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Lo Manthang

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek 17 days

Based on 10 reviews
duration
Duration

17 Days

difficulty
Trip Difficulty

Moderate

max-altitude
Max. Altitude

4,200m

destination
Destination

Nepal

group-size-icon
Group Size

2-16 pax

accommodation
Accommodation

Hotel, Tea House

transportation
Transportation

Bus , Flight

meals
Meals

B L D

Explore more facts about the trip

Overview of Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek 17 days

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek is a special journey that gives visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step into a land where ancient traditions are still alive. Travelers will immerse themselves in vibrant colors, captivating music, and ancient storytelling in the lost kingdom of Lo Manthang.

For the next 17 days, you will travel to a secluded area situated in the north of Nepal, near the border with Tibet. Here you can explore the area, where you will see the wind-shaped cliffs, profound canyons, and villages that are still following old customs.

Visitors can also see yak caravans that happen to pass by and some ancient monasteries that have been there for hundreds of years. Each step you take on this trek will give mesmerizing moments. Your Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek package begins with your arrival at Kathmandu Airport.

To make your adventure more valuable, you will travel to Kathmandu city the next day, sightseeing the world-famous UNESCO-listed heritages. Next, you will drive to Pokhara, take a flight to Jomsom, and then take a jeep drive to Kagbeni, where you will finally kick off your hiking journey in the Mustang region.

From Kagbeni, you will pass through charming villages such as Chele/Tsaile, Syangmochen, and Charang before reaching Lo Manthang, the ultimate highlight of your journey. While trekking, you will also be able to see the spine-tingling vistas of snow-clad towering peaks, including Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, Tilicho, Thorong, and others in the distance.

You will experience the bustling Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang’s walled city, also known as Tenchi, which lasts three days. During the festival, you can watch the masked monks from Chhode Monastery performing holy dances in elaborate robes and masks with the captivating rhythms of drums and the haunting call of Tibetan horns.
This festival honors the tale of Dorje Jono, who defeats the demon father for protecting the kingdom. It will provide a rare glimpse into Mustang’s preserved way of life from centuries ago. After experiencing this 3-day spectacle in the forbidden city, you will return, passing through Ghami Village, Syangmochen, and Chhusang, and end the trek in Jomsom.

Therefore, to see the Tiji Festival in Upper Mustang, Nepal, a rare event where the age-old tales, holy rites, and stunning views merge to form an amazing 17-day cultural trip, get your calendar marked in May.

  • Safety first, always
  • Best prices guaranteed
  • Expert travel team
  • Easy booking, no extras
  • Customize your journey
5.0

Based on 10 reviews

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Have Questions?

+977 9767224414

Trip Highlights

  • Exploring the last forbidden kingdom, Lo Manthang, a walled city frozen in time
  • Witnessing the three-day Tiji Festival, usually held in May, where you can see masked dances and sacred rituals
  • Starting the hiking adventure from Kagbeni through traditional villages
  • Taking in the spectacular panorama of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Tilicho, Thorong, and nearby peaks
  • Walking among wind-carved cliffs, dramatic canyons, and lunar-like landscapes
  • Discovering centuries-old monasteries and authentic Tibetan Buddhist culture
  • Spotting yak caravans and meeting hospitable locals in timeless villages
  • Returning via Ghami and Chhusang, finishing the adventure in Jomsom

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek 17 days Detail Itinerary

itinerary-icon

After landing at Kathmandu Airport in Nepal, staff members from Morning Star Trek will arrive there to greet you with a garland. They will transfer to your standard hotel in Thamel after helping with the airport check-in process. Then, you can rest in your room after a long flight from your home.

Later, you can meet us in our office for a brief session about the 17-day Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek itinerary. Then, you can return to the hotel after wandering through the bustling alleys of Thamel.

altitude-small

Max. Altitude: 1,324m/4,344ft. (Kathmandu )

accommodation-small

Accommodation: Standard Hotel with bed and breakfast


If our standard itinerary doesn't fully meet your needs, we are happy to tailor it to your specific preferences and requirements.

Includes and Excludes

What’s Included?

