Upper Mustang Tiji festival tour 2024

Suggested Itinerary

3rd.May.2024 Day 1: Drive to Pokhara overland ( 822m.2712ft.) -06 hours 
After having breakfast at hotel, Early drive to Pokhara through beautiful landscape and popular Trishuli river. You will stop along the way for quick lunch . Stay overnight at hotel nearby lake side . Guide will take you to walk around Fewa Lake in the evening. 
Meals included: Breakfast  

4th.May.2024 Day 2: Fly to Jomsom - Drive to Ghilling ( 3520m./11548ft.) - 05 hours
A short scenic morning flight to Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, through the world’s deepest Kali Gandaki Gorge with the glorious view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri is exceptional.  Drive to Ghilling and Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5th.May.2024 Day 3: Drive to Lo Manthang (3700m./12210ft.) / witness the Tiji festival starting in the afternoon
Finally we drive through the plateau of Lo Monthang, ‘The Capital city and the Plain of Aspiration’ of Mustang. The fabled walled city of Lo, the kingdom with a single entrance is a welcome sight! The king, “Lo Gyelbu”, named Jigme Palbar Bista, still resides at his four-storied palace inside the walled city of Lo Manthang.

NOTE: ENTRANCE FEE MAY BE INCURRED TO SEE THE FESTIVAL FOR 3 CONSUCATIVE DAYS.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

6th.May.2024 Day 4: Exploration of cave and monastery in morning and afternoon witness the stunning mask dances performed by monks in Tiji festival
Lo Manthang the capital city of Mustang contains about 150 houses and has some of the largest and finest Tibetan Buddhism gompas in Nepal. The city itself is absolutely fascinating place with four major ancient Monasteries which are impressive and an enormous 14th century palace imposing 4-storey building in the center of the city. 
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

7th.May.2024 Day 5: Explore the Summer palace and monastery in morning and enjoy the last and final celebration of Tiji festival in Lo Manthang in the afternoon.
Today we will walk to Thinkar for morning excursion to see the summer palace. Though summer palace is abandoned and not anymore in use yet its worth hiking around.  Alternatively we can climb up the view point hill just north of Lo Monthang for the stunning view of all around the valle. Rest of our day, afternoon and night we will be in the palace witnessing the Tiji Festival, the last day of festival which normally takes on open area outside of the palace.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

8th.May.2024 Day 6: Drive to Jomsom ( 2650m./8745ft.) -06 hours 
Drive to Jomsom then stay overnight at hotel. 
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

9th.May.2024 Day 7: Fly to Pokhara ( 840m./2772ft.) 22 minutes - Overnight in Pokhara
We take an early morning flight to Pokhara – a fantastic way to round off the trek, flying right along the Kali Gandaki Gorge between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.

10th.May.2024 Day 8: Drive to Kathmandu ( 1295m./4273ft.) -06 hours
Take tourist bus in early morning to Kathmandu.  Overnight in Kathmandu. 
Meals included : Breakfast 

Tiji festival tour ends 

Upper Mustang Special Permit
Upper Mustang Special permit costs US$ 500 per person of the minimum first 10 days and US$ 50 per person per day thereafter. It must be undertaken only through Registered Trekking Agencies from Government of Nepal (Nepal alternative Trekking Company -Registered no. 303047487) the department of immigration in Kathmandu. We have included in the package. 

Annapurna Conservation Area Project ( ACAP)

The provision of  ACAP is to maintain and build local tourism infrastructure and preserve the nature.  Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP)  permit is necessarily required for Annapurna Circuit Trekking. It can be obtained from government registered trekking company as Nepal alternative treks & Expeditions.  It's fee is fixed by NTNC Rs. 3000 ( Three thousand rupees) per person to Upper Mustang. You can not obtain along the entry point, they may return you without carrying ACAP permit. You need passport copy, one passport size photograph and fee in Rs. 3000 ( Three thousand rupees) or equivalent  in cash to apply the permit. This permit you can use only single entry in the area but no limitation of period. It is included in the package tour. 

Clothing equipment for Upper Mustang Tiji festival tour
When you select your personal items, keep in mind the number of days you will be in tour, the time of year and the altitude. We advise our clients to bring these items:

- A pair of walking shoes  
- Light weight pants 
-  T-shirts. 
- Long sleeve shirt, if susceptible to sunburn. 
- Sun hat - sunburn is severe at rarefied altitudes. 
- Thick outer wooden socks, thin inner cotton 
- Water bottle - 2 liters.
- Sunglasses and strap 
- Small headlamp/flashlight /torch
- Personal medical supplies - do not forget ban - aids, elastic bandage 
- Sunscreen, sun bock, sun - tan lotion. 
- Small daypack - 25 liters. 
- Small towels 
- Warm down fiber filled jacket ( You can get on rent at Thamel) 
- Sleeping bag to -15c with inner sheet ( You can get on rent at Thamel) 
- Thermal underwear, woolen shirts and thick sweaters. 
- A pair of gloves 

Travel insurance 
It is a condition of joining any of our trips that be protected against comprehensive expenses potential to incur due to medical issues or accidents (to include air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs). Please be noted that we don’t arrange or sell insurance. A relaxed trip is not possible without good travel insurance. In the event of any sickness or injury, the cost of emergency treatment and evacuation is shocking. Therefore, travel insurance is strongly recommended for everyone who signs up with Nepal alternative Trekking. 

Recommended Travel Insurance Companies

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• MultiNational Underwriters 251 North Illinois Street, Suite 600 / Indianapolis, IN 46204 317-262-2132 / 800-605-2282 / Fax: 317-262-2140 mnui.com/ service@mnui.com
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For Travelers from ENGLAND

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• Buy cheap travel insurance: insureandgo.com

For Travelers from EUROPE and SLOVENIA

• Assistance CORIS d.o.o. e-mail: puzavac@coris.si| web:www.coris.si

For Travellers from AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND

• Cover More Travel   Insurance covermore.com.au
• CGU Insurance Limited cgu.com.au
• Worldcare Travel Insurance PO Box 162 Toowong Qld 4066 Australia Phone: 1800 008 614 between 0800 and 1800 AEST Monday to Friday E-mail: sales@worldcare.com.au

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What is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) ?
Acute mountain sickness is an illness that can affect trekkers at high altitudes, usually above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters). The highest point is Lomanthang which is elevated at 3900 meter, you have very little chance of AMS. If you be precautious about high altitude and follow our guide then you can avoid it. 

How do we know if I get AMS ?
Your symptoms will also depend on the speed of your climb and how hard you push (exert) yourself. Symptoms are as below:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rapid pulse (heart rate)
• shortness of breath with exertion
• Cannot walk in a straight line

Treatment 

1. Rest, Rest , Rest
2. Go down, down, down
3. Diamox

Diamox may be given to help you breathe better. It can help reduce mild symptoms. This medicine can make you urinate more often. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol when taking this drug. This medication works best when taken before reaching a high altitude.

Prevention and pre-cautious 

Keys to preventing acute mountain sickness include:

• Climb the mountain gradually and slowly
• Sleep at a lower altitude when possible
• Learn how to recognize early symptoms of mountain sickness
• Drink plenty of fluid – 3 liters per day
• Avoid alcohol
• Eat regular meals, high in carbohydrates
• Sleep well
• Be well equipped