The Tiji Festival is not a performance put on for visitors. It's a three-day working religious ceremony – one of the most important in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar – that has been performed by the monks of Chodey Monastery in Lo Manthang for roughly 400 years. The community of Upper Mustang attends because the festival is a real, active prayer for the wellbeing of the kingdom: for rain, for healthy crops, for protection from harm. You are attending as a respectful guest.
This means the experience is quieter, more meditative, and more intense than most cultural events you've attended. There are no food stalls, no festival bars, no souvenir markets in the palace square. There is chanting, drumming, the slow movement of masked dancers in an open courtyard at 3,840 metres, and a crowd of local families who have travelled from remote plateau villages to be here. First-timers consistently say it's one of the most affecting things they've ever witnessed. It's also not always immediately comprehensible – understanding the mythology and the ritual structure beforehand makes a significant difference to what you get from it.
Spend an hour on the About the Tiji Festival page before your trip. The mythology of Dorje Jono and his demon father, the Vajrakila ritual tradition, the history of the festival in Lo Manthang since the 17th century, and the structure of each of the three days – all of this context makes the dances and rituals meaningful rather than visually impressive but opaque.
Your guide will brief you before Day 1, but that briefing happens after a week of trekking when you're tired. Reading the background before you leave home means the briefing confirms rather than introduces. You'll watch differently.
The 18-day Tiji Festival Trek involves 5–6 days of walking from Jomsom to Lo Manthang and 5–6 days on the return, with daily walking times of 4–8 hours at altitude. The trek is rated moderate – there are no technical sections, no glaciers, no ropes or harnesses. But "moderate" in Upper Mustang still means consecutive days at 3,000–3,900 metres with a loaded pack and dry, windy conditions.
If you currently don't exercise regularly, start a dedicated preparation programme at least 3 months before departure. The most useful preparation is consistent aerobic exercise – hiking, running, cycling – that builds cardiovascular endurance. Load-bearing walks with a daypack are more specific preparation than gym work. Aim for 2–3 long walks per week with 8–10kg on your back in the 6 weeks before departure.
If the trekking option is not suitable for physical reasons, the 4WD Overland Tour and Helicopter Tour reach Lo Manthang without the walking commitment. You still need to acclimatize carefully at altitude – read our altitude acclimatization guide regardless of how you travel.
Day 1 – June 1, 2027: The day starts with morning prayers inside Chodey Monastery, not open to outside visitors. In the afternoon, usually from around 2pm, the ancient embroidered thangka of Padmasambhava is unveiled on the south wall of the palace and the Tsacham dance begins. The Tsowo – the lead dancer in an elaborate crown-like headdress – leads the other monks in a slow, deliberate masked dance arranged in a Mandala formation. It lasts approximately two hours. Day 1 is about invocation. It's solemn and unhurried and visually extraordinary.
Day 2 – June 2, 2027: The pace quickens. A second thangka is unveiled. The dances are faster and more forceful, with animal masks and weapons. The ritual climax of the entire three days arrives in the afternoon: the Tsowo pierces a straw effigy with a ritual dagger, symbolizing Dorje Jono's defeat of the demon. The effigy is thrown into the air and carried away. This is the moment the entire festival builds toward, and it happens quickly – watch for it. For the people of Mustang, this is when protection is secured for the year ahead.
Day 3 – June 3, 2027: The closing day. Morning prayers conclude the ritual work inside the monastery. In the afternoon, final dances and a nectar offering are performed. The festival ends with a community procession through Lo Manthang's lanes – monks, the King of Mustang, royal family members, and all of Lo Manthang's residents walking together to the palace roof, where tsampa is thrown into the air as a final offering. Watch this procession from street level, not from an elevated point – the close proximity to the community at this moment is something you'll remember longer than any photograph.
Arrive early each day. The palace square fills quickly. Good standing positions go to people who arrive 30–45 minutes before the dances begin. Your guide will know the schedule; trust their timing advice.
Dress respectfully. You're at a religious ceremony. Shorts and sleeveless tops are inappropriate regardless of the temperature. Bring a lightweight but full-coverage outfit for the festival days specifically.
Ask before photographing people. The masked dancers are a subject, not a backdrop. The families watching are community members at their most important annual ceremony, not photographic props. Ask first, always. See our full festival photography guide for positioning and camera advice.
Don't talk during the chanting. The chanting between dance sequences is active ritual, not intermission music. Stay quiet and still during these sections.
Watch the second day's effigy ritual without your camera to your eye. You'll have two full days for photography. The effigy moment on Day 2 is brief and genuinely moving – experience it directly at least once before reviewing your shots.
Eat and sleep properly in the days before the festival. Altitude fatigue is cumulative. Trekkers who shortchange their sleep in Lo Manthang before the festival starts frequently find themselves struggling to concentrate during the dances. Prioritize rest over late nights for the two days before June 1.
Lo Manthang sits at 3,840 metres. If you've never been above 3,000m before, take the altitude seriously. The most common first-timer mistake is underestimating how much the altitude affects concentration, energy, and sleep – even without full AMS symptoms. Read our complete acclimatization guide well before departure and discuss Diamox with your doctor.
The trekking itinerary acclimatizes you gradually over 5–6 days. Don't be tempted to rush this. Arriving in Lo Manthang two days before the festival (May 30–31) gives your body time to adjust to the final elevation before the physical and emotional demands of three festival days.
Seats for the 2027 Tiji Festival are limited by both permit caps and Lo Manthang's accommodation capacity. The practical deadline for securing your place without being shut out is November–December 2026. Read our full 2027 planning and booking guide for the step-by-step process, and compare the Group Trek vs Private Trek options to decide which fits your situation.
Contact us at info@tijifestivaltrek.com to check 2027 availability and receive a full itinerary and quote within 24 hours.
Planning the 2027 Tiji Festival Trek? We reply within 24 hours with availability, pricing, and a custom itinerary built around your dates.
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Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
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