  • Airport transfers in Kathmandu, including pickup on arrival and drop-off on departure
  • Tourist bus or private vehicle transport between Kathmandu and Pokhara, both ways
  • Domestic flights between Pokhara and Jomsom, both ways
  • Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu before and after the trek
  • Comfortable teahouse or lodge accommodation during the trek (twin-sharing)
  • Breakfast in Kathmandu hotel, and three meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) each day during the trek
  • Professional, English-speaking trekking guide and required porters
  • Trekking guide salary, insurance, meals, accommodation, equipment, transportation, etc.
  • Seasonal fresh fruit during the trek
  • All necessary trekking permits and national park entry fees
  • Basic medical kit and safety equipment during the trek
  • Sleeping bag, down Jacket, walking poles, duffel bags (you have to return after the trek)
  • Certificate of achievement at the end of the journey
  • Government taxes and agency service charges

What is not Included?

  • International flights to and from Nepal
  • Nepal entry visa fees upon arrival
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
  • Personal expenses such as drinks, snacks, hot showers, Wi-Fi, and device charging
  • Travel insurance that covers medical emergencies and helicopter evacuation
  • Tips for guides, porters, and drivers
  • Extra hotel nights caused by flight delays, early arrival, or late departure
  • Personal Travel insurance and emergency rescue evacuation
  • Extra cost caused by natural or political disturbances beyond our control

Route Map & Altitude Chart

Trip Information of Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek 17 days

Best season and weather

To experience the Tiji Festival at its finest in the Upper Mustang area, attend the festival in Lo Manthang around mid-May. The colorful Tiji Festival, with its plethora of events and activities, is the main attraction. It’s a real feast for the eyes, ears, and soul that the three-day celebration of colorful masked dances, rituals, and traditional ceremonies offers.

In May, the weather in Mustang is quite nice with daytime temperatures of about 70°F (21°C) and nights being a bit cooler, near 55°F (13°C). Truly, spring in Mustang is perfect for trekking; one gets fantastic weather, the sky is clear, and the trails are without snow, making it very comfortable for trekking, and even so, one can have a view of the Himalayas.

During this season, you are guaranteed to have not only the best conditions for trekking, but you will also have the most beautiful and memorable trek through the mysterious “Forbidden Kingdom” of Upper Mustang.

Difficulty

The 17-day Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek itinerary offers a moderately demanding journey in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal. You will be involved in daily walks of 5 to 7 hours and reach the highest altitude of around 4200 meters.

You don’t have to be skilled in mountain climbing, but you must be ready to face obstacles like long hours of hiking, high altitude, and steep paths. Being well prepared and packing right is the key to overcoming the difficulties of this 17-day journey. Our Morning Star Trek guide will also assist you 24/7 during the trek.

Altitude Sickness

Trekking in Upper Mustang involves gradual ascents to high elevations, with the highest point reaching around 3840 meters in Lo Manthang. So, there is a chance of getting acute mountain sickness (AMS) when walking above 3000 meters with mild symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, and so on.

So, the key to staying away from altitude sickness is pacing slowly, resting, proper acclimatization, and drinking a lot of water. The itinerary provided by the Morning Star Trek for the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek package allows sufficient rest at each stop, ensuring the body adjusts naturally.

Preparation and Fitness

If you want to go on the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek, which is known to be a moderately complex adventure, then you need to work on your endurance by doing regular light exercises like hiking, jogging, running, cycling, or doing some cardio exercises, before starting your trip in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal.

Moreover, if you work on your legs and core, the uphill and the downhill parts will be easier for you when you walk, and stretching will give you more flexibility and fewer aches. With decent fitness and proper preparation, even an inexperienced person can do this trek and take pleasure in the beautiful scenery and the vibrant Tiji Festival without sweating or facing any other problems.

Food and Accommodation

Morning Star Trek will handle all your accommodation and food while trekking in the Upper Mustang region. You will stay in a hotel with a bed and breakfast plan while you are in Pokhara and Kathmandu. From Kagbeni, the starting point of the trek, you will be lodged in a local teahouse.

These teahouses offer a clean room with two beds and shared bathrooms. The reservation during the Tiji Festival fills so fast, so you have to book early for the accommodations in Lo Manthang. Although teahouses have simple facilities, the warm hospitality and their home-cooked meals will fill your heart, offering unforgettable memories during the 17-day Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek itinerary.

