Distance: 8 km | Walking time: 2–3 hours
Jomsom is the administrative centre of Mustang district and the main transport hub – most trekkers arrive here by flight from Pokhara (35 minutes) or by jeep. The morning flight window is narrow; strong afternoon winds make afternoon flights difficult or impossible. Fly in the morning.
From Jomsom, the route north follows the Kali Gandaki – one of the world's deepest river gorges. The walking is easy along a broad flat valley floor with views of Nilgiri (7,061m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167m). Kagbeni is a compact medieval-looking village with whitewashed houses and a prominent red gompa. It's also the checkpoint for the Upper Mustang restricted area – your permits are inspected here before you can continue north. See our permit guide for what to have ready.
Distance: 14 km | Walking time: 4–5 hours
North of Kagbeni, the landscape changes dramatically. The green terraced fields disappear and you enter the Mustang plateau proper – dry, wind-sculpted, and geologically extraordinary. Red, ochre, and grey cliffs rise on both sides of the valley. The trail crosses the Kali Gandaki several times on seasonal bridges.
Chuksang is a small settlement at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Narshing Khola rivers. It's a short day by design – this is acclimatization time. Review our altitude guide for what to monitor here.
Distance: 16 km | Walking time: 6–7 hours
The most demanding day of the northbound route, with a significant altitude gain. The trail climbs out of the Kali Gandaki valley and crosses the Chhunkar ridge before descending to Ghiling, a traditional Mustangi village surrounded by barley fields. The views of the high plateau from the ridge crossing are spectacular – on a clear day you can see the Annapurna range to the south and the Tibetan plateau highlands to the north.
Distance: 13 km | Walking time: 5–6 hours
A relatively straightforward day crossing the high plateau. Drakmar (meaning "red cliff") gets its name from the extraordinary rust-coloured cliffs surrounding the village. The main attraction here is the Garphu Cave – a large cave complex carved into the red cliffs above the village, with ancient meditation chambers and residual wall paintings. Worth a side excursion if you arrive with energy to spare.
Distance: 22 km | Walking time: 7–8 hours
The longest walking day of the route, and the most rewarding. The trail passes through Ghami (with its famous ancient mani wall, one of the longest in Nepal at approximately 400 metres), crosses the Nyi La pass (3,950m), and descends to Tsarang – a significant fortified settlement with its own impressive dzong and monastery.
From Tsarang, the trail continues to Marang La pass before the final approach to Lo Manthang. Your first view of the walled city from the trail above – its ochre walls rising from the flat plateau against the brown hills – is a moment you'll remember. Arrive in the late afternoon. Check in, rest, and prepare for the festival or exploration over the next 2–3 days.
Our full 18-day Tiji Festival Group Trek and Private Trek include this complete route plus the return via Muktinath and Jomsom. See our guide to Lo Manthang for what to do once you arrive.
Questions about availability, pricing, or building a custom itinerary for the 2027 Tiji Festival? We reply within 24 hours.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
TripAdvisor