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Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek

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19
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US$ 110
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US$ 2,185
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Max. Elevation
4265 m / 13992 ft
Group size
1 - 20 pax
Level
Moderate
Transportation
All ground transportation and domestic flight as per itinerary
Best Season
Sept, Oct, Nov, March, April, May
Starts at / Ends at
Kathmandu / Kathmandu
Accomodation
3*** Hotel in Kathmandu / Pokhara and Lodge / Tea house during the trek
Meals
Breakfast in Kathmandu / Pokhara and all meals during the trek
Trip Route
KTM-PKR-Jomsom-Ghami-Lo-Manthang-Drakmar-Kagbeni-Jomsom-PKR-KTM

Highlights

Exploring the "forbidden kingdom" of Lo Manthang a walled city, including ancient monasteries, caves, palaces and villages.

Experience stunning unique Landscapes and high-altitude desert

Experience unique Tibetan Buddhist and Thakali Culture

Walking through a unique and remote barren, semi-arid terrain, high mountain passes.

Experience the rich Cultural and traditions Immersion and a vibrant Tibetan Buddhist festival Tiji with prayer chants, colorful dances, and religious rituals. 

Overview

Tiji festival 2025 trekking program to upper Mustang in Nepal

Festival dates May 24 - 26, 2025

Holiday Mountain Treks has been organizing a special trip to Lo-Manthang / Upper Mustang every year for the Tiji festival program. Tiji festival trip will provide you with a cultural/history and scenery experience of the forbidden previous kingdom- Mustang. It is a journey for a lifetime and we assist you from fixing the trip date to entire arrangements at an affordable price. There will be allowed only a limited number of people to visit this wonderful place so if you want to book the trip and experience it yourself please reserve your space as early as possible.

An introduction of the Tiji festival

Tiji festival is a three-day ritual as well as “The chasing of the Demons” that centers on the Tiji myth. The myth tells of a deity named Dorje Jono who must battle against his demon father to save the Kingdom of Mustang from destruction. The demon father wreaked havoc on Mustang by bringing a shortage of water (a highly precious resource in this very dry land) and causing many resulting disasters from famine to animal loss. Dorje Jono eventually beats the demon and banishes him from the land. Tiji is a celebration and reaffirmation of this myth and throughout the festival, the various scenes of the myth will be enacted. The festival is normally held at the end of the dry winter/spring season effectively a spring renewal festival. and will usher in the wetter monsoon season (the growing season for Mustang).

The Tiji festival is celebrated for three days long in Lo-Manthang.

First day, Lamas horns resounded, announcing the two twelve-foot copper bunches, with their elephantine blurting, followed by two double-reeled horns, all accompanied by drum and cymbals then an ancient and enormous thanka three stories high is unrolled down the entire south wall of the square. Late afternoon, in high wind and blowing dust, eleven lamas in maroon and gold, wearing high red hats, came from the palace and take their places along the wall beneath the thanka, with Tashi Tenzing on the elevated seat just in the center. The masked dancers start the portrayal of the Tiji myth then Dorje Jono repels the demon through the power of his magical dancing. As the dances end, Dorje Jono kills the demon, after which his people are relieved of their plague of misfortunes, water becomes plentiful once more, and the balance and harmony of existence are restored.

Second day, numbers of Loba arrive from the outlying hamlets, and the small square is thronged with wild beautiful people, with all of the women and children, at least, in traditional dress. The King of Mustang “wears a whole crown of tiny river pearls set off by dozens of large red coralline tones interspersed with matched ornaments of turquoise. The costumes and masks, the twelve-foot horns, the gold cups of wheat, the butter cakes, the snow peaks and wind and dust and sun, the mehti, snow leopard, snow pigeons, saligrams, the dying glacier and the desert ruins, the drunks and rajas and foreigners, the dogs and yaks Tantra.

And last day, the Tiji festival ends with the ceremonial destruction of the evil remains, represented by some long black yak hair and red torma cakes minced into dark red furry. The demons red remnants are set out on an old tiger skin, whereupon they are attacked by bow and arrow, slings, and the old guns. The poor devil's remains are over- turned upon the ground, each time to a wild cann

Important Note

There should be minimum two person in a group to obtain the trekking permit.

It is also possible to make a shorter trek as there local jeeps are available to transfer

It is also possible to make the trek arrangements in monsoon ( July/August) time as this area is rain shadow. 

Trip Itinerary

Arrive at Kathmandu airport; welcome and transfer to the hotel.

Sightseeing tour of the interesting surrounding sights of Kathmandu valley.

Transfer to Pokhara by tourist bus through beautiful sights. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy either doing last-minute shopping for the trek or packing your kitty bag for the trek.

Fly to Jomsom and gently walk to Kagnebi, the checkpoint of entry to Upper Mustang. The Kaligandaki valley here is called the Thakkhola, after the native Thakalis, who are distantly related to the Tibetans.

