The Upper Mustang Trek, with the Tiji Festival, is a fascinating and remote place in the Mustang region that used to be off-limits to outsiders. It’s like a hidden Buddhist kingdom surrounded by huge mountains, like Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, both exceeding 8000 meters in height. Stringent regulations for tourists in this area have played a crucial role in preserving age-old traditions. Until 1992, the Upper Mustang Trek was classified as a restricted demilitarized zone, making it one of the world’s most well-preserved regions due to its isolation from the external world.
The majority of the population still communicates in traditional Tibetan languages. The name “Mustang” is derived from the Tibetan term meaning “Plain of Aspiration.” Foreigners gained access to the Upper Mustang trek only in 1992, and this region has since become a popular trekking destination, attracting visitors year-round, regardless of the season.
Begin a timeless and breathtaking journey through the Kingdom of Lo. Until recently, this off-the-beaten-path region remained a hidden Tibetan Buddhist enclave, off-limits to foreigners. Along the trail, anticipate breathtaking sights such as sculpted canyons with extraordinary rock formations, deep gorges, medieval villages, ancient fortresses, palaces, and enigmatic cave hermitages dating back centuries. You’ll also encounter Tibetan Buddhist gompas and towering snow-covered peaks that define this remarkable region, resembling a “thumb” extending from Nepal into the Tibetan plateau.
Accessing the Upper Mustang can be done through various modes of transportation, with the 4WD Jeep tour being the most popular choice. Due to road conditions, jeeps, boleros, and land cruisers offer the most reliable and comfortable means of travel. Bikers are also drawn to this trek. Additionally, Asian Heritage professionals designed this specially crafted Upper Mustang Trek itinerary to introduce you to one of Nepal’s most pristine and otherworldly destinations. If you would like to discuss any aspects of this trip further or have specific preferences, please do not hesitate to reach out, and we will be delighted to customize the program to meet your unique needs.
After arriving at the Tribhuvan International Airport, an Asian Heritage representative will be there to welcome you and provide transportation to the hotel. Upon reaching the hotel, we will proceed with the check-in process, freshen up, and take a well-deserved rest.
Includes: Breakfast, private transport, an overnight stay at Yatri Suites & Spa, or a similar hotel in Thamel.
As your focus is on Buddhism today, your trip begins with a visit to Swayambhunath Stupa, a renowned Buddhist stupa situated atop a hill. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the city below. In the afternoon, you’ll explore Kathmandu Durbar Square, a historic complex filled with ancient temples, royal palaces, and courtyards. Marvel at the intricate wood carvings, pagoda-style architecture, and the towering figure of Kala Bhairava, a fearsome deity. The square reflects the rich history and artistic heritage of Nepal’s ancient kings.
Includes: Breakfast, an English-speaking tour guide, private transport, an overnight stay at Yatri Suites & Spa, or a similar hotel in Thamel.
On the third day of the Mustang Trip with Tiji Festival tour our representative will facilitate you, and transport will drive you to Boudhanath. Full-day guided sightseeing in Bouddhanath stupas and nearby. Boudhanath Stupa is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Boudhanath stupa is known to be the holiest temple grounds in Kathmandu. Boudhanath temple is decorated with water, fire, colors, and the uniformity of the monks and servants; these act as symbols for the religion.
After visiting the Boudhanath Stupa, you will visit Kapan Monastery, located near Boudhanath, which is famous for Tibetan Buddhism. Kapan Monastery is beautifully decorated, and there are many nice garden areas, stupas, and inspirational sayings dotted around the monastery.
Includes: breakfast, an English-speaking tour guide, private transport, an overnight stay at Yatri Suites & Spa, or a similar hotel in Thamel.
After having your breakfast, you will drive to Pharping, and you will visit the Nydo Tashi Choeling Monastery, which is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near the Kathmandu Valley. Here, you can closely experience the daily lives of monks and nuns. After spending a couple of hours at the monastery, we drive to Kathmandu.
Includes: breakfast, an English-speaking tour guide, private transport, an overnight stay at Yatri Suites & Spa, or a similar hotel in Thamel.
Our representative will facilitate you, and transport will drive you to Namobuddha. Namobuddha is one of the important Buddhist sites, also known as ‘Takmo Lu Jin’, i.e., tigress body generosity by Tibetans. Constructed in 1976, there is a Tranghu Tashe Yangste monastery on the side of the hill, which attracts lots of visitors. Visit Thranghu Tashe Yangche Monastery at the top of the hill. After spending a couple of hours at the monastery, we drive to Kathmandu.
