Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek – May 16, 17 & 18, 2023

On your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will pick you up and take you to your hotel. Once you settle in, our staff will brief you on the outline for the trek. In the evening, you will be joining the rest of the group for an introductory welcome dinner. The first night is all about bonding and resting up.
Overnight at Kathmandu

While you have your eye on the Upper Mustang- Tiji Festival Trek, you can take this day to soak in all that Kathmandu has to offer. Whether you want to stroll through the historical buildings or visit the many cultural heritages, you are sure to have an eventful day. You can also use this day to prep and purchase any clothing or equipment you may want for this trek.

Overnight at Kathmandu

After a hearty breakfast, we will be arranging your transport and setting off. We will be driving along the Trishuli River, where you can enjoy the rise and fall of the hills as you go. This drive will take about 5-6 hours. 

We will reach your hotel by late afternoon, giving you plenty of time to unwind lakeside. You can grab a drink and enjoy live music, immerse yourself in the nightlife, or take a peaceful walk by the lake.
Overnight at Pokhara

We will be catching a flight early in the morning from Pokhara to Jomsom. The flight will only take 20 minutes, which is bound to feel too short regardless due to the scenic views. Jomsom is a market town. You will find yourself immediately amongst the hustle and bustle of this town.

From there, we will share a drive to Chuksang, via a roadway along the Kali Gandaki River, passing through Kagbeni, Ekley- Bhatti village, and many other hamlets.

Overnight at Chuksang

The trail follows a steep, bleak landscape alongside a copper-red canyon. Mustang is distinguished for its copper-red terrain. You will climb downwards till you reach the lovely hamlet of Samar. You may have lunch here. You will pass past the four colorful Chortens on your way.  The Mustang journey continues by climbing the hills with highs and lows. You will journey through the picturesque and sparsely populated towns, through another pass of Yamada La (4010m).

You’ll arrive at Syangbochen after the last descent. Almost all of the tea houses in this area have whitewashed walls, flat roofs, and wood neatly arranged around the perimeter of the roof. The doors are additionally ornamented with colorful curtains and religious motifs.

Overnight at Syangbochen

Today’s journey may put you to the test. You will traverse two distinct crossings across undulating terrain. You begin your trip by ascending 3850 meters to the Syangbochen Pass. Upper Mustang’s magnificent scenery may be seen from here. You’ll make your way downward to Gelling. You’ll travel through several chortens along the route.

From here, gradually ascend to Jaite and then to the 4020m Nyi La Pass. The powerful, gusty winds of Mustang, as well as the flapping of prayer flags, can be felt here. Following this, you will descend to a trail junction. Ghemi is reached after the last descent. This is a little settlement with a Chorten at the entrance of Ghemi.

The route descends through the valley’s blue, grey, and red rocks to a massive steel bridge across the Tangmar Chu River. Then you’ll travel to a plateau and see Nepal’s longest and most impressive Mani walls. The route leads east to the settlement of Charang near the end of the wall. 

At the end of the village, there are huge Dzong ( Fortress) and red Gompas. These consist of an excellent collection of statues and Thangkas ( rolling paintings).
Overnight at Tsarang.

After days of uphill climbing, this day will be much easier on your feet. We will be taking you over flat terrain. All along the way, you will witness barren landscapes dotted with the occasional shrine or caves.  

Once we drop down into a canyon, we will be crossing a river. Then begins the ascent to the Lo La pass (3950m/12959 ft). At a distance, you will begin to see glimpses of the Lo Manthang village. As you get closer, you will get to marvel at the unique beauty of this historic village. This leg of the trek will take you about 5-6 hours.

The village is walled in and stands in stark contrast to the desert that surrounds it. Around you, the peaks of Nilgiri, Annapurna I, Tilicho, and Bhrikuti Peak cheer you on your arrival.
Overnight at Lo-Manthang.

The festival takes you to the 600-year-old Lo-Manthang Royal Palace. The monks of Chhode Monastery will conduct different acts on the first day of the festival to teach you about the history of the Tiji festival. The enormous thangka painting representing Buddhist treasures and Guru Rimpoche displayed on the white walls of the Royal Palace is apparent at a glimpse.
You will also have the chance to meet the Monarch of Lo Manthang. Tsa Chham’s traditional dance performance narrates one-third of Tiji’s history. Tiji marks the triumph of Dorjee Sonam, Lord Buddha’s reincarnation, over a demon who is said to have brought damage and chaos to the locals. The extravagant headgear and vivid dresses worn by the performers will amaze you. You may also interact with the people who have gathered from nearby villages to watch the wonder.
Overnight stay at Lo-Manthang

We can watch a beautiful ritual followed by a unique dance performed by Tibetan lamas. It is done in order to drive away all the hungry and malevolent spirits from the village. Many individuals from all across the region are taking part in this ceremony of purification and regeneration. Following the observation, we may explore the city’s small passageways and courtyards, or just rent a horse and visit some of the surrounding towns.
Overnight at Lo-Manthang.

