Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek
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- Activities
- Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek
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- Max Elevation
- 3,820/12530ft at Dhakmar
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- Trip Duration
- 18 Days
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- Trip Grade
- Easy to Moderate
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- Lodging
- Eco Lodges
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- Meals
- Full Board on Trek & BB Plan on City
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- Transportation
- Private vehicle & flight
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- Communication
- Yes
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- Group Size
- Minimum 2
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- Best Season
- May Day 09, 10 & 11
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- Per Day Walk
- Approx. 4 - 7 hours
Trip Highlights of Upper Mustang Tiji Festival:
- Explore and observe the Tiji festival in Lo Manthang – Kingdom of Upper Mustang
- Enjoy a combination of a cultural and natural experience
- Experience high desert mountain landscapes
- Trek in Nepal Hidden Panorama of Annapurna-Dhaulagiri Himalayan range.
Trip Introduction:
Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek in Nepal – The word Tiji is derived from the word “Ten Che” it means the hope of Buddha religion prevailing in all words. The three-day Tiji festival is ritually known as “The Chasing of the Demons” is based on mythological legends. During the festival, Tiji tells the story of the immortal “Dorje Jono” who was responsible to fight against his evil father and saving the kingdom of Mustang – Lo Manthang.
The land Upper Mustang is very dry land and the Demon Father created a critical situation by creating water shortage, which made it a very difficult situation to live in. Legend assumes that Dorje Jono used his supreme power against the devastating devil and banished him from that kingdom which was not possible by any other human beings. The festival is celebrated in the spring season, generally in the month of May, which is the end of the dry season.
Michele Peissel was the first foreigner who observed Tiji festival in 1964.
Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek in Nepal with Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition designed to explore and observe the unique culture, tradition, and lifestyle of remote and mysterious land Upper Mustang – Lo Manthang. Trek starts after a short and scenic flight from Pokhara to Jomsom.
Upper Mustang Widely is popular for its mysterious attraction where the wide range of monasteries, caves, archaeological inscriptions, ancient gompas, and amazing landscape can be observed and explored. The trail follows the world’s deepest George – Kali Gandaki, numerous numbers of villages, forests with views of the entire Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massif until reaching the former capital of Upper Mustang Lo Manthang.
The festival functions with a religious ceremony that reflects empowerment of strength and harmony between all devotees. The king of Lo Manthang keeps the main role and the festival celebrates with the performance of music and dance by monks. The king of Lo Manthang keeps the main role and the festival celebrates with the performance of music and dance by monks.
After exploring the 3 days of Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek in Nepal our return journey goes to Dhakmar, Syangboche, Chhusang, Muktinath then finally to Jomsom and fly back to Pokhara.
Please Visit: Essential Tools & Gear for Trekking
- Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel
Our representative from Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport on your arrival schedule. You will be greeted and then transferred to the hotel in Kathmandu city. Our staff will help you until the check-in procedure ends at Hotel. You can either have a rest at the Hotel or visit NGT’s office for gathering additional information about the trip. In the evening, join our welcome dinner program organized by Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition.
Accommodation: Hotel/Resort
Meals: BB Plan + Welcome Dinner - Day 02: Sightseeing around the world heritage sites in Kathmandu
Click here for detailed info about World Heritage Sites’ of UNESCO in Nepal.
We will spend a day sightseeing around some of the attractive world heritage sites of UNESCO within Kathmandu valley. Also, today we will complete all the necessary paper works and other preparations required for Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek.
Note: It is not possible to visit all world heritage sites in Kathmandu within a day. So you can choose at least 3-4 places for day sightseeing.Accommodation: Hotel/Resort
Meals: BB Plan - Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara [820m/2689ft] [5 Hrs Drive]
Be sure your backpacks with all the essential stuff are ready with you. Your guide with a private vehicle will be at your hotel to pick you up for a drive to Pokhara which takes around five-hour drive over Prithivi Highway. Today’s drive is over a scenic zigzag hilly highway that follows Trishuli River Bankside with amazing scenery of landscapes, green hills, and beautiful roadside villages. Pokhara is a beautiful city surrounded by pristine lakes; Fewa, Begnas, and Rupa. Comparatively, it is less hectic than the Kathmandu valley. Dinner and overnight stay at Lakeside Pokhara.