After a special permit check-up and entry registration at the check post, the trail goes onwards following the riverbank of Kaligandaki upstream through some of the scenic picturesque places and sandy / windy trails to reach Chele village.  Over Night stay at the lodge.

The trail ascends to Taklam La Pass (3,624m) through plateaus and narrow stretches with views of Tilicho Peak, Yakawa Kang, Nilgiri and Damodar Danda then descends further to Syanboche. Over Night stay at the lodge.

The trail ascends to the Yamda La (3,850m.) through local villages and Chortens. After Nyi Pass (4,010m) the trail descends to the Ghaymi village. Over Night stay at the lodge.

The trail climbs up to the plateau beside a long Mani wall crossing the Ghaymi khola and reaching Charang. Overnight stay at the lodge.

The trail descends to Tsarang Chu and then climbs steeply after crossing the river windy pass of Lo, from where you can see the magnificent Lo-Mangthang Valley with its hills on the Tibetan Border. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Attend the Tiji effectively a spring renewal festival in the courtyard gathered a crowd of Lamas, locals and tourists.


If you wish, may attend the last day of the Tiji Festival or make a great loop walk through the unique villages and Gompas around Lo Manthang.

Trek to Drakmar via Gyakar with more than 1200 years old Ghar Gompa with Guru Rinpoche as the primary figure. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Trek from Dhakmar to Ghiling. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Trek from Ghiling to Chhuksang. Overnight stay at the lodge.

The trail descends to kagbeni and further to Jomsom following the kaligandaki river. Over night stay at lodge.

Fly back from Jomsom-Pokhara. The rest of the day is free for your own activities.

Morning; drive back by tourist bus through the lowland scenic countryside and arrive in Kathmandu afternoon. Enjoy a farewell dinner with the live cultural program at one of the typical Nepalese restaurants hosted by the company. Overnight at hotel.

Transfer to the airport and fly back home.

Not satisfied with this itinerary? Make your own.
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Route Map

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek

Includes

  • Airport transfers.
  • 2-3 star category hotel with breakfast in Kathmandu/Pokhara.
  • Guided sightseeing tour and entrance fees.
  • Special trekking permits, ACAP and TIMS fee.
  • Full board basis lodge trekking.
  • Ground transportation as per the itinerary.
  • Trekking guide and porter.
  • Staff expenses including insurance.
  • All logistics and documentation and local taxes.

Doesn't Include

  • Personal wear & gear
  • Personal nature expenses
  • Any extra service/activities
  • Emergency rescue cost
  • A cold beverage, Mineral water, alcoholic drinks, tips etc.

Trip Info

Introduction and trip briefing:
On our all tours, trekking, expeditions, and other adventures, we give a short brief about the trip in Kathmandu on the same day of your arrival and introduce your trip guide and team members. In the meantime, we provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions if any about the trip.

A day on the trek:
Day starts with a warm greeting and bed tea. Then you will be offered a basin of hot water to wash and take breakfast then you are off to trek for more than 3 hours through the forests, hills, mountains,s and local villages. You will stop at pleasant surroundings for hot lunch for an hour. You will then walk for 3 or more hours depending on the places and facilities for camping places, stop for the night camp, you will be then offered tea/coffee with some light snacks then explore the area or relax until dinner is served at the warm dining hall. For most of the evening, you will be encouraged to sing and dance in a traditional way. Sometimes you will spend time playing cards, reading books, and learning Nepali. Finally, go to bed served with a hot water rubber bag to keep you extra warm in the cold temperature.

A successful trek requirement:
Like another trek, the Upper Mustang trek also requires previous experience in trekking, sound health & fitness. This trek involves 5-8 hours of high mountain walking. You should be prepared for about 10 Kms of walking or jogging exercise every day 3 months before involving the trek as you are walking at high altitudes for long and short days. Likewise, you must need a positive attitude and a strong determination; lots of willpower and of course reasonable fitness, good health, and physical condition are the basic measure of your success. We suggest you consult your doctor for medical requirements as medical and evacuation expenses are your responsibility. To ensure safety and a successful trek; we will provide one trek guide, and one assistant guide on every group trek so that if in case one gets sick, it would not be canceled the trek and run as planned as in the itinerary.

Things to know:
Our first concern is your safety while traveling with Holiday Mountain Treks. Please be informed that your trek leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Our every effort will be made for a safe completion of the planned itinerary, however as this is adventure travel into the remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it! Other factors like weather conditions and the health of members can be the reason for changes in the itinerary. In such a case, please be prepared to be flexible. Your leader will accompany you on all scheduled activities and you will have free time to pursue your own interests too. Your trek leader will assist you with information about your options but please be informed that any additional activities you undertake are not part of our itinerary.

