Tiji is the most important festival in Upper Mustang — three days of masked dances at the royal court of Lo Manthang, performed by monks of Chhoede monastery. The dances narrate the victory of Dorje Jono over a demon that brought drought to the kingdom. The festival has been performed annually for five centuries.
Why this trek
- Time-locked cultural event — the festival happens once a year and the dates are set by the Tibetan lunar calendar (usually mid-to-late May).
- Restricted-area permit (USD 500 per 10 days) keeps numbers low — under 500 trekkers attend Tiji in a typical year.
- Trekking route follows the classic Upper Mustang trail through Lo Manthang, with festival viewing scheduled into the itinerary.
- Max altitude 3,800 m, gentle by Himalayan standards — the difficulty is the dry desert terrain, not the altitude.
We run two Tiji departures each year. Book at least four months ahead — restricted-area permits are limited and festival weeks sell out.