Tiji festival Trek - Upper Mustang Tiji Festival 2023

After taking breakfast, we will start historical tour : Swayambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar Square and Pashupatinath Temple. After finishing city tour, you can do shopping / preparing Tiji Festival Trek if you need to buy or hire anything which you forget to bring with you. 

• Meals: Breakfast.
• Accommodation: Three Star Hotel.

After taking breakfast, we will take Tourist bus and start journey towards Pokhara with your guide. To reach Pokhara, it will take 6-7 hours and can enjoy wonderful small greenery mountain. On tthe way , you will see one of the famous river Trishuli for White Water Rafting also. 

Overnight in Pokhara.  

• Meals: Breakfast.
• Accommodation: Three Star Hotel.
• Location: Pokhara.

After taking breakfast, transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Jomsom of 20 minutes over the mountains with views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, brings you at Jomsom, the district headquarter of Mustang. Jomsom is also major village on the Kaligandaki area linking the age old trans-Himalayan salt trade route to Tibet. From Jomsom onwards it is very windy in the afternoon, continue on the path on the Kali Gandaki river bed for 3 hours and finally reached Ekle Bhatti village . In Kagbeni a major tributary, Kak Khola coming from Muktinath , meets Mustang Khola from there the river is called the Kali Gandaki . 

Overnight in Ekle Bhatti . 

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Ekle Bhatti
• Altitude: 2810m.

After doing the formalities of showing your restricted area trekking permit in Kagbeni we start our trekking because in Mustang there is heavy wind which gets up later in the day, blowing dust and sand around. The climb from Kagbeni to Chele passes through beautiful village of Tangbe, which offers white washed traditional houses and fields of barley, buckwheat’s and apple orchards. On the way we enjoy good views of Nilgiri mountain .Passing several ridges we cross a stream after Chhusang village, leave the Kaligandaki valley behind and climb further to the village of Chele. From Chele we start observing the typical Tibetan settlements of Upper Mustang .Overnight in Chele. Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Chele
• Altitude: 3050m.

After taking breakfast, we start our trek through a forest of small trees and green bushes which are able to survive in the narrow gorge because the high vertical walls keep them cool and sufficiently moist. Soon the valley broadens out and we can see walls built in front of caves which are temporary homes for the herders whose animals graze here. Sometimes it is possible to see the rare blue mountain sheep in this area. After about one hour we are on a pass offering a good view towards Samar, the Kali Gandaki valley and snow-capped peaks in the distance. After Samar we cross a side-valley, descending to its base and crossing over a creek, before we trek all the way up again on the other side. From Samar is a red painted cave monastery, which looks as if it has been stuck on to the vertical wall. This is Rangchyung chorten(the chorten that formed itself’), one of the most sacred places in Mustang. The walk to Shyangboche can seem never-ending. It is fairly easy, but a constant climb with the destination nowhere in sight, until, finally, a cluster of houses appears. It is much colder in Shyangboche. Overnight in Syangboche. Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Shyangboche
• Altitude: 3800m.

After taking breakfast we start our trekking. Today we pass three high passes with in 15 min. Yanda La, and passed a distinctive red chorten painted with Buddhism’s eight auspicious symbols and terraced valley with groups of yellowish trees appears and above the village of Ghelung are two red Gompas. Unlike other villages in Mustang, where the houses are built close together and look fortress-like, Ghelung is spread out wide on a patch of green grass and gives the impression of being a fairly affluent little community. Rising above the village are barren, brown hills and we can see the Nyi La pass straight ahead. The path descends gradually towards the Ghami La pass and on the way we see a rundown, deserted village downstream. Another broad valley comes in from the left-hand side and in its centre is Ghami, Mustang’s third largest town, which is high above the river and surrounded by fields. Overnight in Ghemi. Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Ghemi
• Altitude: 3520m.

