Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek

Morning depart from the hotel where our city guide takes you around great places of interest with tour of world heritage sites, with time in the afternoon preparation for the trek.

Morning as per group size either in coach or tourist bus and car to reach Nepal Mid West at scenic city of Pokhara, as journey takes you through rural farm villages and towns to reach at Pokhara by its calm Phewa Lake where hotels are located.

(Flying options 30 minutes of scenic flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu)

Morning short and scenic flight to reach Jomsom from Pokhara, Jomsom a large town and headquarter of whole Mustang area, located on a shelf of Kali-Gandaki River. From Jomsom where adventure starts towards wide Kali-Gandaki River valley to reach at Kagbeni village, an important place to enter into Upper Mustang and beyond as far towards Tibet border, on this ancient Trans Himalayan Salt Trade Route of Nepal and Tibet.

After Kagbeni around this exciting village, a short uphill walk to reach an open and wide areas within high canyon with towering eroded cliffs as walk leads to Tiri-Gaon village. Walk around scenic landscapes with few short ups and down with winding path to Chele village for overnight stop, Chele also spelled as ‘Tshele’ a moderate size village here from onward into more Buddhism culture similar to Tibetan traditional life.

With pleasant overnight at Chele / Tsele village, journey continues with a climb to Gyakar village, within wide barren and arid terrain to reach Samar village, a lovely village along the route as well explore interesting Ramchung Cave.

After few stops as walk continues towards a small settlement of Bhena, and then leading to a steep uphill to Yamda La top at 3,860 meters a small pass, offering glorious views of Mustang wide valley including high peaks with Mt. Dhaulagiri mountain range. After an enjoyable stop with the striking views, descend all the way to Syangboche village for overnight stop.

After a pleasant and wonderful stop at Charang / Tsarang, morning with time to visit village old monastery here observe Buddhist prayer wheels propelled by fast flowing streams of water, after an interesting tour of the Gompa / monastery, walk continues to Ghami village with majestic views of dry and arid country with distant snow capped peaks and crossing two high ridge / passes with downhill to reach a nice village at Ghami for overnight stop.

Morning leads to cross over Ghami Khola (stream) and then following a long row of interesting Mani walls (holy prayer stone) to reach at Dhakmar village, after a short rest here, where good walk brings of another few hours brings you at overnight stop in Charang or Tsarang village.

An attractive village encircled by large crops fields with buck wheat’s and barley the only crops that can be grown on this high elevation and cold climate, at Charang / Tsarang after getting organized in local lodge or guesthouse for overnight stop, with time to visit another monastery of Charang village.

Walk to reach our main highlights of the adventure heading higher side of Upper Mustang where Lo Manthang a former walled kingdom located, a short walk of 4-5 hrs to reach to Lo Manthang for lunch and overnight stop, walk follows a gentle path and then crossing a steel bridge to reach at Marang village, from here the trail winds up to a ridge top to a Buddhist monument called Chorten with mani stones in between Charang and Lo Manthang, offers grand views of dramatic landscapes which is an extension of Tibetan plateau facing Nilgiri’s, Tilicho and Bhrikuti mountains.

After a wonderful scenery walk leads to a climb over Lo La pass at above 3,950 meters high and then downhill to a stream with an hour walk to enter walled village / town of Lo Manthang and then into a nice lodge for overnight stops right time where Tiji Festival begins with full of activities around Lo –Manthang and at the monasteries complex.

We have two days to observe and as well be a part of the great colorful Tije festival and observe ‘Chasing of the Demons’, as high priest and lama (monk) perform as this is an old ceremony where masked dancers chase demons away from Lo Manthang and all part of Mustang area.

Gripping human skull-tops laced with streamers, lamas chant prayers and perform, almost 50 separate religious dances. They are interrupted now by masked demons who flail wooden swords at the frightened spectators.

An interesting, exciting place as well highest overnight stop of the journey, morning after breakfast explore around important places and a worth a visit to the palace like fort, where all houses are of Tibetan style with strong influence and way of life also, visit through narrow lane and streets of the village.

Lo-Manthang houses four major monasteries the Namgyal Gompa, Champa Lakhang (God House), Red Thubchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa and the great Entrance Hall.

Rest of the day enjoy the colorful and active Tiji Festival and be a part of the event mixing and catching the lively local culture of immense interest and worth the experience to be on this impressive Tiji Festival started since past hundreds of centuries ago.

After a wonderful time at Lo-Manthang, where our trek ends for a day to reach back at Jomsom, as walk leads around scenic country with fabulous views of peaks and amazing landscapes to reach at Ghami after a long-days walks after a great interesting time at Lo-Manthang observing Tiji Festival.

Retrace the journey on the same scenic trails allows you to see more of this picturesque country within dramatic landscapes with high snow peaks in the distant, crossing smaller passes to reach at Chele / Tshele for overnight stop after a long stretch of beautiful walk of the day.

Starting early as possible for the longest day walks of the adventure, where trail stretches with some climbs and heading into more descend with alluring views of surrounding magnificent scenery with refreshing stops in between to reach at Kagbeni village, at the end of Upper Mustang route.

From here anothers hours of good walk along wide Kaligandaki River Valley to reach our last overnight stops around Mustang at Jomsom, and relax in the comfort of nice lodge and hotels.

From the hotel or lodge a short walk to Jomsom airport terminal, to catch early morning flight of less than half hour to reach beautiful Pokhara for overnight stop by its serene calm Phewa Lake.

During air in small aircraft with exciting views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna peaks as plane lands at Pokhara, a renowned touristic spot of Nepal and in all Himalaya regions a city blessed with mountains, green hills and valley including its serene Lakes of Phewa and Begnas. 

Enjoying pleasant overnight stop at magnificent Pokhara by its beautiful Phewa Lake with super views of Annapurna Mountains, where an exciting drive brings you back at Kathmandu with memorable moments around Upper Mustang and having glorious time observing Tiji Festival, rest of the afternoon free at leisure.

(Options for scenic flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu of 30 minutes)

Last day in Nepal with memorable times and experience on Upper Mustang Tiji Festival trekking, as time for your international flight and then depart from the hotel, where our staff and guide transfers you for your flight homeward bound.