Accommodation: Hotel/Resort
Meals: BB Plan - Day 04: Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom [2800m/9184ft] and Trek to Kagbeni [2810m/7150ft] [25 min flight & 3-4 hrs Trek]
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to have an early morning flight to Jomsom. The short and scenic flight offers an amazing experience of flying overworlds popular Annapurna and Fishtail (Machhapuchre) mountain range, can have close views of the massif. After we land at the small airstrip of Jomsom, we will be ready to get started our walking journey towards Kagbeni. Kagbeni is an amazing valley which is made by the world’s deepest Kali Gandaki gorge. Along the route, we follow narrow flagstone used trails, explore flat-roofed houses, landscapes and terraces before reach at the bottom of the valley. At Kagbeni, there is an Annapurna Conservation Area Project’s (ACAP) office where we have to register our trekking permits before heading towards Upper Mustang.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner] - Day 05: Trek from Kagbeni to Chele [3080m/10102ft] [5-6 hrs Trek]
After breakfast, we will leave Kagbeni following the trail that goes via an east bank of Kali Gandaki Valley often traversing steep slopes with loose rocks. After a couple of hours, we will reach a small hamlet of Tengbe village then to another charming village of Chuksang. Chuksang is a place where the valley ends at a narrow canyon. Again continue our route additional meditation cliffs above from us. Along the route, we can have a fantastic view of Nilgiri and Tilicho peak. Follow our trail through the bank of Kali Gandaki to reach Chele.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner] - Day 06: Trek from Chele to Ghiling [3570m/11709ft] [7-8 hrs Trek]
Today we leave Chele and follow the trail that enters to a tiny grassy basin. Then we continue our trek following gradual ascends before reach at a minor pass – Dorje La 3735 meters above from sea level. From the pass, we can have beautiful scenery of snow-capped high mountains. From there, our trail goes steeply down towards a charming village of Samar. Passing through Samar we descend through a long watercourse before making ascend towards another minor pass of Bhena La at 3838m. Another short descent followed by another ascends brings us to the third pass of this day at Yamada La Pass 3860m. Followed by short ascends and descends we pass across an enormous stupa at Chhungar and continue our short downhill walk to reach flat-bottomed valley at Gheling Village.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner] - Day 07: Trek from Ghiling to Charang [3560m/11676ft] [6-7 hrs Trek]
After breakfast, we leave Ghiling and trek towards Charang. In the beginning, we will steeply climb a hillside before reaching a scenic pass of Nyi La Pass at 4025 meters. From the top, we can have great views of Annapurna range and Dhaulagiri Himal just behind us. After spending some quality time at the pass, our trail descends gradually towards the village of Ghami. Our further trekking is a descend journey through slippery and rough trail towards a small bridge over Ghami Khola. After crossing the bridge, we will follow uphill through one of the longest mani walls in Mustang until up to Charang La Pass at 3870m. From the top, we will gradually descend for an hour to reach a village of Charang.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner] - Day 08: Trek from Charang to Lo Manthang [3810m/12496ft] [4-5 hrs Trek]
Leaving Charang we continue our trekking adventure by following the trail that heads downhill towards Charang Khola before crossing a suspension bridge over the Charang Khola. Right after crossing the bridge, we will immediately start following a gradual ascend journey towards Lo La pass at 3950 meters. From the top of the pass, we will have great views of snowcapped Himalayas as well as Lo Manthang valley. From there, we make a short and scenic downhill walk until reach at the mysterious kingdom of Upper Mustang at Lo Manthang which is the exact place for Tiji Festival celebration.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner] - Day 09, 10 & 11: Tiji Festival Upper Mustang Lo Manthang - Observe and Explore
