There are many celebrated and fascinating festivals in Nepal. Amongst, Tiji Festival is an annual three days festival celebrated with Tibetan rituals in the Mustang Kingdom. Tiji Festival Trek explores this indigenous festival at Lo-Manthang, Upper Mustang.
‘Tiji’ is also known as Tenji Festival. It commemorates the victory of Buddha’s incarnation over the demon “Ma Tam Ru Ta” (a triumph of good over evil). Tiji itself means “Prayer for world peace”. This festival brings prosperity and helps cleanse the evil soul within everyone. The timing of Tiji Festival Trek follows the lunar calendar thus it changes every year. In 2020, the dates for Tiji falls on 19th May to 21st May.
This trek traverses through boulders, ridges, historical palaces, and alleys of Upper Mustang. Upper Mustang lies under the shadow of the Himalayas. Closed to foreigners until 1992, this untouched land represents pristine Tibetan culture. You will get an in-depth understanding of their lifestyle, culture, and tradition. Moreover, this festivity adds up an extra cultural lushness.
The beautiful journey comprises a unique dry desert-like landscape. Every day you walk on varied trails surrounded by soaring peaks. You will have a glimpse of more than 35 mountains. Another highlight of this trek is humble locals. They make your journey more memorable. Thus, Tiji Festival Trek is the blend of adventure, natural beauty, and mythical culture of unexplored land.
Tiji Festival Trek is of moderate difficulty grade. The ultimate elevation you will reach is 3840m, Lo-Manthang. So, this trek is suitable for trekkers with basic fitness and experience.
The trek route of the Tiji Festival Trek starts and ends at Jomsom. You pass through settlements like Kagbeni, Syangbochen, Ghami, Tsarang, and hereafter Lo-Manthang. While you return, you retrace your steps down to Jomsom again.
For this trek, you will need ACAP and Restricted Region Entry Permits. Upper Mustang is a restricted region. So, you will need one or more trekking partners along with a local trekking guide/porter.