Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour

Best Time

In this 12-day Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour itinerary, you’ll get to witness the most fascinating cultural traditions, which are held in the historical walled city of Lo Manthang that falls in the months of March to May. But let’s look at all four seasons since each season provides a different experience throughout the year.

The Tiji Festival usually takes place in May, during the spring season — the best time to enjoy both the festival and the stunning landscapes of Upper Mustang. This three-day Buddhist celebration features masked dances and ancient traditions. With clear skies, mild temperatures, and blooming wildflowers, the trek is both pleasant and photogenic. But because it’s the busiest time of year, it might become a little packed.

During the summer season, Upper Mustang stays dry primarily because it lies in the rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. This means you won’t have to cope with excessive rains or other problems like landslides, closed roads, or slippery treks. It’s also a quieter time to visit, with fewer visitors following the festival. The days are warm, and the nights are mild, ideal for high-altitude travel. However, the road to Jomsom and flights to Pokhara may be delayed due to weather in the lower elevations.

Autumn, often called the ‘crimson canopy’ season, falls in September, October, and November. After the monsoon, the skies are clear and blue, with minimal humidity, and the hills and mountains are ablaze with autumn colour. It’s an excellent season for hiking, with little chance of rain or snow. However, you’ll miss the Tiji Festival, as it only takes place in spring. Temperatures can also drop gradually at higher elevations.

The months of December, January, and February fall in the winter season, turning the region into a snowy wonderland where everything is covered in thick white snow. Unlike other seasons, the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour sees no crowds at all, so you’ll likely have the whole trail and teahouses to yourself. However, temperatures drop drastically below freezing, especially at night. If there’s heavy snowfall, some roads might become inaccessible.

Elevation and distance

On this Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour adventure, you will start your excursion in Kathmandu City, which lies at an altitude of 1,400 m (4,593 ft) above sea level. Next, you will fly to Pokhara at 850 m (2,789 ft), which is the lowest destination of this fantastic journey. Then, you will start your jeep ride tour to Jomsom at 2,723 m (8,999 ft) in the Mustang region from Pokhara city.

Then, you will drive to Lo Manthang, situated at a height of 3,860 m (12,664 ft), the highest destination of this 12-day Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour itinerary. Apart from this, you will travel a total driving distance of 541 kilometers in a comfortable jeep. From Pokhara to Lo Manthang city, you will travel approximately 256 kilometers.

In the same way, you will travel around 105 kilometers to reach Muktinath Temple from Lo Manthang city. On the return journey, you will travel about 180 kilometers from Muktinath to Pokhara, ending the jeep ride adventure in the Mustang region of Nepal.

Difficulty and altitude sickness

This Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour is an easy-to-moderately hard-level trip. It does not demand that you have the best physical fitness or push your limits. Walking is minimal on this 12-day tour, so you will travel mostly by comfortable jeep.

For this reason, you don’t have to learn any special climbing skills or technical expertise to embark on this Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour adventure. Only light walking when visiting cultural sites like temples, monasteries, and other places is enough. Nonetheless, altitude sickness is the main difficulty you face on this trip.

When visiting Lo Manthang City to witness the 3-day Tiji Festival, you will reach 3,860 meters, which is also the highest point of this entire journey. The risk of altitude sickness can gradually increase after crossing 3500 meters in height. However, each person’s body reacts differently to altitude.

Some people may be affected by acute mountain sickness, even if they are healthy and have peak physical fitness. So, it is wise to be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness and bring medications like Diamox to help treat the mild symptoms, gradually reducing the risk.

The prevention of altitude sickness also depends upon your behavior. If you smoke or love to eat unhealthy foods, then there is a high chance that you will get affected by the symptoms on this Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour adventure. So, a balanced diet should be followed, unhealthy habits should be quit, and plenty of clean water should be drunk to avoid acute mountain sickness.

Maximum and minimum jeep ride per day

On this Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour itinerary, your typical daily jeep ride is six hours in Nepal’s Mustang region. The minimum jeep ride per day will be on the fourth and fifth days, respectively, when you travel to Jomsom town from Pokhara City and to Lo Manthang City from Jomsom town, which is about five to six hours.

