Upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu, our representative will receive you and warmly welcome you before transferring you to your pre-booked hotel.

On your way to the hotel, you can see the bustling city of Kathmandu and the daily life of the locals. After arriving at the hotel, you will check in and rest for a while before a pre-trek meeting.

We will organise a short meeting and introduce you to your guide, briefly discuss the trek, weather conditions, and route situation. Likewise, we will also review the city tour plans for the following day.

In addition, we provide the necessary trekking gear such as a duffel bag, a down jacket, a sleeping bag, an NHT t-shirt, a cap, and a detailed Upper Mustang map. At last, our team will collect a copy of your passport and travel insurance for the record and clear any remaining payment for the package, if it’s not paid.

Note: Meetings are scheduled for the second day if the guest arrives at night.

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, you will start your day by preparing for the journey ahead. You can start organizing your items for your duffel bag and your day pack. As the duffel bag is carried by your porter, you can pack your belongings, such as jackets, sleeping bags, toiletries, and spare clothes inside it. 

Whereas, you can pack your daypack with essentials like cash, permits, rain gear, snacks, and medications. After finishing packing, hikers can walk around the hotel for a few minutes to ensure the bag is well organized, balanced, and comfortable.    

Besides, you can visit shops around the Thamel area for last-minute gear shopping for trekking poles, socks, shoes, and sunglasses. 

If you feel energized or have, you can also visit popular sites such as Kathmandu Durbar Square and Boudhanath by booking a city tour for an additional cost. 

You can also stay back to rest and relax at the hotel.

You will head towards Pokhara, the city of lakes, today on a 25-30-minute flight from Kathmandu. After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the airport.   

Upon arriving in Pokhara, your guide will check you in at the pre-booked hotel in Lakeside. Later on, you can stroll around the Phewa Lake, do some shopping, or simply relax at the hotel while preparing for the trek.

Leaving Pokhara, you will head towards Kagbeni, popularly known as the gateway to the Upper Mustang region. Kagbeni is also a sacred site for Hindus who visit this place to perform ancestral death rituals. 

The road from Pokhara to Kusma, Beni, offers a transition from city to rural landscapes with green hills, traditional Nepalese villages, and distant views of Mt. Machhapuchhre on a clear day. Moving on, the road after Beni to Kagbeni is mostly off-road, featuring gorge sections and landslides/rockfall sections. 

Along the route, you will pass the deepest gorge in the world with a dramatic shift to mountain landscapes. After arriving at the Kagbeni village, travellers can witness Tibetan-style houses, ancient monasteries, and views of Mount Nilgiri, Tilicho Peak, Thorung Peak, and Yak Kawa Kang. 

The trekking part officially starts today as you head towards Chele, a small traditional settlement at an elevation of 3,050 m (10,006 ft). You will leave Kagbeni village after breakfast and walk along the bank of the Kali Gandaki River, enjoying the views of Mount Tukuche and Nilgiri.

Along the way, hikers will pass through varied landscapes, sky caves, apple orchards, ancient gompas, and chortens. Similarly, you will traverse local settlements like Tangbe and Chhusang, inhabited by Gurung, Lopa, Thakali, and Tangbetani communities.

From Chhusang, the trail winds down to Kaligandaki, crosses a suspension bridge, and then climbs steeply towards Chele. Overall, the trek is moderate and manageable for beginners with a steady pace.

The journey from Chele to Geling starts with an early morning breakfast at the teahouse. Today, you will walk through the steep, rugged, and barren Himalayan terrain, cross passes like Taklam La and Yamdo La, experiencing authentic high-altitude trekking.

As you leave Chele, you will cross narrow gorges, Chungsi Cave, high-mountain passes like the Yamada La Pass at 3,860 m, and villages like Gyakar, Samar, and Syangboche. Along the trail, hikers can catch glimpses of Dhaulapurna, Annapurna, and Nilgiri.

The final stretch of the trail passes colorful chortens, mani walls, and traditional mud-and-stone houses while descending towards Geling village, your overnight stop. Trekkers often feel the shift in altitude and elevation on this day. 

