Trip overview
Upper Mustang trek during the Tiji Festival
A trek to the Tiji Festival in Upper Mustang combines an adventurous journey through Nepal’s high desert landscapes with the chance to witness one of the most unique cultural events in the region. The Tiji Festival trek takes you deep into the former kingdom of Lo, offering stunning Himalayan views, centuries-old monasteries, and an immersion in Tibetan Buddhist traditions centered around the Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang.
The Upper Mustang Trek takes you into the remote and culturally rich region of Upper Mustang, often referred to as the “Last Forbidden Kingdom.” Known for its arid landscapes, centuries-old monasteries, and unique Tibetan culture, this trek offers a different Himalayan experience. Himalaya View Treks team are familiar with Tiji festival and Mustang region of Nepal.
Tiji Festival Trek Overview
- Duration: 15–17 days (including travel to and from Kathmandu)
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
- Highest Point: Lo La Pass (3,950m)
- Best Time: Spring (April to May) to coincide with the Tiji Festival
- Permit Requirements: Restricted Area Permit (USD 500 for 10 days) and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
Highlights of the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival
- Unique Tibetan Culture: The Upper Mustang’s rich culture, influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, is showcased in the Tiji Festival’s rituals and dances.
- Ancient Architecture: Lo Manthang’s fortified walls, palaces, and centuries-old monasteries provide insight into Mustang’s history.
- Stunning Landscapes: Mustang’s high desert, deep valleys, and snow-capped peaks offer a unique, surreal Himalayan experience.
- Mystical Tiji Festival: The festival itself is a highlight, with vibrant cham dances, traditional Tibetan costumes, and prayers for peace and prosperity.
Important Tips for the Tiji Festival Trek
- Booking: Due to high demand during the Tiji Festival, book permits, accommodations, and flights in advance.
- Acclimatization: Although there are no extreme altitudes, take the itinerary seriously for acclimatization.
- Weather: The spring season (April to May) is ideal for trekking and attending the Tiji Festival, with stable weather and clear skies.
- Tiji Festival will be 3 days starting 14th May and ending 16th May 2026
The Tiji Festival Trek is a truly special experience. It offers an in-depth look into the Mustang region’s spiritual life, set against a backdrop of spectacular landscapes and Himalayan peaks.
Short Itinerary
TIJI FESTIVAL ITINERARY 2026
May 07, Day 1: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara (823m) Take a short flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and enjoy the day exploring this beautiful lakeside city, preparing for the trek.
May 08, Day 2: Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom (2,720m) and Trek to Kagbeni (2,810m) Flight Duration: 20 minutes, Trek Duration: 3–4 hours, Fly to Jomsom, the gateway to Upper Mustang. From Jomsom, start trekking along the Kali Gandaki River valley to Kagbeni, a charming village at the entrance to Upper Mustang.
May 09, Day 3: Kagbeni to Chele (3,050m)Trek Duration: 5–6 hours, Description: Enter the restricted area of Upper Mustang. Trek through narrow gorges, ancient caves, and barren landscapes, passing small villages and reaching Chele.
May 10, Day 4: Chele to Syangboche (3,800m) Trek Duration: 6–7 hours. Cross several passes, including Taklam La (3,624m), with views of Tilicho Peak and Yakawa Kang. Pass through villages like Samar and descend into Syangboche.
May 11, Day 5: Syangboche to Ghami (3,520m) Trek Duration: 5–6 hours, Continue through desert-like terrain and cross the Yamda La (3,850m). Pass through picturesque villages, barley fields, and mani walls to reach Ghami.
May 12, Day 6: Ghami to Tsarang (3,560m) Trek Duration: 4–5 hours, Description: Cross the Ghami La Pass and trek along one of the longest mani walls in Nepal. The trail descends to Tsarang, a village with an ancient palace and red gompa (Buddhist monastery).
May 13, Day 7: Tsarang to Lo Manthang (3,840m) Trek Duration: 4–5 hours, Trek through arid landscapes and cross the Lo La Pass (3,950m). Descend into the walled city of Lo Manthang, the capital of the former Kingdom of Mustang, known for its ancient palaces and monasteries.
May 14/15/16 Day 8-10: Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang, Spend three days in Lo Manthang, fully immersed in the Tiji Festival. Watch monks in colorful costumes and masks perform sacred cham dances that depict the victory of good over evil. Visit local monasteries, explore the ancient city, and interact with locals.
May 17, Day 11: Lo Manthang to Dhakmar (3,810m) Trek Duration: 6–7 hours, Begin the return journey via an alternate route. Trek through colorful landscapes, passing the Ghar Gompa, one of the oldest monasteries in Mustang, and reach Dhakmar.
