Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek - 20 Days

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  • Duration 20 Days
  • Trip Grade Strenuous
  • Country Nepal

Even though the Himalayas look cold and lifeless, every corner of this range has a thriving energy, stories to tell, and a rich cultural heritage tied very closely to the roots!

The Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek is one of the most famous and culturally immersive journeys in the Himalayas. Also known as the Tiji festival trek, this 20 days trip will take you to one of the biggest annual celebrations in Lo Manthang, the last forbidden kingdom in Nepal. This life-changing voyage offers both adventure and cultural heritage.

Join our Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek 2025. Beginner trekkers are also welcome to join this adventurous trek. If you think you are not fit for the trek, then book your trip early and start preparing.

Highlights

  • A journey of a lifetime to the last forbidden kingdom of Nepal, Lo Manthang
  • Enjoy adventurous walks via beautiful villages, canyons, high cliffs, semi-desert, and mountain passes
  • The terrain is offbeat and less crowded
  • Participate in the Tiji festival, the biggest annual celebration in the Upper Mustang
  • Get to see different rituals, masked dances, and traditional attires
  • Explore ancient monasteries, stupas, mani walls, and sky caves
  • Witness arid landscapes with breathtaking mountain views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri
  • Learn about tales related to the Tiji festival that represent the victory of good over evil

What to expect during the Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek 20 days?

The Upper Mustang is a trans-Himalayan region located under the rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Because of this, it does not receive rainfall in the monsoon season. Hence, the landscape is semi-desert and arid. With the joy of the festival, there will also be the thrill of trekking in the remote region.

Trekking in the Upper Mustang is considered a privilege, and attending the Tiji festival is nothing less than a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Before arriving at Lo Manthang, you will trek for several days via villages like Kagbeni, Samar, Ghiling, and Dhakmar. On the way, you will traverse narrow high cliffs, mountain passes under 4,500 meters, steep tracks, and landslide-prone areas.

The trail offers breathtaking landscapes and mountain views of Annapurna (8,091 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), and Nilgiri (7,061 m). You will also see huge, unique rocks, alpine meadows, canyons, mud houses, deserts, and barely, wheat, potato, and buckwheat fields. Likewise, visit ancient monasteries and explore stupas, mani walls, and chortens.

Some notable places you will explore in Lo Manthang are Namgyal Gompa, Champa Lhakhang, Thugchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa, and the Entrance Hall. You will also walk to the Choser Cave, known as the Sky Caves. These caves are thousands of years old and made on unstable cliffs. Most of the chambers still remain undiscovered because of their instability.

Why is the Upper Mustang a restricted area in Nepal?

Upper Mustang is located close to the Tibetan border, so it is a restricted area in Nepal. The Nepal government has restricted the area to maintain border security. Likewise, another big reason is to protect and preserve the cultural, archeological, and natural richness of this region.

Foreigners have to get an expensive permit, which costs USD 500 for the first 10 days and USD 50 per day after that to travel and explore the Upper Mustang. Simillary, tourists are not allowed to trek alone in this region. They can only travel here with a local trekking company like us.

Another thing to know is that there have to be at least two trekkers in the group. So, if you are a solo traveler, you either have to bring one more trekker, or we will pair you up with someone. Likewise, trekking without a guide is illegal.

Tiji festival

Tiji festival is the biggest annual celebration in the Upper Mustang. It is one of the significant festivals for the locals and is celebrated for three days. Tiji is a traditional Tibetan festival celebrated according to the Tibetan calendar. The festival marks the victory of good over evil. The entire Mustang region comes together to celebrate this festival.

According to the legend, the Tiji festival honors the victory of Dorje Jono, the incarnation of Lord Buddha, over a demon named Man Tam. Man Tam created havoc in the world and caused people suffering. Lord Dorje Jono defeated the demon and brought peace to the world.

During the three days of the festival, the locals perform many rituals and traditional mask dances. The first day of the Tiji festival involves a purification ceremony, and a series of rituals are performed to cleanse the community from evil spirits.