The jeep ride will be bumpy, but it will be enjoyable as you watch panoramic views and changing landscapes. In the same way, the maximum jeep ride per day will be on the tenth day of the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour package, which is about seven to eight hours when you travel to Pokhara city from Muktinath.

Accommodation, Food and Drink

When you are in Kathmandu and Pokhara, you’ll stay in clean, comfortable 3-star hotels that provide Wi-Fi, hot showers, and breakfast. In Upper Mustang, you will be welcomed by family-run guesthouses, where you can see and learn how locals eat and live in their daily lives. They will offer you a place to relax after a day of exploration. It may not be lavish, but it is comfortable enough to rest, forget your fatigue, and enjoy the natural beauty of the remote areas.

They are simple but warm, with twin beds, thick blankets, and shared bathrooms in most places. Some tea houses may have private rooms, but you should not expect luxury. At night, you often gather in the standard dining room, which is warmed by a stove in the middle. It is basic, but the experience is unique, peaceful, and memorable, especially when surrounded by Himalayan silence and stars.

Since all meals during the trek are included, the teahouses offer local and simple dishes, both native and a few exotics, which meet basic standards. They usually serve set meals from limited menus, such as the most common and satisfying Nepali meal, Dal Bhat, along with noodles, momos (dumplings), pasta, fried rice, and egg dishes. It’s not just about taste. You’ll also notice the richness in every dish, prepared with organic ingredients that help keep you energized and full throughout the journey.

Your 12-day Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour provides drinks like bottled water, soda, and alcohol, but extra coffee, hot showers, battery charging, and Wi-Fi are not included. Consequently, these costs will be borne by you individually. On the contrary, this tour is a mix of cultural depth, raw Himalayan landscapes, and simple, heartwarming hospitality.

Your Extra Expenses

First and foremost, it is important to note that the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour package does not include some essential items. These are your trips to Nepal and the respective fees relating to obtaining the visa, the flights, and sightseeing in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The expenses in the cities and the additional hotel nights in case of flight delays or early returns are also not covered. You should also look for travel insurance, which covers emergencies and evacuations. Similarly, personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, bottled water, hot showers, charging gadgets, or hiring extra porters are not part of the package.

It is your duty to buy reliable travel insurance for emergencies, evacuations, and other personal expenses. The bottom line is that your tranquil experience determines the condition of the additional expenditure; surely, you must take control of it.

Who can join this trip?

Anyone interested in enjoying the 3-day celebration of the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour adventure can join this trip. It does not matter how old you are as long as you are healthy and have basic fitness. Even old people have completed this 12-day excursion successfully in Nepal.

However, remember that you cannot travel solo in the Upper Mustang as it is a restricted area. You will need at least one more person to get the restricted area permit (RAP) so that you can enter this hidden treasure of Nepal and enjoy the unique three-day-long Tiji festival in Lo Manthang City.

Travel Permits

For joining the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour itinerary, you will have to obtain two crucial permits, which are described below:

ACAP Permit (Annapurna Conservation Area Project)

This permit will cost around 20 dollars per person and is valid for the whole journey, whether trekking or a jeep ride. You can acquire this permit from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in Kathmandu or Pokhara by submitting important documents like a passport valid for at least 6 months, a valid Nepal visa, a passport-sized photo, and others.

RAP Permit (Restricted Area Permit)

This permit is required to enter the Upper Mustang from Kagbeni Village along with the ACAP. This permit will cost around $500 per person for ten days and an additional $50 per day after 10 days. You can only obtain this permit from a government-registered trekking agency. If you are a solo traveler, you can’t get this permit. At least you should have one person to travel with you for the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour adventure.

Transportation

Our Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour package includes almost all the transportation costs for the destinations we visit according to the itinerary. We provide pick-up service as soon as you land in Kathmandu. On the following day, you will travel to the primary attractions of Kathmandu city via our company’s comfortable car.

Similarly, the flight ticket cost from Pokhara to Kathmandu and vice versa has already been added to the package. However, the package does not cover the international airfare while you visit Nepal from your home country or when returning to your country. Similarly, we will reserve a 4×4 Mahindra Scorpio or Toyota Land Cruiser jeep to travel from Pokhara to Lo Manthang via Jomsom and back.

