7-Day Luxury Helicopter Tour to the Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang
If you have a week and don't want to spend it trekking, the helicopter tour is the most direct way to the Tiji Festival. You fly from Kathmandu directly to Lo Manthang (3,840m), bypassing the 10-day overland journey entirely. You land in the walled city with three days ahead of you for the festival, monastery visits, and exploration of Upper Mustang's medieval streets – and then you fly back.
The helicopter leg from Kathmandu to Lo Manthang takes 6–7 hours with stops (typically via Pokhara and Ghar Gompa). The aerial views crossing the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges are genuinely extraordinary: ridgelines at eye level, glaciers below, the Kali Gandaki gorge cutting 5,000 vertical meters from the peaks to the valley floor. For many travelers, the flight is a highlight in its own right.
In Lo Manthang, you have a local guide and full logistic support. You attend all three days of the Tiji Festival – the same masked dances, the same sacred rituals, the same royal courtyard – that trek travelers spend two weeks reaching. You stay in the best available guesthouse accommodation in Lo Manthang. On day 7, you fly back to Kathmandu.
Helicopter seats are very limited. Availability during the festival period books out months in advance. If you're considering this tour, don't wait.
Weather-dependent schedule. Helicopter flights in Nepal are subject to weather delays. We build flexibility into the itinerary and have contingency plans for weather days.
Helicopter tour pricing depends on group size (minimum 3 passengers per flight), seasonal demand, and helicopter availability. Contact us for a current quote. We operate with reputable Nepal-licensed helicopter operators and include all ground logistics.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
TripAdvisor