Tiji Festival Jeep Ride Tour 2026, the package is an alternative to the Tiji Festival trekking to attend a fascinating annual three-day festival consisting of Tibetan rituals that celebrate the myth of a son who had to save the Mustang kingdom from destruction. The Tiji festival in Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang, on May 14th, 15th, and 16th, 2026.
The Tiji festival, which locals call the Tenchi Festival, is a monk dance festival celebrated every year in Upper Mustang, Lo Manthang. According to Tempa Chhirim, Tenji, commonly pronounced Teeji or Tiji, means “ Prayer for World Peace.” Upper Mustang is a place highly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism and the only untouched, preserved safe zone for Tibetan Buddhism. According to His Highness Dalai Lama, “Authentic Tibetan culture survives only in exile in a few places like Mustang, which has had long historical and cultural ties with Tibet.” The main priest of the Tiji Festival is one of the Top 10 Buddhist priests in the World.
The festival is only celebrated in the indigenous Lo-Manthang, Upper Mustang. Over the Mustang during the Tiji festival time, monks dressed in elaborate costumes and masks perform dances and rituals that are supposed to drive away evil spirits. The Tiji festival dances are all organized by the Choedhe Monastery and led by the monks, who belong to the Sakya sect of Buddhism. The monastery is headed by a Rimpoche, the Top 10 Buddhist priests in the World. About 65 monks from Lo Manthang, Nhenyul, and Chhosyer reside in this monastery. They practice religious and traditional dances for months just to perform at the Tiji Festival.
The Tiji Festival begins with the opening of the 400-year-old banner of the respective Lord who conquered the demons and brought peace. The Tiji Festival is held in the town’s main square. On the first day, monks integrate the dances and complex ceremonies to lead the world towards peace, evoke God, and purify the ground for the further days of the Tiji Festival. The second day is lit as different dances are performed with drums, masks, attitude, swords, and the raging of demons. The king of Lo comes to the town’s main square and settles on the throne for the ongoing Tiji Festival. The third day is all about winning over demons and destruction and welcoming peace.
Kali Gandaki Gorge, the Deepest Gorge in the World
Kali Gandaki Gorge is the narrow valley between Mt Dhaulagiri, the 7th-highest mountain in the world, and Mt.Annapurna I, the 10th-highest mountain in the world. Kali Gandaki Gorge separates the major peaks of Dhaulagiri (8,167m / 26,795ft) on the west and Annapurna I (8,091m / 26,545 ft) on the east. When one measures the depth of the canyon by the difference between the river height and the heights of the peaks on either side, the gorge is the world’s deepest.
During the 19th century, it was termed Kora La (La means pass), which was highly used as a Tibet-India Trade Route. Besides, Kali Gandaki Gorge is within the Annapurna Conservation Area and part of the Annapurna Circuit, the famous trekking route. The Kali Gandaki River source coincides with the Tibetan border and the Ganges-Brahmaputra watershed divide. It flows through a deep canyon south of Lo Manthang and widens up as it approaches Kagbeni. Then, continues southward passing Jomsom, Marpha, and Tukuche to the deepest part of the gorge about 7km south of the Tukuche peak around Lete. Further, the Kali Gandaki River flows through Dana and Tatopani toward Beni. You can also find the valuable Saligram fossils in the bank of the Kali Gandaki, which is regarded as Lord Vishnu per Hindu mythology. Tiji Festival Jeep Ride Tour enables you to encounter and observe the deepest gorge in the world.
Dumba Lake at (2900 m/9515 ft)
Dumba Lake reflects the pureness and beauty of nature and its surroundings through its crystal clear and pristine water. The lake is fenced with prayer flags, and the water of the lake is used by the local stupa as a religious offering. Some myth is related to Dumba Lake, which makes it religiously valuable along with its natural attractiveness. It is believed that the lake turned red and, after religious ceremonies by Tibetan Buddhists, it returned to be as greenish and clear as it was. Locals do not fish at the lake and come for prayers, whereas travelers visit Dumba Lake to enjoy the tranquility as well as a view of the mountains and Jomsom Bazaar.
