Nepal's Khumbu Region lies in the shadow of the world's highest peak, Mount Everest (8,848 meters, 29,048 feet). The Khumbu Region is commonly referred to as the "roof of the world". You will not quite reach the "roof of the world", but you will certainly see it.
The Mountains & Monasteries Trek will take us through many spiritual centers of Sherpa Buddhists. We will gain an understanding of the Himalayan Buddhist way of life with the help of a Buddhist monk who will accompany us during the trek. You will be invited to join the rituals, meditations, and chanting practices in the monasteries as well as the daily practices of our Buddhist monk. We will also be assisted by a devote local Sherpa guide, who will act as a translator during our conversations with monks in the 6 Gompas (monasteries) we visit. This exclusive trek focuses on Tibetan Buddhism, and its practices. It is also important to note that this trek includes some of the most beautiful scenery of the Himalayas.
During the trek in the Khumbu Region we will visit many villages and the monasteries of Changma Bhandar, Thupten Choling, Junbesi, Taksindhu, Chewang Sallery, and Phaplu. The trek starts in Jiri, which is 182 km east of Kathmandu. The trail climbs to the village of Chisopani. We will camp in the village of Thodung, where there will be time to visit a local cheese factory. Then, the trail goes through a dense forest of Himlock, Pine, and Oak trees. On the second day of trekking, we will reach a holy place called the Sangay Phuck, where there is a cave with the god Sangay's finger prints. The next famous place is the Thupten Choling Gompa, where many Buddhist monks as well as an incarnation Lama reside. We will also visit Junbesi, a famous Sherpa village of the Khumbu Region. In Junbeshi there is a very old and famous monastery called the Junbeshi Gompa.
In April, there is an annual Drumchi Festival (Lama dance festival) in the Junbeshi Gompa. The Drumchi Festival is observed by the Sherpa Community in Nepal. During this festival, there are tantric dances, initiations, and Nen-seg-phang-sum (the practice of dispelling evil forces). This festival has strong religious significance to Buddhists and it originated in the 16th century. The festival's primary objective is to subdue all evil spirits that harm human beings, which impedes the spread of the Dharma. The festival lasts for 4 days, and it is very exclusive in the sense that it is only practiced in a few monasteries of the world.
After we have visited these famous Buddhist Gompas, the trail continues up to Dhud Kunda. This is a very sacred lake for Hindu pilgrimage, and it is also the highest point of this trek. Many devote people trek to the glacial lake of Dhud Kunda to bathe every August. The lake sits in a remote valley at the base of mountains towering over 20,000 ft. On the way to Phaplu, we will visit the Chiwang Gompa which is located on top of a cliff. A short hike just above the monastery will provide more spectacular views of the peaks in the Everest Region. The trail continues down through more lush forests to the end of the trek in Phalpu. We fly back to Kathmandu from Phalpu.
Click here for the Itinerary – Mountains and Monasteries.