On the second day of the festival, the monks and the local community perform mask dances and other rituals. On the last day of the festival, the locals gather to destroy the demons' last remains. The demons are set out and attacked on old tiger skin with bows and arrows, old guns, and catapults.

The masked dancers represent various characters from Lord Dorje Jono's victory over Man Tam. You can see huge mandalas, colorful prayer flags, banners, butter lamps, and other decorations. Numerous traditional delicacies are offered to the god. Locals sing traditional songs and play traditional instruments.

How to prepare for the Mustang Tiji festival trek?

The Tiji festival is the core essence of this trip. However, to participate in the festival, you have to reach Lo Manthang. On foot, it takes multiple days to walk via remote villages, canyons, and mountain passes. Likewise, after the end of the festival, trekkers also have to walk back to Jomsom, which takes another few days of walking on the same terrain.

Therefore, trekkers must be able to walk 6 hours a day on varying terrain and elevations. A fit body, strength, and stamina are required. To prepare for the trek, you should exercise. Train your legs and core strength. Likewise, improve your stamina and endurance. Training in the gym, regular walks, day hikes, and cardio activities like cycling, swimming, running, etc are recommended.

Join Tiji festival 2025 with Himalayak Trekking

In 2025, the Tiji festival will be celebrated from 24 May to 26 May. Our Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek starts on this date. You will reach Lo Manthang on time to attend all three days of the festival. We, Himalayak Trekking, will arrange all the logistics and permits for the trek.

Our experienced native guide will accompany you throughout the trek, sharing fascinating stories and insights about the locals and the Tiji festival. He will help you communicate with the villagers. You can rely on him and freely ask him any question that may intrigue you during the trek.

With us, you will get the best Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek cost. If you want to make any changes to the package, feel free to let us know. You can trust us for a safe and satisfying trekking experience in Nepal.

Itinerary
Trip Plan
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You will arrive in Kathmandu on this day. Our team will pick you up from the airport and drop you at your hotel. You do not have to worry about your luggage. They will help you with that. Spend some time freshening up in the hotel and later meet us for the trek briefing.

  • Accommodation: Hotel

From Kathmandu, you will travel to Pokhara to start the Upper Mustang trek. It will be a comfortable ride on a standard tourist bus. The highway is smooth and offers views of rolling green hills, rivers, terraced fields, and waterfalls. You will also see snow-capped vistas on the way. In Pokhara, explore Phewa Lake and the Lakeside Market in the evening.

  • Max Altitude: 822 m/2,697 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast and lunch
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Duration: 6-7 hours
  • Distance: 205 km/127 miles

Early in the morning, you will fly from Pokhara to Jomsom. It is a short but very scenic flight. From Jomsom, you will begin trekking to Kagbeni village. The trail follows cliff sides and ascends to Kagbeni.

Mountain views: Annapurna South, Annapurna North Face, Hiunchuli, Tukuche Peak, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Fishtail, Annapurna II, etc.

  • Max Altitude: 2,800 m/9,186 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 25 minutes flight & 3 hours trek

Leaving Kagbeni, you will enter the Upper Mustang and follow the upper route to Samar village. The trail steeply ascends via rocky tracks and passes by villages like Tangbe, Chuksang, and Tsaile. From here, you will ascend to Samar, enjoying a stunning view of unique rocks and a canyon.

Mountain views: Nilgiri and Annapurna I (north face).

  • Max Altitude: 3,650 m/11,975 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 5-6 hours

Trekking from Samar onwards, you ascend to a ridge and descend into a large gorge. The trail then goes past a valley filled with juniper trees and crosses a stream. You will ascend to pass and descend to Syangbochen. From here, the trail drops via barley fields to Ghiling.

Mountain views: Annapurna I (north face), Nilgiri, Damodar Himal, Bhrikuti Himal, etc.

  • Max Altitude: 3,510 m/11,515 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 5 hours

Leaving Ghiling, you will trek following an alternative hiking trail to Dhakmar. There is also a jeep track. The trail ascends to Nyi La (4,010 m) pass and descends to Ghemi settlement before taking you to Dhakmar.