Includes: breakfast, an English-speaking tour guide, private transport, an overnight stay at Yatri Suites & Spa, or a similar hotel in Thamel.
Today, you head towards Bandipur, located in the west of Kathmandu. This charming village is approximately 150 kilometers away from the capital city. En route, you can enjoy the lush vegetation of Nepal, with the picturesque Trishuli River accompanying you on your journey to Bandipur. After you arrive in this scenic village, embark on a guided sightseeing tour to explore its beauty. Once you’ve completed your sightseeing adventure, return to the hotel and take a well-deserved rest.
Includes: breakfast, private transport and overnight stay at The Old Inn or a similar hotel in Bandipur.
Today we drive towards Lumbini. Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world’s great religions, and its remains contain important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centers from as early as the 3rd century BC.
Includes: Breakfast, private transport, and overnight stay at Sakya Guest House or a similar hotel in Lumbini.
Today, after having your breakfast, we will be heading toward Tilaurakot. It is a place where Buddha spent 29 years of his life on the banks of the Banganga River. After exploring Tilaurakot, you will drive back to Lumbini and visit the highlights of Lumbini, such as the different monastic zones: the German Monastery, the Chinese Monastery, the Thai Monastery, the International Nuns, and the Golden Temple. The peaceful monastic zone flourishes on the teachings of Lord Buddha. Learn about the different cultures in the different monastic zones of Lumbini. Then, after, you will wander the Maya Devi temple to conclude your day.
Includes: breakfast, private transport, an English-speaking Tour guide, and an overnight stay at Sakya Guest House or a similar hotel in Lumbini.
On the ninth day of the Mustang Trip with Tiji Festival tour, you will head towards Pokhara, situated to the northwest of Lumbini and approximately 210 kilometers away. Upon reaching Pokhara, check-in at the hotel and take a moment to rest. Later in the afternoon, you can explore the charming lakeside streets and the scenic shoreline of Phewa Lake.
Includes: breakfast, private transport, and overnight stay at the Hotel Crystal Palace or a similar hotel in Pokhara.
Today, you will start with an early drive to Sarangkot to capture the tranquil and magical view of the city before sunrise. You will see the first rays of sunlight hitting the mountains in the background. Sarangkot offers panoramic views of Annapurna, Fishtail, Dhaulagiri, and other mountains. After Sarangkot, you will return to the hotel for some rest and set off for a full day of sightseeing in this beautiful lakeside town. You will be visiting the World Peace Stupa, which is almost an hour away from Pokhara and lies on the top of the hill.
After reaching over there, you will get to see the spectacular panoramic views of the mountains to your north and west. Annapurna, Nilgiri, Glacier Dome, Fishtail Mountain, and the Dhaulagiri mountain ranges can be seen from this place. Enjoy the boating to have a sightseeing excursion to the Barahi Temple, which is situated at the center of Phewa Lake. Then you will visit Devi’s Fall, Gupteswor Cave, Seti George, Mahendra Cave, and the Mountain Museum. After completing your sightseeing, get back to the hotel and have a rest.
Includes: breakfast, private transport, an English-speaking Tour guide, an overnight stay at the Hotel Crystal Palace or a similar hotel in Pokhara,
In the morning, have your breakfast and begin your drive, heading to Tatopani, following the Kali Gandaki River. The trail is rough and poor but mostly flat. You will enjoy lovely views of mountains such as Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, private transport, an English-speaking guide, and overnight stay at an available local lodge.
Early morning pick-up from the hotel and drive to Kagbeni. Kagbeni, a medieval-looking town lying at the bank of two rivers, is a charming windswept village located on the main age-old Trans Himalayan salt trade route to Tibet via the Upper Mustang area. The Mustang district is home to the oldest monastery, which contains unspoken secrets.
Along the way, we visit Marpha village, the local market of Jomsom, and Muktinath Temple. Muktinath is a religious place for Hindu and Buddhist communities, reflecting religious harmony amongst the people of Nepal and India. After exploring these places, we returned to Kagbeni, which is at an elevation of 2,804 m.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, private transport, an English-speaking guide and overnight stay at an available local lodge.