On the last day of the festival, you can witness the dances of the monks with masks. The final rituals take place in the Mustang Palace and prayers are offered by the priest. The people of Mustang also pray for their valley’s well-being and the three-day festival comes to an end with smiles on everybody’s faces.

Furthermore, You will next climb to Tingkhar, a settlement of around 40 dwellings that is also the final major village to the northwest of Lo-Manthang. Chosar is a settlement in the eastern valley. This settlement is likewise densely populated with Gompas, and it is located in the valley that leads to the major commerce route to Lhasa.

The lofty Champa Lhakhang ‘God house’ and the crimson Thungchen Gomba may be found here. The Chyodi Gompa and the entry hall are both prominent attractions in this little town. The Royal Palace, a spectacular four-story structure, adds to the architectural splendor of the location. As a form of hospitality, the Mustang king offers you Tibetan tea.
Overnight at Lo-Manthang.

After breakfast, begin the hike by leaving the town and gradually climbing till the route reaches Day-La after about an hour. This is the last position from which Lo-Manthang may be seen. The settlement of Dhi is reached after 3 hours of hiking, followed by an hour of descent for a lunch break. After lunch, you will cross a small river and begin a short, steep ascent to Yara village, which will take around one and a half hours. You can spot the many caverns in the stonewalls.

We begin our ascent to Luri Gumpa (4060 m) from Yara.  The cave chorten looks out over the Puyung Khola riverbed. The sanctuary of Luri, the cave of the white chorten atop Naga hill, has an open courtyard from which one enters an empty entry room where old murals of Padmasabhava and Buddha Sakyamuni are explored.

The dome’s unique paintings depicting the eight Mahasiddhas are the most intriguing. The chorten of Luri, like that of Tashi Kabum, is said to date back to the 13th or 14th century, a time earlier than Amepal’s reign. As well as Chhusang’s Mentsi Lhakang and the many cave sanctuaries northeast of Lo Manthang. We also proceed to Luri Nunnery, which is located at the base of Luri Gompa and has its female counterpart (mother goddess!).

Overnight Stay at Yara.

After Breakfast, we will trek for the first few hours through the River Bank and then climb up to a pass of 3850m before leading through grassless, bare hills. Tangge is a small village, but most of the houses are attached to each other, and on the rooftops can be seen piles of fry woods, which also reflect the prosperity in their society.
Overnight at Tange

Today we will hike down to Chhuksang, which will take around 9 hours. We leave the village early, crossing a suspension bridge and following a short river trail. We next cross the river and climb hard up, going through tiny crossings along the way, until we reach the hilltop. Continue down till you reach the settlement of Chhuksang.
Overnight at Chhuksang

Today we hike to Muktinath, which takes around 6 hours. We make our way down via Tetang village. We arrive at a viewpoint with a panoramic view of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and the Tukuche Himalayan range after a long hike. Then we descend to the settlement of Chhyongar, crossing a little brook over a suspension bridge. We then continue on the flat trail till we reach Muktinath.
Overnight at Muktinath.

Our final destination for the day is Jomsom, so we leave Muktinath and descend down to Jharkot village where we visit the ancient Sakyamuni Buddhist Monastery and Traditional Medical Centre and then to Ekalbhatte and to Jomsom.
Overnight at Jomsom.

We will be flying you to Pokhara, where you have the remainder of the day off for a well-earned rest day. 

This lake town has quite a lot to offer, and we are sure it is the perfect place for you to celebrate your successful trek.
Overnight Pokhara.

After a hearty breakfast, we will be leaving the hotel and taking a route to Trishuli – a rafting hub. Here, you will enjoy the adventurous rafting at Trishuli River. We have planned a delicious dinner and a show for your evening.
Overnight stay at Royal Beach Camp, Trishuli.

After the marvelous journey, we will head back to Kathmandu via Mahendra Highway. You will get plenty of time to rest and dwell around Kathmandu.
Overnight Stay at Kathmandu.

Our representative will be taking you to the airport. Bidding you a safe journey, full of memories and incredible cultural experiences, and hoping to see you again.