Day 2. October. 14
Arrive in Kathmandu and take a shuttle bus to the Hotel. Afternoon orientation and time to rest. Dinner will be at Bhancha Ghar.
Day 3. October. 15
Early morning guided tour to Pashupatinath, a Shiva temple complex filled with Himalayan yogis and where the last death rites are performed by Brahman Priests alongside the funeral ghats. Lunch at the on the way restaurant
Day 4 October. 16
Early morning visit to the Boudhanath stupa to join hundreds of Buddhist pilgrims circumambulating the stupa. Hanging of prayer flags, followed by a visit to Sechen Monastery and morning meditation alongside monks.
Day 5. October. 17
Early morning flight to Phaplu in the Solu Khumbhu region.
There will be a tour local guide staff through the village hospital. We will then walk to Salarie village for a visit with our Sherpa friends to learn about the Sherpa culture. We will spend the night at a traditional Sherpa Hotel.
Day 6. October. 18
Three hour walk through Rhododendron forests to Ratna Giri at 4000m in hopes of viewing Chomolungmo (Mt. Everest), Lhotse, Nupste and the extending Himalayan mountain range. Breakfast and Morning meditation. Return to Phaplu for relaxation, journal writing and a poetry reading followed by a traditional Sherpa dinner.
Day 7. October. 19
Depart Phaplu and walk 4 hours to Jumbese at 2600m, home to the heart of Sherpa culture. Jumbese is the seat of traditional Sherpa architecture.
Overnight at traditional Sherpa inn.
Day 8. October. 20
Visit the meditation retreat of Lama Tenzing overlooking the Jumbese valley.
Walk two hours to Thupten Choling at 2800m. Visit with the 85 years - old Trulsghik Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama’s senior meditation teacher, considered the reincarnation of Ananda, Buddha’s disciple who performs the Mani Rimdu.
Day 9. October. 21.
Early morning meditation at Thupten Choling monastery.
Treatment of elderly nuns at the Tibetan medical clinic.
The afternoon is free to visit with Buddhist nuns.
Day 10. October. 22. Wong (blessings)
Early departure with a three hour walk to Chiwong Monastery. Establish camp and hang prayer flags. Afternoon Buddhist teaching at Chiwong Monastery. Mani Rimdu begins.
Day 11. October. 23. Chham (masked dance)
Audience with either Trulshig or Sangsang Rimpoche. Cham Festival dances and traditional Sherpa dancing. Mani Rimdu.
Day 12. October. 24 Jhinsak (fire offerings)
Fire Puja at Chiwong Monastery. Destruction of sand mandala.
Day 13. October 25 Lokpar (destruction of the sand mandala)
Early morning walk with monks to the sacred spring to disperse the sand mandala.
Breakfast, followed by a forest walk to Phaplu. Camp behind Hotel del Sherpa.
Day 14. October. 26.
10:45a.m. Flight to Kathmandu. Afternoon free for shopping. Group dinner.
Day 15. October. 27
Depart Kathmandu for the onward destination.. |