Our trip today will start by finishing some formalities of permit checking at Kagbeni. We then will move ahead, exploring the monasteries and a school for monks where they gain knowledge of prayers as well as basics. Along the way, passing some places and villages like Chelle, Samar, Ghiling, etc., we finally reach Charang.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, private transport, an English-speaking guide and overnight stay at an available local lodge.
On the fourteenth day of the Mustang Trip with Fiji Festival tour, you will be exploring the Chhoser, Garphu, and Kora La borders. Chhosar village offers a unique glimpse into the traditional way of life and daily activities that the people practice in Upper Mustang.
Ancient monasteries like Garphu and Niphu monastery, surrounding colorful rock formations, and centuries-old caves in rock cliffs are really impressive to see in the Chhoser area. Niphu Monastery is an ancient cave monastery carved into the cliffs. Visitors found Jhong Cave, Konchok Ling Cave, and Riseling Cave in Chhoser Valley impressive. Dry, rocky terrain and tall mountains surround the small town of Lo Manthang.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, private transport, an English-speaking guide and overnight stay at an available local lodge.
You will explore Nepal’s oldest monastery, Lo-Ghargumpa, and then continue your journey to Lomanthang. You will witness various Tibetan plateaus, cliffs, and sky caves along the way. The desert-like landscape will surely mesmerize your eyes. First, you will take your lunch, and then you will go to the king’s palace to celebrate the Tiji festival. You will witness the rituals and dancing of the Tibetan monks from different parts of the world.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, private transport, an English-speaking guide and overnight stay at an available local lodge.
The festival will usually start at 12 p.m., so in the morning, we will head towards Chhoser village. It is a short drive of 1 hour from Lomanthang. If you are lucky, you will have a glimpse of blue sheep and other wildlife too. At Chhoser, you will explore the sky cave and the Buddhist school of the village. After exploring Chhoser, you will return to Lomanthang for the Tiji celebration.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, private transport, an English-speaking guide and overnight stay at an available local lodge.
This is the last and final day of the Tiji festival. You will explore the monasteries and Buddhist schools of Lomanthang. You will have a good time sightseeing around the village. After noon, join the locals to celebrate the final day of Tiji. Interact with the locals and observe the rituals and dances.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, private transport, an English-speaking guide and overnight stay at an available local lodge.
You will drive back to Marpha, retracing the trail. You will pass the same beautiful villages of Tsarang, Ghami, Ghiling, and Samar and reach Kagbeni. Special permit check-out at Kagbeni. Then, we will drive back to Marpha.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, private transport, an English-speaking guide and overnight stay at an available local lodge.
After breakfast at Marpha, you will drive back to Pokhara. We will follow the same route that we used in order to reach Jomsom. The best part of returning via the same route is that if there are any places you would like to see or stop by again, you can do it easily.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, private transport, an English-speaking guide and overnight stay at Hotel Crystal Palace or similar in Pokhara.
Visit the Pokhara Shanti Stupa. The World Peace Pagoda, located in Pumdi village, is a symbol of Buddhist culture. It is 115 feet tall and displays the statues of Gautam Buddha. Mattaponi Ghumba, established in the 1960s, is 5 km east of downtown and carries the religious importance of Buddha. You can enjoy the eye-catching view of the valley.
Includes: breakfast, private transport, an English-speaking guide, and an overnight stay at Hotel Crystal Palace or similar in Pokhara.
On this day, you will have a scenic drive back to Kathmandu, starting from Pokhara after breakfast. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to a hotel and have a rest. In the evening, you can stroll around the downtown area of Thamel.
Includes: breakfast, private transport, and overnight stay at Hotel Yatri Suites & Spa or a similar one in Thamel
It is a free day for you to explore Kathmandu at your leisure. You can have the option to revisit your favorite spots or venture into Kathmandu to explore areas you may have missed earlier. Perhaps you can explore the vibrant streets of Thamel for some shopping and local cuisine, or visit one of the many art galleries or museums in the city.
Optional activities (for an extra cost):
Includes: breakfast, and overnight stay at Hotel Yatri Suites & Spa, or a similar in Thamel.
Your Mustang trip including Tiji Festival will come to an end today. You will be advised and assisted with your onward travel arrangements and transfer to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport by private transport around 3 hours before your flight schedule and flight back to your home/other destination.
Transportation: Private Transport
