Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Tour- 11 Days

Upon arrival at the airport, we will be welcomed by a representative of Ama Adventure. Check into a hotel and then explore the surrounding area.

Today you will fly to Pokhra it will take 30m. During the day explore pokhara before heading towards the upper mustang to celebrate most unique festival Tiji.

We will escort you to Pokhara Airport early in the morning to fly to Jomsom in half an hour. You rest in this beautiful village in a lodge or a guesthouse. Or you can tour the barren hills, the contrasting snow-capped mountains, and the Kali Gandaki river before driving to Muktinath. Then, take blessings from Lord Vishnu in the Muktinath Temple. If interested, you can walk below the 108 stone taps to do more soul cleansing. Then, you drive back to Kagbeni and rest for the day.

The next day after breakfast, you will be driving through Syangboche as you pass the beautiful view of Mt. Nilgiri to your south. The Chungsi cave is an exciting cave you can find on a cliff side where the cave walls are painted, and it also has statues and relics. Take a stop at the Chhuksang town and Dhakmar before heading to Ghami. Stay there overnight.

The following morning, you will get on a drive across the Ghami river crossing the Charang La pass. As you get closer to Charang, you will also see the view of Mt. Annapurna, Nilgiri, and Bhrikuti. The view of Ghar Gompa, the Mui La, and the Marang La Pass showcases the red cliffs on your journey as you reach Lo-Manthang, the walled city of Lo. You can rest at a lodge there before heading out the next day for the main event of the road trip.

We reach the highlight of the road trip, the Tiji festival. But before you experience the colorful festival, head out to explore Namgyal Gompa, which is on top of an isolated ridge. Thinggar is also an attractive village with the Mustang King’s palace for the summer. Then, head to the Tashi Gepel Palace in the afternoon to watch and join the Tiji festivals with the locals. A hand-made Thangka painting is hung from the southern wall of the palace. Then, with the company of the traditional copper horns, a drum, and a cymbal, the dance performance begins in front of the Royal courtyard for two hours. The masks and the performers’ costumes are in red, blue, and yellow, miming the color of the prayer flags. This performance is called the “Tso Chham,” which performs the storyline of Dorjee Sonnu over Man Tam Ru, representing the victory of good over evil. Then head back to your lodge for an overnight stay.

The following days begin in the afternoon with another dance performance called the “Na-Cham,” depicting the story of Dorjee Sonnu trying to bring the demon back to the Buddha Land. The costume is colorful, accompanied by traditional instruments, a drum, and a cymbal. The event ends when a straw figure representing Man Tam Ru is slayed in front of everyone using a religious dagger. Then after the dance performance ends, you can head back to your lodge and rest.

It is the final day of the festival when the masked dance named the “Rha Chaam” is performed. On this last day, a dough figure is made to represent Man Tam Ru and is slayed with a religious dagger to depict the final win of good over evil. Finally, all the performers gather in front of the central courtyard and dance together. It happens before leading a procession of the Royal Family to Solang. After that, you go back to your lodge for an overnight stay.

Now that the colorful and exciting festival is over, it is time to head back to Jomsom through a drive. You will follow the route back to Kagbeni and then to Jomsom through the village of Ranipauwa. Then, you can take some rest in Jomsom and stay overnight.

The following day, you will fly back to Kathmandu by taking transit from Pokhara. You will return from the city of calmness to the capital city. An Ama Adventure representative will pick you up and return you to your hotel.

A representative of Ama Adventure will take you at the airport or your place of departure.