Yartung Festival Tour-12 Days

Trip Facts

Duration 12 Days
Max. Altitude: 3,800m
Group size 8 Persons
Best Season August
Trip Mode Lodge
Activity Festival Tour
DIFFICULTY Moderate
LOCATION Mustang
Start/End Kathmandu,Nepal

Trip Highlights

  • Once in a lifetime experience of Yartung Festival in the Mustang Region
  • Visiting the Muktinath Temple, Bonpo Gompa in Lupra and other places of interest
  • Majestic view of Mt. Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri, traditional and old fashioned villages
  • Boating on the famous Bengas lake with views of Annapurna & Machhapuchhre

Overview

The Mustang region is a Tibetan enclave in Nepal which has been accessible to trekkers only since the nineties. The region’s barren and desolate mountainous landscape inspire awe in travelers. Add Yartung Festival Tour (Yartung Mela) to the mix and another dimension is added to the experience.

The Yartung festival, also called Yartung Mela, is celebrated by the Thakali people during the August full moon. During this time the fields add a touch of color to the landscape and creates a picturesque scene. In the local dialect Yartung means the end of summer and Mela means a festival, so Yartung Mela is the festival to send the summer away. The festival lasts for three days and is marked by dancing, singing and horse racing. The royal rites are performed on the first day, followed by the monks’ rites on the second and the local rites on the third day.

The festival is important for both Hindus and Buddhists. The Yartung Mela festival falls on the same day as the Hindu festival; Janai Purnima. Hindu pilgrims from Nepal and beyond visit the Muktinath temple to bath in the temple’s 108 waterspouts while Buddhists pilgrims make offerings to Buddha for winter’s arrival.

Our 12-day Yartung Festival Tour is ideal for families of all age. The tour only has 3 days of walking: about 4-5 hours per day. And if you have children, we can arrange for a 4×4 drive at an additional cost. The festival also offers great opportunities for photography. It is a unique trip only found in the trans-Himalayan region of Nepal & Tibet.

Yartung Festival Dates in 2024

The Yartung Festival in 2025 isn’t confirmed yet. Please bookmark this page and check regularly for exact dates of Yartung Festival Tour.

If you are interested in other festival tours, check out our 15-day Tiji Festival Tour and 9-day Dumji Festival Trek.

Itinerary

Arriving in Kathmandu is an exciting and memorable experience, the panoramic view of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas will immediately present itself to your sight

Upon arrival at the airport, a KWN representative will pick you up and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Depending upon your arrival time, you can either rest or visit the sights of the city. In the evening, you will go on a welcome dinner with KWN family.

Accommodation Overnight at Hotel
Meal Dinner

After breakfast we will experience the three most important sanctuaries of the Kathmandu Valley: Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath.

The Pashupatinath cremation site in the northeast of the city is one of the most important Hindu shrines. The sacred Bagmati River divides the temple complex into two large areas. On the right bank there are cremation sites and the impressive Pashupathinath Temple, which non-Hindus are not allowed to enter.

From here we reach Boudhanath after a short drive. With its 40 meters, the Buddhist Stupa is the largest sacred building of its kind in the entire valley and a great attraction for the numerous Buddhist pilgrims.

At Swayambhunath we visit the second important Buddhist Stupa. Imposing on a hill, there is an impressive view of the Kathmandu Valley and, in clear weather, of the snow-capped ice giants of the Himalayas.

On this day, we will arrange all the permits required to visit Mustang.

Accommodation Overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu
Meal Breakfast

Today is an exciting day as you leave Kathmandu for the Yartung Festival.

A 30 minute flight will bring you to the beautiful lake city of Pokhara. After check in at the hotel you will start the guided tour of Pokhara valley.

There are many interesting places to visit like the International Mountain Museum, dedicated to Nepalese peaks, climbers and locals. Inside, you will find the original equipment of the first climbs of the Himalayas, as well as exhibits on the history, culture, geology, fauna and flora of the region.

Another interesting place is the Barahi temple which is located on a tiny island on the Phewa Lake. A short boat ride with the Himalayas reflected on the lake on a clear day and you reach the Barahui Temple.

