Mustang Tiji Festival Trek

The major part of the day will be spent on applying for permits and getting all the necessary documents approved before heading to Upper Mustang. In the meantime, you can make a quick visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square. Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, and Boudhanath are also popular travel destinations in the valley. These UNESCO world heritage sites are remarkable monuments that represent the culture and social norms of Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu.

The first leg of the journey involves heading to Pokhara. The drive goes through small settlements like Damauli and Kurintar on the way to Pokhara. Upon arrival in Pokhara, you can make a brief stop at Lakeside and visit Phewa Lake and the Tal Barahi temple. Head to Davis Falls and the Bat Cave as well. Overnight in Pokhara.

Have a quick breakfast, and then get on a flight that leads to Jomsom. Jomsom is the headquarters of Mustang and is the major village in the Kali Gandaki area. We shall walk on the Kali Gandaki river bed, and take a quick stop at Ekle Bhatti. We continue the journey until we arrive at Kagbeni which is the official entry point to Upper Mustang. Overnight in Kagbeni.

Initially, we shall have our permits checked, and then we need to walk through the sandy trails along the Kali Gandaki River. The narrow alleys and barley fields take us to Tangbe and then we trek forward to reach Chhusang. Further ahead, you trek past a huge rock and walk along the barren ridges to reach Chele. Overnight in Chele.

The trek takes us along the arduous trail to the Taklam La Pass (3624m) which provides a surreal picture of the Tilicho Peak (6920m) and the looming Damodar Danda. A short climb takes us to Samar, and then we visit the Rachung Cave to reach Shyangbochen. It is a small settlement that is home to Gurung’s and the people here use juniper leaves as incense. Overnight in Shyangbochen.

From Shyangbochen, we shall head towards Dhakmar. As the trail is dusty and prone to strong winds, we begin the trek early in the morning. On the way to Dhakmar, we head to the top of the Nyi La Pass (4010m). The pass offers mesmerizing views of the Annapurna and Nilgiri ranges. Further, we trek to Dhakmar along with the views of the red cliffs. Overnight in Dhakmar.

Today, we shall trek to Lo Manthang, and along the way, we observe the remarkable Himalayas in the Nilgiri, Tilicho, and Annapurna ranges. We cross the Tsarang Chu canyon and ascend gently to reach the top of the Lo La Pass (3950m). From here, we descend to the forbidden Kingdom of Lo Manthang. En route to Lo Manthang, you can visit the Ghar Gompa which is believed to be more than 1200 years old. The Gompa has ties with Guru Rinpoche and Padmasambhava. Overnight in Lo Manthang.

Today is the first day of the Tiji festival. During this day, we enjoy the dances by monks. They put on grand costumes and masks, and perform traditional dance rituals. The Lamas and monks of the Nyigmapa community play the music and wear traditional dresses and jewelry. You can also enjoy horse racing and tug of war. Overnight in Lo-Manthang.

The second day of the Tiji festival involves us visiting the Namgyal Gompa and Thinggar Monastery. The Namgyal Gompa sits on top of a hill and then we explore the ancient artifacts in Thinggar. Then, we can visit the red Thubchen Gompa as well. If you want, then you can take a quick stroll in the Raja palace to get a quick insight into the panorama of the Himalayas. Overnight in Lo-Manthang.

The final day of the Tiji festival ends with the destruction of the evil forces which is represented by long black yak hair and red gurry. The remnants of the demon, are placed on a tiger skin and attacked by bow and arrows. Each arrow attack is celebrated with loud cheers and prayers of good wishes. Spend the night by drinking cold drinks and traditional food. Overnight in Lo-Manthang.

The road to Ghami takes us through the alpine meadows and into Lo Gekar. The trail crosses a pass at an altitude of 4000 meters and then descends beside a stream. We will get final glimpses of Ghar Gompa. At Ghami, we can see numerous small houses draped in white. Ghami is surrounded by a large barren field and offers a brilliant introduction to the Tibetan culture and traditions. Overnight in Ghami.

The road descends down the valley to Ghiling and later the trail becomes dusty. The plateau is dry with small crop fields in between. The winds in the Kali Gandaki valley are strong so be careful. We arrive at Samar in midafternoon. It is another village in Upper Mustang where the local residents follow the Tibetan lifestyle. Overnight in Samar.

The journey takes us through the banks of the Kali Gandaki and along the sparse vegetation. On arrival at Kagbeni, we are greeted by apple orchards and a small settlement. There is an old monastery there which is also worth a visit. Spend the day by interacting with the locals and learning their way of life. Overnight in Kagbeni.

From Kagbeni, we shall make our way back to Jomsom by using the same trail we had used before. The road is dusty and windy so, be careful. We need to walk through Ekle Bhatti and some rugged terrain. Visit the apple orchards in Jomsom and then head to your lodge. In the evening, you can also celebrate the successful completion of the trek. Overnight in Jomsom.

The motive for the day involves heading back to Pokhara by flight. The flight provides amazing glimpses of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountains. In Pokhara, you can shop for souvenirs in Lakeside and go boating on Phewa Lake. You can also shop for gifts and souvenirs. Overnight in Pokhara.

The journey for the day takes us through the Prithvi Highway and into Kathmandu. The journey covers a total of 200 km and we shall take a quick break in Kurintar. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to your hotel. You can spend the day of the day shopping for souvenirs in Thamel. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today is your last day in Nepal and our representative will drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport for your final departure. We hope that your adventure with us has been a memorable one and look forward to seeing you again.