Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek 2027 is a trekking package 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 Lomanthang takes place from June 1st to 3rd in 2027.
The Tiji festival, which locals call the Tenchi Festival, is a monk dance festival celebrated every year in Upper Mustang, Lomanthang. 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 Lomanthang, Upper Mustang. Over the Mustang during the Tiji festival, 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 Rinpoche, one of the Top 10 Buddhist priests in the World. About 65 monks from Lomanthang, 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.
History of the Tiji Festival
Tiji is a short form of the Tibetan name Tenpa Chirim, which means "prayer for the continuity of Buddhist teachings." People often translate it simply as a prayer for world peace. Locals in Lo-Manthang also refer to the festival as Tenchi. Over time, Tiji became the shorter, more commonly used name among trekkers and outsiders, while Tenpa Chirim remains the formal name used within the monastery.
The Tiji Festival is built around a myth central to the history of Mustang. A demon named Man Tam Ru brought drought and destruction to the Kingdom of Lo, threatening the survival of its people. A deity named Dorje Jono, said to be the son of a Buddhist god, fought the demon for three days and eventually drove him out of Mustang. This victory restored peace and water to the land.
Each day of the three-day festival shows a different part of this battle through masked dance. Day one shows the demon's attack on Mustang. Day two shows Dorje Jono's fight against the demon. Day three shows the demon's final defeat and the return of peace.
The festival has two purposes. It retells the story of Dorje Jono's victory over the demon. It also works as a yearly prayer for peace and protection over the kingdom.
Tiji Festival Date in 2027 in Upper Mustang
Since 2019, the Tiji festival has not been celebrated for three years because of COVID-19. The local people of Lomanthang resumed celebrating the festival in the years since, with the date fixed according to the Tibetan lunar calendar each time. The festival goes on for three days, with monks praying for world peace through masked dances and rituals.
For 2027, the Tiji festival date has now been confirmed. It will take place from June 1st to 3rd in Lomanthang. Nepal Adventure Team arranges the fixed departure for the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek 2027 to match this confirmed date. The highest altitude you'll reach is 4353 meters, with windy, chilly weather. You may have a chance to grab an easy way to travel on the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Ride Tour option.
About Upper Mustang, the Forbidden Kingdom
Upper Mustang is a remote region in northern Nepal. It is surrounded by mountains like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri mountain ranges. For centuries, it stood as an independent kingdom, separate from the rest of Nepal, ruled by its own king. This history is why the region is often called the Forbidden Kingdom. The name reflects both its isolation and the many years it stayed closed off from outside visitors. Because of its long isolation and its position as a stronghold of Tibetan Buddhism, Upper Mustang remains one of the few places where this culture has survived largely unchanged.
The region sits along an old trans-Himalayan trade route that connected Tibet with the lowlands of Nepal and India. Traders moved salt, grain, and other goods along this path for generations. Trekkers today still walk the same trails once used by traders on this route.
Upper Mustang's landscape looks different from the rest of Nepal. Most of the country has green hills and forests, but Upper Mustang is a high-altitude desert instead, with deep valleys, rocky cliffs shaped by strong winds, and centuries-old cave dwellings built into the rock. Many of these caves are still being studied today, and some are believed to be over a thousand years old.
Lo-Manthang, the walled capital city, sits at the heart of this region. This is where the Tiji Festival takes place each year.
Lo-Manthang: Where the Tiji Festival is Celebrated
Lo-Manthang is a walled city in Upper Mustang, Nepal. King Ame Pal built it in 1380 as the capital of the Kingdom of Lo. The Tiji Festival takes place inside this walled city, in its main square, and locals still call the wider area the Kingdom of Lo. Inside the walls, narrow lanes connect old monasteries, a former royal palace, and homes that have stood for generations. Many families in Lo-Manthang still live in these same mud-brick houses today, and daily life here moves at a slow, quiet pace outside of festival time.
The former royal palace, known as Tashi Gephel, once served as the main residence of the King of Lo and his family. The monarchy was formally dissolved in 2008, but the former royal family still holds a respected place in the community. The palace continues to overlook the courtyard where the Tiji Festival takes place each year.
The Choedhe Monastery, the spiritual center of Lo-Manthang, sits at the heart of the city. This is where the monks prepare for the festival, performing the Vajrakila prayers each morning of the Tiji Festival, before the dances begin in the palace courtyard.
What Happens During the Tiji Festival?
The Tiji Festival runs for three days, and each day has its own energy, rituals, and dances.
Day 1: Prayers and TsaChaam
The first day of the Tiji Festival starts early in the morning inside Chhoede Monastery. Monks gather to perform the Vajrakila prayers, also called the Dorje Sonam prayers. These prayers are quiet and sacred, and they prepare the spiritual energy for the whole festival. While the monks pray, long copper horns sound through the monastery. Drums and cymbals keep a steady rhythm alongside them. As part of the ceremony, monks display a massive, sacred thangka. This traditional painted scroll depicts the deity Dorje Sonam and honored masters of the Sakya lineage who founded the festival.
