Tilicho Lake Trek With Annapurna Circuit

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, our team will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in a private car.

Our team will assist with your luggage and check-in, making everything easy.

After settling in, you can explore Thamel a bit. When you are ready, return to the hotel to rest and recharge.

You will meet the tour guide at your hotel lobby. After breakfast, we will head out on a day to explore some of the attractions of Kathmandu and hear some of the legends around them.

Our first stop is Swayambhunath, also called the Monkey Temple. From there, we will visit Pashupatinath Temple and the Boudhanath Stupa. We will end the day at Kathmandu Durbar Square, where there are old palaces, shrines, and museums to explore. We will head back to the hotel by late afternoon, around 3 or 4 p.m.

In the evening, we will finish packing, do some quick shopping, and ensure all our gear is ready.

After breakfast, leave Kathmandu and follow the Prithvi Highway toward Dumre. The journey passes riverside settlements, terraced farmland, and green hills, offering a changing view of Nepal’s countryside.

At Dumre, turn north toward Besisahar, the gateway to the Annapurna region. On arrival, settle into your guesthouse and rest before tomorrow’s jeep journey to Chame. Driving time varies with traffic, road conditions, and stops.

After breakfast, continue by shared jeep along the Marsyangdi Valley toward Chame. The winding mountain road passes waterfalls, forested slopes, and villages, including Dharapani and Bagarchhap. As you gain altitude, the landscape becomes increasingly mountainous.

Expect a bumpy journey, with opportunities to enjoy the scenery along the way. On reaching Chame, settle into your guesthouse and prepare for the walking section of your Tilicho Lake Trek, which begins tomorrow.

After breakfast in Chame, begin the walking section of your Tilicho Lake Trek. Follow the Marsyangdi Valley through forested slopes and mountain settlements, with views of Annapurna II and other surrounding peaks on clear days.

One of today’s distinctive sights is Paungda Danda, a sweeping rock face rising above the valley. Beyond this section, the landscape gradually opens as you approach Pisang, where the greener lower valley gives way to the drier terrain of the Manang region.

Arrive at your teahouse and enjoy a relaxed afternoon. If time and energy allow, explore the village with your guide before dinner and overnight in Pisang.

Today, follow the upper trail through Ghyaru and Ngawal toward Manang. This route involves more climbing than the lower valley trail, but rewards your effort with broad views of the Annapurna range and opportunities to explore traditional mountain villages.

Walk at a steady pace as you pass stone houses, prayer wheels, and cultivated fields. Your guide will arrange breaks along the way so you can enjoy the scenery without rushing the uphill sections.

Continue toward Mungji and Braga before reaching Manang. You will spend two nights here, allowing time for rest and an acclimatization hike before continuing toward Tilicho Lake.

Spend today in Manang to give your body more time to adjust to the altitude. After breakfast, your guide will suggest a suitable local hike based on your condition and the weather. A walk toward Gangapurna Lake and a nearby viewpoint offers a chance to stretch your legs and enjoy the surrounding mountain scenery.

Return to your teahouse for lunch and a restful afternoon. You may also explore Manang’s lanes, visit local shops, or relax before the next stage of the trek.

Keep your guide informed about how you feel throughout the day. Acclimatization is an important part of the itinerary, and the day’s activities can be adjusted to suit your needs.

Leave Manang and turn away from the main Annapurna Circuit trail toward the Tilicho Lake route. The trail leads toward Khangsar, passing mountain slopes and traditional settlements beneath the surrounding peaks.

Beyond Khangsar, continue uphill toward Shree Kharka. The landscape opens up, with scattered vegetation, rocky hillsides, and expansive valley views. Take your time on the ascents as walking becomes more demanding at this elevation.

Arrive at your teahouse in Shree Kharka and rest for the afternoon. Your guide will explain tomorrow’s route to Tilicho Base Camp, including the exposed sections where careful footing matters most.

Today’s trail leads through rugged terrain toward Tilicho Base Camp. Some sections follow narrow paths across loose scree and beneath steep slopes, making this a day for careful walking and close attention to your guide.

