Mustang Tiji Festival 3 Days

Upon your arrival at Kathmandu, our representative will warmly receive you at the airport and bring you to your hotel. You’ll meet the trek guide and discuss the trip in detail. Afterward, you can choose to relax or go out to take a stroll in the nearby market.

While we are busy obtaining the restricted area permit for you, you’ll embark on a sightseeing tour of the historical Kathmandu city. Accompanied by an experienced tour guide, you’ll embark on a tour of some of the pristine UNESCO World Heritage Sites namely as Pashupatinath, Swoyambhunath, and Boudhanath. You can also choose to rest or prepare for the trek on this day.

You’ll start early today. After an early breakfast, you will embark on a scenic road journey west of Kathmandu to the touristic city of Pokhara. The 200km journey may take 6hr to complete and goes through the Prithvi Highway along the massive Trishuli River. Once at Pokhara, you’ll be escorted to your hotel.

After early breakfast at the hotel, you’ll embark on a short trans-Himalayan flight to Jomsom. The flight will take you over the pristine Annapurna Himalayas and to the other side to Jomsom. Do not forget to grab a window seat so you can enjoy this beautiful scenery. Jomsom, also known as the ‘windy city of Nepal’, serves as the headquarters of Mustang district. From here, you’ll gradually trek through the Kali Gandaki valley to reach Kagbeni.

Kagbeni is the official gateway to Upper Mustang which is evident from the location of the village. Leaving Kagbeni, the trek gradually advances along the steep cliffs on to the eastern side of the Kali Gandaki valley. You’ll find numerous tiny villages en route comprising of lush fields of wheat, barley, and buckwheat. You will cross Tangbe and Chhusang villages before arriving at Chele.

You’ll encounter multiple detours while crossing the Kali Gandaki valley. You’ll pass along the large, colorful rock canyons that are home to man-made ‘sky caves’ built centuries ago and are believed to have been built as a burial site and war-shelters. You’ll also pass along the Rachung Cave en route which is one of the highlights of the trek. Along the way, you can enjoy the majestic panorama of Nilgiri, Annapurna, and Tilicho ranges before arriving at Shyangbochen.

Leaving Shyangbochen, you’ll trek to Dhakmar village. The trail en route is really windy, hence, you’ll take numerous stops to avoid the high-winds during the noon. You will pass the Nyi La Pass (4010m) to descend and reach Ghami. Thereon, the trail goes past numerous monasteries as you head north. After a few minor detours, you’ll arrive at Dhakmar.

Leaving Dhakmar, the trail advances to Lo Manthang. To add fun to the trek, you’ll take another route and make a stop at Ghar Gompa. Ghar Gumba or Lo Gekar Monastery is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in the world. It was built around the 7th century by the incarnated Saint Padmasanbhava before leaving for Tibet. From Ghar Gumba, you’ll make your way towards Lo Manthang. Lo was the capital of Mustang kingdom before the entire region was annexed by Nepal in the 18th Century.

The celebration of Tiji begins the early afternoon. The crowds are invited with the loud blurts of the Tibetan horns, Dhungchen. An enormous Thangka (painting) depicting the imagery of Padmasanbhava or Guru Rinpoche is hanged on the southern wall of the square. The dance commences only in the evening when all the local authority takes their place. The masked dance depicts the age-old myth based on the life of Dorje Jono, a supreme force who repealed all the demons from earth.

The second day of the festival is known to be more vibrant. Female performers come out in their traditional attire and jewelry. The dance continues the tale of ancient myths and battle between the mighty force and the demons. The dancers in disguise of animals accompany the dancers. While dancing, the dancers perform various rituals to pray for the beginning of monsoon.

The third day also marks the end of the Tiji festival. It generally ends with ceremonial music and the portrayal of the demise of the demon in dramatic dance form. More music, dance, and shooting guns accompany the last day of the festival. The rituals on the final day also include setting an old Tiger skin on fire before dispersing the remains. As the Tiji festival ends, you can visit the nearby Namgyal Gompa and Thinggar.

The trail ascends steadily to the pass marked by a cairn, offering a last glimpse of Lo Manthang. A lengthy rocky descent will follow until you reach Lo Gekar. From here, you’ll cross the Mui La Pass (4170m). Reaching Dhakmar, the trail leaves this Buddhist village through a series of monasteries. The trail descends and then climbs a ridge to reach Ghami.

Leaving Ghami, you’ll make your way towards Samar. An early morning trek will pass along the canyon and stone walls. Crossing the Ghami La Pass (3765m), the trek continues along the barren trails to reach Jhaite. Passing Tamagaon and Shyangbochen, the trail leads you to Bhena. You’ll pass through a few small settlements before arriving at Samar village.

Leaving Samar, you’ll re-enter the Kali Gandaki valley and head to Kagbeni village. It may take longer than usual to arrive at Kagbeni as you push your way through the rugged trail. You will encounter high sand hills and cliffs en route to Kagbeni. The trail follows the Kali Gandaki River on the final moments of the trek.

Today, you’ll leave Kagbeni and trek to Jomsom. The trek concedes at Jomsom and goes along the Kali Gandaki River. The last part of the trek offers the beautiful sights of Annapurna I (8091m), Nilgiri (7061m), and Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m). Once at Jomsom, you can explore the city and enjoy the local apple alcohol called ‘Marpha’.

Today, you’ll catch your flight back to Pokhara. En route, you will get to see some extraordinary sights of Annapurna, Lamjung, and Nilgiri Himalayan ranges, along with the Mt. Machhapuchhre (6993m). To enjoy the success of the trek, you can choose to take a short tour of the city and indulge in fun-activities including boating and cycling. Phewa Lake and Lakeside offer lively nights to participate in.

Today, you’ll bid farewell to Pokhara and make your way back to Kathmandu. You’ll embark on a tourist bus and drive along the Trishuli River to arrive at Kathmandu. The ride may last anywhere from 6-7 hours. In Kathmandu, you head back to your hotel and rest. As this day is your final one in Nepal, you can head to the local streets and shop for gifts and souvenirs.

After concluding one of the most esteemed treks in Nepal, you will prepare to leave Nepal and head to your destination. A company representative will accompany you to the airport and help you with any remaining formalities.