May 18, Day 12: Dhakmar to Ghiling (3,806m) Trek Duration: 5–6 hours, Continue descending along the rugged trails, enjoying views of unique rock formations and red cliffs. Reach the traditional village of Ghiling.
May 19, Day 13: Ghiling to Chhuksang (2,920m) Trek Duration: 5–6 hours, Trek back through familiar trails, descending steadily with views of Nilgiri and other peaks. Reach the riverside village of Chhuksang.
May 20, Day 14: Chhuksang to Jomsom (2,720m) Trek Duration: 6–7 hours, the final day of trekking takes you back to Jomsom. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Kali Gandaki River before reaching Jomsom.
May 21, Day 15: Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara and Return to Kathmandu, Fly back to Pokhara from Jomsom, then continue to Kathmandu, concluding your journey.
Included
- Kathmandu to Pokhara and Pokhara to Kathmandu by Tourist bus
- Both way flight tickets Pokhara / jomsom / pokhara
- TIM’s card permit, ACAP permit, and Uper Mustang special trekking permit
- Water purification drop or tablets for safe drinking water
- Two night hotel in Pokhara
- Company T-shirt as a Souvenirs, and duffle bag if needed
- Government licensed holder, fluent English Speaking Familiar Himalaya view Treks guide, 1 assistant guide if Group sizes is more than 10 trekkers) one guide lead up to 10 trekkers.
- Strong local Porters for Carry trekker’s luggage, One porter every 2 trekkers, Porter carry maximum 20 Kg. 10 Kg per trekkers.
- All meals (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during your Upper Mustang Trek with 14 nights Hotel Accommodation
- Cost Includes Guides and porters meals, accommodation, Salary, insurance, transportation, and needed equipment for the Trekking
- Seasonal fresh fruits every day during Mustang Trek
- Local government, taxes, including official Service Charge
- Oximeter to measure Pulse and oxygen level
- Trip completion Certificate
Not Included
- Hotel accommodation and meals In Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Personal expense (shopping, snacks, boil bottle water, hot (tea, coffee) and cold drinks, hot shower, alcohol, Wi-Fi, telephone call, battery charge fee during the Mustang Trek)
- Personal clothing and trekking gear
- Personal travel insurance including evacuation coverage (compulsory) up to 6000m)
- Additional costs if delays flights and outside the itinerary
- All the costs and expenses which are not mentioned in includes list.
- Tips for guide and porters in end of the treks
Quick Enquiry
Trips Reviews
jordan h2026-02-11Poon hill trek 🫶 I had an amazing time during my four day poon hill trek and want to thank my amazing guide Anil for being there with me!! 🫂🙏If you have thought about trekking in Nepal but feel overwhelmed by the idea of that, don’t fear! With the careful planning and execution by the trekking company you don’t have anything to worry about. Everything was organised carefully and although it is sometimes challenging it’s also made comfortable to enjoy with the help of your guide. Anil was amazing at checking in making sure I was comfortable, organising all my meals and helping with overnight stays as well as offering me friendly company and laughs throughout and his extreme patience has not gone unnoticed. Thanks so much for looking after me on this trek, I had an amazing time on the mountain and felt inspired and grounded. I leave with a special place for this area in my heart. I feel like I learnt so much on my short time in the mountain ⛰️ Thank you Anil and thanks to the tour company for putting together such a special achievable first trek in this beautiful country 🇳🇵CHI WONG2025-12-11很好的徒步經驗 很好的團隊，會有詳細的計劃及介紹，會根據我們的身體狀況及適應程度而作出調整。徒步過程中亦幫忙拍了很多很漂亮的照片，使我們能留下寶貴的回憶。Josh C2025-12-03Excellent trip Suraj our guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable and attentive. Would highly recommend. The porters were great fun too. Best holiday we’ve been on.Luigi A2025-11-12Langtang trek Weather on our 1st day was rainy but the rest were sunny. Langtang is the best place if you really wanna experience the Tibetan culture. Tiring but worth every experience. Thank you Somit for keeping me safe and for a smooth ascent! 🙂Hillel K2025-11-11Amazing Best team very kind and present for what we needThank you to sujan guide and porter manoj for everything I recommend reallyAmélia D2025-11-01Amazing trek with an amazing guide We did the langtang valley trek with this agency. It was an amazing experience. We just showed up to their office and were taken care of right away. Our guide Suraj was AMAZING. I can’t recommend him enough. He made sure that we were comfortable at all moments of the trek, and he gave us so many informations on the region and answered every questions we had. When I come back to Nepal, i will ask for him again for sure.antoinep2025-11-01Best Langtang Valley Trek experience I had an amazing time in the Langtang Valley with my guide Suraj. I would recommend 100% booking with this agency and asking for Suraj as your guide. I will definitly come back to Nepal for more trekking with this agency.Chiara S2025-10-29EBC trek with female guide october 2025 My EBC trek was an amazing experience! Everything