Upper Mustang TIJI Festival Tour- 2026

• Airport pick up and drop by our staff by private car
• All ground transportation by comfortable AC car/jeep during the trek
• Kathmandu to Pokhara domestic flight
• Pokhara to Kathmandu Domestic flight
• Pokhara to Jomsom flight
• Jomsom to Pokhara return flight
• 3-star hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast.
• 2-night accommodation in Pokhara with breakfast
• All Meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) and accommodation during the trek
• Seasonal fruits as a dessert after every dinner.
• Walkie-talkie device phone for communication and safety.
• Oxygen Cylinder
• ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) and TIMS (Trekker’s Management System) required permit card
• Restrict ( Special) Permit
• A highly experienced government licenses holder English speaking mountain guide and Driver
• Salary, accommodation, meals, insurance, equipment, transportation cost, etc for guide and Driver
• First Aids Kit for the entire team
• Duffel Bag
• Fingertip Oximeter to check the oxygen level of the trekkers frequently
• 1 assistant leader for every 6 people
• Attach toilet facilities if available in the particular tour
• Toilet paper provided
• Hand sanitizer
• Sleeping bag to be returned after the tour.
• Hot shower in available place during tour
• Warm purified water as needed
• Wifi in available places
• Good karma Trekking Cap
• Seasonal fresh fruits
• All government taxes and office charge

• International Airfare and visa fees (can be obtained upon arrival at the immigration of the Tribhuwan International Airport)
• Your travel insurance
• Tips and gratitude (a way of expressing thankfulness) to your guide, porter, and driver
• And those not mentioned in the included section

Time: The festival is held annually between April and May, according to the Tibetan lunar calendar.

Location: The ancient capital city of Lo Manthang in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal.

The upcoming Tiji Festival Tour 2026 falls from 14th May to 16th May 2026.

14 May 2026 Tiji Festival in Lo-Mangthang (1st day)

15 May 2026 Tiji Festival in Lo-Mangthang (2nd day)

16 May 2026 Tiji Festival in Lo-Mangthang (3rd day)

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek is one of the most fabulous trekking itineraries, which is compiled with two programs at a time. Travelers can trek to the Upper Mustang region throughout the year but to witness the Tiji festival is something different. Tiji is a 3-day festival that is observed in Lo-Manthang the capital city of Upper Mustang.

The history of the Tiji Festival can be traced back to Tibet and is related to Vajrayana Buddhism, also known as Tibetan Buddhism, introduced by Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche in Tibet in the 8th century AD. He is the founding father of to spread of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet and the Himalayas of Nepal. So, Vajrayana followers refer to him as the second Buddha after Shakyamuni Buddha.

The history of the Tiji festival can be traced back to the time when myths were more popular and universal than modern science. It was the time when people believed in tantric practice and meditation, through tantric gurus tried to find out the cause and effect and solution of their common suffering.

According to a famous myth, once a very powerful man-eating demon created havoc in the Mustang region due to a lack of live human flesh. This was so because tantric gurus were protecting the inhabited areas through their spells.

Tantric gurus were creating trouble for the demon through their powerful practice of tantrism, to take revenge demon created a shortage of water and spread unknown diseases in the valley of Mustang and the surrounding areas. Water is very important for human civilization and in the Mustang region, the main source of snow-melted water was limited due to its remoteness and the massif Himalayas surrounding the villages.

This incident led to trouble, and the death of animals and humans due to lack of water and diseases started increasing. Even the main gurus (spiritual teachers) were not able to stop the damage created by the demon.

Finally, they invited Dorje Jono who was a very powerful tantric spiritual teacher, to chase the demon from the region through his powerful spell of spiritual practice. Dorje Jono guarded the whole valley through his spell,l and the demon was not able to enter the region. This made the demon keep away from entering the valley and still does and the lifestyle remained normal to date.

To mark the victory over evil Tiji Festival is celebrated every year. It has now been observed in a broader sense, it is now a ritual ceremony for World Peace and Victory of Good over Evil. Native Americans believe the ritual 3-day ceremony will bring eternal blessing to all sentient beings.

