Nepal Mustang Tiji Festival Trek
Tags:
Trekking in Nepal; Adventure; Hiking; Sightseeing; Trekking; Sightseeing tour; Excrusions; explorations; Nepal Trekking; Nepal Mustang Tiji Festival Trek;
I invite you to join me and other travelers on a hike to the fabled, long forbidden Kingdom of Mustang, a land filled with fantastic scenery, friendly people, and ancient monasteries. Along our trek, we will visit small villages that dot the ancient trade route between Tibet and Nepal, and ...
Read Full Description- Destination:
- Trip Length:
- 19 days
- Price Range:
- From $4205 ($4,205 - per person. $3,995 - alumni rate. *Small group surcharge may apply*) per person See what this includes and what this excludes
- Best Time to Go:
-
May 13, 2009 to May 31, 2009
- Recommended for:
-
15 - 17, 18 - 20, 21 - 24, 25 - 30, 31 - 35, 36 - 40, 41 - 50
Family Trip, Group Retreat, Trip Around the World
Detailed Trip Description
I invite you to join me and other travelers on a hike to the fabled, long forbidden Kingdom of Mustang, a land filled with fantastic scenery, friendly people, and ancient monasteries. Along our trek, we will visit small villages that dot the ancient trade route between Tibet and Nepal, and which reflect the deep Buddhist culture and traditions of the region. The trek itself will be stunning, as we will be hiking through semi-desert terrain with deep ravines and rock outcroppings and over mountain passes, creating a truly impressive backdrop for our journey. The highlight of our experience in Mustang, however, will be the time spent at the Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang. This three-day ritual, known as "The Chasing of the Demons" is based upon an ancient Tiji myth. You will witness over 1,000 men, women, and children, participating in an elaborate and colorful re-enactment of the myth - a spectacular sight! The myth tells of a deity named Dorje Jon, who must battle against his demon father to save the Kingdom of Mustang from destruction. The demon father wreaked havoc on Mustang by causing a shortage of water (a highly precious resource in this very dry land), which resulted in many disasters from famine to animal loss. Dorje Jono eventually beats the demon and banishes him from the land. The Tiji Festival is a celebration and reaffirmation of this myth and throughout our time here, you will be able to immerse yourself in the delightful sights, sounds, and rituals of the celebrations.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 - Kathmandu
Arrive Kathmandu.
Airport Transfer
Welcome to Nepal! Our adventure begins once we arrive at the airport in Kathmandu, a city that seamlessly combines the medieval and the modern, and which also boasts more World Heritage sights than any other city in the world. Here our staff will greet us and take us to the Malla Hotel.
Sightseeing
On the drive we’ll have our senses challenged by the sights, people and smells, all of which are so different from those we are used to. Our guide is available to help with anything from last minute equipment advice or rental to helping confirm return flights, handling problems with luggage, or suggesting places to see, shop or eat in Kathmandu.
Food and Dining
In the evening we and our guides will have a delicious welcome dinner and briefing session, at which time our senior staff will explain arrangements, logistics and schedules for the coming trek. Meals: Dinner.
Day 2 - Kathmandu
Sightseeing
An extra day in Kathmandu is very helpful for overcoming jet-lag, acquiring necessary permits and beginning your appreciation for the Nepali culture and customs.
Sightseeing
We include a tour by vehicle of Kathmandu and surrounding sites, including Swayambhunath (the “Monkey Temple”), Boddhanath, Patan (an ancient city), and the Old Bazaar.
Shopping
The remainder of the day is free for everyone to the explore the Thamel area on their own. This unique neighborhood is home to hundreds of little shops and restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 3 - Pokhara
Kathmandu/Pokhara.
Commercial Flight
In the morning we’ll take a flight to Pokhara. This is a nice little town with some wonderful restaurants and mountain scenery. It is known as a place of leisure and trading, as well as a starting point for many different treks.
Sightseeing
Our afternoon is free to explore the Phewa Tal lakeside area or visit the Tibetan refugee camp at Hyenga. Meals: Breakfast.
Day 4 - Pokhara
Pokhara/Jomsom.
Commercial Flight
We’ll catch a breathtaking early morning flight (35 minutes) to Jomsom (8,900 feet).