Travel Insurance

It is vital for all those embarking on the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour adventure to have travel insurance. It would be smart move to secure oneself from any occurrences beyond one’s control that may spoil one’s journey. Travel insurance ensures peace of mind, whether it’s a canceled trip or a serious health emergency.

One of the most likely options for those unable to attend the tour of the Upper Mustang due to illness or a family emergency is to take advantage of travel insurance. This is the best way to stay calm when paying for the services out of your pocket (no refund is given) and when you are medically treated.

As the territory of Upper Mustang is sparsely inhabited, necessary medical transportation to a hospital, such as helicopters, will carry out the evacuation; naturally, it is costly; however, a good insurance policy will easily cover it.

Ensure you are well aware of the policy conditions so you can claim a refund if your valuables, luggage, or money are lost. Also, note that some items, such as prescription drugs, may not be allowed. It will be smooth sailing once you find the policy that caters to all the unexpected events you are ready to face.

Do your due diligence before buying an insurance policy so you won’t be surprised to find that it doesn’t cover the desired risk. Get the proper coverage so you can have a safe and enjoyable adventure, knowing that you are ready for everything.

What to expect from this Tiji Festival in the Upper Mustang Trip?

Drive for twelve days on a cultural tour in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal with a scenic Jeep ride. You will start the trip in vibrant Kathmandu and then head to Pokhara, where you can experience the sunset view and a boat ride on Phewa Lake on this Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour package.

From Jomsom, reach Lo Manthang via a bumpy trail in a four-wheel-drive jeep. The jeep will stop in the ancient villages of Kagbeni and Tsarang, where you will witness their unique blend of local culture and traditional way of life.

Immerse yourself in the traditional Tiji Festival, which lasts for three days and is dominated by the mask dances of Tibetan Buddhism. The dances depict the chase of the demons and culminate in the final celebration of the good triumphing over evil. This festival is one of the highlights of your 12-day Tiji Festival Jeep Tour in Lo-Manthang adventure.

On your way to Mustang, you will learn more about the local culture and people, which will give you an insight into the mountain lifestyle of the people living in the inaccessible villages of the Himalayas. Be astounded by the unique landscapes and colors of the Himalayas. So, expect an unlimited adventure in the Upper Mustang to have the time of your life.

Nepal Entry Visa Procedures

Tribhuvan International Airport is currently the only international airport in Nepal. It provides visas on arrival for tourists. The Immigration Office at the airport, under the Department of Immigration, manages the visa process. When you land in Kathmandu, the visa procedure is usually quick and simple.

In contrast, if you arrive during the months of October, November, March, or April, you can expect queues, as these are peak tourist seasons. October, in particular, is busy because it coincides with Dashain, one of Nepal’s main festivals.

On the other hand, you can also apply for a prior visa from the Nepalese diplomatic mission, and the most common tourist visa is vailable on arrival at the entry and exit point in Nepal, which includes multiple re-entry privileges, allowing you to leave and return during your valid visa period.

In accordance with Nepal’s immigration rules, tourists can stay up to 150 days, but if you want to extend it, you can extend it for an additional 90 days, which can cost you around US$ 300 or the equivalent in Nepalese currency.

Furthermore, the citizens of particular countries, such as Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Somalia, are not eligible for a visa on arrival, so before traveling, they have to obtain a visa in advance from a Nepalese embassy.

A Typical Day in the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour adventure

Most mornings on the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour are spent with a soothing breakfast at a local lodge, and then a drive through lovely scenery—twisty roads, deep gorges, and ancient villages.
You’ll likely have several stops during the course of your day, visiting cultural attractions and taking in the stunning Himalayan vistas. Lo Manthang, the significant city of Upper Mustang, has its highlight of the day being the Tiji Festival.

The vibrant and festive nature cannot be avoided with the vividly colored masked dances, traditional music, and religious ceremonies in the air. Monks and local people share in a festive spirit, in the nature of the day. Then, each and every night of this trip, settle in for a hearty dinner and reflect upon the highlights of the day at your accommodations.