During our three days Tiji Festival celebration, we observe the functions such as special dances performed by local Buddhist monks. The highlight of Tiji Festival includes a horse racing and a giant tug of war. All locals will wear decorated traditional clothes, colourful jewellery while performing dances to extend the vivid chain of their equality. We also enjoy a colourful ceremony performed with the world’s rare dancing by Tibetan Lamas. We can see many people from different villages in the region gathering to celebrate the festival together since it is a great festival in the Mustang region. In our last day (third day) of our stay at Lo Manthang, we will visit around the surroundings including a hike up to Namgyal Gompa, which is a popular monastery that lies on top of the hill. While making our stay worthy, we can also head to excursion around Tingkhar which is the last village settlement of Lo Manthang located at the northwest direction from centre Lo Manthang.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner] - Day 12: Trek from Lo Manthang to Ghami [3490m/11447ft] [5-6 hrs Trek]
After breakfast, we prepare for our return journey of Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek. Our trek continues on the highland route, crossing alpine meadows before dropping down a steep eroded valley to Dhakmar for lunch. After having lunch at Dhakmar we continue to walk passing through the beautiful valley, climb to a ridge and descend from there to finally arrive at Ghami.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner] - Day 13: Trek from Ghami to Chuksang [2900m/9512ft] [5-6 hrs Trek]
After breakfast, we leave Ghami to follow the path towards Chusang. We follow the trek through a wide and gentle trail with some ascends and descends. The trail passes through the desert like places though you can see some small thorny bushes. The trail continues to follow the river bank side then make a gradual ascend right after crossing the bridge over Kali Gandaki River to reach Chuksang.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner] - Day 14: Trek from Chuksang to Muktinath [3800m/12467ft] [6-7 hrs Trek]
We continue to trek by gently ascending over a winding path that passes through almost desert-like places. On the way, we can see at a distance some agricultural fields, apple orchard, and some human settlements. You can enjoy the beautiful deserted landscape, Caves, Old Tibetan Style Villages, apple Garden, Yaks Herds, Sheep Herds as we approach straight up to the Muktinath. The Monastery is believed to be built in the 15th century – walk about twenty minutes to Muktinath Temple, where you can enjoy a holy bath of 108 Taps, Visit Monastery, Natural flaming and Hindus Temple. The people of Muktinath are close to the lifestyle, culture, religion and idea of Tibetan people.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner] - Day 15: Trek from Muktinath to Jomsom [5-6 hrs Trek]
After breakfast, we start our last day of Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek towards Jomsom. It is considered as an easy and scenic trekking day. The trail gradually ascends to Eklebhati at Kali Gandaki River valley; walk another two hours along the wide sandy and windy valley. The way splits between two hills. Continue our gradual descend walk until we reach Jomsom. We will celebrate the completion of the trek with the crew in the evening.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner] - Day 16: Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara [25 min flight] - Full day leisure activity in Pokhara
The flights are available during the morning time. The strong breeze blows during the after and frequent change of the weather prevent the flight being landed and taken off in the afternoon. During the flights in the morning, the sky looks very clear which makes you able to enjoy the splendid views of different mountain peaks. After landing at Pokhara, enjoy your leisure time. Boating at Fewa lake or walking around the streets of Pokhara could be a nice way to spend leisure time in Pokhara.
Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner] - Day 17: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu [5-6 hrs Drive]
Today we will take a drive from Pokhara back to Kathmandu that takes approximately four to five hours drive journey. We drive along Prithvi Highway which offers scenic hilly zigzag roads through the banks of Trishuli River. The daily activities of the local people can be seen along the road when we pass through several roadside villages and towns. You will be transferred to the hotel after reaching Kathmandu. Feel free to stroll around the shopping streets of Thamel. In the evening we will celebrate the completion of Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trekking and have a final meal together.
