Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek Fixed departure is a 12-day adventure that lets you witness one of the biggest festivals of the Sherpa community in the Tengboche Monastery on the 24 and 26 of October, 2026. It’s a very colorful and unique religious Event that lasts 19 days. Among the 19 days, only the last three days of the Mani Rimdu Fiesta are public, and everyone from the region can attend. This year, 2026, based on the Tibetan lunar calendar, the three-day Mani Rimdu public celebration will be held on 24 to 26 October.
Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek Fixed departure on 19 October lets the interested traveler join the traditional rite of the Sherpas called Mani Rimdu. The monastery where the ritual occurs lies on the way to the Everest base camp. This being said, along with an opportunity to participate in the vibrant celebration, you can also reach the region's main attraction, Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, etc., in just a single journey. You have to leave around a week or two early to attend the last three days of the Mani Rimdu public event on 24 to 26 October.
You've always wanted to experience one of the most colorful Buddhist festivals in the Himalayas. Now, you have the perfect opportunity to do just that with the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek Itinerary. Take this hike to the Tengboche Monastery or even further to the foot of Everest, i.e., Everest base camp, and witness the spectacular Mani Rimdu festival.
For two weeks in the fall, ancient Buddhist monasteries in the Khumbu region host these lively celebrations filled with masked dances, music, and prayer ceremonies. You'll learn about centuries-old traditions from expert Sherpa guides as you hike through the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek route with breathtaking landscapes and fluttering prayer flags to reach Tengboche Monastery.
12-Day Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek highlights the importance of attending the religious ceremonies led by Buddhist monks as they bless the community and drive out evil spirits through hypnotic chants for three whole days. Held in late October or November, the 19-day festival features elaborate costumes, chanting, and dancing by monks to traditional Sherpa music.
As part of the festivities, the monks and lamas perform ritualistic dances known as cham dances. The dances enact moments from Buddhist teachings and folklore. The dances represent the defeat of demons and are meant to bring good fortune. The colorful masks and costumes the monks wear during the cham dances are beautiful works of art.
The Mount Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek Itinerary starts with a Flight to Lukla. You then color the Everest base camp route that goes through picturesque Sherpa villages like Phakding and Namche Bazaar before reaching Tengboche Monastery on the 23 of October.
Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek for 12 days offers stunning views of snow-capped peaks like Nuptse, Tawache, Lhotse, Everest, Thamserku, and Ama Dablam. You'll experience the local Sherpa culture by staying in teahouses and interacting with villagers, Monks, and lamas.
The trek to the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival ends at the Tengboche Monastery, where you can witness the elaborate rituals, dances, and celebrations. Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek's Fixed Departure Itinerary can be customized to include your places of interest, such as reaching Everest base camp, Gokyo, or Kala Patthar.
After the festival ends, you'll continue the trek as per the schedule and the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek map, passing through more Sherpa villages on the way to Namche Bazaar, the main town in the Everest region. The trek provides a glimpse into the Buddhist faith and culture of the high Himalayas, timing your trek with the Mani Rimdu Festival celebration from 24 to 26 October.
You'll get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience this essential spiritual and cultural event in the Everest region.
Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek Fixed departure promises an easy way to travel for tourists who want to participate in the Mani Rimdu Festival celebration from 24 to 26 October in 2026. We have opened the booking for this trip at the best cost and itinerary. With a fixed departure date scheduled for 24 October, you will reach the Tengboche monastery on time and attend the Tibetan-Buddhist event from 24 to 26 October. Contact us to customize the trip for 12 days Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek 2026.
Significant Highlights of Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek
- Hop on a thrilling flight to Lukla- the entrance to the Everest region.
- Walk around the Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- With the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek, reach the Tengboche Monastery on the date of the public festive celebration on 24 to 26 October.
- Hike in the Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in autumn.
- Go to the Sherpa museum in Namche Bazaar and retrace the antique residences of the Sherpa people.
- Acknowledge the sacredness of the monks' work through the publicly demonstrated sand mandala.