Tiji Festival is a very popular festival in the Upper Mustang region, which includes seven villages in the region. The main 3-day festival is observed with colorful ceremonies, dances, and ritual songs by the monks of the monastery in Lo-Mangthang.

The festival is guided by the royal family members of the kingdom, along with the villagers. It is a tantric dance by the monks, the main dancer/performers are chosen before three months of the festival and do all the training and ritual ceremonies until the final day of the festival.

Royal family members, villagers, and travelers from around the globe join to observe the colorful festival. It is believed that being part of the ceremony will lead one to eternal bliss.

The date for the Tiji Festival is not predictable. It is celebrated according to the Tibetan calendar, and the main monks of the surrounding monastery decide the date through ritual techniques. This year, the 3-day Tiji Festival 2026 will be celebrated from 14th- 16th May 2026.

Travellers frequently ask questions about the best time to be in the Lo-Manthang or Upper Mustang region. Upper Mustang is the driest area of the Himalayas with almost no vegetation except some mountain grasses or bush but locals grow seasonal vegetables and potato is very famous.

Travellers can visit the region throughout the year. Due to its altitude and surrounding Himalayas, there is very little rainfall even during the monsoon which is June and July, and winter will be cold and get snow mainly in November, December, January and February.

During the extreme winter of December and January, fewer lodges and hotels are operated and fewer trekkers can be seen. Due to extremely chilling temperatures and snowfall locals descend to the lower altitude. But trekking is possible and is also done.

Upper Mustang is a restricted area of Nepal but lower Mustang is easily accessible for trekkers. Upper Mustang is the remote area of the Himalayas bordering Tibet. So, foreigners need a special permit to visit this region.

Apart from the Annapurna Area Conservation Permit (ACAP) and Trekkers Informations' Management System (TIMS), a Special Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is required to enter Upper Mustang which costs 500 USD for foreign nationals.

ACAP permit costs 30 USD and TIMS permit costs 10 USD each, but to inform our valuable travellers, a single entry is strictly prohibited in the Upper Mustang Region. So to obtain a special permit to enter Upper Mustang a minimum of two trekkers is mandatory and this can be obtained from the Nepal Immigration Office, through the authorized trekking agency of Nepal.

These three permits will cost 540 USD per person because the Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo-Mangthang and falls under restricted areas. From Kagbeni special permit comes into effect and to the Lower Mustang ACAP and TIMS are mandatory to carry.

The Mustang region is a famous area not only for foreign nationals but also for Hindu and Buddhist followers. Holy pilgrimage site such as Kaligandaki River, Kagbeni, Muktinath, and Tatopani (hot water spring) is located in the Mustang region.

Apart from these, the region itself is the old trade route to Tibet, all this has made Mustang a very popular area for the local travellers. Keeping this in mind local tourism development committee of the Mustang area has been operating lodges, hotels, and even a resort in Jomsom.

So it is very comfortable to trek in this region, but we can expect a basic lodge and hotel at the higher altitude and better at the lower altitude. Foods are basic but hygienic and the hotel and lodges are neat.

ACAP also provides free cooking and hygienic training for the locals to make their business grow and maintain its standard by satisfying travellers. Hotels and lodges also provide refilled filtered water along with electricity and WIFI which can be obtained upon payment. In a nutshell, accommodation and food are satisfying.

The Tiji Festival is a vibrant, three-day Tibetan Buddhist festival in Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang, Nepal, held in the third month of the Tibetan lunar calendar (typically May) to commemorate the victory of good over evil. Visitors can witness monks perform sacred masked dances (Cham) depicting the legendary battle of Dorje Jono against a demon, symbolizing peace and prosperity. Tourists are welcome but require a special restricted area permit and must be accompanied by a licensed guide, as it is a restricted region.

Monks perform masked dances (Cham):

Prayer chants and rituals: Performed by the monks to call upon deities and promote world peace.

Community gathering: Locals dress traditionally, pray, give offerings, and strengthen community bonds.

The Tiji Festival commemorates the victory of the deity Dorje Jono over a demon that was destroying the Mustang region. It is celebrated to: