The Dumji Festival Trek is a introduction level trek to the village of Junbesi. The Dumji festival is a Sherpa festival that celebrates the birth of Guru Rinpoche on a lotus flower. It is celebrated by the Sherpa community of Helambu and Khumbu with masked dances by monks, drinking and merry making along with other rituals.
Our 9-day Dumji festival trek offers a combination of natural beauty, culture and adventure in Junbesi, a beautiful Solukhumbu Valley which is also home both to my people (the Sherpa) and the highest peak in the world, Everest.
The trek starts with a 35 minutes flight from Kathmandu to Paphlu. The scenic flight offers an awe-inspiring view of the Himalaya range, including Everest, Lhotse, Nupse, Kantiga. You will get to experience the culture and hospitality as you trek further up the valley through the small villages of Junbesi, Phurteng and Pankarma to Phougmuche. The majesty of the Himalayas is evident each day as you hike through a rich variety of flora and fauna. During the Dumji festival trek in late April/early May, rhododendrons in full bloom and the skies are clear.
The highlight of the trek is the Dumji festival, where you will spend a full day and two nights joining in with the festivities and/or undertaking short walks into the neighboring valley as the mood takes. Another highlight is visiting the Thuptenchholing Monastery (one of the largest Tibetan refugee camp in the Solukhumbu region). Finally, a you will hike to Phaplu for your return flight to Kathmandu.
I was born and brought up in the Junbesi village. As such, I would be honored to introduce you to my village and way of life while you travel as part of my extended family on the 9-day Dumji festival trek. If you are interested in more Buddhist festivals, we suggest you check out the Tiji festival celebrated in the forbidden kingdom of Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang, and the horse riding Yartung Festival celebrated at Ranipauwa in Lower Mustang.
Our representative will pick you up at Kathmandu International Airport and drive you to your hotel. Depending upon what time you arrive, you can enjoy a full day at leisure. In the evening, we will meet for a welcome dinner with Keep Walking Nepal family.
Look out for the KEEP WALKING NEPAL board behind the railing once you exit the airport terminal.
You will embark on a guided tour of two UNESCO world heritage sites; Pashupatinath Temple, the temple devoted to Lord Shiva – the god of creation and destruction, and Boudhanath Stupa – a Buddhist shrine worshipped by Hindus & Buddhists alike.
In the afternoon, your trek guide will brief you about the upcoming days and preparation requirements.
After breakfast, you will fly to Phaplu and then drive to the quaint little village of Junbesi. The drive along the Dudh Koshi river valleys is scenic.
Once at Junbesi, you can visit the Thashi Thongmo Gompa founded in the 16th century and explore the village. The monastery buildings were destroyed several times by fire in 2007 but has been repaired and painted with vivid colors.
Experience the culture of the Sherpas like never before.
During the 2 days of the festival, you will enjoy morning excursions and side trips to Selo and Thupthen Choling Monastery, and afternoon revelries. As the Dumji festival is celebrated to prevent misfortunes and promote peace and prosperity in the village, merrymaking, drinking and traditional Sherpa dances are part of the retinue.
Today, you will hike to the Phurteng view to catch a glimpse of Everest.
The trail starts just beyond the Junbesi village. After crossing over a bride, you will take the higher trail used mainly by locals and yaks to the beautiful rest spot of Phurteng. This trail was once part of the great Himalayan Expeditions that started all the way from Kathmandu but now has fallen in oblivion.
After some pictures and lunch, you will backtrack to Junbesi.
Instead of driving out, you will hike through the Dudh Koshi valleys to Phaplu.
You will fly back to Kathmandu on a late morning/early afternoon flight.
The rest of the day will be at leisure for you to explore the city.
A KWN representative will accompany you to the Tribhuwan International Airport for your flight back home.
Since the festival dates have a fixed window, we accept only a limited number of travelers on the trip. We suggest interested visitor pre-book the trip at least a few months before the start date.
Here is a list of what you might want to pack for the hike. Please take this as a starting point. You’ll need layers of warmer clothing during the winter. We provide a 75 liter duffel bag for you to use for the trek. It will be given to you during your pre-trip meeting in Kathmandu. The duffle bag is yours to keep. Also, you can rent sleeping bag and down jacket with us at the additional fee of USD 35 for each once you are in Kathmandu.
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