Annapurna Circuit With Tilicho Lake Trekking

After leaving Chame, the trail enters the more rugged and narrower gorge, meandering through thick pine forests. The route takes you across a huge suspension bridge to the north side of the river.

There is a spectacular sight of one of the greatest geological features of the Annapurna range, known as the Paungda Danda. This is an immense rock formation that ascends to a height of over 1,500 meters above the bed of the river.

It’s a deeply humbling experience to walk under the giant stone formation which emphasizes the wild and untamed nature of the Himalayas. The trekking path continues as it ascends through serene alpine forest terrain, crosses small wooden bridges, passes through apple farms, and the valley starts widening.

In the afternoon, you’ll be walking out of the tree line to enter the spectacular scenery of Pisang. There are two parts of the village named Upper and Lower Pisang, offering visitors stunning views of Annapurna II and Pisang Peak looming above them. The village welcomes you with traditional stone architecture, where you will reside in one of the cozy teahouses for a delightful night.

• Duration: 5 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Lodge / Teahouse

On leaving Pisang, you will have two different ways of approaching Manang. However, the upper way through Ghyaru and Ngawal is strongly recommended because of the beautiful mountain scenery it provides.

The beginning of this upper trail requires hard work with a steep hike. However, your efforts will be rewarded right away. You can walk on high ridges overlooking all of the Marshyangdi Valley and surrounded by breathtaking views of the mountains Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak.

The trek winds through old Tibetan villages, the centuries-old monasteries, and the Mani walls engraved in old slates. The environment in this part changes significantly, leaving behind the thickly vegetated valleys of the low altitudes and entering a high altitude arid area, which is very similar to the Tibetan plateau.

After a day of walking on ridges, the trek takes you down into the valley bottom and finally to the vibrant historical village of Manang. Manang is an important cultural and trade center where you will stay overnight and prepare for the acclimatization stage.

• Duration: 5 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Lodge / Teahouse

Today is an important day for you because it will mark your departure from the primary Annapurna Circuit trek and turn towards the high mountainous region of Tilicho.

From the town of Manang, the trail follows along a fast-flowing stream and rises up above a number of old stone chortens and through Yak grazing grounds. The trail takes its way through the cliffs above the Khangsar River, providing panoramic views of the valley below.

There will be an increase in tranquility and isolation as commercial activity reduces. Your surroundings will become untouched and you will enjoy rugged mountain scenery all around. You will traverse Old Khangsar, commonly known as one of the last traditional villages in the region.

Crossing over the gorge via the wide suspension bridge, you will make your way to Srikharka. This village will be in its true form, with no influence from the expansion of urbanization in the region. Srikharka is located at an elevation of around 4,000 meters. It is a small and serene village that acts as a gateway outpost to the challenging journey to Tilicho Lake.

• Duration: 4 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Lodge / Teahouse

Despite the fact that the present walk is quite brief (between 3 and 4 hours long), it is still regarded by many as the most challenging part of the entire hike.

Starting at Srikharka, the trail takes you through a number of steep trails that cut directly through the crumbling, vertical scree slopes high above the valley below. Since this stretch goes through places where rocks naturally tend to slip and fall because of erosion, your guide will inform you how to traverse this area efficiently.

The landscape becomes a dramatic, high-altitude desert resembling the moon’s surface, which lacks plant life but features gigantic and towering rock faces and hanging glaciers. Upon rounding the last few ridgelines, you can see the Tilicho Base Camp. 

You can see a cluster of teahouses beneath the shadow of the giant Tilicho Peak. Reaching here in the afternoon leaves sufficient time for resting and staying hydrated. Keep yourself warm because the temperature drops quickly at this altitude. Prepare for an early morning climb up to one of the highest glacial lakes on Earth.

• Duration: 3 to 4 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Lodge / Teahouse

This is perhaps the crown jewel of the entire journey. You would wake up early in the morning in the chilly alpine atmosphere and start a determined uphill trek to reach Tilicho Lake.

The route will lead through the harsh, cold moraine ridges to an altitude beyond 4,500 meters under the pale morning sky. After about 3 to 4 hours of hard trekking, you will reach the top of the last ridge and look into the amazing lake lying at an incredible height of 4,919 meters above sea level.

Tilicho Lake is widely known as one of the highest lakes around the globe. It will leave you speechless with its massive, enchanting body of deep turquoise water surrounded by the sheer icy faces of the Tilicho and Grand Barrier Peaks.