Mountain views: Damodar Himal, Nilgiri, Annapurna I, and Bhrikuti Himal.

  • Max Altitude: 3,820 m/12,533 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 5 hours

Today, you will reach Lo Manthang, the last forbidden kingdom of Nepal. From Dhakmar, the trail goes to Ghar Gompa. It is an ancient monastery. You will then ascend to the Ghar La (4,200 m) from here. From the pass, walk along a long mani wall to reach Lo Manthang village.

Mountain views: Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna, Bhrikuti Himal, etc.

  • Max Altitude: 3,840 m/12,598 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 6-7 hours

From day eight to day ten, you will spend in Lo Manthang, participating in the Tiji festival and exploring monasteries, sky caves, and settlements around Lo Manthang. Below, we have mentioned how the festival spans over the three days:

First day: The first day of the festival starts with unrolling a three-storied Thangka painting. It is a painting of Guru Rimpoche. The locals perform the rituals and dance in their traditional attire. Monks wear robes, and women wear antique jewelry. You will see the mask dance, which portrays mythical stories of the Tiji festival.

Second day: On this day, you will see the traditional dance of Tibetan Lamas. According to legend, this dance chases away the hunger and evil spirits from the region. Lamas wear traditional outfits with masks and 12-foot horns.

Third day: You will explore the Namgyal Gompa in the morning. In the evening, the locals gather to destroy the last remains of the demons. The demons are set out and attacked on the old tiger skin by bows and arrows, old guns, and catapults. Enjoy a rhythmic song and mask dance.

  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse

Saying goodbye to Lo Manthang, you will begin trekking to Yara village. The trail ascended to Lo La Pass and descended to Dhi Gaon. The view from the top of the pass is fantastic. From Dhi Gaon, you will follow a rugged route and walk to the top of a hill where Yara is situated.

Mountain views: Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Damodar Himal, etc.

  • Max Altitude: 3,838 m/12,592 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 6 hours

Today, you will hike to Luri Gompa early in the morning and return to Yara to spend the night. It will be your acclimatization day. The hiking route is isolated. Luri Gompa is an ancient monastery located on the top of a cliff.

Mountain views: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Nilgiri, Damodar Himal, Mansaile Himal, etc.

  • Max Altitude: 3,950 m/12,959 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 6-7 hours

From Yara, you will descend to Tangbe for the night. The trail goes towards Dhechaeng Khola. You will follow a deserted route and encounter a strong wind on the way. Tangbe is a peaceful village surrounded by mountains.

Mountain views: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Damodar Hill, Nilgiri, etc.

  • Max Altitude: 3,240 m/10,630 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 6-7 hours

It will be a long walking day from Tangbe to Chhusang village. The trail gradually ascends to the top of Paha La pass. From here, you will descend to Chhusang village via Chhomnang. On the way, you can see the only Himalayan salt mine in Nepal. The terrain is steep and challenging, so you have to be extra careful.

Mountain views: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Damodar Hill, Nilgiri, etc.

  • Max Altitude: 2,980 m/9,777 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 7-8 hours

On this day, you will descend to the Lower Mustang region. From Chhusang village, the trail ascends to Gyu La pass, following a steep, rocky trail. The view of the mountain is excellent from the top of the pass.

You will descend to a stream and cross it from here via a suspension bridge. Then, follow a rugged track to Muktinath Temple, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Nepal.

Mountain views: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Damodar Hill, Nilgiri, etc.

  • Max Altitude: 3,700 m/12,139 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 6-7 hours

Start early by exploring the Muktinath Temple and its small market. After that, follow the Kali Gandaki gorge and walk to Lupra village. It is a Bon Po village. The trail is very isolated and rugged. From Lupra, walk to Jomsom village.

Mountain views: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Nilgiri, etc.

