Tiji Festival at Mustang (Tour) in Nepal

After an early breakfast, you'll board a comfortable tourist bus in Kathmandu for the 6-7 hour drive to Pokhara—the gateway to your Mustang adventure. The journey itself is a visual feast, winding alongside the sparkling Trishuli and Marsyangdi Rivers, passing through lush valleys framed by terraced hills and rocky cliffs. Keep an eye out for tiny mountain springs and waterfalls along the way.

As you approach Pokhara, the landscape opens up to reveal its famous seven lakes, including the shimmering Phewa, Begnas, and Rupa. On clear days, the entire Annapurna range—including the iconic Machapuchare (Fishtail Mountain), Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu—paints a dramatic backdrop against the sky.

The flight from Pokhara to Jomsom (2720 m) in the Himalayas takes about 25 minutes. The jet takes off from the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara and lands at Jomsom Airport, surrounded by dry hills and snow-covered peaks. Many travelers use Jomsom as a starting point to visit Muktinath, a sacred pilgrimage site. The Upper Mustang Trekking adventure lets you witness the spiritual journey of those seeking enlightenment. From Jomsom, a scenic walk along the dry Kali Gandaki River valley leads to Kagbeni (2810 m), an ancient trading post with a Buddhist monastery. Kagbeni lies just below the restricted area of Upper Mustang, offering a glimpse into the region's unique culture and landscapes.

Our trek to Chele begins with a scenic walk along the eastern bank of the Kali Gandaki River, where we're treated to stunning desert-like landscapes along the sandy trail. The path takes us up and down through the dramatic terrain until we reach charming Tangbe village, offering spectacular views of Nilgiri Peak. Along the way, we pass through traditional whitewashed houses, fertile crop fields, and lush apple orchards before arriving at Chhusang village. After crossing the river, we tackle an exciting climb past enormous red rock formations that have tumbled down from the cliffs above. The final stretch takes us up a steep, rocky canyon as we leave the Kali Gandaki Valley behind and reach our destination of Chele, where we'll spend the night in a cozy guesthouse. This 5-6 hour trek reaches a maximum altitude of 3,050 meters, with all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) provided along the way. The day's journey showcases the remarkable contrast between the river valley and the rugged canyon landscapes that make Upper Mustang so unique.

Our trek continues with a steep climb up barren canyon slopes to reach a pass marked by stone cairns at 3,540m. After a long descent to charming Samar village, we ascend again to a scenic ridge. The trail then drops dramatically into a vast gorge before opening into wide valley fields. We cross a bubbling stream and climb steadily to another ridge at 3,800m. The journey continues over another high pass before following ridgelines down to Shyangmochen. One final climb takes us over a 3,770m pass before descending to Ghiling village, where we'll rest for the night in a comfortable lodge. This varied day of trekking reaches a maximum altitude of 3,570m, with all meals provided throughout our journey through Upper Mustang's spectacular desert landscapes.

Our trek continues with a challenging climb up steep, treeless slopes along the canyon walls until we reach a mountain pass marked by stone cairns at 3,540 meters. After enjoying the views, we make a long descent to the picturesque Samar village, then climb again to a scenic ridge. The trail then takes us down into a spectacular gorge before crossing open valley fields. We ford a small stream and make another ascent to reach a ridge at 3,800 meters. Crossing yet another high pass, we follow the ridgeline down to Shyangmochen village. One final climb brings us to a 3,770-meter pass before our descent to Ghiling village, where we'll spend the night in a comfortable trekking lodge with all meals provided. This varied day of trekking reaches a maximum altitude of 3,570 meters as we experience the dramatic landscapes of Upper Mustang.

Our trek continues with a steady climb to reach Lo-Gekar Gompa, the oldest monastery in Nepal, while enjoying constant views of the walled city of Lo along the trail. After a short descent and crossing a stream, we make our final climb up onto the Lo-Manthang plateau where we'll spend the night at a comfortable guesthouse with all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) included. This 4-5 hour walking day takes us to a maximum altitude of 3,840 meters, passing through historically and culturally significant sites while experiencing the unique landscapes of Upper Mustang, with accommodation provided in a traditional trekking lodge.