was very well organized, and my female guide Samikshya Bajagain took great care of me throughout the journey. Even when things didn’t go exactly as planned, she handled every situation very professionally and with a positive attitude. I always felt safe and supported. The company leader Simbir Ghale was always available and found a solution for everything. I highly recommend trekking with her and with the company — a truly great experience!Erica and John W2025-10-29Mardi Himalaya Trek My husband John and myself cannot fault our trek to Mardi Himal with Guide/porter Suza. It was a Nepali Festival time and the track was very busy. Suza made sure we had comfortable lodgings by booking ahead. We never had to worry about not having somewhere to lay down and rest our tired legs!! He was easy company always around if we needed anything. He joined us playing cards in the evenings - winning too often! We had to change the schedule a bit due to unpredicted weather (rain) - no problem Suza ‘s experience and local knowledge made this easy too. Thanks Suza, we’re really happy to have had you as our guide and really enjoyed the trek.Quest481760419722025-10-23Amazing guide company Annapurna Base Camp 10 days(Oct. 9-18) trek with 6 people, 1 guide and 1 porter.We stopped by the Kathmandu office the day before to pay with a credit card, and the owner, Simbir, was kind enough to cash in at a good rate, and to accompany our guide, Sujan, to buy SIM cards and medicine.The next day, Sujan came to pick us up in a Jeep at a hostel in Pokhara, and stopped by for shopping and stuff on the way to the trailhead.My guide Sujan, who is young at 23, was very accommodating and well organised every day, checking on everyone and arranging food and accommodation. The hot springs also made for a great time, and I am grateful for the great trekking.If I had the chance again, I would love to ask this Himalaya View Treks again.
Luka Horvat2025-12-23Great experience! Did the Langtang Valley trek with Sofi, everything was well organised and taken care of.A Daoust2025-11-01We did the langtang valley trek with this agency. It was an amazing experience. We just showed up to their office and were taken care of right away. Our guide Suraj was AMAZING. I can’t recommend him enough. He made sure that we were comfortable at all moments of the trek, and he gave us so many informations on the region and answered every questions we had. When I come back to Nepal, i will ask for him again for sure.Chiara S.2025-10-29My EBC trek was an amazing experience! Everything was very well organized, and my female guide Samikshya took great care of me throughout the journey. Even when things didn’t go exactly as planned, she handled every situation very professionally and with a positive attitude. I always felt safe and supported. The company leader Simbir Ghale was always available and found a solution for everything. I highly recommend trekking with her and with the company — a truly great experience!John Chong2025-10-02I completed an unforgettable 11-day trek to Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp with Himalaya View Treks, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. The company was incredibly flexible and well-organized, tailoring the trip to our preferences and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Our guide Suraj kept us motivated and informed throughout, while our porter Anil was always cheerful and helpful — both were fantastic. Special thanks to Simbir for coordinating everything so efficiently and making the whole journey seamless. The stunning views, rich culture, and the team’s support made this adventure truly memorable. Highly recommended!Armando Navarro2025-05-22The 12-day EBC trek with this agency was awesome, the manager was very attentive since the first contact and explained every question with detail. During the trek my guide Anil was excellent, he knows the mountains very well and helps you whenever you need something.Sanjeev Sawai2025-04-06Very helpful team.Alexander Rylkov2025-03-22outstanding trekking agency that truly understands the needs of its clients and offers the best possible solutions!Lucy Fulloon2025-01-26Very professional and wonderful team! Everything was super well organised and the guides are lovely and very knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend Mane as a guide he was lovely. Felt very safe and respected as a solo female traveller, it was a once in a lifetime experience to do the Mardi Himal TrekNathalie B.2024-11-28I planned a 12 days trek by myself but I was looking for a guide. 3 days before leaving to Nepal I have found the agency Himalaya View Treks. From the start the communication was open and easy. Everthing was taken care of only in a few days for everthing to be ready when I arrived. I met my guide in Pokhara. We had beautiful moments together. I really recommand to trek with *Bishal Kulung Rai*. I felt very confortable with him. We had really nice talks but he knew also when to give me the time alone that I was looking for during this trek. He was very supportive, helpful and flexible regarding my requests. In overall, it was a perfect experience ! 🙏🏻💜🏔️🇳🇵