The tour then lets you discover Tibetan culture in one of the former refugee camps set up by the UNHCR (High Commission for Refugees). Indeed, in the fifties, many Tibetans took refuge in different regions of Nepal. There are four camps in Pokhara. Each has become a small village where the culture, traditions and way of life of Tibet are perpetuated.

Accommodation Overnight at Hotel in Pokhara
Meal Breakfast

Your Himalayan adventure begins today.

After breakfast you will fly to Jomsom, the gateway to the fabled kingdom of Mustang, on an early morning scenic flight. In clear weather, the Himalayas open up – Dhaulagiri, Annapurna massif, Nilgiri and Manaslu.

Once at Jomsom, we recommend a short 1-hour hike to Dhumba lake – a small yet pristine emerald, green lake located at the foot of Nilgiri. If you are up for a bit of hiking, you can hike all the way to Kutsab Teranga Gumba and visit Thini Gaon and its monastery on your way back.

Alternatively, you can backtrack to Jomsom after hiking to Dhumba lake and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation Overnight at local lodge
Meal Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Another adventurous day on the trail, you will drive to Kagbeni. Even though it’s about 12.5 km from Jomsom to Kagbeni, the mountains “roads” hardly qualify as such. The route meanders along the Kali Gandaki river, and at times on the riverbed.

After exploring the city, gompas and shrines, you will continue on a much better road to Ranipauwa village.

Accommodation Overnight at local lodge
Meal Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early in the morning you will first visit the goddess of the flame; Jwala Mai, then on wards to Muktinath to offer prayers and then the Nursing Monastery to light butter lamps. The morning goes by with religious rites.

The first day of the Yartung festival is celebrated with much fervor. The procession from Jharkot village is headed by the heir to its ancient royal family of Mustang. One man from each family heads to Muktinath temple on horseback and the procession eventually congregates at Ranipauwa.

Accommodation Overnight at local lodge
Meal Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On the second day of the festival, villagers from the surroundings converge towards the walled city to “commune” together with the monks of Choedde who organize the ceremonies. Unlike the first day when the procession is led by the king, the queen leads the procession followed by the local women.

Accommodation Overnight at local lodge
Meal Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The last of the festival is marked by lamas blessing the city, masked dances and prayers. After the festival ends, you will drive back to Jomsom via Kagbeni.

Accommodation Overnight at local lodge
Meal Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You will fly back to Pokhara on an early morning flight. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore the city of lakes.

Accommodation Overnight at lakeside hotel in Pokhara
Meal Breakfast

Today you will visit the famous Begnas lake and the adjoining Rupa Lake.

Begnas lake is only 40 minutes’ drive from Pokahra. Once at Begnas, you will start the journey with a pleasant boating across the lake a boat ride across the lake and ascend along the Sundari Danda ridge to Pachbhaiya. After lunch, we recommend a short hike to Rupa Lake and back.

Accommodation Overnight at homestay in Pachbhaya
Meal Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

After spending the morning leisurely, you will drive back to Pokhara airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation Overnight at Hotel Tibet
Meal Breakfast

Keep Walking Nepal’s representative will drive you back to the Kathmandu international airport for your flight back home.

Cost Includes

  • Airport pick up and drop
  • Full day Kathmandu sightseeing with tour guide
  • 3 night hotel in Tibet Kathmandu on BB
  • 3-night hotel in Pokhara on BB
  • All local transportation as per as itinerary
  • Airfare Kathmandu – Pokhara -Kathmandu
  • Airfare Pokhara – Jomsom – Pokhara
  • Sightseeing in Pokhara
  • Trek permit and national park fee
  • Food and accommodation during the trek
  • Sleeping Bag, down jacket and kit bag
  • Guide and porter
  • Staff insurance

Cost Excludes

  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
  • Visa fee
  • Travel insurance
  • Any kind of alcoholic drinks, bottled drinking water, cold drinks, laundry,phone call
  • Tips for guide and driver
  • Emergency rescue

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