Tiji Festival in Upper Mustang

Lo Manthang → Upper Mustang

Highlights

• Witness the ancient Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang — three days of Cham masked dances celebrating the victory of Dorje Jono over the demon of drought.
• Festival Tour · 12 Days
• Small group, guide-led

Day-by-day itinerary

1. D1

   Kathmandu to Jomsom

   Fly to Pokhara then Jomsom (2,720m), the windswept gateway to Mustang. Acclimatization walk to the ancient Dzong Gompa and the black sandbanks of the Kali Gandaki — the world's deepest gorge.

   Lo Manthang As per plan

2. D2

   Kagbeni to Chele

   Enter the restricted area at Kagbeni, a village of narrow alleys, chortens, and a 500-year-old monastery. Trek through the dramatic landscape of the Kali Gandaki valley to Chele, crossing the first of many high passes.

   Lo Manthang As per plan

3. D3

   Syangboche to Ghami

   Cross the Yamda La (3,850m) and visit chortens hand-carved into cliff faces. Pass through villages where Tibetan culture remains untouched by modernity. Overnight in Ghami with its long mani wall and ancient gompa.

   Lo Manthang As per plan

4. D4

   Tsarang to Lo Manthang

   Trek to Tsarang, the second-largest town in Mustang, with its massive dzong (fortress) and palace. Continue to the walled city of Lo Manthang — a living museum of Tibetan civilization where the king (now a cultural figurehead) still resides.

   Lo Manthang As per plan

5. D5

   Tiji Day 1: The Dance of the Orange Mask

   The festival opens with monks performing the dance of the orange-masked Dorje Jono. Watch the elaborate costume preparation in the monastery kitchen — brocade robes, jeweled crowns, and masks consecrated for this single purpose. Your guide translates the ritual's symbolism.

   Lo Manthang As per plan

6. D6

   Tiji Day 2: The Demon Subjugation

   The second day features the most dramatic dances — Dorje Jono's battle with the demon, the defeat, and the ritual subjugation. The masked dancers leap, spin, and brandish ritual weapons. The ancient walls of Lo Manthang echo with the sound of ten-foot-long dungchen horns.

   Lo Manthang As per plan

7. D7

   Tiji Day 3: The Victory Celebration

   The final day celebrates the restoration of peace and prosperity. The monks perform the victory dances, and the entire community gathers for a communal feast. In the evening, walk the narrow lanes of Lo Manthang as butter lamps illuminate the whitewashed walls.

   Lo Manthang As per plan

8. D8

   Return to Jomsom & Pokhara

   Retrace your steps through the Kali Gandaki valley, with time to visit caves containing 2,000-year-old meditation chambers. Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara for a celebratory lakeside dinner and hot shower.

   Lo Manthang As per plan

Price includes

• Local storyteller guide
• Stays as per itinerary
• Daily breakfast
• All ground transfers

Make it yours (upsells)

Everything apart from the trip itself is an upsell — tick what you want.