- Enjoy the Tiji Festival in the beautiful and naturally secluded city of Lo-Mangthang.
- Explore the beautiful surroundings and gorges of Kaligandaki.
- Enjoy delicious cultural and ritual cake Torma made by local monks.
- Pokhara valley, Fewa lake, and apple vineyard.
- Breathtaking views of mountains like Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and others.
- Explore Champa Khakang, Namgyal Gompa, and Tsechen Shedrubling Monastery School to learn about Tibetan Buddhism.
- Mountains like Nilgiri and Tibetan mountains will be your companion during the trip.
Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Country
Nepal Tour and Trek Packages
Duration
18 Days
Difficulty
Moderate
Activity
Jeep Tours in Nepal
Best Season
April to first week of June
Start / End Point
Kathmandu / Kathmandu
Max. Altitude
3,800 m
Nature Of Trek
Jeep, Lodge Tour.
Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour Highlight
Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour Itinerary
Note: B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner
Arrival in Kathmandu
Highest Altitude
1350m / 4429ft
We will pick you up at the international airport and transfer you to the hotel. After refreshments, you can visit Kathmandu on your own. We will welcome you in the evening with a typical Nepalese dinner and discuss the program and route.
Sightseeing around Kathmandu
Highest Altitude
1350m
The very next morning, after breakfast, you will be immersed in a sightseeing tour around Kathmandu Valley for a full day. You can visit the center of pilgrimage, Pashupatinath Temple and Swayambhunath, which are very ancient and essentially enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage sites. The biggest Buddhist Stupa at Boudhnath might make you feel calm and at peace. Till then, our staff member will be busy preparing a special permit for Mustang.
Jeep drive to Pokhara
Trek Distance
200 km (124.2 miles) drive
Trek Duration
6 Hours Drive
Highest Altitude
820m/2690ft
This morning, you will drive to Pokhara (200km). En route, we will see more of Nepal’s countryside, which offers greeneries, rivers, villages, farms, and beautiful mountain scenery. In the afternoon, we will reach Pokhara. Pokhara offers magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhare, the five peaks of Annapurna, and others. Pokhara is a city of lakes and has numerous beautiful lakes. We can explore the most accessible and attractive, Fewa Lake.
Jeep Drive to Marpha
Trek Distance
144 km (89.4 miles) Drive
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 6 Hours
Highest Altitude
2600m (8530 ft)
Day 4 of the trek begins with a scenic jeep drive from Pokhara to Marpha village at 2600m. The journey offers breathtaking views along the way. Upon arrival, explore Marpha village, visiting attractions like the historic Kawaguchi House and Marpha Gompa. Immerse yourself in the local culture and take in the charm of this picturesque village.
Jeep Drive to Samar
Trek Distance
50km (31 miles) Drive
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 4 Hours
Highest Altitude
3660m (12007ft)
Today, our journey starts with a special permit check-up and continues upstream to the riverbank of Kaligandaki. During the drive, we have scenic picturesque places to stop through the sandy and windy trails. This trail follows the uphill and downhill continues along treeless and dry terrain, along the side of a spectacularly deep canyon to pass a rock cairn at 3540m. The trail then makes a long, gradual descent to some Chortens on a ridge and descends further on a pleasant trail to Samar. En route, visit Tiri Gaon and explore the Samar village and surroundings, including NEW TEMPLE.
Trek and Drive to Ghami
Trek Distance
22km (13.6 miles) Drive
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 4 Hours
Highest Altitude
3550m (11646 ft)
Drive by jeep to Ghami (3550 m). En route, visit Rangchyung Cave Chorten/cave temple and the village of Ghiling. Here, the jeep will take another trip to Ghami. After walking through Chorten, we can explore Sakya Gompa and visit it.
Trek and drive to charang
Trek Distance
18km (11 miles)
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 2 Hours
Highest Altitude
3500m/11482 ft
Drive-by jeep to Tsarang/Charang. En route, explore the village, and visit the Gompa. On this day, we are crossing one of the longest Mani walls. If the jeep client is also interested in visiting Dhakmar, we can drive to Dhakmar, which takes 30 minutes longer, and they can explore around.
We will trek to Dhakmar/Tramar for about 2 hours, including the Red Cliffs. In Tsarang, we will visit Lo Gekar Gompa, Thubten Shedrup Dhargyeling, and the ruins of the King’s palace. The jeep will wait until the crew returns from Dhakmar. Then we will drive to Charang. If time permits, you can visit Ghar Ghumpa, one of the oldest monasteries in the Mustang and Marang villages.
Drive to Lo-Mangthang
Trek Distance
25km (15.5 miles)
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 2 Hours
Highest Altitude
3800m (12467 ft)
Today, we head out to our final destination, the capital of Mustang, where the king of the Mustang still resides. En-route, visit Ghar Gompa and Sumdra Chorten, intensive exploration of Lo Manthang, Champa Lhakhang, Thubchen Lhakhang, Shakya Chyodi Gompa, and King’s Palace. Also, you can enjoy the Starting day of the Tiji Festival.
Explore Day in Lo-Mangthang
On this day, we explore the surrounding areas of Lo-Manthang and spend time in this mystical and isolated city. You will awake to the mystical sounds of monks chanting and the heady scent of temple candles. The King of Mustang wears a whole crown of tiny river pearls set off by dozens of large red coralline tones interspersed with matched ornaments of turquoise.
Lo-Manthang is the western valley of Tingkhar, the site of Raja’s summer palace, and the surrounding panoramic views of the Himalayas, which are worth exploring. Kimling, Phuwa, and the Gompa of Namgyal (The Monastery of Victory is the newest and most active Gompa in Lo) are also here. After exploring the lo-Manthang, we will be ready for the Tiji festivals from 2 pm to 6 pm.
Another Explore Day in Lo-Mangthang
On the last day of the Tiji festival, the evil remains’ ceremonial destruction occurs. Some long black yak hair and red torma cakes, minced into a dark red gurry, represent the evil remnants. They are set out on an old tiger skin and attacked by bow, arrow, slings, and old guns. Each overturning of the devil’s remains triggers a wild cannonade from the old muzzle-loaders and a wave of cheers and smoke.
Jeep Drive to Yara and hike or drive to Luri Gompa and again drive back to Charang
Trek Distance
50km (31mile)
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 5/6 Hours
Highest Altitude
3920m (12860 ft)
Explore the village again and drive to Yara. Then, after reaching Yara Gaon, we can take a short trek to Luri Gompa 2/3hrs or drive up to Luri Gompa via ghar (3920m). Luri Gompa is one of the oldest monasteries and the Holy sites of the Mustang region. Drive back to Charang and stay overnight in Charang.
Drive to Chusang
Trek Distance
48km (30mile)
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 4 Hours
Highest Altitude
3040m / 9974ft
On Day 12, start your day with a hearty breakfast before embarking on a scenic drive from Charang to Chusang. Enjoy the picturesque landscapes along the journey as you return to Chusang. Upon reaching Chusang, you can relax and unwind, reflecting on the memorable experiences of your trek so far.
Trek and Drive to Muktinath
Trek Distance
25km (15.5mile)
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 5 Hours
Highest Altitude
3785m/ 12417ft
After breakfast, we drive to Muktinath, which offers the best panoramic views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Tukuche. Muktinath is an important pilgrimage center for both Hindus and Buddhists. The most renowned holy site is a Vishnu temple, featuring 108 spouts shaped like cows’ heads, from which holy water flows. This water is channeled from a stream located above the temple. The temple, constructed in Tibetan style, houses large brass idols of Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, and Kali.
For the trek, we will start from Jharkot and go to Muktinath. Today, we also trekked for around two hours.
Drive to Tatopani via Lubra village
Trek Distance
71km (44mile)
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 6 Hours
Highest Altitude
2972m/ 9750ft
After a morning visit to the Temple of Muktinath and the Buddhist Monastery nearby, we start our drive to the Tatopani via lubra. Lubra valley is the last Bon village (pre-Buddhist practice). The place is full of legend and history. This cute little village is of special interest as it has a Bonpa Monastery. Then, drive further to Tatopani. You can enjoy a hot spring in Tatopani.
Drive to Pokhara
Trek Distance
103km (64mile)
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 6 Hours
Highest Altitude
820m /2690ft
After having breakfast, we start our journey towards Pokhara. The road takes you through the awe-inspiring Kali Gandaki gorge. Upon reaching Pokhara, we have the afternoon free to unwind and explore this charming lakeside city. You can stroll along Phewa Lake, visit the International Mountain Museum, or relax and enjoy the serene surroundings.
