You hear everybody say the same three things about Dashain: families fly kites, elders give tika, and buses get crowded. True ! But none of them mentions what it actually feels like to spend Nawami and Tika day in a specific local community on the way to the trailhead. This is that story: three days built entirely around Dashain in Tandrang village, Gorkha District, followed by the classic Manaslu Circuit itinerary all the way to Besisahar.
Why Combine the Manaslu Trek with Dashain?
Dashain is the longest and most important festival in Nepal, which also takes place right when Autumn starts. Since it falls during the peak trekking season, we’ve added a special twist to your favorite trek, celebrating Dashain together with a local community before heading into the mountains.
The fifteen days festival is built around family reunions, the goddess Durga, and the blessing of tika and jamara from elders. Trek during this window isn’t just walking through mountain scenery, you walk through village life at its fullest. Swings (linge ping) rigged up on bamboo poles, homes freshly painted, and communities that are usually quiet during trekking season suddenly alive with visiting relatives are the main attraction.
By signing up on this trek, you will spend two full days in one village, Nawami and Tika. You will be in the hometown of our team members, celebrate three days like a family and start trekking the next day.
Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tandrang Village Itinerary
Day 1: Kathmandu to Tandrang Village
Date: October 19, 2026
Mornings around Dashain are genuinely one of the busiest travel windows of the year. The drive out of Kathmandu toward Gorkha District follows the same road thousands of Nepalis take home for the festival.
The route takes us through the Trishuli valley before climbing into the terraced hills of Gorkha, with Ganesh Himal. Mt Manaslu itself is visible in the distance during the clear weather. Tandrang sits above the Budhi Gandaki valley, a beautiful local settlement most trekkers pass through in an hour on their way to Machha Khola. We will spend the afternoon exploring the village where people are already geared up for the last remaining works.
Day 2: Explore the Village and Visit the Temple for Nawami
Date: October 20, 2026
Our day two of the trip lies in Nawami, the ninth day of Dashain. Tandrang is home to a small Tndrang Kot temple, and on this day the village holds its own local fair around it, special worship is offered to the goddess, and, depending on the year and household, animal sacrifice as part of the ritual observance.
Away from the temple, the rest of the village is just as alive: courtyards filled with visiting relatives, bamboo swings going up, and kitchens turning out sel roti and festival meat dishes. We will spend the day moving between the temple fair and the village itself rather than rushing. This is the day Tandrang shows its Dashain character most fully.
Day 3: Dashami, Tika Day
Date: October 21, 2026
Bijaya Dashami, the tenth day, is the heart of the festival. If you're staying with a local family or lodge owner, you're likely to be invited to receive tika and jamara yourself. Jamara is a mix of rice, yogurt, and vermillion on the forehead, and blessed barley shoots, given with a wish for long life.
Elders bless younger family members first, and the exchange carries on through the day as relatives move between households. It's a good day to sit with your hosts, accept what's offered, and let the village set the pace entirely. There's no better introduction to Dashain than watching it unfold inside a single community rather than passing through several.
Day 4 Onward: The Classic Manaslu Circuit Route
From Tandrang, the standard Manaslu Circuit itinerary takes over. (Link to our full Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary here.)
|
Day |
Route |
Altitude |
Duration |
|
4 |
Tandrang to Machha Khola (local bus), trek on to Khorla Besi |
1,340 m |
3-4 hours |
|
5 |
Khorla Besi to Jagat |
1,410 m |
6-7 hours |
|
6 |
Jagat to Deng |
1,800 m |
6-7 hours |
|
7 |
Deng to Namrung |
2,660 m |
6-7 hours |
|
8 |
Namrung to Sama Gaun |
3,500 m |
5-6 hours |
|
9 |
Rest day in Sama Gaun, explore to Manaslu Base Camp or Pungyen Gumba |
4,600 m |
5-9 hours |
|
10 |
Sama Gaun to Samdo |
3,860 m |
5-6 hours |
|
11 |
Samdo to Dharamsala |
4,460 m |
4-5 hours |
|
12 |
Dharamsala to Bhimtang via Larkya La Pass |
5,160 m (Pass) |
8-9 hours |
|
13 |
Bhimtang to Tilije |
2,300 m |
4-5 hours |
|
14 |
Tilije to Tal |
- |
5-6 hours |
|
15 |
Tal to Besisahar, drive back to Kathmandu or Pokhara |
- |
7-8 hours |
Having Dashain already behind you means the trek proper starts unhurried. You'll also likely notice the festival afterglow continuing in the villages you pass through over the following days. People get busy in life and return to the city areas, but the swings are still standing, and tika marks are still visible on the foreheads of porters and lodge owners you meet along the trail.
