Tilicho Lake With Thorong La Pass Trek
Annapurna Circuit is one of the best long treks and combining an excursion to Tilicho Lake makes the trek even more remarkable. We have designed a 19-day Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake Trek that involves all the wonders of the western Himalayas. You get to explore the beautiful villages, lush forests, alpine lakes, meadows, high pass, pilgrimage site, and the deepest gorge in the world accompanied by jaw-dropping mountain panorama.
Tilicho Lake Trek is an adventurous, challenging trek. This is a perfect trekking package in the Himalayas for experienced trekkers looking to push themselves to a great height. The trail crosses the highest pass in Nepal, Thorong La (5,416 m). Reaching Tilicho Lake (4,919 m) is also difficult. You trek in a completely isolated area following a snowy, steep path. And the holy Muktinath Temple (3,800 m) lets you compose your thoughts and have a peek into a part of Nepali culture.
Tilicho Lake trekking trail winds around the tenth highest mountain in the world, Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m). As the trail encompasses this mountain, you get to witness Mt. Annapurna from almost all corners. During the trek, you'll be traveling in Lamjung, Manang, and Lower Mustang. You can see a good balance of Hinduism and Buddhism along the trail. The locals on Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake trek are from different ethnic backgrounds and are very welcoming.
Jaw-dropping mountain views and diverse landscapes throughout the trek
The Tilicho Lake trek presents a wide range of mountain views that includes Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Annapurna Range (8,091 m), Manaslu (8,163 m), Nilgiri (7,161 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m), Gangapurna, Machhapuchhare (6,993 m), Tukuche (6,920 m), Lamjung Himal (6,983 m), Tilicho Peak (7,134 m), etc. Similarly, you get to witness diverse landscapes, from lush green hills and cascading waterfalls to dry-arid landscapes surrounded by barren hills & snow-capped mountains.
There are many points along the Annapurna Circuit Tilicho Lake trail that offers stunning scenery. For instance, the tempting blue color of Tilicho Lake, encircled by hills and snow-capped mountains, is out of this world. During your acclimatization in Manang, you hike to Gangapurna Lake (3,540 m), which also presents gorgeous scenery. And the expansive view of the western Himalayan mountains from the top of Thorong La pass is to die for.
Explore the beautiful village of the lower Annapurna region & Lower Mustang region
The Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake trek goes through numerous beautiful villages. You begin trekking following the Annapurna circuit trekking trail. This part of the trail involves villages like Bhulbhule, Chamje, Dharapani, Chame, Pisang, Manang, etc. Likewise, the latter part of the trail explores Muktinath, Kagbeni, Jomsom, etc. All of these villages are resided by welcoming locals from different ethnic groups and offer stunning views.
Get to see the lifestyle and diverse cultural heritage of the locals
As you have read above, the Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake trail is home to people of different communities. The locals are either Hindus or Buddhists. You'll be seeing diverse cultures and norms. Regardless of all the cultural differences, the locals live in harmony. The trek offers an authentic mountain lifestyle.
Moreover, Tilicho Lake with Annapurna circuit trekking lead to one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in Nepal, Muktinath Temple, located at 3,800 meters. Thousands of devotees visit this temple every year. The special thing about Muktinath is it has huge importance to Buddhists too. Buddhists call it Chumig Gyatsa, which means Hundred Waters. For Buddhists, Muktinath is the place of their goddesses dakinis (known as the sky dancer) and one of the 24 Tantric places.
Explore the highest lake in Nepal, Tilicho
Tilicho Lake (4,919 m) is the highest lake in the world, situated in the Manang district of Nepal. From Pokhara, Tilicho Lake is 55 km away. The lake is in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas and has no aquatic organisms in it. For the Hindus, this lake has religious importance. The Tilicho Lake is believed to be mentioned in the epic Ramayana.
Cross Thorong La pass, the highest pass in Nepal
Thorong La pass (5,416 m) is the highest mountain pass in Nepal. It is part of the Damodar Himal, north of the Annapurna Range. The pass connects Manang village to the east with the Muktinath temple and Ranipauwa village in the west. Thorong La pass is the highest point of our Annapurna Tilicho Trek. Trekkers usually cross the pass from east to west (Manang to Muktinath), which is the easiest & safest way. Whereas crossing the pass from west to east (Muktinath to Manang) is much more difficult and rarely approached.
Walk along the deepest gorge in the world
The Kali Gandaki Gorge is the deepest in the world (if the depth is measured by the difference between the river height and the height of the mountains on each side). It is also known as Andha Galchi. The gorge separates Dhaulagiri on the west and Annapurna on the east. This gorge has been used as a trade route between India and Tibet for centuries. Thakalis are the prominent people living here and are said to become prosperous thanks to the trans-Himalayan trade.
Pass by apple orchards and scenic flight out of Jomsom to Pokhara
While trekking from Muktinath to Jomsom, you pass by picturesque villages like Jharkot and Kagbeni. The locals have apple orchards, where you can take small breaks and try some delicious apples. The trail also narrows and goes through lovely alleys.
The flight from Jomsom to Pokhara is short. It's a 20 minutes flight and offers stunning views of the mountains and hills. Jomsom is a beautiful village with many modern facilities in the lower Mustang.
Tilicho Lake and Annapurna Trek Distance
The Annapurna Circuit and Tilicho Lake begin from Bhulbhule (840 m). It's 185.6 km away and requires 6 hours of drive. From Bhulbhule, the trek begins and ends at Jomsom (2,743 m). The total walking distance is 151.6 km. The Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake trek's highest point is Thorong La pass (5,416 m). Likewise, our itinerary has one acclimatization day in Manang village (3,519 m) and only ascends under 500 meters a day.
Tilicho Lake Trek Difficulty
Tilicho Lake Trek is more difficult than you may think, regardless of its popularity. This trek is not good for beginner trekkers or someone whose physical fitness is not fine. The trek demands long walks on trodden mountainous terrain. The trail often gets steep and isolated. It's a continuous uphill walk that only gets strenuous as the days pass by.
The trail ascends through rural farmlands and subtropical forests to the glacial zone and top of the Thorong La pass. Crossing Thorong La pass does not require technical climbing but does demand strength & strong determination. The trail is steep and full of rocks & boulders. Other factors like high altitude, limited facilities, simple meals, and the remote area make the overall journey strenuous.
Tilicho Lake Trek Preparation
As the Tilicho Lake trekking route has numerous ascends and descends through river valleys, narrow foothills, and a mountain pass, the trekkers have to deal with changing weather and trail conditions. You cannot expect similar terrain, weather, altitude, or service throughout the trek. As the trail progresses, everything only gets tough and scarce. Therefore, your physical and mental fitness is very important.
There are risks of small injuries (if you slide or fall while walking) and altitude sickness if you do not take proper measures while trekking. To prevent any medical risks, the trekkers have to be well prepared and packed. Before the trek begins, you have to improve your fitness and stamina. Therefore, make sure to have ample time to train your body.
You can do exercise and cardiovascular activities. Go on short hikes. Likewise, walk 5 to 6 hours regularly to build a habit. If possible, choose similar mountainous terrain to hike/walk. It's a remote trek, far away from modern cities, where no basic infrastructure is found. Therefore, you also have to be well packed and understand all the hurdles the Tilicho Lake trek holds.