In the food options, you will be served with authentic special local dishes like Dal Bhat, Tsampa (roasted barley flour), Thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup), Momos (dumplings), and Tibetan bread. You can also enjoy warm beverages like butter tea, milk tea, and local chyang that will keep you cozy and energized during the high-elevation Tiji Festival.

Transportation

On your Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek, you will be provided with the luxury of the airport hotel transfer, both at the time of arrival and departure, which is a part of our Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek package. You will get the pleasure of a tourist bus ride while going to Pokhara from Kathmandu city, which will take you through the varying beautiful landscapes of Nepal.

Likewise, you will be flying from Pokhara to Jomsom. Our package does not include the flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu. There will be an additional cost for the ticket if you want to upgrade your flight, so please inform us beforehand. You will then be taken to Kagbeni Village by a shared jeep from Jomsom.

Communication

Maintaining contact in Upper Mustang is challenging due to its remote location at high altitude. The mobile network is minimal, and Wi-Fi is rare, which is available primarily in Lo-Manthang by prepaid connections. Visitors should have a SIM card that covers their trip or a satellite communication device in case of an emergency.

Limited communication makes this a perfect break from your regular digital routine, allowing you to fully enjoy the fantastic scenery of the area, the rich Tibetan culture, and the lively Tiji Festival, which will make your stay memorable with unforgettable memories away from constant online distractions.

Permit

Upper Mustang of Nepal falls under the restricted region, so every foreign trekker around the world must get a special Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to enter. This permit price is 500 USD per individual, which is issued for a minimum of ten days, even if your visit is less than ten days.

If your visit extends more than 10 days, you will be charged 50 USD per individual per day. On the other hand, you will also require a Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) card and an ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) permit to trek in Upper Mustang of Nepal legally. If you fail to show these permits, strict actions may be taken against you, or you will not be allowed to enter.

Travel Insurance

It is recommended that you carry a travel insurance policy that will cover the entire Tiji Festival Trek Lo Manthang excursion.  A travel insurance coverage protects the traveler from unexpected events such as cancellations, delays, lost luggage, sickness, or evacuation in an emergency.  Mishaps can occur even on the most precisely planned vacation with skilled guides.

The right insurance will cover you for the most minor trekking incidents, such as a sprain, and the largest medical emergencies and natural disasters, providing the assurance you need during your travels. Travel with a happy heart, knowing your travel insurance is your protective angel throughout the journey.

Extra Expenses

The Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek package cost does not contain meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara, except a hearty breakfast with a warm drink (tea or coffee). It will also not include your expenses, such as bar bills, battery charges, Wi-Fi connections, bottled water purchases, hot showers, or additional porterage.

Furthermore, it does not cover tips for guides and staff, which are customary. Moreover, you will also be required to pay for travel insurance, domestic flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara, and entry fees for sightseeing, monasteries, photography, and videography. You will be responsible for paying for any additional services that are not included in the “Includes” section.

Private vs. group trek

A 17-day Tiji Festival trek in Upper Mustang is available both as a private and group trek. With private treks, you can hike at your own pace, stay a bit longer at scenic spots, and have a journey that’s more customized and personal, reflecting the Mustang’s peculiar nature.

People who enjoy nature and share a hike are brought closer together by a shared experience, which allows them to deeply engage with their stories, laughter, and festival energy. Any of these options will provide you with breathtaking views and full attendance at the Tiji Festival, so you can decide to experience a beautiful, peaceful trip or an exciting hike with other adventurers.

Most Asked Questions

General General

Preparation & Fitness Preparation & Fitness

Insurance and Visa Insurance and Visa

Guides & Support Staff Guides & Support Staff

Accommodation and Facilities Accommodation and Facilities

Food and Drinks Food and Drinks

Weather & Seasons Weather & Seasons

Health & Safety Health & Safety

Booking & Payment Booking & Payment

Transportation & Flight Transportation & Flight

  • Safety first, always
  • Best prices guaranteed
  • Expert travel team
  • Easy booking, no extras
  • Customize your journey
5.0

Based on 10 reviews

profile-exp

Have Questions?

+977 9767224414