Sightseeing
We will be taken up through the Kali Gandaki gorge, the world’s largest, with the towering snow-capped peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna on either side of us. In clear weather, it will almost seems as though we can reach out and touch the peaks. We will also have wonderful views of waterfalls, canyons, and terraced fields. This is truly one of the world's most spectacular flights!
Food and Dining
Upon arrival in Jomsom, we’ll meet the rest of our staff for lunch.
Hotel
Overnight in a local guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5 - Jomsom
Sightseeing
Jomsom is a very picturesque Tibetan village that sits right in the high mountains. We can each decide on our own how we would like to spend the day. The village is worthy of exploration on foot, and there are also some wonderful day hikes that would certainly introduce our legs to the idea of trekking. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6 - Jomsom
Jomsom/Kagbeni.
Hiking
This is a fairly easy half day of trekking along the Kali Gandaki River to Kagbeni, the gateway to the restricted zone of Mustang. Kagbeni is situated in the valley of the Kali Gandaki, one of the major trading routes between Tibet and India, through which traders brought salt from Tibet and barley, spices and clothes from India. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet, trade came to a halt and many of the rich villages lost their revenue and later, many of their people. Nowadays, though there is again some trade, the majority of village income comes from tourism. As we enter the dusty village, legend says that we should think good thoughts, leaving all bad will outside the town gates. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 7 - Nepal
Kagbeni/Chele.
Hiking
From Kagbeni to Tangbe, the trail winds along the east riverbank and occasionally ventures out into the rocky river bed. After leaving Kagbeni, we will climb a steep hill and be rewarded with a spectacular view of prayer flags, stupas, and the village.
Sightseeing
After crossing several windblown plains, we will descend into a canyon, ascending on the other side to the Mustang village of Tanbe. The small village is filled with whitewashed adobe houses nestled against each other and zigzagging alleyways. It is surrounded by beautifully terraced fields of wheat, barley, and buckwheat, as well as small apple orchards. On the lower side of Tangbe, you will see three elegant chortens and the remnants of an old abandoned fort. As we continue our walk, be on the lookout for black ammonites, small fossils of coiled sea mollusks that inhabited the Tethys Sea and covered the Tibetan plateau millions of years before the Himalayas were formed. They are considered to be holy by many local people.
Hiking
Continue on to Chele, where you will overnight. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8 - Nepal
Chele/Geling.
Hiking
The climb from Chele is up a steep spur to a cairn at 10,329 feet, from which there is a view of the village of Gyagar across a huge canyon. Our climb continues along the side of the spectacular steep canyon, where we will be walking along trails that are literally carved into the cliff. After crossing a mountain pass, the trail makes a long gradual descent on a pleasant trail to Samer. We will pass through several small canyons that are home to cool streams and shady juniper trees - perfect for relaxing under - before arriving in Geling at 11,880 feet.
Sightseeing
Along the way, the Annapurna Himal is visible far to the south. Geling, though the largest village before entering Upper Mustang, is a rarely visited gem. The town, set among numerous poplar groves and a central stream, also boasts one of the oldest Gompas in Mustang.
Relaxation
Spend the evening relaxing in front of the central field, where you can observe grain being threshed, animals grazing, and children playing. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 9 - Nepal
Geling/Charang.
Hiking
From Geling, the trail climbs gently through fields of barley and groves of poplar trees up the center of the valley, passing below the settlement of Tama Gaun and an imposing chorten. After rejoining the direct trail, it becomes an unrelenting climb across the head of the valley to the Nyi La pass at 13,035 feet, the highest point reached on the trek. Charang is a maze of fields, willow trees and houses separated by stone walls at the top of the large Charang Cho Canyon. The huge five story white dzong and red gompa are perched on the edge of the Kali Gandagi gorge on the east end of the valley. Overnight in Charang. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 10 - Nepal
Charang/Lo Manthang.
Hiking
The trail descends about 100 meters from Charang, crosses the Charang Chu, and then climbs steeply up a rocky trail to a cairn on a ridge opposite the village at 11,841 feet. The trail turns north and climbs gently to a large isolated chorten that marks the boundary between Charang and Lo. Still climbing, the trail crosses a stream and becomes a grand thoroughfare, traveling across a desert-like landscape painted in every hue of grey and yellow.
