There is a place in northern Nepal where time moves differently. The roads turn to dust, the landscape turns red, and somewhere beyond the last checkpoint the modern world simply stops. That place is Upper Mustang. And every May, deep inside its ancient walled capital of Lo Manthang, something remarkable happens.
Monks in towering painted masks fill a royal courtyard. Copper horns shake the mountain air. Sacred dances that have been performed for nearly four centuries play out in front of the King of Mustang and his people. The Himalayas watch from every direction. This is the Tiji Festival and it is one of the most extraordinary things you will ever witness.This guide tells you everything you need to know to actually get there.
| Festival Name | Tiji Festival (Tempa Chirim) |
| Location | Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang, Nepal |
| 2026 Dates | May 13, 14 and 15 |
| Altitude | 3,840m (12,600 ft) |
| Total Permit Cost | 50 USD per day |
| Full Trip Cost | Approximately 2,000 to 2,500 USD per person |
| Route | Kathmandu to Pokhara to Jomsom to Lo Manthang |
| Permits Via | Registered Nepalese trekking agency only |
What Is the Tiji Festival
The Tiji Festival is a three day sacred ceremony held every May in Lo Manthang, the ancient capital of Upper Mustang. Its full name is Tempa Chirim which means Prayer for World Peace. It has been celebrated in essentially the same form since the 17th century.
The festival brings to life the story of Dorje Jono, a divine warrior who was sent to defeat a demon that was terrorising the Kingdom of Mustang. The twist that gives the story its power is that Dorje Jono was the demon’s own son. He chose his people over his father, defeated the demon, and restored peace and rain to the kingdom.
The monks of Chhode Monastery act out that story every year through sacred mask dances called Cham dances. Every mask, every silk robe, every movement of every hand carries a specific meaning. What looks like a performance is at its core a form of prayer. The monks are not doing this for visitors. They are doing it because they believe it protects their community for the coming year. That is exactly what makes it so powerful to watch.
Day 1: The Opening of the Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang
The first day of the Tiji Festival begins at Chhode Monastery in Lo Manthang. The monks assemble early and the deep bellow of long copper horns fills the ancient walled city. Large sacred thangka paintings are unrolled and displayed on the monastery walls for the public to witness. These are ancient paintings depicting important figures and events in Tibetan Buddhist history. The monks begin the Tsa Chham dance which introduces the characters of the story. The ceremony starts inside the monastery courtyard and gradually moves out toward the open square in front of the royal palace where the crowd gathers. For anyone on an Upper Mustang Tiji Festival jeep tour arriving in Lo Manthang the night before is strongly recommended so you do not miss this opening ceremony.
Day 2: The Main Ceremony of the Tiji Festival
Day two of the Tiji Festival in Upper Mustang is the one people remember long after they leave. The Nga Chham dance is performed in the courtyard of the Tashi Gephel Palace and tells the story of Dorje Jono’s birth as the son of the demon. The masks on this day are taller and more elaborate than the day before. The drums are louder. Juniper incense fills the air. The crowd presses close on all sides. The energy in the royal courtyard on the second day of the Mustang Tiji Festival is unlike anything most travelers have experienced before. Many people say this single afternoon changes the way they think about travel entirely.
Day 3: The Final Victory and Closing Procession
The third and final day of the Tiji Festival brings the ancient story to its conclusion. Dorje Jono defeats the demon and monks wearing animal masks perform a series of sacred dances before and after the cutting of a sacred effigy that represents the demon’s destruction. The closing procession is led by the masked dancers and followed by the King of Mustang and members of the royal family. On the rooftop of the Tashi Gephel Palace offerings of tsampa flour are made to the gods. This final ceremony of the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival marks the end of darkness and the beginning of a prosperous year for the people of Lo Manthang.
If you want to go deeper into the history, meaning, and spiritual significance of the festival before you travel, read our full guide on the Tiji Festival in Mustang Nepal. This guide focuses on the practical side of getting there.
How to Get to Lo Manthang
Lo Manthang sits at 3,840 metres in the far north of Nepal close to the Tibetan border. It is remote but reachable. The most practical and popular way to get there for the Tiji Festival is by jeep.