We see the Mustang’s longest Mani wall (1000m) long and decorated with simple in well with the surrounding scenery outside the Ghemi. There is also a group of chortens standing in front of the red wall which forms the end of the valley. The architecture here is like carvings, blending organic extension of nature. According to legend when the famous Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) came to the area and fought and destroyed a demon, its intestines landed at the site where the Mani wall stands, its lungs near the red cliffs behind and its heart at the spot where Mustang’s oldest monastery, Lo Gekar, was built. A steady climb takes us up a 3820m pass, after which a lunar-looking desert stretches to the horizon. The first indication of human presence we see next is the Tsarangchorten – the large red-painted Stupa is in the middle of the landscape and further down the monastery and the palace of Tsarang can be distinguished in the fields. A broad road leads to Tsarang, Mustang’s second town. Overnight in Tsarang. Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Tsarang.
• Altitude: 3560m.

After taking breakfast, trekking begins on flat terrain and the view, apart from a chorten and a few caves, is unrelieved barrenness. After crossing a pass and waking through two rocks forming a natural gate we have finally arrived at Lo Manthang. Overnight in Lo Mangtang. Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Lo Mangthang
• Altitude: 3800m.

After taking breakfast, we explore the surrounding areas, visit Namgyal Gompa and Tingkhar. Namgyal Gompa situated on a hill top serves as an important monastery of the local community and also as a local court. After visiting Namgyal Gompa , continue to the Tingkhar, the last main village of northwest of Lo- Mangthang and back to hotel. Overnight in Lo- Mangthang. Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Lo Mangthang
• Altitude: 3800m.

We can see dances and celebration, horse racing and giant tug of war. We can see people with Tibetan dress especially women wear traditional dress with colorful jewelry, monks in their robes and dancers in elaborate costumes. Where we are staying this city is old city and founded in 1380 and surrounded by wall, beyond where is not allowed to build home. Evils might harm living behind walls. Today, Bon lama gave a special mantra –prayer, guarding the town We will see Tibetan woman in traditional clothing and King of Mustang wears whole crown. This colorful ceremony exile hungry and evil spirits accompanied by unusual dance of Tibetan lamas. On last Tiji ends with the ceremonial destruction of the evils . Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Lo Mangthang
• Altitude: 3800m.

We begin our return journey from Lo Manthang, taking the upper highland route. This highland route offers dramatic views of Lo Manthang and the Charang Valley, with snow clad peaks in the background. Just past the settlement of Lo Gekar, we reach the oldest monastery in Mustang, the GhareGompa. 

Overnight in Lo Gekar. 

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Gekar

We continue our journey on the highland route, crossing alpine meadows before dropping down a steep eroded gully to Dhakmar for lunch. After lunch, we walk through the pretty valley, climb to a ridge and descend from there back to Ghami. Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Gelling
• Altitude: 3060m.

Now we must retrace our route back over the Nyi La to Chhuksang. Overnight in Chuksang. Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Chhuksang
• Altitude: 2920m.

Take upper part route to Muktinath from where you will have the best breath taking views of surrounding landscape including Kagbeni valley. Muktinath is the most popular both Hindus and Buddhist pilgrimage center. It’s a beautiful Gurung people’s inhabitant and views of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri is amazing from here. Overnight in Muktinath. Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Muktinath
• Altitude: 3900m

It's a final day, passing back through beautiful village Jharkot and views of Kagbeni to Jomsom where we end our trek. It's now time for us to take a nice hot shower. In the evening, you celebrate with your guide and Sherpa and exchange your good experiences what you had on the trekking. Or you can visit Marpha village (near Jomsom), where you can see apple orchids. Overnight in Jomsom.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accommodation: Tea House/Lodge
• Location: Jomsom
• Altitude: 2710m

At early morning, we will take flight towards Pokhara from Jomsom. After landing in Pokhara , we will take another domestic 25 min flight towards Kathmandu. Free time and farewell dinner in evening. 

Over night in Kathmandu.

• Meals: Breakfast.
• Accommodation: Three Star Hotel.
• Location: Kathmandu.

After taking breakfast, we will start our journey towards international airport for your onward destination. 

• Meals: Breakfast.
• Location: Kathmandu.