Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek for 2019

Festival Date: 31 May, 1 and 2 June, 2019

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek is the religious and cultural tour in Upper Mustang situated in far western region of Nepal. Mustang region is listed as the restricted area of Nepal which requires special permit through any government registered organization.

Upper Mustang known as Lo is a remote Himalayan province situated north of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges which is being surrounded by the Tibetan plateau on all sides expect the south which links with Nepal. Due to its proximity to and long association with Tibet, Tibetan Buddhist lifestyle, religion, art and culture remain intact on this rain shadow upper Mustang. We can see its magnificent monasteries, palaces and the remains of massive, rambling forts due to its rich and flourishing independent walled kingdom in the 15th and 16th centuries. Most of monasteries in upper Mustang belong to the Sakayapa sect, represented by colored strips of grey, white and red. The People of Lo are highly religions and prayers and festivals such as Tiji form an integral part of their lives. This TIJI festival Mustang trek offer a great opportunity to all the trekkers to experience the local Tibetan culture at its best form.

Tiji Festival in Lomonthang, upper Mustang

Tiji is three days long annual festival celebrated at Lo Manthang in front of King’s palace, which is one of the most well-known and revered festival in the whole Mustang region. It is a time of celebration and religious pilgrimage for the people of Lo. The festival initially began as a religious ceremony, to ward off obstacles and suffering that might befall the region. Later it also come to symbolize the hope and strength of the people of Lo which is divided into seven provinces known as Lo Tso Dhun. People in Mustang strongly believed that the Tiji festival bring the hope and peace and protect them from evil forces. It base of the myth of a deity Dorje Shunu also called Vajrakila, who took rebirth to subdue all the evil forces and demons that created hell and suffering on earth. Through the power of Tiji festival dances and the variety of forms he takes, The deity defeats the demons and thereby bring peace and prosperity to the kingdom. Thus the festival depicts the victory of good over evil.

It is believe that people of Lo Manthang started to celebrate the Jiji festival from 15 century on the time of Lama Lowo Khenchen, one of the greatest Buddhist teacher and son of King Amgon Sangpo. During the three-day masked dance Tiji festival in Lo Monthang, upper Mustang, the chosen monk representing Dorge Shunu reveals his various forms and an ancient Thangka painting of Guru Rimpoche Padmasambhava is being displayed as the beating of drums and chanting fill the air of Lo Manthang.

In the days approaching Tiji, the trails from the surrounding villages to Lo Manthang are packed with local people and mule caravans and some driving on Jeep now a days to participate and celebrated their most waited annual festival. Thus Mustang Tiji festival trek become a special holiday trip to Nepal Himalayas for trekkers around the world to witness the diverse topography with spellbound festival at its best form, no where else can be seen. Mountain Monarch is regularly organising this special Upper Mustang Tiji festival trek each year and the booking for 2019 trip is already open, seats are limited. Thus hurry up and reserve your place to witness this Tiji festival in Lo Monthang upper Mustang in May 2019.

Some Related Information

Accommodation:

For the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek package we will provide you accommodation in Kathmandu on 3-star level on Breakfast basic also in Pokhara we provide same level as Kathmandu, but during the trek and festival days your accommodation will be arranged in tea house lodge, arranged in single, double and triple basic as your preference. Some place you will have attach bathroom in lower area and some place can get hot shower as well.

Meals:

Our package covers all meals during the trek (Brakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Tea house lodge offer wind varieties Nepali Continental Indian food etc which Is they will have mentioned on the menu. If you are vegetarian you can get fresh vegetable food during the trip. The mountain food will be very hygienic which helps trekkers to maintain their physical fitness.

What you carry in your day pack bag

You need to carry your day pack for your personal items like your water bottle, your money, and some others medicine, camera etc. Your guide will let you know each evening of any extra items you will need for the following day. If you have a comfortable day pack you load will only be a few kilograms and hardly noticeable.

Transportation

Transportation within Kathmandu valley is done with Cars or Jeeps, Van, Hiace, Coaster bus, Mini bus, Coaches depending upon the group size also from Pokhara to Jomsom we will have flight in round trip. In trekking region, transportation mean is hiking and in some cases Yaks / horses and donkeys are used for baggage carriage. In this trekking route, hiking is the major mean of transportation while your baggage will be carried by porters. If trekkers really don't like to walk we can hire jeep until Lo Manthang and can return back by Jeep to Jomsom, If don't have flight from Jomsom to Pokhara we can hire the jeep until Pokhara.