Accommodation:
Lodges in the mountains are not as comfortable and clean as in the city but not very basic. The lodges we use normally have a combination of dormitories, twin, and triple rooms, and beds have a foam mattresses. There are a few factors that affect our choice of a particular lodge which may not always be immediately obvious but the great-looking lodges from outside may not be the cleanest and may not provide the best service or food. Please note that we also do not use lodges that will not provide accommodation for porters and guides as we believe that we have a duty to look after all our staffs. Some of the lodges now have attached bathrooms but we do not include this in the price of your trips. However, due to availability issues, you may be given a room with a bathroom and we will not charge extra.

Meals:
Three meals as per your choice are provided in a day. Every lodge has a food menu and ordering book and you should write down in it everything you order under your name and room number. The guide will assist it actually and check at kitchen to how busy they are. However, it is good to order the food in one hour advance. Lunch is normally taken in a lodge along the way and we suggest the group tries to order similar dishes to make it easier and shorter time. Nepali, Tibetan, Continental etc dishes are available though. However local food like vegetables, potatoes, soups are fresh, hygienic and healthy.

Guide:
English speaking, well experienced and knowledgeable holding license from government institutions. They are well trained about the high altitude problem, eco tourism, social responsibilities and sincerely dedicated to their duty. Actually, our guides play an invaluable role in ensuring that our clients have the best opportunity to experience, learn about, and enjoy their trip presenting them whenever you need any help.

Porters:
Normally we use only regular porters working for the company. Our porters are fully equipped and insured having knowledge of walking on snow and high altitude passes. They are very honest, reliable, strong and of curse get good pay. They can speak English and will be referred to take the guide training after they are well experience and confident.

Travel Insurance:
We suggest and t is a condition of traveling with us that you must be fully insured, including air rescue services and all medical expenses. You decide and choose what amount and types of is insurance is suitable for your trip nature as some does buy cancellation and only for certain period of time.

Itinerary:
Given itinerary is flexible so if needed there is often there will be possibility on the trek to extend or shorten the walking days. In the special case if the trips is ended a week or more earlier, there will be given an optional for a short trip. Please discuss this with your trek guide and express your wishes.

Washing and Toilet:
Most of lodges offer hot shower now. Some times a hot shower means a bucket of hot water and ask your trek guide about the availability. For ecological reasons please try and limit your use of hot water if the water is not solar-heated. Please note that higher place and cold time there is very little chance to have enough and hot water. Every lodge will have some kind of hand washing facility but ask your trek guide about the place where you can wash and clean your teeth.

Toilets are usually Asian squat style and vary in how clean they are. Normally toilets are out side the lodge but now some lodge have inside the room or lodge. They tent to be cleaner in the lower than the higher because of water shortage and temperature. The rubbish bin in the toilet is kept for your used toilet paper.

Drinking water:
Most of the stomach problems are faced from drinking water in the mountain so you should really care of it. Bottle of mineral water is normally available but environmentally unfriendly options so we recommend filtered and boiled water that should be treated with iodine / purifying tablet before you drink it. The lodge people charge minimum for boiled water as fuel is used to boil the water and wait about half an hour before adding any fruit powder etc.

Transportation:
Deluxe private vehicle are provided while on city tour, airport transfers and tourist bus to and from Pokhara or private vehicle or flight will be arranged at an extra cost if required.

Responsible tourism concept:
Holiday Mountain Treks is taking concern of economy, social, environment and culture while running its trips. Our staffs are trained on this and try for minimum impact on the natural environment and native peoples. We try to support local economy by using their products, making aware and our clients will have to respect the local culture and traditions. We always try to make the areas more cleaner and friendly environments after we travel. This is possible by your understanding and our trained crews.

Electricity:
Small scale electricity schemes are running is several mountain communities but as they by definition small the light may not be strong enough to read by and is not always guaranteed to be working. Kerosene lamps, candles or solar light bulbs are often used is the dining room where there is no electricity. A touch light, with extra batteries is essential. Some lodges have recharging facilities for which there is a small charge. Nepal use voltages, 220-240 volts to power your appliances. The sockets are fit both round and flat.
Why Book with Us?
  • Excellent customer service. Our travel experts are ready to help you 24/7.
  • Best price guaranteed.
  • No credit card or booking fees.
  • 100% financial protection.
  • Environmentally-friendly tours.

Reviews

Tiji festival - wow

Dear Abir This was the trip of lifetime. Thanks in large part to the experience, imaginativeness and creating of our guide and chief Ganesh who took fantastic care of us throughout the trek, taking care of all our needs and special interests into account, ensuring that we saw and experienced considerably more than after trekking parties we encountered along the way. The Lo-Manthang itself and an interesting colorful religious Tiji festival at courtyard of the Palace with crowed of locals and tourists was special attraction of the trip. Thanks to our porters for their honesty and hard work and to you Abir for putting such a great team together. Best wishes and good luck for your business!

J
Jolyon Nagele
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Equipment List

Tiji festival trip will provide you with a cultural/history and scenery experience of the forbidden previous kingdom- Mustang. Tiji festival is a three-day ritual as well as “The chasing of the Demons” that centers on the Tiji myth.

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Art representing various natural and cultutal heritages of Nepal