Tiji Festival Upper Mustang Trek

Detail Itinerary

Day 01 : Arrival in KathmanduGreen Valley Nepal Treks airport representative will greet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport. A drop to the Hotel by a private tourist vehicle is arranged. You can either take a rest or meet us at our office to know about the details of the arrangements.
Accommodation: Deluxe room Hotel Florid Nepal
Meals: Nil

Day 02 :Free Day in Kathmandu & trek preparationFree day in Kathmandu & trek preparation. You will get the chance to sightsee inside the Kathmandu valley after having breakfast. The city sightseeing tour will lead you through various landmarks under world heritage listing such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhu, Boudha, Pashupatinath et cetera. Later, we will brief you about the trek and provide discussion for exciting queries regarding the trek.
Accommodation: Deluxe room Hotel Florid Nepal
Meals: Breakfast

Day 03 :Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara valley: 7-8 hrs Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara which is around 7-8 hours with an elevation of 823m (2700 ft). We will drive off on a tourist bus early in the morning. The scenic countryside and famous mountain ranges accompanies us through the journey. Pokhara is renowned for views of mountain peaks in the Annapurna range. Pokhara is also attributed with beautiful lakes like Fewa, Begnas and Rupa. Overnight stay at a lakeside hotel.
Accommodation: Deluxe room Hotel Crystal Palace
Meals: Breakfast