Drive to Kathmandu
Trek Distance
200km (124.2mile)
Trek Duration
Drive Hour: 6 Hours
Highest Altitude
1350m (4429ft)
Day 16 begins with a delicious breakfast before we hit the road back to Kathmandu. Along the way, we’ll pass through quaint villages, terraced fields, and lush forests, soaking in the natural beauty of Nepal’s countryside.
Free day in Kathmandu
Free day in Kathmandu offers an opportunity to delve deeper into the city’s rich cultural heritage. You can visit iconic landmarks such as Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, or the sacred Pashupatinath Temple. Alternatively, you may choose to explore the vibrant streets of Thamel.
Departure
This is the final day of your trek. After breakfast, our guide will take you to the Tribhuvan International Airport in a private van. With a heavy heart, we will say a final goodbye. Have a safe journey.
What is included?
- Transportation to and from the airport
- Hotel with breakfast in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Government licensed guide for sightseeing in Kathmandu valley
- Mustang special permit and conservation fee
- Professional, Government license holder Trekking guide.
- Accommodation in lodge during jeep Tour with 3 meals a day
What is excluded?
- Monument entrance fees during sightseeing in Kathmandu valley
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- International flight ticket and airport tax
- Travel insurance in case of emergency
- Any extra services which is not included above
- Tips for local staff
- Domestic flight ticket
- Monument and monasteries fee,
- Personal expenses: like bar bills, soft and hard drinks
Essential Information
Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour Difficulty Level
The Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour falls under easy to moderate difficulty level. Little walking is involved since the jeep will take you to different places. However, you must be in excellent physical condition to thoroughly enjoy the trip.
You don’t need any mountain climbing skills or other skills to complete the excursion, and there are no technical obstacles that might halt your trip completely. You will most likely be going on a slightly difficult trek to see monasteries and caves and will also walk on terrain; however, the biggest challenge you will likely face might be the altitude.
Document and Paperwork Required For Tiji Festival Tour
If you are on course to experience the Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour, you must know that you need special permits and documents to reach the Upper Mustang. Since 1992, tourists have always been welcome to visit Upper Mustang, but a special permit is necessary.
Despite coming across one of the most restricted areas in history, Upper Mustang sees more local and foreign tourists yearly. The Jeep Tour of the region is gaining more attention, but first, you need to get a special permit from ACAP and the Nepal Immigration office.
You must also always keep your necessary travel documents, such as a visa, passport, photo, and travel insurance, with you so you can show them whenever necessary. As mentioned earlier, the Upper Mustang is a slightly restricted area, so there is considerably tighter security than in other places. However, with a permit and other necessary paperwork, you can enjoy the amazing Tiji Festival without worry.
Reaffirming the Myth
The Tiji festival celebrates and reaffirms this ancient myth. During the festival, the story and events of the myth are dramatically re-enacted through dance, music, and colorful performances. The festival occurs at the end of the dry season, in late winter or early spring, just before the monsoon season.
Tiji comes from “Ten Che,” which means “the hope that Buddha’s teachings will win out in every world.” It celebrates the triumph of good over evil and reminds people of the importance of water, a scarce resource in this region.
Michel Peissel, a French ethnologist and explorer, was the first Westerner to witness the Mustang Tiji festival in 1964. At the time, foreigners were not allowed to enter the Mustang region without special permission from the government of Nepal. Arriving on the festival’s last day, Peissel was overwhelmed by the sights and sounds he encountered, not knowing what to expect. He described the experience as “strange and unexpected,” even now, he still finds it hard to believe that what he saw was real.
FAQs For Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour
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Food and Accommodation During Trip
Many tourists are often concerned about the food they might get on the Upper Mustang Trip. However, the best part is that the food is exceptional even in the restricted area. Since the region is one of the best tourist spots, you can get all kinds of international foods like Thai, Continental, and Italian and enjoy local cuisines like Dhido, Dal Bhat, Roti, etc.
You will have three meal options during the trip, including breakfast. Breakfast is the most common meal option for tourists during the trip. The Breakfast menu includes Tibetan bread, French Toast, cornflakes, Chapati, Eggs, porridge, pancakes, and vegetable soups.
After breakfast, you will be full for a few hours before diving into lunch. There are a variety of lunch options that you can choose from as well. You can choose Western lunch options such as momos or dumplings, pizzas, soups, bread, steak, noodles, and potatoes, or indulge in local cuisines.
Some popular local cuisines for lunch are sherpa stew, Dal Bhat, Local meat and fish, Dindo, fried rice, and other local specialties that are very good for cold climates. After a long day of trekking, you are now ready for dinner.