Enjoy this moment of peace, take fantastic pictures, and mark this huge accomplishment. Then, you’ll start your descent from the top back to Tilicho Base Camp and finally make your way back to Srikharka where you will spend another night.

• Duration: 7 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Lodge / Teahouse

After your high altitude endurance test at Tilicho Lake yesterday, you will enjoy an easier walk as you head back to rejoin the route of the main Annapurna Circuit. 

After saying goodbye to Srikharka, your route will descend a little before meandering through open grasslands, where it meets alpine meadows. The landscape is open and vast, consisting of rolling hills covered with small shrubs and a clear blue sky, from where you will spot herds of yaks grazing freely.

As you continue walking, you will be back on the classic Annapurna Circuit route somewhere around Letdar and head towards Thorong La Pass.

The day’s walk is relatively slow and easy, giving your muscles time to rest and enjoy magnificent panoramic views of Thorong Peak, Gundang, and Syagang. Early in the afternoon, you will reach Yak Kharka (4,000 meters). It is a picturesque collection of teahouses safely located in the valley where you will get ready for the climb towards High Camp.

• Duration: 4 hours
•  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Lodge / Teahouse

This trek is short in distance but very high in altitude since you are preparing for the last leg of the journey to reach the base of the thrilling pass. This is a downward journey that starts from Yak Kharka, where you will descend a bit and cross a bridge over the Jorsang Khola to begin a steep ascent of a rocky ridge. The trail passes by river gorges and goes through Letdar.

The higher you climb, the air becomes much less dense, and every step requires a slow, rhythmic pace to manage your breathing. You shall cover loose rock slopes and moraine paths until you arrive at Thorong High Camp, which lies dramatically on a rocky outcrop at 4,800 meters above sea level.

Since the High Camp is not really equipped for comfort but only serves a practical purpose, you will eat heavy carbohydrate-based food, drink liters of water, and try to get as much sleep as possible since the next day is the ultimate challenge of the Annapurna Circuit: crossing the Thorong La Pass.

• Duration: 3 to 4 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Lodge / Teahouse

• Duration: 6 to 7 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel / Lodge

Today’s trek is certainly much easier than yesterday after having crossed Thorong La Pass. Trekking towards Jomsom, you will have an easy and scenic walk on the wide valley bottom. Walking away from Muktinath, the route leads through dry, sculpted terrain similar to that of the Tibetan plateau, surrounded by steep cliffs and ancient geological formations.

You may visit quaint lower Mustang villages like Jharkot or Eklebhatti and see the old monasteries and mud brick houses with flat roofs and local apple orchards in the area.

This valley is well known for its intense afternoon gusts of wind that blow from the Kali Gandaki gorge. So, the guide will make sure that you start early in the morning to have an enjoyable experience of walking in the calm conditions.

On your way, you will walk along gravelly riverbeds and dry tracks, all the way to Jomsom. It is the thriving economic and administrative center of the Mustang region.

After Jomsom hike easy downhill  to marpha, overnight lodge . Here, you can celebrate the successful completion of your high-altitude trekking journey with a hot meal, a comfortable hotel bed and a toast with your guide and porters.

• Duration: 6 to 7 hours
•  Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel

You now proceed for the departure to Kathmandu by packing your bags. You will get on a comfy tour bus from the Pokhara Bus Stand as early as possible for a road trip to Kathmandu. Your journey back takes you along the scenic Prithvi Highway. It allows you one more opportunity to see the beautiful countryside of Nepal, including its rushing rivers, green terraced hills, and the busy market towns.

You will get to your destination in Kathmandu later in the afternoon. A representative of Adventure Great Himalaya will meet you there and transfer you to your three-star hotel. Get yourself refreshed or go shopping for souvenirs like pashmina, singing bowls, or Nepalese tea. At night, join the rest of your trekking team or friends and celebrate your successful conquest of Tilicho Lake and Thorong La Pass at your farewell dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast.

Your 17 day trek of the Annapurna Circuit along with Tilicho Lake ends today. Enjoy a final, relaxing breakfast at your hotel in Kathmandu.

At the right time, a representative from Adventure Great Himalaya will pick you up from the hotel. You will be taken on a comfortable and relaxing private transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport to catch your international flight back home.

As you leave, the plane takes a turn above the valley of Kathmandu and you will have your last aerial view of the snow-covered mountains of the Himalayas.

Thank you for trusting our team with your Himalayan adventure.