Tiji Festival Tour of Upper Mustang

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival in Kathmandu

As you land in Kathmandu and 'pass the immigration procedures you are greeted by a friendly representative of ours at the very gate. You shall then be transferred to your designated hotel in the Kathmandu valley by means of a private vehicle most likely a jeep. For the rest of the day, you could explore the city to your liking. Being said that, you must compensate for a guide yourself if you choose to have the company of someone familiar with the surroundings while making your way through the city

Day 2 : Trip preparation and Kathmandu valley sight-seeing

Today you will spend the day discovering medieval Kathmandu. Venture into Pashupatinath and visit Nepal’s largest Buddhist stupa, the Boudhanath Stupa. Later afternoon you will visit the monkey temple and then stroll around the durbar squares in the evening. Overnight stay at a hotel near Thamel.

Day 3 : Kathmandu to Tatopani Jeep driving

Embark on a journey to Upper Mustang by taking a picturesque Jeep ride from Kathmandu to Tatopani through the Pokhara Valley. This extraordinary Festival tour package offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning beauty and unique culture of the Upper Mustang. After breakfast in Kathmandu, your Upper Mustang Tour commences with a delightful drive that leads you to Pokhara, Beni, covering a distance of around 300 kilometers on a well-kept road. From there, you will drive an additional 20 kilometers to Tatopani, where you can unwind and refresh yourself in the natural hot spring pool situated by the sacred Kali Gandaki River. Throughout the tour, you'll explore a variety of fascinating sites, such as the Kande View Point, the High Bridge of Kusman, and the Natural Hot Spring of Tatopani. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to visit the towns of Kande, Lumle, Kusma, and Beni, which includes Lumle - the region of Nepal that receives the most rainfall. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable journey brimming with awe-inspiring natural beauty, vibrant culture, and cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Day 4 : Tatopani to Kagbeni jeep Driving

During the second day of your Mustang Tiji Festival Tour, you'll head towards the enchanting town of Kagbeni, nestled along the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. The drive spans a distance of 60 kilometers and can take between 6 to 8 hours due to road conditions and frequent stops for capturing photographs, sipping tea, lunch, and other rest periods. This day is packed with thrilling excursions and attractions, such as the Kaligandaki Galchhi, the world's deepest gorge flanked by the peaks of Annapurna I (8091m) and Dhaulagiri (8167m), the Rupse Waterfall, and the charming apple orchard town of Marpha and Tukuche. You'll also explore monasteries and forts in Kagbeni and visit the villages of Dana, Ghasa, Leta, Kalopani, and Kobang, which includes the apple gardens of Tukuche and Marpha villages before eventually reaching the town of Jomsom.

Day 5 : Kagbeni to Ghimi, Passing Nyi La Pass (4010m)

On the 3rd day of the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Tour, you'll traverse the challenging roads that run parallel to the Kali Gandaki River and make your way to Chele, passing through Chuksang, Tange's apple orchards, and red rock hills. After lunch, you'll climb the steep Dajori La Pass, visit the Chungsi Cave, cross the Yamda La Pass, and explore the cultural heritage of the Gurung people in Ghilling village. The day's highlights include the twin bridges over the Kali Gandaki River at Chele, red rock formations, and the Dojari La Pass view.

Day 6 : Ghimi to Lo-Mangthang (3730m)

On the 4th day of the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Tour, we will make our way to the city of Lo Manthang. This will be the shortest driving day of the tour. We'll take in the sights of the land of Lo and the walled city as much as possible. During the journey, we'll cross the Ghimi River, Charang River, and Dokpolo River. Sights to see: The longest mani wall in Upper Mustang, the Tsarang La Pass at 3870 meters, Sungda Chorten, and the Lo (Day) La Pass at 3950 meters near Lo Manthang.

Day 7 : 1st of Tiji Festival

The commencement of the Tiji Festival takes place on the first day at noon, and the locals prepare themselves for the festivities throughout the day. As soon as the festival commences, the air is filled with the sounds of Tibetan horns, Dhungchen, double-reeled horns, drums, and cymbals. The entourage, consisting of local monks and performers, starts the procession from the monastery and heads to the square. They sit under the large Thangka (painting) hung on the southern wall of the square. The next event of the day is the masked dance called "Tsa Chaam,'' which portrays the story of Dorje Jono and his triumph over evil.

Day 8 : 2nd day of Tiji Festival

On the second day of the Tiji Festival, the monks perform the "Nga Cham" dance, which tells the story of Dorje Jono's attempt to return the demon to the Buddha realm. During the performance, female performers don traditional attire and jewelry and come out to the main square. This day's performance is the main highlight that showcases the generation of celestial palaces and deities

Day 9 : 3rd day of Tiji Festival

The final day of the Tiji Festival marks the end of the three-day celebration. It begins with ceremonial music and is followed by the lively "Rha Chaam" masked dance. This performance signifies the triumph of good over evil. In the closing ceremony, all the performers come together, and the atmosphere becomes more festive with music, dance, and the sound of shooting guns. The monk playing the role of Dorjee Sonam concludes the festival by tossing an effigy made from Tsampa (barley), symbolizing the defeat of the demon "Ma Tam Ru Ta.

Day 10 : Lo-Mangthang to Jomsom Jeep drive

After completing the Tiji festival in Upper Mustang we will head towards Jomsom, a major town in the desert valley. After having breakfast, we will embark on the journey, passing through Charang, Chami, Ghiling, Syanoche, Samar, Chele, Chhuksang, Tangbe, Kagbeni, and Ekle Bhatti. Jomsom is the largest settlement on the trail of the Annapurna Circuit Trek, Muktinath Trek, Tour, and Upper Mustang Trek Tour. With a small airport located east of the town, Jomsom serves as a transit point for starting and ending treks and tours in Mustang and Muktinath regions. You will spend the night at a comfortable lodge with a variety of food, drinks, and snacks to choose from.

Day 11 : Jomsom to Pokhara jeep drive

After breakfast in Jomsom, we'll embark on the longest driving day of the itinerary, covering approximately 7 to 9 hours of driving to reach Pokhara. The journey will take us through 85 km of rough roads and 71 km of blacktopped roads. Although we'll be driving on the same route, the views will be different depending on the angle of the sun and the driving direction. We'll pass through Marpha, Tukuche, Kalopani, Leta, Ghasa, Dana, Tatopani, Galeshower, Beni, Nayapul, Lumle, and finally reach Pokhara for dinner and celebration of the successful completion of the Upper Mustang Drive Tour, along with the driver, guide, and support staff. We'll spend the night at our hotel.

Day 12 : Pokhara to Kathmandu Jeep drive

After fueling up with breakfast at our hotel in Pokhara, we embark on a 7-hour journey back to Kathmandu. We'll follow the same highway as we did on day 2 of our Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Tour. Our guide will bid us farewell and drop us off at our hotel, marking the end of this exciting driving adventure in Upper Mustang with Trek Around Himalayas. We'll spend the night at the hotel.

Day 13 : Departure to your destination

Your journey home begins today. Our representatives from Trek Around Himalayas will escort you to the International Airport in accordance with your flight schedule. It's recommended to arrive at the airport three hours before your flight. Trek Around Himalayas will provide a fond farewell, ensuring that your experience with us is remembered forever.