How Can we participate in the Tiji Festival ?

Tiji Festival is an opportunity to be at the most adventurous place on earth and witness the age-old culture and customs of the Mustang area. Mustang is itself a very demanding trekking route in the Himalayas but being in this 3-day festival will add an extra blend of colourfulness to the entire trip, which includes trekking in the Himalayas and experiencing the wild region of the Himalayas. Tiji festival falls on 27th May 2022 and ends on 29th May 2022. This festival is an open festival where visitors can also join without any restriction. The Festival will be organized in the open compound of the monastery, so to be in this festival, firstly you need to be in Nepal before the tentative date mentioned above.

How to reach Upper Mustang to observe Tiji Festival?

Upper Mustang is a restricted region of Nepal and foreigners were forbidden to enter until 1992, but now with special permits foreign nationalists can trek down or drive through multiple ways. So, trekking down to Mustang will be very adventurous and experiencing in terms of the Himalayas and the culture of the native Tibetan origin. Travellers can visit the Upper Mustang area in the following ways: Trekking Trekking to the region is one of the best ways to be in the Upper Mustang. You can enjoy all the surrounding views and experience a detailed environment while hiking through the trail. It will be a week-long itinerary in Nepal. The possible option for Upper Mustang Trek and Tiji Festival are as follows: Plan A Day 01: Take a domestic flight from Pokhara to Jomsom (2700m/8858ft/20-minute flight) and hike to Kagbeni. (2800m/9186ft/5-hours trek): Overnight lodge Day 02: Trek from Kagbeni to Chele (3050m/10006ft/6-hour trek): Overnight lodge Day 03: Trek from Chele to Shyangboche (3475m/11401ft/6-hour trek): Overnight lodge Day 04: Trek from Shyangboche to Ghami (3520m/11550ft/6-hour trek): Overnight lodge Day 05: Trek from Ghami to Charang (3630m/11909ft/6-hour trek): Overnight lodge Day 06: Trek from Charang to Lo- Manthang (3810m/12500ft/6-hour trek): Overnight lodge Day 07: Experience the Tiji Festival and explore the region Day 08: Tiji Festival Day 09: Tiji Festival Day 10: Drive from Lo- Manthang to Jomsom: Overnight hotel Day 11: Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara and drive/flight to Kathmandu Day 12: Final Departure Plan B. Day 01: Take a domestic flight from Pokhara to Jomsom and drive to Lo- Manthang: Overnight lodge Day 02: Experience the Tiji Festival and explore around the region: Overnight lodge Day 03: Tiji Festival: Overnight lodge Day 04: Tiji Festival: Overnight lodge Day 05: Drive from Lo- Manthang to Jomsom: Overnight hotel Day 06: Domestic flight from Jomsom to Pokhara and drive/flight to Kathmandu: Overnight lodge Day 07: Final Departure Jeep drive to Upper Mustang to observe Tiji Festival Jeep drive to the Upper Mustang region to experience Tiji Festival is yet another way to enjoy the adventurous ride to one of the remote regions of the Himalayas and for many, it is the easiest way to explore. It is less time consuming than trekking. Travellers can take a direct jeep ride from Kathmandu or from Pokhara. It will be a well-driven road along with the off-road drive to Upper Mustang in 2 to 3 days and the same number of days back to Kathmandu. Now, due to road accessibility travellers also prefer a long drive to the region and back to Kathmandu or Pokhara. Helicopter Tour to Upper Mustang to observe Tiji Festival A helicopter ride to Upper Mustang for Tiji Festival is the easiest and fastest way to reach and explore the Upper Mustang region and experience the Tiji Festival. It can be a day program or more depending upon your interest. You can take a direct helicopter from Kathmandu or Pokhara through the mighty Himalayas and back on the same day but to be part of the whole festival you need to arrange a 3-day stay in Lo Manthang. Or you can take a Helicopter flight to observe the main day festival for 3-4 hours. This year (2022 AD) Tiji Festival falls from 27th May- 29th May, so visitors can arrange their date accordingly. The possible option can be: Fly on 27th May 2022, explore the region and be part of the Tiji Festival till 29th May 2022 and fly back to Kathmandu on 30th May 2022 Fly on either one selective day, explore the region and be part of the Tiji Festival, and late afternoon fly back to Kathmandu. [ Note: because of its remoteness and sensitivity of the region there is no domestic airport in Lo Manthang or Upper Mustang region, the only nearest domestic airport is Jomson. From Jomsom we can hire a Jeep to reach Lo Manthang, it will be a day drive in the Himalayas. Moreover, the itinerary can be customized according to the interest and schedule of our valuable clients. Please feel free to contact us.