Trekking Staff

The Guide is in overall charge of the trek and looking after you. This is the person you should go to with all problems, concerns and questions. All our guides are well trained in all aspects of trekking, conservation, high altitude medicine, and first-aid and emergency procedures. They are professionals selected for their knowledge and passion for Nepal and its peoples.

Porters

Transport your Trekking Bag – one porter for every two trekkers in Tea house trekking and camping (Tented camp) trekking it is depending on luggage /equipment that we need for your camping trekking.

Health

There are no specific health requirements for travel into Nepal. However, for the trekking in Himalayas, you are in excellent health with average physical fitness and have positive attitude, self-confidence and strong determination, you can accomplish this trek successfully but you should consult your doctor for up-to-date information regarding vaccinations, high altitude medication and medications for any reasonably foreseeable illnesses whilst traveling in Nepal. Some part of trekking have a small health post for emergency treatment with limited equipment, limited health workers and medication. Be aware that some drugs, including anti-malarial, have side effects at altitude. Please discuss this carefully with your doctor.

Please be aware that you will be in remote areas and away from medical facilities for some time during this trip. We strongly recommend that you carry a personal First Aid kit as well as sufficient quantities of any personal medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses).

High Altitude Sickness

AMS (acute mountain sickness) is a serious issue. It is the result of the failure of the body to adapt to high altitude and can affect anyone, regardless of age or fitness. It usually occurs above 1,800 meters and the likelihood of being affected increases as you ascend. The way to reduce the affects of altitude is to ascend slowly, 300 meters per day above 3,000 meters until you have acclimatized. Poor acclimatization results in headache, nausea, sleeplessness, difficulty breathing and swelling of fingers and glands. The only cure for AMS is to descend to lower altitude and your guide's decision on this matter is final. When you are planning to trek above 3,000 meters we recommend not walks faster. If you will get altitude sickness please consult with your guide to go down at least 500 meters to recover.

Day 01: Arrive and visit our office for details information.

Day 02: Make a permit and basic preparation of the trek.

Day 03: Kathmandu to Pokhara: about 6 hour drive by tourist bus or fly to Pokhara.

Day 04: Pokhara-Jomsom trek to Kagbeni,

Day 05: Trek from Kagbeni to Chele (3030m).

Day 06: Trek from Chele to Geling (3540m)

Day 07: Trek from Geling to Charang (3600m)

Day 08: Trek from Charang to Lo Manthang (3850m) - Festival Starts

Day 09: First day of Tiji ( 31 May 2019) The Tiji Festival begins Early in the afternoon, horns resounded, announcing the two twelve-foot copper dunchens, with their elephantine blurting, followed by two double-reeled horns, all accompanied by drum and cymbals, Next, an ancient and enormous tanka three stories high was unrolled down the entire south wall of the square. The thanka portrayed Padma Sambhava or (Guru Rimpoche) who brought this ceremony to Tibet in the 8th century." At mid-afternoon, in high wind and blowing dust, eleven lamas in maroon and gold, wearing high red hats, came from the palace and took their places along the wall beneath the thanka, with Tashi Tenzing on the elevated seat just in the center. As the monks and lamas commence chanting, twelve more monks come from the palace in maroon and royal blue and glittering gold brocade, with cymbal-shaped hats decked with upright peacock plumes. Soon they withdraw, to be replaced by the masked dancers who" start the portrayal of the Tiji myth. Dorje Jono repels the demon through the power of his magical dancing — he dances fifty-two separate dances, one of them in ten different bodies, each with a different head. As the dances end, Dorje Jono kills the demon, after which his people are relieved of their plague of misfortunes, water becomes plentiful once more, and the balance and harmony of existence are restored.

Day 10: Second day of TIji Festival (1 June 2019): On the second day of Tiji, numbers of Loba have arrived from the outlying hamlets, and the small square is thronged with wild beautiful people, with all of the women and children, at least, in traditional dress. The King of Mustang "wears a whole crown of tiny river pearls set off by dozens of large red coralline tones interspersed with matched ornaments of turquoise.The costumes and masks, the twelve-foot horns, the gold cups of wheat, the butter cakes, the snow peaks and wind and dust and sun, the mehti, snow leopard, snow pigeons, saligrams, the dying glacier and the desert ruins, the drunks and rajas and foreigners, the dogs and yaks.

