Days 1-2: Kathmandu Arrival & Exploration
Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu. Transfer to Thamel hotel. Evening exploration of Kathmandu’s vibrant streets.
Day 2: Guided tour of Kathmandu’s UNESCO sites: Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Boudhanath Stupa. Afternoon trek briefing. Overnight Kathmandu.
Day 3: Fly to Pokhara
Scenic flight to Pokhara with Annapurna range views. Afternoon at leisure by Phewa Lake. Gear check and final preparations for the high desert. Overnight Pokhara.
Day 4: Fly Jomsom & Trek to Kagbeni (2,810m)
The stunning flight between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri lands in Jomsom, where the landscape is immediately transformed to high-altitude desert. Short trek to the medieval village of Kagbeni at the confluence of two rivers, the official gateway to Upper Mustang. Overnight Kagbeni.
Days 5-7: Trek to Lo Manthang — The Approach
Day 5: Enter the restricted zone. Trek through dramatic red canyons to Chele (3,050m). Day 6: Cross Taklam La (3,624m) and Dajori La (3,735m) passes, descend through Samar oasis to Geling. Day 7: Cross Nyi La (4,010m), descend to Ghami (3,520m) past the longest mani wall in Mustang. Day 8: Trek to Tsarang (3,570m) with its five-story dzong and royal palace ruins. Overnight village teahouses.
Day 9: Arrive Lo Manthang — Tiji Festival Eve
Cross the Lo La pass for your first view of the walled city. Arrive in Lo Manthang as the town buzzes with festival preparations. Monks are completing their ritual preparations, stalls are selling festival foods, and pilgrims from surrounding villages are arriving. The anticipation is palpable. Overnight Lo Manthang.
Days 10-12: Tiji Festival — Three Days of Sacred Dance
Day 10 (Tiji Day 1): The festival opens with the Dance of the Gods in the main square. Monks in elaborate brocade costumes and fearsome masks representing deities and demons perform choreographed movements to the sound of horns, cymbals, and chanting. The King of Mustang attends in ceremonial dress.
Day 11 (Tiji Day 2): The story deepens as the masked dancers enact the epic battle between Dorje Jono (a manifestation of Padmasambhava) and the demon who brought drought and suffering to Mustang. The energy builds throughout the day.
Day 12 (Tiji Day 3): The final day—the demon is defeated, the effigy is destroyed, and good triumphs over evil. A procession of monks, dancers, and villagers carries the remnants of the demon effigy outside the city walls for a ceremonial burning. The celebration erupts into singing, drinking, and community feasting. You’ve witnessed one of the Himalayas’ most profound cultural events. Overnight Lo Manthang.
Day 13: Return Flight from Jomsom
Early morning jeep or trek to Jomsom. Afternoon flight to Pokhara, where the green hills feel impossibly lush after the high desert. Celebration dinner with your crew. Overnight Pokhara.
Day 14: Kathmandu & Departure
Morning flight to Kathmandu. Day room before evening international departure, or extend for further exploration of Nepal.