- Attend several religious ceremonies, including meditations, for some time.
Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek Fixed Departure Date 2026
The Everest Mani Rimdu Festival trek's fixed departure for 2026 is set to be on October 24. This fixed departure ensures we reach the Mani Rimdu public celebration on October 24, 25, and 26 in the Autumn season on time.
The fixed departure date on October 24 for the 2026 Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek is now available to book in advance. However, for adventurous tourists who want to explore the Everest region more and reach attractions like Gokyo, Everest base camp, Kala Patthar, three passes, etc, early departures can be arranged before October 10. With early departure, you can enjoy the Autumn Everest base camp or Gokyo trek and then return to the Tengboche monastery to participate in the Mani Rimdu festival.
Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek Fixed departure dates mean you can book your trek up to a year ahead of the festival and ensure you have a secured spot. No more worrying if you'll be able to get the necessary permits or if tea houses along the route will have room for you. You'll trek with an experienced guide and group, enjoying the camaraderie of like-minded adventurers. The trek difficulty is moderate and suitable for anyone with a decent fitness level.
The fixed Departure date for the Everest Mani Rimdu festival is mentioned below.
Trip Start | Trip End | Mani Rimdu Festival Dates for 2026 |
October 19 | October 30 | October 24, 25, 26 |
Note: We have fixed this trip's departure date for this trip to October 19, 2026. To book this Everest trip, type in the number of travelers you will be joining and contact us.
The Significance of the Mani Rimdu Ritual
The Mani Rimdu is one of the most important religious festivals in the Everest region. Held annually at Tengboche Monastery, it celebrates the victory of Buddhism over Bon, the pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet.
Celebration With A Unique Sacred Dance Performance
Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek’s focal point is the festival where an elaborate sacred dance performance, or cham dance, is performed by the monks of Tengboche Monastery. Wearing colorful masks and costumes, the monks reenact the conquest of Buddhism over Bon through choreographed dances set to traditional music. The three-day ritual performances on the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek are meant to spread spiritual blessings and bring prosperity. Some names of the dances performed are below.
- Gold Libation dance
- Ging dance
- Dorjo Drolo dance
- Drum dance
- The Long Life Man
- Liberation dance
- Protector dance
- Share lung and the black men
- Skywalkers dance
- Seer
- Sword dance
- Magic weapon dance
- The Ensemble
A Time for Prayer and Offerings
Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek, which is only organized once a year, is also a time for prayer, meditation, and offering offerings while participating in the Mani Rimdu celebration. Locals and visitors trek up to Tengboche to light butter lamps, offer donations, and pray for health, happiness, and good fortune. The monastery is beautifully decorated with religious paintings, colorful silk hangings, and fresh juniper branches.
Celebration: Bringing People Together
Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek with an opportunity to be part of the famous Mani Rimdu festival brings together people from across the Everest region, tourists, and locals, and fosters a sense of community. Members of the Sherpa ethnic group come from distant valleys to socialize, trade goods, celebrate their shared cultural heritage, and strengthen their Buddhist faith.
For visitors on the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek, attending the sacred dances and celebrations at Tengboche offers a rare glimpse into the spiritual lives of the Sherpa people. Witnessing this vital festival is a highlight for many trekkers in Nepal. By understanding its religious and cultural significance, you can better appreciate its role in bringing together communities in the shadow of the Himalayas.
When and where will the Mani Rimdu Festival take place?
The Mani Rimdu Festival takes place in the Everest region of Nepal, in the village of Chiwong, very close to the monastery village of Thame. The festival is held at the three different Monasteries, i.e., Thame, Tengboche, and Monastery.
The festival usually occurs in May or October, depending on the Tibetan lunar calendar. This year, 2026, the celebration will be from 24 to 26 October.
The Mani Rimdu Festival is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Sherpa Buddhist culture. You'll witness elaborate masked dances, chanting ceremonies, and sacred rituals in the backdrop of the mighty Himalayas. The festival celebrates the victory of Buddhism over the ancient Bon religion of the region. Local monks perform the dances wearing colorful masks to represent deities and demons from Buddhist teachings.