What is the best time to visit Upper Mustang Region?

The best time to visit the Upper Mustang region will be February, March, April, May and August, September, October and November. And if you are planning for the Tiji Festival 2022, it will be from 27th May till 29th May. Exploring the Upper Mustang and experiencing Tiji Festival will be a two in one program for travellers. So don’t miss the opportunity which falls once a year.

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek

Mustang is one of the most fascinating regions of Nepal boarding with Tibet, inhabited mainly of Tibetan origin. Due to its sensitivity, the entire region of Mustang has been categorized into Lower Mustang and Upper Mustang. Upper Mustang has been declared a restricted area for travelers, which means they require a special permit to travel to the Upper Mustang area.

The entire region is blessed with beauty and natural resources, including uranium. Apart from these, the Himalayas, the origin of Kaligandaki River, famous for ammonite/fossils and one of the holy rivers for both Hindu and Buddhist followers, numerous monasteries, caves, an orchid garden, waterfalls, etc, are the center of attraction of Mustang.

Upper Mustang, which is also known as the last forbidden kingdom of Nepal, is a Himalayan deserted area and the oldest trade route to Tibet. The panoramic view of the massif Himalayas like Annapurna (8,091m/26,545ft), Nilgiri (7,061m/23,166ft), Dhaulagiri (8,091m/26,545ft), etc, makes Mustang one of the very attractive regions for travelers with magical wonder every step you take.

The upcoming Tiji Festival Tour 2026 falls from 14th May to 16th May 2026.

14 May 2026 Tiji Festival in Lo-Mangthang (1st day)
15 May 2026 Tiji Festival in Lo-Mangthang (2nd day)
16 May 2026 Tiji Festival in Lo-Mangthang (3rd day)

Tiji Festival Jeep Tour Itinerary for 2026 - Join Our Fixed Departure

10 May 2026: Fly or Drive to Pokhara - 30 min / 8 hrs

11 May 2026: 4WD Jeep Drive to Jomsom 2,736M (8,976 ft) – 7 Hours

12 May 2026: Explore Muktinath and Kagbeni and Drive to Charang 3,570M (11,710Ft) - 6 Hours

13 May 2026: Drive to LO MANTHANG and explore the ancient Kingdom 3840M (12600Ft) - 4 Hours

14 May 2026: Explore the day-first TIJI Festival. (FESTIVAL BEGINNING) 3,840 m (12,600 ft) -

15 May 2026: Observe and experience a full-day TIJI Festival.

16 May 2026: Day 3rd of TIJI Festival. (officially festival closing ceremony).

17 May 2026: Drive back to Marpha 2650M (8694 ft) - 6 hours

18 May 2026: Drive back to Pokhara - 7 hours

19 May 2026: Fly / Drive back to Kathmandu - 30 min / 8 hours

Seats are limited: Book today and make your place secure or customize your itinerary. Give us direct call or WhatsApp at +977 9851149890

History Of the Tiji Festival

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek is one of the most fabulous trekking itineraries, which is compiled with two programs at a time. Travelers can trek to the Upper Mustang region throughout the year but to witness the Tiji festival is something different. Tiji is a 3-day festival that is observed in Lo-Manthang the capital city of Upper Mustang.

The history of the Tiji Festival can be traced back to Tibet and is related to Vajrayana Buddhism, also known as Tibetan Buddhism, introduced by Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche in Tibet in the 8th century AD. He is the founding father of to spread of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet and the Himalayas of Nepal. So, Vajrayana followers refer to him as the second Buddha after Shakyamuni Buddha.