After completing the morning rituals, the monks move from the monastery to the open stone courtyard in front of the Tashi Gephel Royal Palace. This courtyard is the main square, and it's where the public gathers to watch the rest of the festival. Here, monks perform the TsaChaam dance, also called the Awakening dance, made up of 52 different steps practiced for months in advance. This dance tells the story of the birth of Dorje Sonam, a reincarnated Buddha born to conquer the demon Ma Tam Ru Ta, who brought harm and destruction to the kingdom of Mustang. Visitors can watch monks enact the demon's harassment of the people of Mustang, accompanied by chanted prayers. It also marks the clearing and purifying of the ground for the days ahead.
The word Cham, or Chham, is the general name for these festival dances. TsaChaam is the name used only for this first day. The mood on day one stays calm and steady. It builds slowly toward the bigger battle and victory dances of day two and three.
Day 2: NgaCham, the Battle Dance
The second day begins the same way as the first, with monks returning to Chhoede Monastery for another round of Vajrakila prayers. This continues the spiritual preparation started on day one, building up the energy needed for the battle ahead. Around midday, the monks move back into the palace courtyard. A new thangka is displayed, replacing the one from day one. This scroll shows the powerful image of Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, who is remembered for taming demons of Tibet and Mustang long ago.
The main event of the afternoon is the NgaCham dance, also called the Battle dance. In this performance, Dorje Sonam fights the demon Man Tam Ru Ta and tries to force him back to the Buddha realm. Monks wear fierce, wrathful masks representing protector deities and mythical animals, spinning through sharp, complex steps while carrying swords, daggers, and large ritual drums. The performance includes a wide range of characters, from wolves armed with swords to ghost dances, warriors raging against the demon, and monkey boys who bring moments of humor and entertainment to the crowd.
This is also the day the King of Lo arrives at the festival. He takes his seat in the courtyard as the dances continue around him, adding to the sense of occasion for the crowd. Crowds are at their largest on this day, with people traveling in from villages across Mustang and gathering in the courtyard and nearby rooftops to watch.
Day 3: RhaChham, the Victory Dance
The final day begins the same way as the days before it. Monks return to Chhoede Monastery in the morning to complete the last round of Vajrakila prayers. This closes out the spiritual preparation that started on day one.
The main event of the afternoon is the RhaChham dance, also called the victory dance. The monks wear their most elaborate costumes and masks for this performance. After the courtyard dance, people gather outside the walls of Lo-Manthang toward the nearby open fields. The monk playing the role of Dorje Sonam carries an effigy made from tsampa, a kind of barley flour, representing the demon Ma Tam Ru Ta. Using a sacred bow, the lead dancer shoots an arrow into this effigy, marking the demon's final defeat. At this moment, local men fire traditional long-barreled muskets into the air, a tradition believed to be tied to scaring off the demon and driving away any last trace of evil.
The King of Lo takes part in this final procession as well. Unlike day two, when he watches from his seat, on day three he joins the walk out of the city. He, his family, and senior local officials walk alongside the monks and townspeople. Together, they witness the demon's defeat, a moment believed to bring peace and prosperity back to the land of Mustang. Every year, the Tiji Festival takes place in the hope of spreading peace throughout the world.
Highlights
- Lo-Manthan; Forbidden Kingdom
- The world’s Top 10 monks lead the Tiji Festival
- Classic and Authentic exposure to century-old ceremonies and rituals
- Panoramic view of the world’s 7th highest mountain, Dhaulagiri and Gangapurna, Tukuche, Manaslu, Thorang
- Kali Gandaki Gorge, World’s Deepest Gorge
- Muktinath Temple- high value for Buddhists and Hindus
- Traditional Palaces, Monasteries, and caves formed on high cliffs
- Ghar Gumba- the oldest monastery
- Desert landscape with spires and cliffs, as well as dense green hills and woods
- Kagbeni - Holy Kaligandaki River Valley
- Diversified culture, tales, and lifestyle of Gurung, Tibetan, Thakali, Magar, and others
- A Unique History of Lo-Manathang
Tranquil, unexplored, and unspoiled trails with few/no settlements
Why Choose Us for the Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek
- 14+ years organizing treks and cultural tours across Nepal, including Upper Mustang
- Licensed and registered with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)
- Member of TAAN (Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal)
- Direct local partners in Marpha, Jomsom, and the wider Mustang region
- Direct experience arranging fixed departures around the Tiji Festival, timed to the confirmed 2027 dates of June 1st to 3rd
- Full permit processing for the Restricted Area Permit, ACAP, and TIMS card, all handled through registered government channels
- Domestic flight bookings to and from Jomsom arranged directly, with backup plans in place for the weather delays common in the Mustang region
- Professional, multilingual guides with real experience leading groups through Upper Mustang and the Tiji Festival itself
- Itineraries built around your pace, whether that means more trekking days, more rest, or the option to add the Jeep Ride Tour for a lighter version of the trip
- Small, personal group sizes from 2 to 18 people, so the trip stays attentive rather than crowded
- Transparent, all-inclusive pricing, with no hidden costs once you book
- 24/7 support throughout your trip, before, during, and after
- Reviews on [TripAdvisor/Google]
- Honest, upfront communication if weather affects Jomsom flights or trek plans, so you always know where your trip stands