Today is the first day of Tiji Festival. We watch the dances and celebrations. The main events are horse racing and a big tug-of-war. Tibetan women wear traditional clothes with bright jewelry, monks wear their robes, and dancers wear fancy costumes, making everything colorful and lively. We stay overnight at a guesthouse. All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are included.

We witness a vibrant ceremony featuring unique dances performed by Tibetan lamas to drive away evil spirits from the village. People from across the region gather for this purification ritual. After watching, we can wander through Lo-Manthang's narrow lanes, visit local courtyards, or ride horses to nearby villages. We spend the night at a guesthouse with all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) provided.

Today we hike to Namgyal Gompa, a hilltop monastery that also functions as a local court. After visiting the monastery, we can explore Tingkhar (the northwesternmost village of Lo Manthang) or take an optional trip to Upper Mustang's western valley. In the evening, we return to Lo Manthang to enjoy more Tiji Festival celebrations. We spend the night at a guesthouse with all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) included.

Today, we steadily climb the trail, ascending to a ridge at 4,070m before reaching Chogo La at 4,210m - the highest point of our trek - then make a short, steep descent to cross the Charang River before climbing up to Lo Gekar and continuing to the small Ghar Gompa monastery; we then ascend another ridge, traverse a valley through alpine meadows, and descend a steep, eroded path to Drakmar where we'll spend the night at a guesthouse with all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) included, completing our 6-7 hour trek that reaches a maximum altitude of 3,820m with accommodation in a trekking lodge.

Today's trek takes us steadily uphill as we climb to a ridge at 4,070m before reaching Chogo La pass at 4,210m  which is the journey's highest point. After a quick but steep downhill section, we cross the Charang River and make our way up to Lo Gekar, stopping at the small Ghar Gompa monastery along the way. The path then leads us over another ridge and through beautiful alpine meadows before descending along a steep, worn trail to Drakmar village where we'll spend the night. All our meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are provided at the guesthouse. This rewarding day of hiking lasts 6-7 hours with our maximum elevation reaching 3,820m, staying overnight in a comfortable trekking lodge.

Our route follows a stream downhill all the way to Chhusang before continuing onward to Kagbeni. For those seeking an alternative path, we can take a slightly longer route (adding about 30 minutes) that passes by the Ranchung Cave on the way to Samar. We'll spend the night at a guesthouse with all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) provided. This day's trek reaches a maximum altitude of 2,810 meters over approximately 6 hours of walking, with accommodation in a trekking lodge.

After breakfast, we begin our trek at a relaxed pace towards Jomsom. Having completed the Upper Mustang trails, we now join the main route leading to Jomsom where we'll spend the night. All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are included during our stay at the guesthouse.

Wake up early to catch a stunning Himalayan sunrise—your last view of these majestic peaks before your adventure ends. Then, board a short 25-minute flight to Pokhara, where you'll enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the mountains and valleys below.

Once you land, explore Pokhara—a peaceful lakeside city perfect for relaxing after your trek. Stroll along Phewa Lake, visit the World Peace Pagoda, or see the powerful Devi’s Fall. You can also check out the International Mountain Museum to learn about Nepal’s climbing history.

The Lakeside area is the heart of Pokhara, filled with cozy cafés, restaurants, and shops. Treat yourself to a good meal, enjoy live music, or simply unwind by the water.

After breakfast in Pokhara, you'll take a comfortable tourist bus back to Kathmandu. The 205 km journey follows scenic river valleys alongside the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers. When you arrive, our team will take you to your hotel to freshen up. Spend your last evening in Kathmandu- shop for souvenirs, enjoy a farewell dinner, or just remember your amazing Mustang trek.

Your amazing Upper Mustang trip for Tiji festival ends today. After breakfast, we'll take you to Kathmandu airport for your flight. While checking in, look at the mountains one last time - remember Mustang's rocky cliffs where you walked.