  • Max Altitude: 2,700 m/8,858 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Duration: 6 hours

You will fly from Jomsom to Pokhara early in the morning. The flight offers a breathtaking mountain panorama. Upon landing in the city, the guide will transfer you to the hotel. The remaining day is free. Rest and explore the city by yourself.

  • Max Altitude: 820 m/2,690 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast only
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Duration: 20 minutes

You will drive back to Kathmandu. The ride will be smooth and scenic. Check-in at the hotel upon reaching Kathmandu. The rest of the day is leisure.

  • Max Altitude: 1,400 m/4,600 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & farewell dinner
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Duration: 6-7 hours

You have a full free day in Kathmandu. Rest and spend the day as you wish. Explore local markets and tourist sites, and window shop in Thamel.

  • Meals: Breakfast only
  • Accommodation: Hotel

Our team will transfer you to the international airport as per your flight schedule.

  • Meals: Breakfast only
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Add-ons and Options
  • Single room while trekking: If you want a single room during trekking, add this upgrade to your package.
  • Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu: Explore the historical sites in Kathmandu with an experienced tour guide and get to learn deeply about Nepali history and culture.
  • Combine Jeep tour: If you cannot trek, upgrade the package to jeep tour and enjoy a comfortable ride to Lo Manthang.

Availability

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We will strictly follow the proposed itinerary. However, there could be changes if the weather gets poor or unforeseen circumstances arise. Be flexible and open to changes. If our Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek itinerary does not match your requirements, feel free to contact us to customize the itinerary. You can design the itinerary as per your wish and budget.

Essential Info

Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek difficulty

During the Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek, the walking part is difficult. The terrain that leads to the Lo Manthang is offbeat, steep, and rugged. Trekkers have to navigate high cliffs, arid climates, high altitudes, canyons, and high mountain passes along the trail.

Likewise, the teahouses offer very limited accommodation and meal services, so trekkers have to be physically and mentally strong to push themselves. Trekking to Lo Manthang is not extremely challenging, but decent fitness and willpower are required.

  • Trek distance: You will trek around 125 kilometers during the Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek.
  • Daily walking hours: Every day, 6 hours of walking is required. Some days can get shorter or longer.
  • Tourist infrastructure: The tourist infrastructure on the Upper Mustang trek route is decent. However, be ready to pay for charging, showers, WiFi, etc. Personal expenses like these are not covered in our package cost.

Altitude Sickness

Even though the Upper Mustang altitude is comparatively lower than that of Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit treks, there are still risks of altitude sickness. To avoid it, you have to be aware of its symptoms and follow measures like a gradual ascent, staying hydrated, resting, listening to your body, and having nutritious food.

  • Symptoms: Difficulty breathing, vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea, headache, dizziness, etc.
  • Preventive measures: Drink at least 2 liters of water daily, have carbohydrate-rich meals, do not overexert yourself and listen to your body, do not drink alcohol or smoke, get ample rest, etc.

Travel insurance for Upper Mustang

Travel insurance is a compulsory document for joining the Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek. The insurance must cover helicopter evacuation. As walking is the only way in and out of Upper Mustang, we need travel insurance with helicopter evacuation to rescue immediately if needed. Foreigners cannot buy travel insurance in Nepal.

Mustang Tiji festival trek permits

To do the Mustang Tiji festival trek, you will need two permits, as mentioned below. Our package cost includes these permits.

  • Upper Mustang Restricted Area permit cost: USD 500 per person for the first ten days and USD 50 per person each day after that
  • Annapurna Conservation Area Project permit cost: USD 30 per person

The best time to do the Tiji festival trek in Nepal

The Tiji festival is celebrated in May. So, you must reach Lo Manthang at least one day before or on the day the festival starts. Our departure date is fixed for the Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek 20 days. Contact us if you want to make any changes. The weather and climate in May are fine. You will enjoy stunning views, a mild climate, and good daylight hours.

Accommodation & food during the trek

The accommodation on the Upper Mustang trek route is a teahouse. It is a simple service for the trekkers. You also have meals in the teahouses. The rooms are twin-shared and small but comfortable. Carry a sleeping bag for more comfort and warmth. Private washrooms are not available everywhere.