The Upper Mustang Tiji Festival jeep tour starts in Kathmandu, heads to Pokhara, and then follows the ancient trade route north through Tatopani, Kagbeni, and Charang before arriving at Lo Manthang. The whole journey from Kathmandu to Lo Manthang takes around four to five days by road. The landscapes along the way change dramatically from green hills to dry canyons to the stark red terrain of Mustang. The drive itself is an experience worth having.
The jeep tour is the right choice for the Tiji Festival because timing is everything. The festival runs for exactly three days. A jeep gives you reliable control over your schedule. Trekking to Lo Manthang takes seven to ten days on foot and bad weather or a slower pace can easily push your arrival past the festival. Most travelers who come specifically for the Tiji Festival take the jeep.
For those who want to experience Upper Mustang on foot, Nepal Mountain Adventure also offers a dedicated Upper Mustang Trek that covers the full route through the ancient villages and landscape of the forbidden kingdom at a slower and more immersive pace.
10 Day Jeep Tour Itinerary
The standard Upper Mustang Tiji Festival jeep tour runs 10 days from Kathmandu and covers roughly 700 kilometres of mountain road each way. Here is the day by day breakdown so you know exactly what to expect.
Day 01: Drive or fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara (820m), 7 to 8 hours
Day 02: Drive from Pokhara to Tatopani (1,190m), 5 to 6 hours
Day 03: Drive from Tatopani to Kagbeni (2,804m) via Muktinath (3,800m), 4 to 5 hours
Day 04: Drive from Kagbeni to Charang (3,570m), 7 hours
Day 05: Drive to Lo Manthang (3,840m), arrive and rest, 3 to 4 hours
Day 06: Tiji Festival Day One
Day 07: Tiji Festival Day Two
Day 08: Tiji Festival Day Three and sightseeing in Lo Manthang
Day 09: Drive to Jomsom (2,743m), 5 to 6 hours
Day 10: Drive back to Pokhara then fly or drive to Kathmandu
Upper Mustang Jeep Tour or Trekking is Right for You?
Both options take you to the same destination and pass through the same dramatic landscapes. But the experience on the ground is very different and the right choice depends entirely on who you are as a traveler.
Upper Mustang Jeep Tour
The jeep tour is the right choice for most people coming specifically for the Tiji Festival. You arrive on time, you do not miss a single day of the ceremony, and the journey is accessible to a much wider range of travelers. It is faster, more affordable in total, and requires no trekking fitness. Families with children come. Older travelers come. People who have never been to altitude before come and do absolutely fine.
The jeep also means you spend less time on the road and more time in Lo Manthang. For a festival that runs for exactly three days that matters a great deal.
Upper Mustang Trek
Trekking gives you something the jeep cannot. Silence. Slowness. The chance to walk through villages the road bypasses entirely and to feel the altitude change gradually beneath your feet. If you have two to three weeks and you want to experience Upper Mustang beyond just the festival then the trek is deeply rewarding. Trekkers also acclimatise more naturally because the altitude gain is gradual day by day.
The Best of Both
Many experienced travelers choose to jeep in and trek out. You arrive in Lo Manthang on time for all three days of the festival with your energy intact. Then on the return you walk the ancient trade route south through villages like Ghami, Samar, and Chele. The walk from Lo Manthang to Kagbeni is one of the most beautiful stretches of trail in all of Nepal and it feels completely different to the drive up. Nepal Mountain Adventure can build this as a custom itinerary based on your schedule and fitness level.
Upper Mustang Combined Jeep and Trek 15 Days Itinerary
This is the itinerary for travelers who want jeep in for the festival and trek back out. It adds roughly four to five days to the standard jeep tour and gives you a completely different experience on the return journey.
Day 01: Drive or fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara (820m), 7 to 8 hours
Day 02: Drive from Pokhara to Tatopani (1,190m), 5 to 6 hours
Day 03: Drive from Tatopani to Kagbeni (2,804m) via Muktinath (3,800m), 4 to 5 hours
Day 04: Drive from Kagbeni to Charang (3,570m), 7 hours
Day 05: Drive to Lo Manthang (3,840m), arrive and rest, 3 to 4 hours
Day 06: Tiji Festival Day One
Day 07: Tiji Festival Day Two
Day 08: Tiji Festival Day Three and sightseeing in Lo Manthang
Day 09: Trek from Lo Manthang to Ghami (3,520m), 5 to 6 hours
Day 10: Trek from Ghami to Samar (3,660m), 5 to 6 hours
Day 11: Trek from Samar to Chele (3,050m), 4 to 5 hours
Day 12: Trek from Chele to Kagbeni (2,804m), 5 to 6 hours
Day 13: Trek from Kagbeni to Jomsom (2,743m), fly or drive to Pokhara
Day 14: Rest in Pokhara or drive back to Kathmandu.
