Manang Festival (Yartung)

Upon your arrival at Kathmandu international airport, our representative will meet and welcome you to Nepal and then you will be transferred to the hotel. Once you finish the check-in procedure, you can rest and relax at the hotel.  After short rest, we take you short Thamel tour which is main tourist hub in Kathmandu to make you familiar with some good restaurants, ATMs, money changer, Super market, gear shop and other necessary things you might need for your trip. After a short explore you will be taken to our office for a trip briefing meeting. 

Overnight in hotel.

After having breakfast we will proceed for the sightseeing.

Pashupatinath Temple: It is a most famous Hindu temple devoted to Lord Shiva, located beside the Bagmati River. One of the most significant temples for the Hindu devotees around the world and the UNESCO site. The golden pagoda style temple is richly carved with silver doors. On the day of Shivaratri, a big fair is held around the month of February/March.
Boudhanath stupa: One of the biggest Stupas in the world is located on the east in Kathmandu. It stands with four pairs of eyes in the four prime directions, keeping watch for virtuous behavior and human success. King Man Deva at the advice of the Goddess Mani Jogini had built this remarkable Stupa. The Stupa resembles the Mahayana philosophy. 

After back from the tour you have some times for rest and prepare your gear and so on 

Overnight in hotel.

An early start gets us on the drive to Syange, the starting point of the trek. On the way, we see lush green countryside, rivers, villages, farms and beautiful mountain-scapes. The road to Besishahar is tar, thereafter gravel.

A leisurely trekking pace takes us into the Manang district with its fields of barley, rice, potato, and pine forests. We pass the village of Kodo and will overnight in Dharapani. 

Overnight local lodge.

On the way to Chame, we climb a few steep, forested ridges and are treated by some of the most sensational mountain views: LamjungHimal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV (7,525 m). At our destination, a few small hot springs bring relief to our taxed muscles. 

Overnight local lodge.

Today we trek higher along a steep and narrow, densely forest path that leads to a rock face that soars 1500.m above the river. This is a wow! As we emerge from this steep-sided valley we are greeted by amazing views of majestic Himalayan Peaks. We reach Pisang and you ask yourself, “Can the scenery get any better.” Your inner voice answers, “It’s not possible,” and yet, you remember hearing, “This is just the beginning”.

Overnight local lodge.

Out of the two routes to choose, we select the upper one (through Upper Pisang and Geru) where the sceneries are unmatched. Majestic peaks tower all around us….Annapurna, Pisang peak, and several others. As we trek higher the landscape.

 Overnight local lodge.

Around noon youngsters from Manang village gather at Teen Dhara. They sing a song while riding over their horses. Then from there, they move to the Thang where the race is held. They hold some races and come back to Manang. At around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, both the youngsters and adult gather again at the Teen Dhara, sing a song and head down to the Thang and hold the race again and go back.

Overnight local lodge.

The day’s program begins at around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The villagers go to the PochoGompa and light the butter lamps. After lighting the lamps, they head to the Thang and race. Then they go back either to home or Gompa. At around 8 to 9 o'clock in the evening, the villagers are divided into two groups and one group is led to PochoGompa and the other to KarkiGompa. Then Oley dance is performed at both the Gompas.

Overnight local lodge.

Villagers gather at Pocho Gompa in the afternoon as usual and go for a race at Thang. After completing the race, they come back to Manang.

Overnight local lodge.

Youngsters dance on top of the roof of the Gompa at Manang Village and conclude the festival.

Overnight local lodge.

Trek from Manang to Yak Kharka (4350 m.) and it takes about three and a half hours. Now the trail ascends gently all the way to Yak Kharka passing through the Gunsang (3960 m.) village. En route, you can see panoramic views all day. 

Overnight local lodge.

Trek from Yak Kharka to ThorongPhedi (4420 m.) which takes about 3 and half hours. Leaving Yak Kharka, you climb gradually to a ridge before descending to the headwaters of the Marsyangdi and crossing via a covered wooden bridge. After a short ascent up the mountain path on the right bank, you follow a narrow trail across an unstable spree slope and then descend to ThorungPhedi. 

Overnight local lodge.

Trek from ThorongPhedi to Muktinath (3850 m.) via Thorong La (5416 m.) Pass and it takes about seven hours. It demands an early start today for your crossing of Thorung La [5416m]. The trail becomes steep immediately on leaving camp but as this trail has been used by local people for hundreds of years, the path is well defined. Then descent to Muktinath is a knee-pounding 1600m but it is compensated for with excellent views of Dhaulagiri. Eventually, the moraines give way to grassy slopes before a pleasant walk along the JhongKhola Valley to Muktinath and its shrines and temple. 

Overnight local lodge.

Trek from ThorongPhedi to Muktinath (3850 m.) via Thorong La (5416 m.) Pass and it takes about seven hours. It demands an early start today for your crossing of Thorung La [5416m]. The trail becomes steep immediately on leaving camp but as this trail has been used by local people for hundreds of years, the path is well defined. Then descent to Muktinath is a knee-pounding 1600m but it is compensated for with excellent views of Dhaulagiri. Eventually, the moraines give way to grassy slopes before a pleasant walk along the JhongKhola Valley to Muktinath and its shrines and temple. 

Overnight local lodge.

Trek from Muktinath to Jomsom (2713 m.) and it takes about three and a half hours. You now begin the trek descent down the dramatic Kali Gandaki Gorge, initially through arid country in the same geographical and climatic zone as Tibet. After passing through Jharkot and Khingar villages with typical Tibetan architecture, you follow path steeply down to Eklebhatti. The trail is windy after late morning. The river flows through a broader course. Jomsom is the headquarter of Mustang and it is split into two towns and between these two towns passes through Kali Gandaki river. There is access to the internet and banking facilities. From Jomsom, you can enjoy the magnificent views of Nilgiri and Tilicho peak. Here you stay overnight at the hotel. 

Overnight local lodge.

Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara which takes about 35 minutes. The flights are available during the morning time. The strong breeze blows during the after and frequent change of the weather prevent the flight being landed and taken off in the afternoon. During the flights in the morning, the sky looks very clear which makes you able to enjoy the splendid views of different mountain peaks.

Overnight in hotel.

After breakfast in the morning, you say goodbye to Pokhara and head back to bustling Kathmandu by car or private bus (There is an option to fly). In the afternoon free day of your own. In the evening we will take you for a farewell dinner with cultural dance.

 Overnight in hotel.

Today we will walk around the local town in Kathmandu to experience the historical, cultural and spiritual affluence to unveil the social and historical mysteries to view the artistic Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour to capture the snaps of the centuries-old monuments and historical crafts in the Kathmandu city. We explore the Local market of Ason, glass beads market at Indrachowk, oldest supermarket at New Road, Kilagal, and Hidden Stupa, etc. Then we walk to Kathmandu Durbar Square. The most unique experience in the square is the visit to the temple of the living goddess “Kumari”. Durbar square walking tour will be a perfect mixture of culture, history, art, architecture and traditional values prevalent in Kathmandu valley. 

Overnight at Hotel.

As per your flight schedule, you will be transferred to the international airport of Kathmandu 3 hours prior to the flight time and your tour ends here.