Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trekking 2024
Tiji is a fascinating annual three-day festival consisting of Tibetan rituals that celebrate the myth of a son who had to save the Mustang kingdom from destruction. There are two different meanings as local people believe:
“Tiji” comes from the words ten che, meaning the “hope of the dharma prevailing in all worlds,” the message Guru Rinpoche carried through this region over a thousand years ago. "Tiji" the name is an abbreviation of the word "Tempa Chirim" which means "Prayer for World Peace". This festival commemorates the victory of Lord Buddha's incarnation Dorjee Sonnu over a demon called Man Tam Ru a vicious creature feeding on human beings and causing storms and droughts.
The Tiji festival usually takes place around Mid May and early june for 3 days. This year is determined to be on 5, 6 and 7 May 2024 as Lunar calendar. The monks of Lo Manthang's "Choedhe" monastery perform ritual dances during the celebration. The harassment of Ma Tam Ru Ta (in a dance called "Tsa Chham" on the first day), the birth of Dorjee Sonnu as the demon's son (on the second day called "Nga Chham") and the attempt to return the demon to Lord Buddha's realm (on the third and final day) are enacted during the performances.
The Tiji festival dances are all organized by the Choedhe Monastery, which belongs to the Sakya sect of Buddhism. The monastery is headed by a Rimpoche. About 65 monks from Lo Manthang, Nhenyul and Chhosyer reside in this monastery.
FACT OF THIS TRIP | |
Trip Duration | 12 days trip |
Max. Altitude: | 3900 m. |
Minimum Altitude: | 2500 m. |
Grade: | Easy |
Activities: | Trekking/ Tiji festival celebrating |
Accommodation: | Lodge |
Meals: | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Transportation: | Plane |
Trek Departure: | 30th.April.2024 |
Group Size: | 2 person to 20 persons (maximum) |
Best season: | May |
Available Time: | May |
Per day hiking: | 5 to 6 hours |
Upper Mustang Tiji festival Trekking 2024
Suggested Itinerary
30th.April.2024 Day 1: Fly to Jomsom and Trek to Kagbeni to start the upper Mustang TIJI trek
A short 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. Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1st.May.2024 Day 2: Trek to Chele (3050m/ 10,006ft) around 5 hours walk
Today we enter the restricted area of Upper Mustang . As said to be the desert of Nepal the valley widens with barren and arid surroundings with green villages in the middle that appears more like a mirage which is simply incredible. Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
2nd.May.2024 Day 3: Trek to Syangboche (3800m/ 12467ft) 5-6 hours walk
Today’s walk is more into undulating trails with couple of steep climb and descents. Despite 6 hour walk the tremendous canyons with its unusual colour that opens out is extraordinary. In this bizarre the farming fields with rich red buckwheat and brilliant green and the south view offering you a panorama of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Tilicho Peak, and YakawaKang adds up to its magnificence. Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, dinner
3rd.May.2024 Day 4: Trek to Ghami (3520m/ 11548ft) walk approximately 5 hours walk
From Syangboche we climb gently to a small pass of 3800m/12,467ft with extraordinary views of mountains and deep valleys into the wind eroded canyons. Today’s walk is effortless with few short climbs in between but beautiful scenery alongside would hardly allow us to realize the passing away of time and arrive at Ghami for lunch. Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4th.May.2024 Day 5: Trek to Tsarang (3560m/11679ft) 4 hours walk
This short trek to Tsarang takes us into the ‘Land of Chortens”. This trail marks the history and legend of the Indian saint Padmasambhava (750-810 AD), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism who created a fusion of Buddhism with the original Shamanistic religion of Tibet called Bon – whose influence upon the Indian Buddhism makes Tibetan Buddhism so fascinating. Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5th.May.2024 Day 6: Trek to Lo Manthang / witness the Tiji festival starting in the afternoon (3900m./12870ft. ) 5 hrs.
Finally we get to 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. Stay overnight at lodge.
NOTE: ENTRANCE FEE MAY BE INCURRED TO SEE THE FESTIVAL FOR 3 CONSUCATIVE DAYS.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6th.May.2024 Day 7: 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. Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
7th.May.2024 Day 8: 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. Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8th.May.2024 Day 9: Trek to Ghami
Trek to Ghami and stay overnight at lodge. Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9th.May.2024 Day 10: Trek to Chusang
Trek to Chusang and stay overnight there at lodge. Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10th.May.2024 Day 11: Trek to Jomsom
Trek to Jomsom and stay overnight at lodge. Stay overnight at lodge.
Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
11th.May.2024 Day 12: Fly to Pokhara
We take an early morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara – a fantastic way to round off the trek, flying right along the Kali Gandaki Gorge between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.
Meals included : Breakfast
Trip Ends
Our group offer for Tiji Festival Trek 2024 is based on :
Group Size |
Offer in USD per person |
1 pax |
2100 |
2 pax |
1650 |
4 pax |
1630 |
6 pax |
1610 |
8 pax |
1590 |
10 pax |
1570 |
11 or above pax |
1550 |
There will be provided one main guide and one assistance guide for 10 persons or above group
Services included :
Services not included :
Upper Mustang Permit
Upper Mustang 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 Upper Mustang special permit in 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 this trip. 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 Mardi himal Trekking. 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.
Note: TIMS is not required for Upper Mustang region.
When you select your personal items, keep in mind the number of days you will be trekking, the time of year and the altitude. We advise our clients to bring these items:
- Lightweight walking boots "walked" them in prior to arrival in Nepal to avoid blisters.
- Light weight pants, shorts
- At night -track top, 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
- Vaseline for feet and crutch.
- 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.
- Wind proof jacket
- 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
- Snow glasses and strap
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 Treks.
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Acute mountain sickness is an illness that can affect trekkers at high altitudes, usually above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters).
Your symptoms will also depend on the speed of your climb and how hard you push (exert) yourself. Symptoms are as below:
Treatment
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.
Keys to preventing acute mountain sickness include:
First aid |
Owing to a sudden change in climate, altitude and other factors, it is obvious that there could arise some alterations in your health. It would be hard to know all aspects of Nepal's health problems.You will be eating and drinking in various outlets. Diarrhea is a common illness that a tourist would be facing. So, it is recommended to drink purified water and eat in clean outlets. Drinking and eating precautions will surely help to take care of many health problems that could arise during the trip. Staying hydrated during the travel, trekking, tours is highly recommended too. If any problem should arise during the trip. Being on good health before leaving for a trip would help you to enjoy your trip to the fullest.Though Nepal alternative treks will be carrying first aid medical kid, you are also suggested to take personal basic first medicines for in case. AccommodationWe leave you free to choose hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara as there will various choices to select yourself. We will arrange twin share basis room in lodges . We will arrange room with shared washing room and toilet. MealsDuring our tour, we can enjoy authentic Nepalese food as well the more common international cuisine (Tibetan, Continental, Italian, Indian, etc.) in lodges tour. There will be served for breakfast, lunch and dinner three times in a day along the route with your choices from MENU . Physical Condition & Experience RequirementsUpper Mustang Tiji festival Trekking 2023 is easy type of tour as we will drive all along the route. As we will get the highest elevation 3900 meter, you are preferred an excellent health with average physical fitness, have a positive attitude and strong determination, we can accomplish the tour successfully. Exercising and jogging regularly is good idea to enhance our strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no technical skill is required for this trip. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases should inform Nepal alternative treks before booking the trek. |
Annapurna Circuit Trekking with Tilicho Lake
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