Accommodation: Hotel/Resort
Meals: BB Plan + Farewell Dinner - Day 18: : International Departure as per your flight schedule.
Our representative will drop you at the International Airport as per your flight schedule.
- 4 nights stay in Kathmandu & 2 Nights stay in Pokhara with BB Plan
- All land transportation by private vehicle including airport arrival and departure transfer
- Sightseeing Tour in Kathmandu including Private Vehicle, all entry fees & experienced city guide
- Pokhara – Jomsom – Pokhara by flight
- All meals [B/F, Lunch & Dinner] During Trekking period
- Tea House & Lodges Accommodation during Trekking
- Upper Mustang Special Permit and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit
- Highly experienced Trekking guide for the entire trek
- Required Number of Porters “2:1Ratio”
- Staffs food, clothing & salary, Insurance.
- General First aid Kids
- All tax, vats and necessary paper works
- Airport Drop
- Personal nature expenses
- Bar bill and all kind of drinks
- Rescue & Evacuation
- Gratitude (tip) for staff
The given rates are per person with guaranteed departure schedules. If the given dates are not appropriate for you, please feel free to contact us for requesting a new dates, we will gladly personalize the itinerary and schedule of the trip that fits for you.
Check our assured departure schedules given below:
| Start Date | End Date | Price | Availability | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 May, 2025 | 29 May, 2025 | USD 2255 | GUARANTEED | Book Now! |
Accommodation:
In the total trip cost of Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek package we provide accommodation in 3 stars rated hotels while in the cities, Kathmandu and Pokhara. And during the trekking and festival days, your accommodation will be arranged in tea house lodges. Accommodation will be arranged in single, double, triple or twin sharing basic as your preference. You may not find attached toilets in all the tea houses. In such case sharing toilets will be found right outside your respective rooms.
The cost of the package covers all meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) during the whole trekking period and Bed & Breakfast in Kathmandu and Pokhara. The tea houses and lodges offer wide varieties (Nepali, Continental, Italian etc) of food on the menu. Dinner and Breakfast will be served in the same teahouse lodge and for lunch, we will make a stop en-route trekking. All the meals are served hygienic which helps trekkers to maintain their physical fitness needed for the trekking.
Trekkers must have the ability to walk at least 5 to 6 hours a day carrying a light private bag-pack. Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek includes trekking in altitude reaching up to 3820 meters above the sea level. So a good level of physical fitness gained by at least an hours’ daily physical training (jogging, swimming, hiking, gym etc). Highly skilled mountaineering is not required for this trek, however previous trekking experience would be a merit.
Immigration Office at Kathmandu Airport Facilitating Tourist Visa on arrival.
Visa Fees:
Two Weeks – 30 USD
One Month (Four Weeks) – 50 USD
Three Month (90 Days) – 125 USD
For more info, please email at info@nepalguidetreks.com
Visa Extension Fees:
Tourist Visa Extension required a minimum of 15 days (USD 45)and USD 3 for each extra days.
Prakash Devkota
Meet with Prakash Chandra Devkota, Managing Director and Team Leader
Mr. Devkota hails from the beautiful hilly region of Gorkha District. He started his career as a guide in 1997 and quickly became a reputed figure in the Tourism Industry because of his extensive experience. He has gathered impressive experience in all Trekking and Climbing Routes, such as Mera, Island, Lobuche, Ama Dablam etc.
His success also lies in his brilliant mind and hospitable nature. He is fully dedicated to providing excellent services and introducing innovative concepts. With more than 15 years of experience in trekking and expedition operations in Nepal, Tibet, India, and Bhutan, he has earned a reputation as a renowned leader in the field. He understands the importance of personalized service for creating memorable experiences for his clients and constantly seeks innovative company operation methods.
Mr. Devkota has always been an avid practitioner of eco-friendly tourism and has always promoted environmental conservation throughout his career. He motivates his staff to embrace eco-friendly tourism through responsible tourism practices.
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