Some of the dinner options are Dal Bhat, Chapati, Roti, Thukpa (Noodles), Spaghetti, Macaroni, Yak Steaks, Local Meats and Fish, different soups and stews, and local drinks.
Regarding accommodation, you will stay at three-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara. When you are in Upper Mustang, you and your local guide will stay at local guesthouses that provide impressive services. Each hotel has a twin bed, an attached bathroom, and hot water.
However, it is essential to understand that guesthouses don’t have the luxury of several-star hotels, so some guest houses may have shared bathrooms and sinks. Finding a single room for each guest in upper-altitude hotels or houses might be difficult. You can find excellent accommodation facilities up to Kagbeni, and some hotels in Mustang also offer lodging, but many hotels have limited services.
In the case of internet facilities, there is no problem even after Kagbeni, as many teahouses have WIFI connections. However, when the altitude increases towards Upper Mustang, it becomes unreliable and erratic.
Altitude Sickness
The Upper Mustang Tiji Jeep Tour is described as easy to moderately complex. However, one factor can always make your trip very difficult, and that is altitude sickness. People have noted that altitude sickness only occurs above 4000 meters. We can safely assume that it occurs in some rare cases. People still suffer from sickness despite being at over 3000 m altitude, the altitude we will tour during the Jeep tour.
In altitude sickness, dropping down a level of altitude is essential to calm your body. You can also be ready for higher altitudes by getting as much rest and acclimatization as possible so that the sudden increase in altitude won’t cause any sickness. You can also pack with some medicine like Diamax or others in an emergency.
However, it is better to prevent altitude sickness than get ready for his treatment, so here is some advice you can follow to avoid altitude sickness overall.
- Keep eating a healthy and local diet that gives stamina, and avoid eating extra chilly or oily foods.
- Purchase necessary medicinal items like Diamax, bandages, etc, for any emergency.
- In higher terrains, you must walk slowly and carefully. Avoid walking faster, as this can cause you to tire quickly and weaken your body.
- Always keep yourself hydrated, as this is a necessary step in preventing altitude sickness. Do not consume alcohol, as it can cause severe dehydration while walking.
- If you feel the symptoms of altitude sickness, you must lower your altitude or stop immediately. Although altitude sickness is not extremely dangerous, failure to cope can worsen it.
The Mustang Tiji festival is an annual three-day celebration in the Kingdom of Mustang, Nepal, known as “The Chasing of the Demons.” The festival is the story of Tiji, which tells the tale of the god Dorje Jono, who battles against his demon father to save the people of Mustang from destruction. Enraged and wreaking havoc, the demon father blocks off the only water source in Mustang’s dry and arid land, causing a severe water shortage. To end the suffering of his people, Dorje Jono defeats the demon and restores the water supply, bringing prosperity and peace to the region.
Off-Roading Adventure
If you want an off-road adventure, the Mustang Jeep trek is the best option. Mustang is an exhilarating journey through rugged terrain. The jeep ride in the area is like a thrilling roller coaster raised through nature’s playground. The rugged uphill and downhill terrain gives a bouncing adventure over rocky trails. Each turn presents a new challenge, whether conquering steep inclines, passing through deep mud, or traversing rocky landscapes.
The jeep adventures cater to those who love exploring but have less time and seek a more comfortable trip than trekking. You will learn more about the special Mustang Culture as you drive through remote paths. This off-the-beaten-road jeep tour offers stunning views of the Annapurna and Nilgiri mountains. If you are an adventurer looking for a more thrilling experience in the Himalayas, you can opt for the jeep tour in Upper Mustang.
Why To Choose Himalayan Leaders?
Booking your Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep tour with the Himalayan Leader is wise for several reasons. We are a government-certified company with the mission of customer satisfaction. Wondering what advantages you get exploring with us? Do not worry. Embarking your journey with us provides you with numerous benefits. We are a group of experienced team. Our well-trained guides and well-maintained jeeps ensure a safe and well-guided tour.
Furthermore, you will receive full assistance from accommodation and meals to transportation throughout the journey. Thus, you can focus on soaking in the beautiful scenery. With our commitment to responsible tourism and safety, you can embark on this adventure with peace of mind. Also, we offer you all the packages at the most affordable prices. With the best amenities provided, an experienced team, and affordability, booking with us can be the best choice for you.
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