Sightseeing
Finally, from a ridge at 12,705 feet, there is a view of your destination for three nights - the whitewashed walls of the city of Lo, which sits among fields filled with horses and yaks. (We may have time to see the start of the Tiji festival.) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 11 - Nepal
Tiji Festival.
Sightseeing
We spend the better part of the day at the Tiji Festival watching all the dances and celebrations that take place, including horse racing and a giant tug-of-war.
Sightseeing
We’ll see Tibetan women in their traditional clothing and colorful jewelry, monks in their robes and dancers in elaborate costumes. This is an almost unknown festival that most Nepal trekkers never experience. Definitely bring your cameras along today!
Day 12 - Nepal
Lo Manthang/Ghemi.
Sightseeing
In addition to the festival, there are many other activities in Lo Manthang from which you can choose.
Sightseeing
Spend today exploring the intimate alleyways and courtyards of the city, or you can rent a horse and visit some of the other villages in the area. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 13 - Nepal
Lo Manthang/Ghemi (via Lo Gekar).
Adventure
We have the opportunity to vary our return route and visit two villages that we did not see on the trek northwards. The trail to Lo Gekar is not a main trading route and is crisscrossed with herders trails, so our local guide is particularly useful here. The trail climbs steadily to a pass marked by cairn, offering a final glimpse of Lo Manthang. It then contours across the head of the valley, crossing another ridge before dropping into another large and desolate valley. After descending to the valley floor, we will cross two more valleys, before traveling along a pass to some meadows and a stream. The trail then makes a long rocky descent down a ravine to a grassy valley, where Lo Gekar is situated within a group of large trees by a stream. Lo Gekar, which means “Pure Virtue of Lo,” is also known as Ghar Gompa, or "House Temple.”
Country Inn
Continue on to Ghemi for your overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 14 - Nepal
Ghemi/Samar.
Hiking
From Ghemi, follow a direct route to Nyi La, climbing to a cairn of a ridge before contouring upwards to meet the trail from Charang. Continue to the pass and descend steeply into Geling Valley. Follow the trail that bypasses Geling to an isolated tea house and descend gently to the three houses of Tama Gaun. A steep set of switch backs leads you to a Geling trail near the ridge, just below a chorten. The remainder of the day is on previously traveled trails back to Samar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 15 - Nepal
Samar/Kagbeni.
Hiking
Retrace the trail upwards, returning to Kali Gandaki and then heading down stream, ending in Kagbeni for your overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 16 - Jomsom
Kagbeni/Jomsom.
Hiking
Return to Jomsom by way of Kagbeni, enjoying spectacular views of Annapurna on the way. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 17 - Jomsom
Jomsom/Kathmandu (via Pokhara).
Commercial Flight
Depart early in the morning (by flight) to Pokhara, and then continue on to Kathmandu. Or, if you wish to spend more time in Pokhara, this can be arranged.
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 18 - Kathmandu
Sightseeing
We consider today an “insurance day” just in case the flight can’t land due to weather or other concerns on the 29th. Otherwise, this last day is open for pursuing your own interests. Many travelers choose to take an Everest mountain view flight (optional, at extra cost).
Food and Dining
However you choose to spend the day, we will end our journey with a farewell dinner this evening. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Day 19 - Kathmandu
Kathmandu/Onward.
Airport Transfer
Sadly, we’ll say goodbye today to Nepal and our wonderful staff. We will be transferred to the airport for our onward flight, or you can continue your travels with either an extension within Nepal, to Chitwan National Park for example, or to other Asian countries. Meals: Breakfast.
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Meals as noted, each night in double occupancy accommodations, land transfers between components, English speaking guides, park or site entry fees, surface transport, equipment other than personal gear, government tax, airport transfer assistance, in-country ticket reconfirmation & check-in assistance (where permitted), complete pre-departure packet, toll-free pre-departure phone assistance.
Budget Excludes:Meals not noted as included, gratuities, beverages (except tea or coffee at meals), international or domestic airfare unless specified, airport departure taxes not included with air tickets, visas, itinerary changes after confirmation, any services not included in itinerary, any costs incurred due to canceled or delayed flights, acts of nature or other happenings beyond our control, or other costs as are more fully described in Journeys Terms & Conditions.
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