Tiji festival is celebrated in Lo-Manthang, Upper Mustang which is one of the unique festivals celebrated according to the Tibetan Calendar in the Mustang district. This is also the main highlight of the Tiji festival trek.
The Upper Mustang trek is the most adventurous and beautiful walking experience you can have. The incredible landscape, ancient Tibetan culture, breathtaking sceneries, and wonderful Himalayan panoramas make this trip one of the iconic travel destinations in Nepal.
Explore the exceptionally less traveled but superbly wonderful region, Upper Mustang is a region that simply overwhelms travelers with its magnificent simplicity at the most premium cost.
Upper Mustang Trekking was closed to foreigners until 1992. Even today access to non-Nepalis travelers is highly restricted. To enter the Upper Mustang, that is to travel further North of Kagbeni, travelers need to acquire special trekking permits. Besides the permits, a non-Nepali traveler must be accompanied by a government-appointed official.
Being Isolated from the world for centuries, hiking through this region is truly the best opportunity to explore the untouched Tibetan Culture and virgin landscape. As it was off-limit to foreign travelers, this region is also known as “The Last Forbidden Kingdom.”
Also, check on How to Travel Mustang.
Best Time for Upper Mustang Trek Journey
Upper Mustang lies in the Himalayan rain shadows, making it the driest region of Nepal. Even during monsoons, the Mustang Valley is quite dry with only occasional rainfall. Being one of the driest regions, this region is accessible throughout the year for hiking.
Although this region is accessible throughout the year, the Summer season (May to Late August) is considered to be the best time to visit Upper Mustang. During this time of year, the weather is stable, giving you access to the incredible landscape and mountain views. Traveling for this reason at the time of May will also be an opportunity to witness an ancient 3 days festival, the Teiji Festival, which is celebrated in the walled city of Lo Manthang. Which is also the purpose of the Tiji Festival Trek.
In the cold winter season, hike is not particularly difficult. However, the weather conditions at this time can be arduous, giving you a quite hard time traveling. The temperature of Lo Manthang in winter falls below – 20 ° C, Only a few people stay to take care of animals & village. For the best traveling experience, it is better to avoid the cold winter season because of the harsh weather conditions.
Tiji Festival Trek, is it right for me?
Tiji Festival Trek is undeniably a refreshing journey you can undertake. There is not any major challenge you will have to face as our guides and company will make sure you have a safe and enjoyable trip. With basic physical fitness, you can complete the journey around the lap of mountains without a hitch.
History of Teiji Festival
The Festival is the 3-day ritual known as “The Chasing of the Demon” which is based on the Myth. As per the legend, it is said that a deity named Dorje Jono battled against his demon father to save the kingdom from destruction. As per the myth, the demon father wreaked havoc on Mustang and created a water shortage in this region.
The Mustang valleys lie in the shadows of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri because of which this region is dry land, and water is the most essential commodity for all people and animals residing in this region.
As the demon's father created a water shortage, causing many resulting disasters from famine to animal loss. To uplift this curse and cruelty, Dorje Jono battled his demon father, defeated and then banished him from the land. This “Chasing of the Demons” is the Tiji festival, a celebration and reaffirmation of the myth through dances and religious ceremonies.
This “Chasing of the Demons” is the Tiji festival, a celebration and reaffirmation of the myth through dances and religious ceremonies.
In the Year 2023, the Tiji Festival started on 16th May 2023 and ended on 18th May 2023.
The dates of the Tiji festival are based on the Tibetan Calendar and change every year. The dates for the celebration of the Tiji festival are decided by the monk based on the Tibetan Lunar calendar. But this festival usually occurs from mid-May to late June. Experiencing this ancient festival will be once in a lifetime experience, and we assure you that you will never forget it.
Tiji Festival Trek Permits, Cost, and How to Acquire Them?
Tiji Festival Trek is a restricted area trekking, so a special trekking permit i.e., a restricted area permit is required to do the trekking in this locale. The Nepal Immigration Office issues this permit. Besides the restricted area permit; you will also need ACAP and MCAP permits for the trekking. To acquire the permit, a minimum of two trekkers is compulsory
For experiencing the Tiji Festival permits are quite expensive. The Restricted Area trek permit of the Upper Mustang will cost you 500 USD. You also require the Annapurna Conservation Area permit which will cost 30 USD.
Guide and Porters on Trek
We provide you with a well-trained and experienced guide and porter for your trek. Our guide will assist you in every possible way to make your trips remarkable and memorable. Talking about the porter, we provide one porter for 2 trekkers each. The porters carry 20 Kg of total luggage (10 Kg from each trekker). We provide one guide for the smaller groups and if the group size surpasses 10 individuals; we will provide an additional guide for your trip.
Join a fixed-date group trek or private departure
The Tiji Trek is available on both fixed departure and private basis, If you are looking for a group to join then please check our fixed departure dates and ask for availability or if you would like to travel independently, or with your friends, families & colleagues then you are invited to choose any date at your convenient timeframe for any number of people.