The history of the Tiji festival can be traced back to the time when myths were more popular and universal than modern science. It was the time when people believed in tantric practice and meditation, through tantric gurus tried to find out the cause and effect and solution of their common suffering.

According to a famous myth, once a very powerful man-eating demon created havoc in the Mustang region due to a lack of live human flesh. This was so because tantric gurus were protecting the inhabited areas through their spells.

Tantric gurus were creating trouble for the demon through their powerful practice of tantrism, to take revenge demon created a shortage of water and spread unknown diseases in the valley of Mustang and the surrounding areas. Water is very important for human civilization and in the Mustang region, the main source of snow-melted water was limited due to its remoteness and the massif Himalayas surrounding the villages.

This incident led to trouble, and the death of animals and humans due to lack of water and diseases started increasing. Even the main gurus (spiritual teachers) were not able to stop the damage created by the demon.

Finally, they invited Dorje Jono who was a very powerful tantric spiritual teacher, to chase the demon from the region through his powerful spell of spiritual practice. Dorje Jono guarded the whole valley through his spell,l and the demon was not able to enter the region. This made the demon keep away from entering the valley and still does and the lifestyle remained normal to date.

To mark the victory over evil Tiji Festival is celebrated every year. It has now been observed in a broader sense, it is now a ritual ceremony for World Peace and Victory of Good over Evil. Native Americans believe the ritual 3-day ceremony will bring eternal blessing to all sentient beings.

Time Schedule of Tiji Festival 2026

Tiji Festival is a very popular festival in the Upper Mustang region, which includes seven villages in the region. The main 3-day festival is observed with colorful ceremonies, dances, and ritual songs by the monks of the monastery in Lo-Mangthang.

The festival is guided by the royal family members of the kingdom, along with the villagers. It is a tantric dance by the monks, the main dancer/performers are chosen before three months of the festival and do all the training and ritual ceremonies until the final day of the festival.

Royal family members, villagers, and travelers from around the globe join to observe the colorful festival. It is believed that being part of the ceremony will lead one to eternal bliss.

The date for the Tiji Festival is not predictable. It is celebrated according to the Tibetan calendar, and the main monks of the surrounding monastery decide the date through ritual techniques. This year, the 3-day Tiji Festival 2026 will be celebrated from 14th- 16th May 2026.

Trip Reviews

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5based on 51 reviews

Your search for a trekking company can stop here!

I can’t say enough great things about Kumar and Santosh at Discover Altitude. They set my trip up with minimal notice, even made some custom changes and everything went perfectly. They have great connections for everything tourism in Nepal. If you want a guide to show you around Kathmandu-they’ve got you. If you want to go for a trek-it’s their bread and butter. If you want to go for an expedition at half the cost of western companies with guides whose experience will blow your mind-easy day. Whether you’re planning a trip for next year or next week they will take care of you like family. They took the time to have tea with me and discuss my trip from start to finish over a map, they held my luggage safely while I was in the mountains, and they checked in at possible friction points (like flights) to make sure everything was going well.

I’ve heard horror stories from backpackers who used other companies and there are a ton around here. It was overwhelming for me to pick one, but Discover Altitude was recommended to me so I figured I’d give them a try. This is now the second trip they planned for me. I also recommended them to some friends who did a luxury Everest view trip with them and had nothing but good things to say. You can roll the dice and try someone else, but if you want to take the safe bet and know that you’ll have an amazing trip at a competitive price there’s no other option.

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

I had the incredible opportunity to complete 4 different treks with Discover Altitude: Three Passes, ABC, Annapurna Circuit and Langtang. Each time, the experience exceeded my expectations! The owners, Kumar and Santosh, along with their guides are exceptionally professional, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. Everything was very well planned for all treks, and I felt safe even at the highest altitudes, thanks to their friendly and supportive guides.

There are many agencies to choose from, and I visited many, but when I met Kumar and Santosh the quality of their personalities quickly became evident. They treated me as a friend they genuinely wanted to support, not just a client, caring only about the money. Even if I hadn’t signed up, they would have treated me the same, not as potential or lost business. This authenticity is why I chose them! This was the only agency where I had that gut feeling, which turned out to be correct. They always went the extra mile. Before each trek, they spent a lot of time going through all the details with me to ensure I had everything I needed and was ready to go. They also checked up on me along the way. During all these times, they truly became my friends!

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency. They are also very competitively priced for both solo and group trips! I cannot recommend them highly enough!

A short walk from Jomsom to Muktinath.

We had great dealings with Kumar and the team at Discover Altitude. Kumar was our initial contact, and Santosh was our day to day contact on-the-ground. Their communication was great, and everything went smoothly.

Before departing for Nepal, we emailed Kumar about what we had in mind, and he presented us with different options. We settled on a short trip from Jomsom to Muktinath - flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara and on to Jomsom the next day to commence our hike. (We took the same air-route in reverse on our way back.) In total, the trip was six or seven days, with three days hiking. (This worked out well due to our schedule, but next time we might spend a few more days walking.)

Our guide on the trip was Amar Magar. We really recommend him. (Ask for him by name!) He was thoughtful, organised, and provided clear information on what we were doing each day. His patience and pleasant manner made the trip really enjoyable.

The hike itself was good. The area from Jomsom to Kagbeni (where we stopped for the first night) was primarily along the road and the riverbed, and the scenery was primarily the dry and desolate scenery one might expect of the Mustang area. Kagbeni was a nice village to rest. (There are a number of tea houses, and an interesting temple where one of the monks showed us around.) The walk up to Muktinath the next day was a little bit tough - being a climb of about 1,000 meters. (Not 'technically' tough; more of a challenge due to low fitness levels!) After resting, we visited the Hindu pilgrimage site, which was quite an interesting experience as it attracts a lot of visitors. We stayed the night at a tea house in Muktinath, and then walked back to Jomsom via a different route, stopping at a village called Lupna on the way back. The route from Muktinath to Lupna was probably the highlight of our trip, with much more diverse terrain, including great alpine scenery, fantastic rocky cliffs and forests, and the picturesque village of Lupna itself, with a very old temple and some caves used for solitary retreats.

If you have limited time, then I would recommend the approach we took. It provides a glimpse of the Mustang region (without getting in to the Upper Mustang region, which requires more time and an expensive permit), and a taste of walking in the region. On our walk, we met a number of people who had walked the Annapurna Circuit, taking around two weeks. We might plan better and aim to do that next time!

In terms of practical considerations, noting it was mid-May, we found that we were able to walk in t-shirts and long pants. We carried a lot of warm clothing with us, but didn't need really it. (We were a bit cold briefly after arriving at Muktinath, but generally we didn't use our warm clothing. It would be smart to take something - but no need to take too much.) The bedding provided in the rooms was more than adequate, and we didn't need our own sleeping bags. (Taking a sleeping bag liner might suffice from a cleanliness perspective if this is a concern.)

EBC with Amar, the best guide!!

I did the Everest Base Camp trek (8 days to reach EBC, Day 9 was to Kala Patthar). Started at the end of April and finished in May. We had great weather that time of year. The early days in the trek were warm enough for leggings and a lightweight shirt. A few people were in shorts. Day 7 was the first day I needed to wear down clothing items, gloves or a warm hat. Other days could be done with a baseball cap and a few layers - started the day with a windwall jacket and would switch to a vest or just my long sleeve dry fit top while trekking. The cardio keeps you pretty warm. Taking altitude sickness medication is key. Start taking it a day before you leave. We had no issue with altitude sickness but several people at the tea houses were not as lucky.

Kumar, the owner of Discover Altitude, organized everything for us and it was planned perfectly. He booked the best tea houses for us and everything was so well-organized that all we had to think about was making it to the top. Amar was our AMAZING guide. His brother Shukla was the porter. They were the nicest, most professional duo. Amar took very good care of us and it was obvious that he was one of the most well-respected guides on the trail. He knew everyone and was so experienced that we had a lot of tips and guidance that I don’t feel everyone else had on the mountain. Definitely request amar as your guide. We quickly realized how important the planning is and who your guide is for success on this trek.

