then to third. Gokyo is a beautiful
place with its blue lake, dazzling view of giant mountains and a surprising
glacier.
Day 9: Rest at Gokyo
Early in the morning, climb to the top of Gokyo
peak (5483 Mts.) The view from here is breathtaking, as the state
of inward peace can not be described in words. From here one can enjoy
a complete view of Top of the World: Makalu, Co-Yu,
Lhotse, Nupse, Amadablam, Rolwaling Himal range, Karyi-Lung range,
Kusum-Kangru range and many more. Descend down to Gokyo to have a good
breakfast and a relaxing rest at camp. Walking two minutes from the
camp one can enjoy the entire view of glacier. Stay alone or in a group
on the rim of the glacier to observe the nature's grandeur.
Day 10: Gokyo to Tragnak (4690 Mtrs.)
Continues your trek
to explore Tragnak. One will have a great opportunity
to walk on the moving glacial drift of Gokyo. Tagnak is a small campsite, used
for summer cow shade, under a awesome cliff with some teahouses.
Day 11: Tragnag to Dzongla (4596 Mtrs.)Start trekking early in the
morning because you have to cross the Cho-la pass (5420 Mts.) Your
trek starts with gentle climbing by a narrow gorge towered by awesome
cliff of Tragnak. After half an hour treks another small hidden valley
open slowly wider to a beautiful meadow. From here you can see your
target "Cho-La Pass" very near. Climb to the Cho-La a surprising
view of Everest valley in front of you and the Gokyo valley behind
you forces you to decide "which part is more beautiful?" Descend
slowly to Dzongla for a overnight. Dzongla is another beautiful place
with a complete view of Mt. Cholhat-Che, Mt. Amadablam, Labuche peak
and the Pheriche village far below.
Day 12: Dzongla to Gorakshep (5184 Mtrs.)
Trek until Labuche with a easy trekking route and a fine panorama of
mountain and valley. Labuche situates just by the side of glacier with
some Hotels. From Labuche trek to Gorakshep by the rim of glacier with
view of Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Pumori, Changse, Cholhat-Che, Mt. Amadablam,
Lobuche peak and many more small peaks. Gorakshep is a pleasant place
towered by beautiful Mt. Pumori. From here further more 2 hours walk
brings one to Everest base camp (5350 Mts) and in an hour on top of
Kalapathar (black rock in Indian language), view from here are indescribable.
Day 13: Trek to Everest BC and Return to Gorakshep
Day 14: Visit Kalapathar and Trek down to Pheriche.
Day 15: Trek to Tengbuche.The trail descends to Pangbuche village and Monastery, one of the oldest in Nepal (400 years
old). Further continuing trek you arrive to Dibuche Monastery of
nuns, the place is visit worthy surrounded by primeval
forest. Finally you are at Tengbuche for overnight camp. Tengbuche
is one of the religious centers of Khumbu valley. The importance
of this place is because of its monastery and a fine view of Nuptse-Lhotse
Wall, the tip of Everest and giant Mt. Amadlam from Tengbuche meadow.
Day 16-19: MANI_RIMDU FESTIVAL AT Tyangbuche and Chiwang Monasteries.
THE MANI_RIMDU MASK DANCE RITUAL FESTIVAL: Mask dance ritual at Tyangbuche & Chiwang
Monasteries offers you one of the wonder of the Himalayan people
and their believe and practice since their communal step to this
heavenly region.
The festival originated from the monastery of Rongbuk, one of the
oldest in Tibet, is a prayer ceremony where the monks put on masks
representing divine personages and perform ritual dances. The spectators
of devotion come from many villages of Khumbu area. It is a colourful
occasion that takes place in the most spectacular of settings. It depicts
the victory of Buddhism over the ancient 'Bon' religion. The festival
lasts for three days and is well attended by the Sherpa people who
often trek for many days to witness and to get blessed and to gain
sonam (Merit) in this important event.
This festival consist of a eight to nine day mediation cycle and ends
with a public blessing ceremony. The following are the Mani Rimdu events
that normally celebrate but the main public ceremony will be of 3 days.
First day: Making the Sand Mandala (fine, coloured
sand from the glaciers is used to draw a beautiful and intricate
mystical diagram or mandala)
Second Day: Making of the tormas (sculptures
made of coloured butter and barley flour representing symbolic offerings)
Third Day: Start of the 8 day meditation ceremony
invoking the blessings of Chenrezig, or Avalokiteshvara, the embodiment
of compassion
Fourth Day: Practice dancing without masks
Fifth Day: Famous Mask Dances open to the public
from 10.00 A.M. to 17.00 P.M. During the whole night there is traditional
dancing by the Sherpa community.
Sixth Day: Wong (blessing ceremony for the general
public)
Seventh Day: Fire ceremony. Concluding ceremony
in the Monastery's courtyard. To the sound of prayers being chanted,
the concluding act involves the burning of rolls of parchment on
which the ritual prayers are written. Any evil forces operating in
the Valley that have escaped earlier exorcism should now have been
thrown out. The end of the Mani Rimdu signifies the end of all evil.
And it is a religious believe that for another year, goodness and
peace will reign over the region.
Day 20: Trek to Khumjung/Khunde 3790m.
Trek down to Punggi Tanga. From Tengbuche the trail descends directly
to Pungi Tenga which is the junction of Dudhkoshi river and river
from Gokyo. After two hours-gentle climb, you are at Sanasa; you
get a round of your trek. 30 minutes further trek brings you at Khumjung,
one of the main villages of the Khumbu valley. Time permitting visit
both villages or camp at Khumjung and next morning trek through Khunde
village.
Day 21: Khumjung/Khunde to Lukla
Day 22: Fly to Kathmandu
Day 23: Free day at Kathmandu
Day 24: Departure. Our office staff will arrive in your Hotel with
transportation to take you to your departure gate at the international
airport of Kathmandu.
Tashi Delek!
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