Explore Apple Garden at Marpha, Thakali Village
Marpha village made Mustang widely famous by supplying apples and apricot products in Nepal. Though Mustang widely practices apple and apricot farming and produces products like juice, wine, and dry fruit, Marpha is solely famous for its Apple and Apricot garden along with its typical Thakali culture. Marpha village took the hype due to the beautiful mixture of culture and nature. Marpha is the residence of the Thakali (one of the indigenous communities of Nepal) community, which showcases the ancient traditions, yet managed to introduce the apple business in the Mustang Region. When you choose the Tiji Festival Jeep Ride Tour, you grab the opportunity to explore the famous Apple Garden of Nepal on the way to Upper Mustang/Lo-Manthang. Not just at Marpha village, but as you enter the Mustang district, you can observe the apple garden on the roadside till you reach Kagbeni.
Muktinath Temple at (3800 m/12,468 ft)
When you pick the Tiji Festival Jeep Ride Tour, the package ensures you a tour of Muktinath Temple situated at an elevation of 3800m/ 12,468 ft. Whereas, in the Tiji Festival Trekking, you may not be able to explore Muktinath Temple, as it requires much time and energy to climb up the hill and visit Muktinath Temple.
Muktinath Temple is a Lord Vishnu temple sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Muktinath means a place of liberation. Muktinath Temple is situated on the lap of the Himalayas, offering a heart-pleasing view of mountains, hills, and settlements. It has 108 holy water streams and two holy ponds, and bathing in them is believed to be blissful, valuable, a blessing, and a way of salvation. Pilgrims believe it makes them pure. The temple's surroundings are peacefully decorated with streams and trees, which showcase the unique spot of religious belief and nature’s creation.
Off-road Adventure Trip
Tiji Festival Jeep Ride Tour 2026 leads to an off-road adventure trip. The entire road is not bumpy and off-road, but few days, you have to ride through the thrilling off-road. The jeep rides on unsurfaced roads or tracks made of materials such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, rocks, and other natural terrains. The road crosses the streams and rivers without bridges as well, and the highway goes through the Kali Gandaki riverbank, which makes it more thrilling and adventurous. However, there is no risk in this off-road ride, and an everyday number of vehicles travel. The off-road begins from Beni and lasts up to Jomsom.
With all these benefits of exploring places from deep down the gorge to high up temples, lake views to garden views, and catching up on off-road adventure, the Nepal Adventure Team arranges the fixed departure for the Tiji Festival Jeep Ride Tour as per the other customized requirements for the attainment of the Tiji festival. You can also check out the option of the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek.
Nepal Adventure Team arranges the fixed departure for the Tiji Festival Jeep Ride Tour (2026) for 15 Days or fewer than 12 days as per the customized requirements for the attainment of the Tiji festival. Nepal Adventure Team arranges the fixed departure for the Tiji festival by jeep ride, as per the other customized requirements for the attainment of the Tiji festival. The Nepal adventure team has a well-organized package for the Tiji Festival Jeep Ride 2025, which starts from Kathmandu, allowing visitors to prepare as well as enjoy Kathmandu. The next day, leave for Pokhara on the jeep and then the bumpy off-road begins towards Marpha, Jomsom. Further few kilometers of the newly pitched and dusty ride to Lo-Manthang (Upper Mustang) through Ghami.
Highlights
- World’s Top 10 monk leads the Tiji Festival
- Classic and Authentic exposure to century-old ceremonies and rituals
- Panorama View of the world’s 7th highest mountain-Dhaulagiri and Gangapurnna, Tukuche, Manaslu, Thorang
- Kali Gandaki George, World’s Deepest George
- Muktinath Temple- high value for Buddhists and Hindus
- Traditional Palaces, Monasteries, and caves formed on high cliffs
- Ghar Gumba- the oldest monasteries
- Hills with vibrant shades of pink, brown, grey, and glaciers
- Desert landscape with spires and cliffs, as well as dense green hills and woods
- Kagbeni - Holy Kaligandaki river valley