Boiled water is available to drink. It is safe to drink. For more safety, you can use water purification tablets. We provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner during trekking. All the meals are given according to the lodge's menu, which ranges from dal bhat, thukpa, Tibetan bread, fried rice, stew, porridge, and soups to pizza, burgers, and pasta in some places.

Tiji festival trek packing list

The following things are needed for the Tiji festival trek:

  • Underwear, base layer, thermal layer
  • Trekking shirt & pants, fleece jacket, down jacket, windbreaker/waterproof jacket & pants
  • Dry towel, cotton socks, woolen socks, scarf, gloves, sunhat, beanie
  • Trekking boots, casual shoes/crocs
  • Daypack, duffel bag
  • Trekking poles, sunglasses, reusable water bottle, water purification tablet
  • Map, pocket torch, traveler knife, hand sanitizer, GPS
  • SPF, lip balm, moisturizer, wet wipes, toilet paper, soap/shampoo bar, comb, toothpaste/brush, deodorant, etc
  • Antiseptic cream, band-aid, crack bandage, pain reliever spray, general medicine, electoral powder, insect repellent, etc
  • Adapter, charger, power bank, spare batteries for your camera
  • Snacks, journal/pen, travel insurance document, passport, visa, passport-sized photos, cash
FAQs

The road to Upper Mustang is quite good. There are a few bumpy sections occasionally, but overall, the road condition is decent.

Upper Mustang has a border with Tibet, which is one of the main reasons for restricting foreigners to the area. Another big reason is to protect and preserve the ancient cultural heritage of the locals.

Upper Mustang is a trans-Himalayan region, so it is a semi-desert. There are barley, wheat, buckwheat fields, meadows, canyons, unique rocks, mud houses, and desert fields.

You can visit the Upper Mustang throughout the year. This region does not have an issue with rainfall because it is located in the rain shadows of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Winter sees extreme cold and snowfall, so make sure you can bear it. Spring and autumn are also top traveling times for Upper Mustang.

You can embark on a jeep or bike ride from Kathmandu to Upper Mustang. Another option is to fly from Pokhara to Jomsom and trek from there.

Muktinath is located in the lower Mustang. It is not a restricted area.

Yes, snow falls in Upper Mustang between January and February. The temperature drops as low as -25°C, and many locals move to lower altitudes to spend the winter.

The distance between Pokhara and Upper Mustang is around 220 kilometers. You can reach Upper Mustang in 6 to 7 hours of driving from Pokhara.

WiFi is available in some villages in Upper Mustang. However, the network becomes unstable as the elevation increases.

This festival is celebrated according to the Tibetan calendar. In 2025, the Tiji festival will be celebrated on May 24th, 25th, and 26th.

The Tiji Festival trek is considered moderate/difficult because of the offbeat terrain. If you have good fitness, beginner trekkers can do this trek. However, the daily 6 to 7 hours of walking and the region's remoteness make it challenging.

Yes, it is safe to do the Mustang Tiji festival trek. You will trek with an experienced and reliable guide who will ensure your safety during the trek. Likewise, the locals are also welcoming, and trekkers are not harmed.

Yes, you can talk to the locals during the festival. Most locals understand English a little bit and can communicate in broken English.

No, you cannot use your credit cards from Jomsom onwards. There is no ATM on the Upper Mustang trek route. Likewise, the locals also do not accept payments via credit cards. You have to carry cash for personal express.

The network and internet facility along the Upper Mustang trail is okay. You will get a good network and paid WiFi service in the villages at the lower elevation. However, once the elevation rises, these services get limited.

During the Tiji festival trek, the climate is hot in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Once you start trekking, you will experience warm weather during the daytime and cold mornings and nights.

Be respectful to the locals, do not touch anything without asking, and participate in the rituals if the locals allow you. If you have any questions, ask your guide.

Yes, you can customize the Tiji festival trek to the Tiji festival jeep tour. Contact us to curate the package.

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