The Tiji Festival runs over three days in the courtyard and surrounding grounds of Lo Manthang's royal palace. Each day has a distinct character you need to understand before raising a camera.
Day 1 is the most ceremonial and slowest. Morning prayers happen inside Chodey Monastery, closed to visitors. In the afternoon, the thangka is unveiled on the palace wall and the Tsacham dance begins – a slow, meditative sequence in the Mandala formation lasting around two hours. The light in Lo Manthang in late May or early June can be harsh between 11am and 3pm. Dances start around 2–3pm. Arrive early to claim your position.
Day 2 has more energy. Dances are faster, animal masks appear, and the effigy ritual – the dramatic climax of Tiji – happens in the afternoon. This is the day to prioritize. The moment the Tsowo pierces the effigy is brief and happens without warning.
Day 3 ends with the procession – monks, King, royal family, and residents marching through Lo Manthang's narrow lanes to the palace roof. Best opportunity for street-level portraits and processional shots in soft late-afternoon light.
At 3,840 metres, the light is intense even when overcast. UV radiation is high, and sensor exposure behaves differently than at sea level. Shoot in RAW – the dynamic range between lit costumes and shadowed palace walls is extreme.
For the masked dances: start at ISO 400, f/5.6, and adjust from there. A shutter speed of 1/500 handles most Day 1 shooting; push to 1/1000 for Day 2. In the palace courtyard close to the action, a 50mm or 85mm equivalent gives better environmental context than a long telephoto. If elevated at the back or sides, 200–300mm lets you pull in face detail on the masks.
Dust is a real problem. Mustang is extremely dry and windy. Keep a lens cloth and sensor blower accessible. The wind picks up in the afternoons – a lens hood helps cut flare in the open courtyard. Do not bring a drone without checking current regulations. Nepal has strict drone rules and flying over a religious ceremony without a permit is both illegal and disrespectful.
The dances take place in the open courtyard in front of the palace. The best elevated position is the rooftop of the building directly opposite the palace entrance – ask your guide early on Day 1 if access is available. From there you get a top-down view of the Mandala formation on Day 1 and a clear sightline to the effigy ritual on Day 2.
At ground level, the west side of the courtyard catches the afternoon light on the dancers' faces. The east side is in shadow by mid-afternoon but offers cleaner backgrounds with fewer spectators visible. The processional on Day 3 starts at Chodey Monastery and passes through Lo Manthang's main lane toward the palace – position yourself about a third of the way along the route for the tightest crowds and best light.
The spectators are as photogenic as the dancers. Families from remote Mustang villages travel to Lo Manthang in traditional chuba (long robe), elaborate jewellery, and headdresses that vary by village. Always ask before photographing people, especially elderly women and monks. A gesture toward your camera and a questioning look is understood. Most people are willing; some are not – respect that immediately and move on. Don't offer money; it changes the dynamic for every photographer who comes after you.
The moments before the dances begin – when monks are assembling and adjusting masks in the courtyard corners – are often the best for close portraiture. The ceremony hasn't started, people are more relaxed, and you can get close without disrupting anything.
Bring more storage than you think you need. Three days of festival shooting plus landscape and monastery photography en route will consume space fast. Carry twice the batteries you normally would – at altitude in cool temperatures, battery life drops significantly. There's no photography equipment rental in Lo Manthang. What you bring from Kathmandu is what you have.
If you're traveling on our Group Trek or Private Trek, your guide will brief you on positioning and timing before Day 1. Use that briefing to plan your strategy for each day rather than winging it in the courtyard. See also our packing list for power bank and electronics advice.
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
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