Today’s trek can feel moderately challenging due to steep ascents, sandy, and loose terrain. The route climbs towards the Nyi La pass, which is near the Tibet border, offering panoramic views of the northern terrains and the rugged southern valley.  

While descending from the pass, trekkers will pass the colorful cliffs painted in shades of deep blue, grey, and red. Most of the trail is a dry, desert-like landscape mixed with rugged gorges and canyon pathways. 

As you approach Charang village, the trail transitions from high-altitude climbs to an open valley with a gentle downhill leading you into the valley of Charang. The path can feel isolated and remote before reaching the vibrant settlement, home to a 500-year-old fortress (Dzong) and a red monastery.

Leaving Charang, you will descend into the Charang Chu canyon and gradually climb through sand ridges towards Lo La pass at 3,950 m. From the pass, trekkers can catch their first sight of the ancient walled city, Lo Manthang, of Upper Mustang.

Besides this, most of the trail is classic Nepali flat and wide with gradual ups and downs, offering a perfect blend of adventure, remoteness, cultural immersion, and rich natural beauty. As you descend towards Lo Manthang, you are treated with views of surrounding peaks like Nilgiri, Annapurna I, Tilicho, Damodar Himal, and Bhrikuti.

By the time you arrive at Lo Manthang, you will hear the sounds of dungchen (long copper horns), witness centuries-old thangka of Padmasambhava, and dancers performing the graceful Tsa Cham. This marks the beginning of the ancient 3-day Tibetan Buddhist celebration, the Tiji Festival.

The name “Tiji” is derived from “Tempa Chirim,” which means “Prayer for world peace,” and is celebrated to drive away evil spirits, bring prosperity to the valley, and pray for world peace. The celebration starts around 2 pm and lasts about 3 hours.

After having breakfast at the teahouse, you will explore the local Choedhe Monastery, where monks gather for an early morning Vajrakila prayer.

In the afternoon, monks display another large thanka showcasing Padmasambhava with the eight forms of the guru with the King and Queen making offerings below. The masked dancers begin performing Nga Cham, a drum dance where a straw dummy is brought out.

After that, Menle Dhakey Do, a series of dances telling the tale of Dorje Sonam defeating the demon and returning them to the Buddha realm. The second day of Tiji also features an animal mask dance, representing 20-24 different animals such as tigers, deer, yak, vultures, and horses, each representing the followers of Phurba or Vajrakilaya.

For the final dance, Dhakey is performed, where the main dancer pierces the straw dummy with a dagger symbolizing the defeat of the evil demon, Dorje Shunu. After experiencing the festival, you can roam around the village, experience local cuisines, and enjoy the warm hospitality.

On the third day of Tiji, you will start with a hike to Namgyal Gompa, perched at 3,840 m, an ancient monastery built by a monk named Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo in the 1400s. The road goes through willow-lined local villages before ascending towards the gompa.

This section is known for strong winds, especially during the afternoon; hence, trekkers are highly recommended to start the hike early in the morning. This helps explorers avoid the strong winds, dusty trails, and enjoy the clear mountain views.

After returning from the hike, you will enjoy a warm lunch at the teahouse and prepare for experiencing the last day of the festival.

The last day of Tiji also starts with a morning prayer to Vajrakila at the monastery. The afternoon celebration starts at the palace courtyard with the ceremonial music and masked dance called Rha Chaam. Similar to the previous day, a dough dummy is brought out and is pierced by the main dancer, symbolizing the defeat of evil.

After this, the dance is moved to Jhiwa Chhorten, a stupa outside the walls where more prayers are chanted. On this day, different weapons are used symbolically to defeat evil and banished amid cheers and musket shots. The ceremony ends with participants shouting “Lha Gyalo,” meaning May God be Victorious.

Trekkers can enjoy the evening with joyful songs and dances, celebrating with the locals before returning to their teahouses for the night.

Today’s trail starts by the side of high-altitude gorges and mountains, with a gradual uphill and downhill section. Hikers can enjoy views of the Himalayas, rugged landscapes, ancient monasteries, chortens, and traditional villages such as Tingkar, Chosar, and Ghar Gompa.