Practical Tips for Trekking During Dashain
- Book transport early. Roads out of Kathmandu are at their most congested in the days before Tika, as an estimated two million people travel home for the festival. So, if you are planning to book a guide-only service, you need to book the transport early. You can also request your guide to book.
- Confirm permits before you leave. Government offices run on reduced hours during the festival period, so arrange RAP, MCAP, and ACAP permits in Kathmandu ahead of time.
- Expect quieter lodges, not closed ones. Teahouses along the Manaslu route stay open through Dashain, though owners and guides may be splitting time between hosting you and celebrating with family.
- Ask before joining rituals. A genuine interest in the tika and jamara ceremony is almost always welcomed. However, it's a family moment first, so let your hosts extend the invitation.
Trekking Manaslu around Dashain isn't a scheduling compromise, spend Nawami and Tika in a village like Tandrang and it becomes the reason to time the trip this way in the first place.
FAQs
Q1: What is the Manaslu Trek with Dashain Festival itinerary?
A: It's a 15-day trip that starts with three days in Tandrang village to experience Dashain followed by the standard 12-day Manaslu Circuit route from Machha Khola to Besisahar via Larkya La Pass.
Q2: Is this the same route I use for standard Manaslu Circuit Trek?
A: Yes. Machha Khola is the standard roadhead for the Manaslu Circuit, but it isn't set up for a multi-day festival stay. Tandrang is close enough to the route to add only one extra travel day, while offering a real village experience. We will return back to Machha Khola again and follow the standard Manaslu Circuit Trek thereafter.
Q3: What is Nawami, and what happens in Tandrang on that day?
A: Nawami is the ninth day of Dashain. In Tandrang, it's marked by a local fair at the village's Tripura temple, including worship of the goddess and, depending on the household, animal sacrifice as part of the ritual.
Q4: Is it respectful for a trekker to join Dashain rituals as an outsider?
A: Yes, as long as it's on the community terms. Showing genuine interest in the temple fair or the tika ceremony is welcomed. However, tika-giving is a family moment first, so you have to wait to be invited by your host.
Q5: Is the Manaslu region open and accessible during Dashain?
A: Yes. Teahouses and lodges along the route stay open through the festival, though don't be surprised if owners and guides are splitting their time between hosting trekkers and celebrating with their own families.
Q6: Do I need to book transport and permits earlier than usual for a Dashain-timed trek?
A: Yes. Roads in Kathmandu are at their most congested in the days before Tika. So booking jeeps or buses well ahead is very important. It's also worth confirming your RAP, MCAP, and ACAP permits early, since government offices run reduced hours during the holiday.
Q7: What permits are required for the Manaslu Circuit Trek?
A: Three permits are required: the Restricted Area Permit (RAP), the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), since the route passes through the Annapurna Conservation Area near the end.
Q8: Can I still do the Manaslu Circuit if I miss the Dashain dates?
A: Yes, the Tandrang celebration is an optional add-on to the standard itinerary, not a requirement. Outside the festival window, you'd simply follow the classic route starting from Machha Khola without the three-day village stay.
Q9: What is the best time of year to combine the Manaslu Trek with Dashain?
A: Dashain falls in September or October depending onw the lunar calendar, which places it right at the start of Nepal's autumn trekking season. Generally the festival lies in the most stable weather window for the Manaslu Circuit, with clear mountain views and moderate temperatures.