Great experience and recommend doing Kala Patthar early the next morning for sunrise views of Everest!

Awesome 10 day EBC trekking experience

I’m towards the tail end of my 10 day EBC trek arranged by Discover Altitude. Overall, I’ve been very happy with the trip so far. Santosh did his best to make sure my trip went according to plan. He was also extremely accommodating to my request for alterations to itinerary during the trip. Always ready to help, no questions asked.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank my guide, Sandip Lama. He is an energetic and hardworking young man that went above and beyond to make me trip as comfortable as possible. He’s also flexible in accommodating my last minute change request. For example, when I saw Ama Dablam for the first time, I was blown by its beauty and came up with the idea of doing a side trip to its base camp. It’s require at least half a days time. Sandip agreed without any hesitation and helped with the trip planning. In the end, the side trip didn’t happen simply because I ran out of steam. As a guide, Sandip’s main responsibility is leading me with the trip. But he also offered to carry my bag when I got very tired. This is what I call above and beyond. Again, thank you Sandip and I hope we’ll embark on my adventures in the future!

Discover Altitude is the best!

Discover Altitude is the best trekking guide / tour operator in Nepal. Two days ago my friend and I reached Everest Base Camp on May 4th (trekking day 8).

On day 9, helicopter picked us up at Gorakshep - last tea house before EBC. Helicopter transported us back to Kathmandu via Lukla — 2.5 hour stop for refueling and other logistics. Hiking back down 3 extra days is not for everyone.

Reaching EBC was a small miracle for me. I was the biggest person (XXL) trekking. I trained for over a year… lost significant amount of weight to even attempt EBC. Everything had to go perfectly and it did. Planning was key. Some days were incredibly challenging and required very-very slow / steady pace.

At every step my guide was right there to support as needed. On some hills my guide was 12 inches behind me in case I lost balance from exhaustion.

We were blessed to have Amar as our guide and his younger brother, Shukla, as porter. They did everything for us … from finding bathrooms, ordering meals, dealing with hotels, first aid, and fun to talk with too. Multiple times during the trek other guides whispered to us that Amar is one of the best guides in the region.

We opted for the luxury tour with nicer hotels + helicopter ride to Lukla to start + helicopter return from the top. Paying extra for luxury tour is worth every penny. We met some hikers not having a good experience. Painfully obvious they chose the wrong guide / tour operator.

If you are in perfect shape and you’ve trekked Nepal many times before- maybe having the best guide isn’t as critical. But for us we relied on our guides for every decision … even down to what to eat and drink at different altitudes.

TIPS:

1- take diamox right from the start (1 day before starting the trek)

2- take helicopter to/from Lukla. If you don’t take helicopter, be prepared to sit around for days waiting on weather to clear for airplane flight. People stuck at the airport waiting multiple days to get out aren’t having a good time.

3- go vegetarian. You’ll love ra-ra noodle vegetable soup

4- bring tons of electrolyte packets and drink 5 liters/day

5- pack for very cold days at the end (EBC). Both outer-wear gear and warm jackets for nights at the hotel. Be prepared for extremely dry air at night. Bring nasal spray to help breath through your nose.

6- get plenty NPR cash in Lukla or Kathmandu. In a pinch, tea house hotels can run your CC to give you NPR cash… will cost 10% extra charge.

7- tip your guides as generously as you can

8- don’t bring huge camera unless you are ok lugging the extra weight. Newer iPhone or Android do fantastic job.

9- go slow. Don’t skip rest (acclimatizing) days.

10- Book your trip with Discover Altitude. Kumar will email you immediately with details to help you customize your trip. He will work through every question / idea with patience. We had at least a dozen unusual requests including special activities in Kathmandu after the trek. Kumar and our guides made them all happen. Remember to request booking at nicer hotels.

