The Tiji Festival 2027 runs from June 1 to June 3, 2027, in Lo Manthang, the ancient walled capital of Upper Mustang, Nepal. The festival date is determined by the Tibetan lunar calendar each year, which is why it shifts between mid-May and early June. The 2027 dates are confirmed.
| Day | Date | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Festival Day 1 | Tuesday, 1 June 2027 | Thangka unveiled, Tsacham dance begins in palace courtyard |
| Festival Day 2 | Wednesday, 2 June 2027 | Second thangka, faster dances, effigy ritual – climax of Tiji |
| Festival Day 3 | Thursday, 3 June 2027 | Closing ceremony, royal procession, tsampa offering on palace roof |
To attend all three days in Lo Manthang, most trekking itineraries require you to arrive in Nepal by May 14–16, 2027 at the latest. The 18-day Group Trek and Private Trek are structured to reach Lo Manthang two days before the festival begins, giving you time to settle and acclimatize before Day 1.
The June 1–3 window puts the festival slightly later in the season than average. That has one significant advantage: the Mustang plateau is warmer and the days are longer than a mid-May festival. Night temperatures in Lo Manthang in early June still drop below zero, but daytime conditions during the festival dances are comfortable – typically 12–18°C in the palace courtyard with full sun.
June also means the barley fields between Kagbeni and Lo Manthang will be at their greenest of the year, which is striking contrast to the ochre cliffs and desert plateau above. The trekking route will look different in early June than in the dustier conditions of April and May.
The one consideration for 2027 is timing relative to the monsoon. The monsoon typically arrives in the lower hills of Nepal around the first or second week of June, though Upper Mustang itself is in the rain shadow and stays largely dry. Flights to Jomsom can be disrupted by early monsoon cloud in the lower Kali Gandaki section – this is something your trekking agency needs to plan around, and it's another reason to start the journey by May 14–16 rather than leaving it to the last week of May.
| When | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Now – November 2026 | Contact your trekking agency, confirm package and dates, pay deposit. This is the most critical step – Lo Manthang accommodation during Tiji has fewer than 200 beds total across all guesthouses. |
| December 2026 – February 2027 | Book international flights to Kathmandu. Purchase travel insurance that explicitly covers high-altitude helicopter evacuation. Start physical preparation if you're doing the trekking option. |
| March – April 2027 | Gear check and purchase. Read up on altitude acclimatization. Consult your doctor about Diamox if relevant. Confirm your itinerary dates with your agency. |
| May 2027 | Permits processed in Kathmandu (your agency handles this). Fly to Nepal by mid-May. Begin the trek or overland journey toward Lo Manthang. |
| June 1–3, 2027 | Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang. Three days you won't forget. |
There are four realistic ways to reach Lo Manthang in time for the June 1 opening. Each involves different trade-offs of time, cost, and physical effort.
Group Trek – 18 Days – The most immersive option. You walk the full Kali Gandaki route from Jomsom through Kagbeni, Ghiling, Drakmar, and Tsarang to Lo Manthang over 5–6 days. The landscape along the way – desert canyons, cave complexes, ancient fortress villages – is a major part of the experience. Best for fit travelers with 18 days available.
Private Trek – 18 Days – Same route as the group trek, but your own guide, your own pace, and flexible daily distances. If you want to spend an extra day at Tsarang's monastery or push harder to Lo Manthang, you can. Best for travelers who prefer not to share their guide.
4WD Overland Tour – 15 Days – Reach Lo Manthang by jeep along the mountain road that now runs the full length of the Mustang corridor. Faster than trekking, still passes through every major village, and lets you cover the return route in two days instead of five. Best for those who want the full Upper Mustang experience without the daily walking commitment.
Helicopter Tour – 7 Days – Fly Pokhara to Lo Manthang in 45 minutes. Attend all three festival days and return. Extremely limited seats – this option books out first every year. Best for travelers with very limited time or who cannot do the trek for physical reasons.
The single biggest cost is the Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit: USD 500 per person, covering 10 days in the restricted zone. This is fixed by the Nepali government and non-negotiable. On top of that, the ACAP permit (~USD 23) and TIMS card (USD 10) are required. See our full permit cost guide for a complete breakdown.
Package prices for the 2027 Tiji Festival Trek start from USD 2,090 for the Group Trek and USD 2,180 for the Private Trek, inclusive of permits, guide, accommodation, and meals along the route. The Helicopter Tour is priced separately given the flight costs involved. Contact us at info@tijifestivaltrek.com for a detailed 2027 quote.
International flights to Kathmandu are not included in package prices. Budget USD 600–1,200 return from most European or North American cities depending on your departure point and booking time.
If you're still in the research phase, these resources will answer the most common pre-booking questions:
Planning the 2027 Tiji Festival Trek? We reply within 24 hours with availability, pricing, and a custom itinerary built around your dates.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
TripAdvisor