Move steadily through the exposed stretches and stop for photographs only where there is suitable space. Your guide will assess the trail and explain how to approach sections affected by loose stones or changing conditions.

Reach Tilicho Base Camp and settle into your teahouse. Accommodation here is basic, and the evening is best spent resting and preparing your daypack for tomorrow’s early lake excursion.

Start early from Tilicho Base Camp for the climb toward Tilicho Lake. The trail gains height through a stark alpine landscape, with sustained uphill sections that require a patient pace and regular breaks.

If weather and trail conditions allow, reach the lake and spend time enjoying its mountain setting beneath Tilicho Peak. Its appearance changes with the season: you may find open water, ice, snow, or a combination of all of them.

After the visit, retrace your steps to Base Camp, then continue to Shree Kharka for the night. This is a demanding day with both climbing and a lengthy descent. Your guide may adjust the plan if conditions or your health make continuing unsuitable.

Guide Raj’s tip: Save energy for the return journey and keep your headlamp, warm layers, water, and snacks accessible, and tell your guide promptly if you feel unwell. Follow the agreed turnaround time, even if the lake is still ahead.

After breakfast, leave Shree Kharka and follow the connecting trail through the Khangsar area toward Yak Kharka. This stage brings you back toward the main Annapurna Circuit route after the Tilicho Lake excursion.

The trail crosses open mountain slopes, with sections of descent followed by further climbing. Walk steadily and enjoy the changing perspective across the Manang Valley as you approach the route leading toward Thorong La.

Arrive at Yak Kharka and settle into your teahouse. After yesterday’s demanding excursion, use the afternoon to rest and prepare for the next stage toward Thorong Phedi.

Continue from Yak Kharka toward Thorong Phedi through increasingly sparse alpine terrain. The trail includes gradual climbs, river crossings, and stretches beneath steep slopes where your guide will advise you to move carefully.

Although this stage is shorter than the pass-crossing day, altitude makes the walking demanding. Maintain a comfortable pace and avoid rushing to reach your destination.

On arrival at Thorong Phedi, have lunch and rest. Your guide may suggest a short acclimatization walk if your condition and the weather are suitable. In the evening, review tomorrow’s departure time, prepare your equipment, and have an early night. Thorong Phedi is the planned overnight stop.

Start before dawn, with your guide setting your departure time based on conditions. Climb from Thorong Phedi toward High Camp, then continue through exposed high-altitude terrain toward Thorong La Pass.

At 5,416 meters, the pass is the highest point of your Tilicho Lake Trek with Annapurna Circuit. When conditions allow, pause briefly by the prayer flags to take in the surrounding mountain views before beginning the long descent.

The trail drops toward the Muktinath area, where you reach your teahouse for a well-earned rest. Completing the crossing depends on suitable conditions and your guide’s assessment throughout the day.

Guide Raj’s tip: Prepare your headlamp and layers the evening before, and keep a slow, steady pace from the start. Reaching the pass is only part of the day—save strength for the descent, stay with your group, and report any discomfort immediately.

After breakfast, visit the Muktinath pilgrimage complex if time and local access arrangements allow. The site holds religious significance for both Hindus and Buddhists and offers a different experience after the high mountain stages.

Then take a local bus or jeep to Pokhara. Travel through the Kali Gandaki Valley, passing settlements around Jomsom and Marpha before descending toward greener hills and lower elevations.

Expect winding roads and some rough sections; travel time depends on road conditions and stops. On arrival in Pokhara, check into your hotel and enjoy a comfortable evening after your trek.

Our drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu may be long, but the changing landscapes keep it interesting.

Once we arrive, you will have the rest of the day to yourself. You may visit markets, pick up last-minute gifts, or relax.

In the evening, we will meet for a farewell dinner. If you are not ready to call it a night, you may explore Thamel’s vibrant nightclubs and pubs.

Our team will handle your airport drop-off, ensuring a smooth and easy departure.

We will say our final goodbyes and hope to see you again on your next visit!