Day 11: Third day of Tiji and end of Festival (2 June 2019): On the third day, Tiji ends with the ceremonial destruction of the evil remains, represented by some long black yak hair and red torma cakes minced to a dark red gurry. The demons red remnants are set out on an old tiger skin, where-upon they are attacked by bow and arrow, slings, and the old guns. The poor devils remains are over- turned upon the ground, each time to a wild cannonade from the old muzzle-loaders and a wave of cheers and smoke.

Day 12: Lo-Manthang via Geker – Ghami: Visit Lo-Geker Gompa on the way, which is one of the oldest Gompas in Nepal.

Day 13: Trek from Ghami to Samar

Day 14: Trek from Samar to Kagbeni

Day 15: Trek from Kagbeni to Jomsom

Day 16: Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara and drive or fly back to Kathmandu

Day 17: Our representative will drop you to the International Airport (TIA) to assist you for your final departure to your destination or alternatively the next destination.

Please Note:

The above information is a guide and standard template of what we provide. Our trip can be customized at your request to accommodate your specific requirements

Trekking Group Size

Trekking Group is termed for the group of people with every individuals who go for a trip. A minimum of 2 people and maximum number of 12 is highly recommended as the size of the group. This planning ensures complete safety of the trekkers and convenience as well. However, with conditions applied, the group size can be customized as per the request of our clients.

[Note: Crew members are not counted within the trekking group size. This exclusive group of crews include one leader, assistant leaders and porters. One assistant leader for every 4 trekkers and one porter for every 2 trekkers]

Meals and Accommodation

During your stay in Kathmandu city, at the initial and the final stages of the trip, you will be residing at a 4 star hotel. The meal facilities in our Cost Includessection takes account of only breakfast facilities at this particular hotel. During the trek, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served including varieties of snacks, cold drinks, and hot chocolate especially during the mountain part.

As mentioned above, accommodation will be facilitated at a 4 star hotel in Kathmandu. Whereas, during the trek, you will be staying at standard teahouses, lodges and camps, on twin sharing basis, that is determined by the viability of accommodation facilities at overnight stops.

Qualification

As a general idea, health condition in a good state is highly recommended for any kind of tour. As, Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek is categorized under Moderate and Strenuous Level, one should have the ability to walk for at least 5 – 6 hours a day, and 8 – 9 hours in some of the days. The highest altitude that we climb in this particular trek is 4,320m/14,173ft. Trekking in higher altitudes requires more physical effort. If you have any kind of medical condition, we urge you to receive a counsel from medical experts and formally inform us before applying for this trip.

Previous trekking experience is further admired. Even if you do not possess any, our crew members will always be there to guide for your safety concerns. We believe that you are strengthened with a positive attitude and a strong determination towards this trip.

Trekking Staffs

Taking every aspects in consideration, we have come up with a squad of perfectly skilled crew members who have been recruited especially for their respective fields. You will be guided by fluently English speaking professional experts and team leaders who have gone through all possible circumstances that might occur ruining your trekking experience. Boosted with knowledge of ecology, geography, wild lives, flora and fauna, culture and history, you will be directed with maximum possible efficiency.

We wish you a happy, convenient and safe journey!

Best Season

The Best Season to go for Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek is between October and May. This particular time span provides you an efficient trekking experience with provisions of remarkable views of the environment around.

Equipment

This part is analytically the most important of all. It is a must to gain knowledge about equipment required for a well-planned trekking tour. These gears not only adds convenience to your trip but, also, is totally responsible for its completion. We have formulated a clean list of equipment required for trekking in Nepal.

Insurance

We, personally, do not sell any kind of insurances to our clients. We are, however, concerned about your safety as much as you do. Therefore, we advise you to plan a travel insurance policy before going for any of our trips. Unfortunate events such as sickness, medical issues, injuries or any kinds of accidents are possible measures that can ruin your trip or can even add threats to your life.

We can suggest some of the reputed insurance companies that can come in handy to you. You better be careful while you choose a company and select insurance plans that includes emergency air ambulance rescue service, medical expenses and compensation for trip cancellation, as we do not provide any kind of refunds. Please, formally, provide us a copy of your insurance plans before going for the trip.

[Note: We won’t be liable for any kind of the mentioned life-threatening accidents under any circumstances]

Permits and Fees

For the first 10 days per person US $500
After 10 days per day per person US $50