Day 04 :Pokhara fly to Jomsom (2,700m) and trek to Kagbeni (2,810m)Early morning flight to Jomson is very short and very scenic. In the 30 minutes of flight time you will be treated to spectacular views as your aircraft flys up the Kali Gandaki Valley towards Jomson. The Annapurna Massif and its many stunning peaks will be to your right and the mass of 8,172m Mount Dhaulagiri will be to your left. But too soon you will be on the ground at dusty Jomson Airport. Once all your team and gear is organized your guide will lead you out on to the trail and commence the three hours trek to the village of Kagbeni. The ancient mud and stone village of Kagbeni sits on a ridge high above the dry riverbed where it is safe from the occasional flood that roars down the valley after heavy rains higher in the catchment.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 05 :Trek from Kagbeni along the riverbed to Chele (3,050m)The next day is from Kagbeni to Chele which takes around 5 to 6 hours of walking. We need to show the permit to move upwards along the Kali Gandaki. The trails are windy and sandy, but provide opportunities to view absolute aesthetic sceneries. The uphill and downhill trail will lead us to Tangbe village. The village landscape features white washed houses, narrow alleys, orchards of apple and fields of wheat and barley. Moving on, we reach to Chhusang, and cross the river. We then see a huge conglomerate tunnel through which Kali Gandaki flows. Our day ends with arriving at Chele village after passing small ridges.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 06 :Chele to Syanbochen, 6-7 hrs walkAfter a short walk, the trail reaches Eklo Bhatti and ascends to Taklam La Pass (3624m). During the climb, views of Tilicho Peak, Damodar Danda and Yakawa Kang accompany us. The village of Samar lies a little downhill along the way. The trail passes through juniper forests, and the famous Ramchung Cave to reach Syanbochen after about three hours.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 07 :Syanbochen to Ghaymi, 5-6 hrs walkWe climb through a few teahouses and chortens and along local villages to the Yamda La pass (3850m). Houses along the way are built in the Tibetan architecture. Passing through poplar trees and barley fields along the way, the trail leads to Nyi Pass (4010m) where climbing becomes quite strenuous. Down the pass, Ghaymi village is the third largest in Lo region, our stay for the night.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 08 :Ghaymi to Charang, 4-5 hrs walkAfter a pleasant walk, we cross the Ghaymi Khola and climb to a plateau embellished with a long Mani wall. We follow this wall made by Buddhist followers to head east to Charang, a village with maize fields and stone walls separating houses. Overnight stay at a teahouse.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 09 :Charang to Lo-Mangthang, 5-6 hrs walkDropping to the Charang Chu Canyon, the trail then takes a steep climb which becomes gentler towards the Lo pass (3850m) where views of Nilgiri, Annapurna I, Bhrikuti and Tilicho peak are magnificent. The valley of Lo-Mangthang looks outstanding from here with hills towards the Tibetan end. Overnight stay at a lodge.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10 : Tiji Festival - 1st day Early in the afternoon, horns resounded, announcing the two twelve-foot copper dunchens, with their elephantine blurting, followed by two double-reeled horns, all accompanied by drum and cymbals. Next an ancient and enormous tanka three stories high is unrolled down the entire south wall of the square. The thanka portrayed Padma Sambhava or Guru Rimpoche who brought this ceremony to Tibet in the 8th century. At mid-afternoon eleven lamas in maroon and gold, wearing high red hats, will came from the palace and take their places along the wall beneath the thanka, with Tashi Tenzing on the elevated seat just in the center. As the monks and lamas commence chanting, twelve more monks come from the palace in maroon and royal blue and glittering gold brocade, with cymbal-shaped hats decked with upright peacock plumes. Soon they withdraw, to be replaced by the masked dancers who start the portrayal of the Tiji myth. Dorje Jono repels the demon through the power of his magical dancing – he dances fifty-two separate dances, one of them in ten different bodies, each with a different head. As the dances end Dorje Jono kills the demon after which his people are relieved of their plague of misfortunes, water becomes plentiful once more, and the balance and harmony of existence are restored.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11 :Tiji Festival - 2nd dayNumbers of Loba have arrived from the outlying hamlets and the small square will be thronged with wild beautiful people, with all of the women and children, at least, in traditional dress. The King of Mustang will appear wearing a whole crown of tiny river pearls set off by dozens of large red coralline tones interspersed with matched ornaments of turquoise. The theatre of the festival then becomes a blur of costumes and masks, the twelve-foot horns, gold cups of wheat, butter cakes, snow peaks and wind and dust and sun, rajas and foreigners, dogs and yaks.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12 :Tiji Festival - 3rd dayTiji ends with the ceremonial destruction of the evil remains, represented by some long black yak hair and red torma cakes minced to a dark red gurry. The demons red remnants are set out on an old tiger skin, where-upon they are attacked by bow and arrow, slings, and the old guns. The poor devils remains are over- turned upon the ground, each time to a wild cannonade from the old muzzle-loaders and a wave of cheers and smoke. After enjoying the festival you still have a chance to do excursion around other gompas close to Lo Manthang.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13 :Start the return journey from Lo Manthang to Ghami (3,520m)The return journey follows different trails and lets you explore new sights and villages. Today’s trek takes you through the western foothills and up and down winding trails to the small village of Lo Gekar. While may seem an insignificant little village it actually has what is thought to be the oldest Buddhist Gompa or monastery in Nepal and Tibet. This fact attests to the significance of the hidden Mustang region in byegone eras. After some time exploring the monastery and learning some of its history it is time continue down the valley to Ghami.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 14 :Trek down the valley from Ghami to Samar (3,660m)The walk today continues down the western flank of the valley. You pass through the village of Gheling again and finish the day at the tiny settlement of Samar perched above its terraced farm plots trailing down the hillside below.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 15 :Trek from Samar to Kagbeni (2,810m)The walk starts with a slow winding descent from the western foothills towards Chele where you once again return to the dry Kali Gandaki Riverbed and then on to Kagbeni.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 16 :Trek from Kagbeni back to Jomsom (2,720m)Retrace your footsteps in reverse as you continue down the riverbed to Jomsom.
Accommodation: Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 17 :Fly back to Pokhara & Free relax day in PokharaEarly morning flight back from Jomsom is a scenic one and passes between the Annapurna and the Dhaulagiri. Check in on a lakeside hotel upon arrival in Pokhara. The day can be spent either resting or exploring and taking part in some activities in the beautiful city of Pokhara.
Accommodation: Deluxe room Hotel Crystal Palace
Meals: Breakfast

Day 18 :Drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara 6/7 hours bus ride from Pokhara gets us to Kathmandu. The end of the journey is celebrated with a farewell dinner. You can spend your time strolling around Thamel or getting some souvenirs for your loved ones. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.
Accommodation: Deluxe room Hotel Florid Nepal
Meals: Breakfast

Day 19 :Departure from KathmanduA drop from the hotel to the airport 3 hours before the scheduled time of flight is arranged in a private tourist vehicle