Festival Trekking

An essential part of life in Nepal are the many festivals throughout the year. Any time of the year you visit Nepal, you can be sure of being arriving for one or more of these special events. Festivals can offer the visitor a valuable opportunity to gain insight into various aspects of Nepalese culture and have fun doing it! 

There are both religious and national holidays and they each follow a slightly different calendar. While the national festivals have fixed dates, religious festivals are set by astrologers following the lunar calendar.
Nepal is as rich in cultural heritage and religious traditions as it is in soaring mountains and sparkling glaciers. There are more than 50 festivals celebrated in Nepal each year. Every festival is celebrated with the same fervor as you might have found hundreds of years ago. The Nepalese take their festivals seriously, but these are not somber events, rather the Nepalese enjoy the celebration of each festival and holiday with joy and delight. These celebrations weave together to create a rich tapestry that is the living legacy of the many people of Nepal. Celebrating festivals effectively unites people of diverse cultural backgrounds. It is not uncommon to have traditional Hindu and Buddhist festivals leapfrogging throughout the year peppered by national holidays. This cohabitation is seen everywhere in Nepal as religions coexist side by side in daily life. 

Many tourists are starting to center their travels on/around some of these festivals. Combining a trek with a festival is fast becoming more in demand. These festivals attract many western tourists and hotels and flights are sold out months in advance to organized vacation groups. For the Buddhists pilgrims, the Mani Rimdu and Dumji festivals trek in the Everest region. The Tiji festival trek is in Mustang and has become very popular recently. Buddhist festival treks in Nepal will reward you with the chance of observing and often participating in real Tibetan Buddhist religious holidays. You will witness first-hand the culture, art, and music associated with these various celebrations. One can only imagine trekking to a breathtaking view of the mountains only to be greeted by happy local participants gaily dressed in traditional costumes living their ancient traditions. Anyone wishing to visit Nepal during these fascinating festivals should plan and make their tour preparations well in advance. Come to feel the heartbeat of a rich cultural heritage that is unique to Nepal.