Similarly, the route crosses the Chogo La pass at 4,280 m, the highest point of the trek, leaving the ancient walled city behind. The descent features multiple Buddhist sites that are culturally significant to the locals and wind-sculpted geological formations that add a desert-like terrain.

Crossing barren, sandy hillsides and alpine meadows, the trail descends to the Dhakmar village, surrounded by the bright red sandstone cliffs.

After having breakfast, we will head towards Shyangmochen with a demanding yet scenic ascent out of the Dhakmar valley. The route goes through heavily worn-down, tunneled rock and clay cliffs. 

From Dhakmar to Ghami, the walk passes through a high-altitude desert-like region, beautifully carved Mani walls, crosses a bridge over Ghami Khola, and eventually reaches Ghami village. Continuing, you will cross the small settlement of Jaite and Tama Gaon, experiencing the rural life of local Mustang people.    

After a brief downhill walk from Tama Gaon, you will eventually arrive at Shyangmochen. It is a small, quite high-altitude settlement that serves as a crucial stop for trekkers exploring the Upper Mustang region.

After an early morning breakfast, hikers begin their journey with a descent from Shyangmochen village. Although today’s trek is non-technical, it can feel challenging while crossing high passes like Taklam La or Dajong La.

In addition, trekkers can take a detour through the Samar village and explore the popular four-colored chortens and the sacred Ranchung Cave. The cave holds great significance to the locals, as they believe Buddhist monks have been meditating in that spot for centuries. This side trip also makes the trek more immersive and keeps the journey engaging.

Traversing through traditional Tibetan houses, farmlands, and high-desert terrain, you will arrive at the Chhusang village, surrounded by ancient cave dwellings and sandstone cliffs. The Chhusang village is widely popular for its red and orange cliffs and sky caves that were once used as a meditation place and burial sites.

Leaving Chhusang, trekkers follow the Kali Gandaki riverbed and ascend gradually towards the Tetang village, inhabited by the Baragauwa community. From here, the route heads up to the Gyu La pass at 4,077 m, from where you can spot views of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, and the Annapurna range.

From the pass, adventurers will descend into a green valley and reach the scenic Jong (Dzong) village. Moving on, hikers will navigate through Jharkot and Ranipauwa before ascending towards Muktinath.

Muktinath is one of the world’s highest temples at an altitude of 3,800 m. The temple is highly revered in Hinduism and Buddhism, and is believed to be the place where Lord Vishnu attained salvation from a curse.

Today marks the end of the trekking portion with a drive back to Pokhara. You will start your journey after having breakfast at the teahouse. As you continue on the road, the terrain transitions from arid, desert landscape to lush, green subtropical forests.

Trekkers will drive alongside and often through the Kali Gandaki Valley, the popular Marpha village, and Tatopani hot springs. Besides, you can enjoy unobstructed views of Mount Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and the Annapurna massif throughout the journey.

Retracing your steps through the busy towns of Kusma and Baglung takes you back to the vibrant city of Pokhara. The transition from the high Himalayas to the bustling city of Pokhara adds another layer of adventure to this journey.

After resting for a while at the hotel, you can go for a walk around the lakeside, witness a golden hour sunset over Macchapuchhre, enjoy local cuisine, or recover with a relaxing massage at a nearby spa.

Today, you will return to Kathmandu with a scenic flight back to Kathmandu. Your guide will transfer you to the airport after having breakfast at the hotel. During the flight, you can spot hilltop settlements, rivers, green hills, and terraced farmlands that you saw while heading towards Pokhara.

Upon arriving in Kathmandu, we will hold a brief post-trek meeting where you can share stories about your overall experience. During this meeting, we will award you with a certificate as a memento for completing the 17-day Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek with the Nepal Hiking Team.

The certificates are handed out as a motivational milestone to help trekkers track their progress, display their accomplishments, and plan progressively for longer routes around the Himalayas.

Today marks the end of your 17-day Upper Mustang Tij Festival Trek journey. After breakfast or based on your departure time, one of our representatives will transfer you to the airport, approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight.

This allows you to check in your baggage, clear security screening, and immigration without any last-minute hassle. With your flight back home, camera full of photos and memories of the Himalayas, you will bid farewell to Nepal until your next trip.