Yartung Festival

ཡར་རྟུང

View on map
Sports & AdventureMustang/Manang
DatesDates TBA · Usually AugustCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCompetition, enduranceYartung brings together several distinct
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: NPR
CategorySports & AdventureFestival type
The story

Yartung Festival in Mustang/Manang

Yartung is a horse-racing and community festival celebrated around the August full moon across Mustang and Manang, particularly at Muktinath and in Manang villages, marking the end of the summer farming season. The festival combines horse races and archery with feasting, dancing and family gatherings among the Thakali, Gurung, Manangi and other communities of the region.

Mustang and Manang, the high, arid districts north of the Annapurna range along Nepal's border with Tibet, have long depended on trans-Himalayan trade, herding and horsemanship for survival in a landscape too dry and high for conventional farming to sustain communities alone.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Yartung brings together several distinct ethnic communities of the trans-Himalayan Mustang and Manang region, Thakali, Gurung, Manangi and others, around a shared seasonal celebration rather than a single ethnic or sectarian identity, giving the festival a broadly regional rather than narrowly community-specific character

02

The mystery stays covered

Horse racing and archery, skills historically tied to trade caravans and the pastoral, high-altitude lifestyle of the region, form the festival's public centerpiece, staged on open ground near Muktinath or in Manang's villages and drawing spectators from across the district

03

The city starts moving

Because Mustang and Manang sit along historic trans-Himalayan trade and trekking routes, Yartung often coincides with a period when trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit or in the Mustang region pass directly through festival areas

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Horse riding and racing carry historic significance in Mustang and Manang as skills once essential to the region's trans-Himalayan trade caravans

Water and renewal

Living ritual

and Yartung's races are understood locally as both a competitive sporting event and a celebration of that pastoral and trading heritage

The sacred route

Living ritual

The festival's timing at the close of the summer farming season ties it to a harvest-adjacent thanksgiving function shared broadly with other seasonal festivals across Nepal's mountain communities

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually August

Getting around

For Yartung Festival, plan transport around the exact Mustang/Manang venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Warm layers are advisable even in August given the high-altitude setting of Mustang and Manang. Traditional dress is worn by many local participants, though visitors can attend in...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For Yartung Festival, stay near the part of Mustang/Manang you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

NPR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map27.70 N, 85.32 EOpen in Google Maps

Mustang/Manang, Gandaki Province, Nepal

Nearest airportPHH — Pokhara
TransportFor Yartung Festival, plan transport around the exact Mustang/Manang venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Yartung Festival, stay near the part of Mustang/Manang you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Mustang/Manang via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Mustang/Manang, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for August.Compare faresFestival gearWarm layers are advisable even in August given the high-altitude setting of Mustang and Manang. Traditional dress is worn by many local participants, though visitors can attend in comfortable, practical trekking clothing.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Nepal and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Yartung Festival?

Yartung Festival is listed for August · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Yartung Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Mustang/Manang, Nepal. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Mustang/Manang, Gandaki Province, Nepal

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLhwwtreks.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually August
Source statusOfficial source linked
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