Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek

Our representative meets our team at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers us to our hotel in the city. We gather in the afternoon for a pre-trip briefing regarding route conditions, safety protocols, and gear distribution.

We spend the day organizing our duffel bags and daypacks for the trail ahead. Porters manage the heavy gear while we review our equipment and complete final preparations in Thamel.

We take an early morning flight lasting 25 to 30 minutes from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The rest of the day is spent resting by Phewa Lake and preparing for the drive north.

Our private vehicle carries us along the highway past Beni before following the off-road route along the Kali Gandaki River. We arrive in Kagbeni, the gateway to Upper Mustang, with views of Nilgiri and Tilicho Peak.

We officially begin our trek along the eastern bank of the Kali Gandaki River, passing apple orchards and local settlements. After crossing a suspension bridge at Chhusang, we climb steeply to reach Chele at 3050 m.

Our trail ascends through rugged desert terrain and high mountain passes, including Taklam La and Yamdo La. We descend into Geling at 3570 m after 5 to 6 hours of walking.

We cross the Nyi La pass and visit ancient monastic settlements before descending into the large village of Charang. The route showcases extensive chortens and traditional mud-brick houses.

We walk across barren plateau country toward the walled city of Lo Manthang at 3810 m. Upon arrival, we settle into our lodge and prepare for the festival days ahead.

We spend the day in the central square of Lo Manthang observing the opening ceremonies and masked monk dances of the Tiji Festival. Local families gather in traditional attire to witness the rituals.

Our second day at the festival features elaborate performances symbolizing the subjugation of demons and the protection of the harvest. We also explore nearby monastic quarters when time permits.

The festival concludes with the final dispelling rituals and celebratory prayers for peace. We join the community in marking the end of this annual cycle.

We leave Lo Manthang and take an alternate route past ancient red cliffs and cave systems. We descend to Dhakmar, known for its striking geological formations.

Our trail climbs past remote grazing pastures before dropping into Shyangmochen. We navigate rolling hills and dry terrain under steady winds.

We retrace portions of our northern route through small desert hamlets, dropping in elevation as we follow the river south toward Chhusang.

We leave the Mustang restricted corridor and climb toward the sacred temple complex of Muktinath. Pilgrims gather around the 108 water spouts and eternal flame.

We board a morning vehicle from Muktinath down through Jomsom and the Kali Gandaki gorge back to Pokhara. We enjoy a final evening by the lake with our team.

We complete our journey with a flight or drive back to Kathmandu along the Prithvi Highway. Our team transfers us to our hotel, concluding the expedition.