The extra days beyond your original 10 day permit cost 50 US dollars per person per day. Nepal Mountain Adventure can arrange the permit extension before you leave Kathmandu. Always plan this in advance so the paperwork is sorted before the trip starts.
What You Will See in Lo Manthang
Lo Manthang is unlike anywhere else in Nepal. The city walls are thought to date to the 14th century. Inside are narrow mud lanes, white and ochre houses, four ancient monasteries, and the grand Tashi Gephel Palace sitting at the centre of everything. The permanent population is between 700 and 1,000 people.
Upper Mustang was closed to all foreigners until 1992. Because of that its traditions, buildings, and way of life were protected from outside change for decades longer than anywhere else in the Himalayas. Walking through Lo Manthang for the first time genuinely feels like stepping into another century. There is no other place in Nepal that gives you that feeling quite so completely.
Beyond the city walls the landscape is extraordinary. Deep canyons carved by wind and water over thousands of years. Ancient cave dwellings cut high into cliff faces. Mani walls and prayer flags stretching along the old trade route to Tibet. The peaks of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri visible in the distance on clear days. The dry red terrain of Upper Mustang looks nothing like the green Nepal most visitors know and that contrast is part of what makes it so striking.
During the Tiji Festival the city fills with color and sound. Monks in elaborate painted masks, locals dressed in traditional Tibetan clothing, the royal family in attendance, and the constant rhythm of drums and horns bouncing off the ancient walls. The festival transforms Lo Manthang into something that feels completely alive in a way that is very hard to describe until you are standing in the middle of it.
Permits You Need to Enter Upper Mustang
Upper Mustang is a Restricted Area of Nepal. You cannot enter without three specific permits and all of them must be arranged through Nepal Mountain Adventure before you start the journey.
The Restricted Area Permit costs 500 US dollars per person for the first 10 days. If you want to stay longer each additional day costs 50 US dollars per person. The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit costs 30 US dollars per person. The TIMS trekking card costs 10 US dollars per person. The total permit cost for a standard 10 day trip is approximately 540 US dollars per person.
All costs are per person. Not per group. Two people traveling together each pay separately. This is important to understand before you start budgeting for the trip.
A licensed guide is mandatory at all times inside Upper Mustang. There are checkpoints along the route where your permits and guide credentials are verified. You will be turned back without them. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Solo travelers can now visit Upper Mustang under the latest government update. There is no longer a minimum group size requirement. However, all permits must still be arranged through a registered Nepalese trekking agency such as Nepal Mountain Adventure before you enter the region. You cannot apply for the restricted area permit independently. The agency handles all paperwork on your behalf whether you are traveling alone or in a group.
If you are planning to travel to Nepal during the festival season it is also worth knowing that May falls within the spring trekking window which is one of the best times of year to be in the mountains. You can read more about how to plan your timing in our guide on the best time for trekking in Nepal.
Food and Accommodation in Lo Manthang
Where You Will Stay
Accommodation in Lo Manthang is in small family run guesthouses and teahouses. The rooms are basic. Simple beds, shared bathrooms in most places, solar heated hot showers that depend on how much sun the day had. This is not a hotel destination and you should not arrive expecting one.
What the teahouses lack in comfort they more than make up for in atmosphere. You are sleeping inside a medieval walled city at 3,840 metres with the Himalayas outside your window. Most travelers say after the first night the room becomes the last thing on their mind.
During the Tiji Festival Lo Manthang fills up faster than at any other time of year. This is the busiest period in the entire Upper Mustang region. Book your accommodation well in advance through Nepal Mountain Adventure. Arriving without a confirmed room during festival days is a risk you do not want to take.