The Autumn Festival- Mani Rimdu Celebration
The autumn Mani Rimdu Festival public celebration will be held on October 24th, 25th, and 26th in 2026. Here are the day-by-day rituals and dances performed below.
October 24th, 1st Day of the Mani Rimdu
The ceremony starts on the bright festival's opening day when the Tengboche monastery's monks bless the visitors. They do this by participating in a dance where the villagers wear masks and sing while the tradition continues. The monks perform ritual dances meant to drive away evil spirits. Monks create sand mandalas, which are visual representations of gods. In the middle, the bowl of Mani Rilwu is placed. Around the end of the celebration, the monks will give out the pills to those participating in the ceremony.
October 25th, 2nd Day of the Mani Rimdu
On the second day of the festival, the monks do many exciting acts in the monastery. They do the Cham dance, which is an ethnic dance. They dress in brocade gowns and multicolored masks. Cham dance is probably the most significant part of the Cham performance from the audience's perspective in the Khumbu region. The dance passes a timeline story in which the demons give way and the good spirits win. They also dance to another dance, "Ser-Kyem" fish, which, like the others, is performed on the same day.
October 26th, 3rd Day of the Mani Rimdu
A fire puja- Jinsak - is conducted in the monastery's courtyard on the third day. During the puja, offerings are made to Agni, a god, to get rid of all the evils. The mandalas are put together only to be taken apart again and dedicated to the spring with water by the serpent gods (Nagas) at the following spring. The last and most exciting day of the festival is when residents of Chhingspa village perform their traditional dance. This is presented by the demon and the guardian of the four dharmas, who oppose each other in the fight to spread and preserve the Buddhist faith. Local people will come to the festival’s closing hour and display their songs and dances with joyful moments.
What to Expect During the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek?
With our fixed departure dates set on 19 October, the first thing you can expect with the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek is to reach the Tengboche monastery on the exact date of the Mani Rimdu public celebration, i.e., 19th October. Here are some other things to expect below.
- The Everest Mani Rimdu Festival trek takes you through some of the most stunning scenery in the Himalayas. As you trek to Tengboche Monastery, you'll journey through rhododendron forests and have panoramic views of massive mountains like Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam.
- The autumn foliage and blooming flowers make the trail even more picturesque. You'll traverse alpine meadows at higher elevations and maybe spot some yaks or mountain goats along the way.
- The Mani Rimdu festival celebrates the triumph of Buddhism over pre-Buddhist deities of the Bon religion in the Himalayas.
- For three days, witness the monks performing sacred dances and rituals wearing elaborate masks and costumes.
- You'll get to observe sacred rituals up close, like the fire puja, meant to purify the monastery and its surroundings. The cultural dances are intended to pass down Buddhist teachings through performance and symbolism.
Is This Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek Right For You?
Yes, the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek with Fixed Departure is suitable for you if you want to travel to the heart of the Solukhumbu region of Nepal and take part in the Mani Rimdu festival public rituals on October 24, 25, 26, 2026.
- This culturally immersive Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek lets you witness sacred Buddhist rituals and celebrations at Tengboche Monastery. However, the high altitude and physically demanding trek may not be ideal for all travelers.
- The 3-day festival includes chanting, dancing, and other ceremonies. You'll witness Sherpa culture authentically and receive blessings from the high lamas.
- The Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek ventures into high Himalayan terrain, so you must be physically healthy. You'll ascend over 10,000 feet, with much of the walking at high altitude.
- Be prepared for cold temperatures, especially at night. The thin air can cause altitude sickness in some, so acclimatize slowly and watch for symptoms. Most people can complete the trek without issue with the right preparation and pacing.
Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek Cost
The updated cost for the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival Trek fixed departure starts at $1400 per person. This package includes all services, such as an English-speaking guide, accommodation, meals, Lukla flight, permits, and more.
A few travelers who make solo trips and want company can join the group for the departure in October 2026. Our group pricing list for the trip is listed below.