11- go with friend or family you really enjoy being with for two weeks. Having someone to motivate you and just hang out together makes the trip so much better.

12- day 2 to Namche might be your hardest day, particularly after Hillary Bridge… 1-2 hours straight uphill at the end. Don’t give up. Go slow and ask for help (horse available if can’t make it up that hill).

Great experience in Kathmandu

Kumar was so helpful from the moment I was introduced to him. He listened intently so he could work out the best tour based on our discussion. He was open, transparent, and always prompt to reply to my many messages. He went over and above his call of duty as my visa had expired and without hesitation assisted me in ensuring it was all sorted. He is extremely knowledgeable and was happy to share his knowledge if you make it known to him just how keen you are to hear stories.
I would highly recommend Kumar and his team and feel like this review will be sufficient to not have to look any further as he is one of the best you'll ever find in Kathmandu.

Unforgettable experience in beautiful mountains

This was my first trek in Nepal and it was truly amazing. The trip was very well organized, our guide Thakur was very friendly and always selected great places for rest and food. Our porter Chandra was very helpful and always in the good mood, although he needed to carry a lot more than we did.
The surrounding of Manaslu is amazing piece of nature full of wild animals, beautiful plants, breathtaking views and nice locals in the villages. Also the journey to the start of the trek by local transport was unforgettable experience.
I would recommend this tour to all trekkers, who are looking for great adventure in beautiful mountains and don't want to share the track with crowds as it could happen at the better known treks around Everest or Annapurna.
You should be ready to step out of the comfort zone for few moments - yes, few ascents were challenging due to high altitude and it was very cold one night we spent at Dharmasala - the last village before Larkey Pass.
After our comeback to Kathmandu we had very nice lunch with Kumar and Santosh - the guys from Discover Altitude who told us many interesting facts about life in Nepal.
All in all it was one of the best experiences in my life and in few years I will definitely come back to Nepal and go for another trek with Discover Altitude.

No. of Person	Price Per Person
2 people	US$2299

Upper Mustang TIJI Festival Tour 2026

Tiji Festival Jeep Tour Itinerary for 2026 - Join Our Fixed Departure

History Of the Tiji Festival

Time Schedule of Tiji Festival 2026

Highlights

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Itinerary

Day 1:Take a domestic flight from Pokhara to Jomsom (2700m/8858ft/20 minute flight) and hike to Kagbeni

Day 2:Trek from Kagbeni to Chele

Day 3:Trek from Chele to Shyangboche

Day 4:Trek from Shyangboche to Ghami

Day 5:Trek from Ghami to Charang

Day 6:Trek from Charang to Lo- Manthang

Day 7:Experience the Tiji Festival and explore around the region

Day 8:Explore Tiji Festival

Day 9:Observe The Tiji Festival

Day 10:Drive from Lo- Manthang to Jomsom

Day 11:Fly to Pokhara and drive/flight to Kathmandu

Day 12:Final Departure : See you again

Not happy with this regular itinerary?

Cost Details

Included

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Useful Info

Best Time to Visit Upper Mustang Region

Required Permits and Cost for Upper Mustang Trek along with Tiji Festival

Accommodations, Food, and other services in the Upper Mustang Trek

Trip Reviews

Your search for a trekking company can stop here!

Alden S, United States

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

Eva B, Hungary

A short walk from Jomsom to Muktinath.

Nick O'Connell, New Zealand

EBC with Amar, the best guide!!

Stephanie S, United States

Awesome 10 day EBC trekking experience

Hongtao Chen, United States

Discover Altitude is the best!

James T, United States

Great experience in Kathmandu

Balance for Life Corporate Retreats, Australia

Unforgettable experience in beautiful mountains

Martin, Czech Republic

FAQs

Q1. How Can we participate in the Tiji Festival ?

Q2. How to reach Upper Mustang to observe Tiji Festival?

Trekking

Plan A

Plan B.

Jeep drive to Upper Mustang to observe Tiji Festival

Helicopter Tour to Upper Mustang to observe Tiji Festival

Q3. What is the best time to visit Upper Mustang Region?

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