What You Will Eat
The food in Lo Manthang is simple and genuinely good. Local teahouses serve a mix of Nepali and Tibetan dishes. Dal bhat is the staple and in most teahouses you can eat it unlimited times for a fixed price. Tsampa porridge made from roasted barley flour is the local breakfast and worth trying at least once. Momos which are Tibetan dumplings, vegetable noodle soup, potato curry, eggs, chapati, and fried rice all appear regularly on teahouse menus.
Vegetarian options are plentiful and more reliable in terms of freshness than meat dishes at this altitude. Drink more water than you think you need. Dehydration at high altitude catches people off guard and makes acclimatisation significantly harder. Butter tea is offered everywhere by teahouse owners. It is an acquired taste but the fat content is genuinely useful for your body at altitude and worth trying at least once.
Do not arrive expecting coffee shops or restaurants with multilingual menus. What you will find is honest home cooked food made by local families who have been feeding trekkers and festival visitors for generations. For most travelers that turns out to be one of the most memorable parts of the entire trip.
What the Trip Actually Costs
The full cost of an Upper Mustang Tiji Festival jeep tour including permits, guide, jeep transport, and teahouse accommodation runs approximately 2,000 to 2,500 US dollars per person for 10 days. This is a rough guide and the final number varies depending on the package Nepal Mountain Adventure builds for you.
Always confirm with Nepal Mountain Adventure exactly what is and is not included before you book. A complete package should cover the three permits, a licensed guide, jeep transport from Pokhara to Lo Manthang and back, and accommodation throughout the route. Meals during the jeep tour are sometimes included and sometimes separate so always clarify this before confirming.
You can view the full details and current pricing for the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour directly on the Nepal Mountain Adventure website.
Is This Trip Right for You
The Upper Mustang Tiji Festival jeep tour is accessible to a wide range of travelers. You do not need to be a trekker. You do not need previous Himalayan experience. Families with children come. Older travelers come. People who have never been to altitude in their lives come and find the whole experience completely manageable with proper acclimatisation built into the itinerary.
What you do need is a genuine curiosity about living culture and a comfort with basic conditions. The teahouses are simple. The roads are rough. The altitude is real and needs to be respected. There is no reliable internet and phone signals are unreliable throughout the region. Schedules in the mountains are never completely predictable and that is part of the deal.
If you are looking for something that feels completely real, completely alive, and unlike anything else you have ever experienced, Upper Mustang in May is hard to beat. The Tiji Festival is one of the last great festivals of the Himalayas that still happens exactly as it always has, in a place that still looks exactly as it always has. That combination does not exist in many places in the world anymore.
If you are ready to start planning, you can explore all available Nepal trekking and tour packages on the Nepal Mountain Adventure website and get in touch with the team directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Tiji Festival take place?
The festival follows the Tibetan Lunar Calendar and falls somewhere in May every year. The exact dates shift each year so confirm the current year dates with Nepal Mountain Adventure before booking your travel.
Do I need a Nepal visa?
Yes. Most nationalities can get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport. On top of that you need the three Upper Mustang permits which Nepal Mountain Adventure will arrange for you before you enter the region.
Can I visit Upper Mustang without a guide?
No. A licensed guide is mandatory at all times. Officials check at every checkpoint and will turn you back without one. Nepal Mountain Adventure arranges your licensed guide as part of every package.
Is the price per person or per group?
Per person. All permit fees and tour costs are charged individually regardless of how many people are traveling together.
Can solo travelers go?
Yes. The permit requires a minimum of two people on the application but Nepal Mountain Adventure can pair you with another solo traveler. You each pay your own costs separately.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Families do attend the Tiji Festival. The altitude is the main consideration so speak to a doctor before bringing young children and Nepal Mountain Adventure will build proper acclimatisation stops into your itinerary.
Can I extend my permit if I want to stay longer?
Yes. Each additional day beyond the standard 10 days costs 50 US dollars per person. Let Nepal Mountain Adventure know in advance and they will arrange the extension before you leave Kathmandu.
Is there a phone or internet signal in Lo Manthang?
Mobile signals exist but are unreliable. Some teahouses have WiFi but it is slow and intermittent. Plan to be largely offline during your time in Upper Mustang. Most travelers say this ends up being one of the best parts of the trip.
