Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake - 15 Days

The first day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake 15 Days starts with your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Upon your arrival, our representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. The remaining part of the day is free for you to take a rest, get ready, or explore this lively city of Kathmandu. Famous for many cultural aspects, including old temples and busy streets, Kathmandu is a wonderful entrance into the Nepalese disparate heritage and lively atmosphere.

The second trek day starts with an early morning drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar (760m), which takes 6-7 hours. The drive is exciting, with beautiful views of extensive green landscapes and terraced rice fields in the teasing winding hills of Nepal. From Besisahar, you will take a local jeep to Chame (2670m), a small but beautiful place in the heart of the Annapurna region. Along this route, one gets his first snow glimpses of the snow-capped peaks of the Annapurna range, from which you will see Annapurna II (7937m) and Lamjung Himal (6983m).

The drive will take you across different landscapes, from terraced fields and very thick forests to small, traditional villages. Spending overnight in Chame is a good chance for travelers to rest before continuing into more of the Annapurna region the following day.

This third-day trek stretches from Chame to Upper Pisang (3300m), which would take about 5 to 6 hours. This trek presents some spectacular scenery on and off the trail featuring snow-capped peaks of the Annapurna range, including Lamjung Himal (6983m) and Annapurna II (7937m). The path then carries on through a remarkably established trail through pine forests, the differences as one ascends between both the lush green regions and the drier sections begin just spreading out toward the end of the day. But it is a nice trek with a gradual climb up through small lovely villages like Bhratang, which gives a good glimpse of rural life in the Himalayas.

Once in Upper Pisang, the panoramic views of Annapurna II and the surrounding peaks will greet you. Besides, you will have time to see the local monastery and take in its restfulness before going to bed.

The fourth day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake takes you from Upper Pisang to Manang. From lush pine forests in the lower elevations, the trail goes to much heavier, drier ground at greater heights. Some small settlements like Ghyaru and Ngawal along this trek offer the experiences of authentic local architecture and life. This area is also excellent for its outstanding views of Annapurna III, and Gangapurna, among numerous surrounding peaks.

Manang itself is a truly magical village located in the foot of the Annapurna massif. You can see the traditional stone homes, scattered prayer flags, and some small monasteries in town. This would be a perfect place for resting and acclimatizing one’s body to the higher altitudes.

Day 5 is for acclimatization in Manang, and the body needs to get used to the increasing altitude. On this day, a small hike can be done, like the one to Gangapurna Lake, which is characterized by incredibly amazing, quiet, peaceful views of blue waters and the high-standing Annapurna III. 

Alternatively, you can visit the Bhojo Gompa, another little monastery above the village, which has fantastic mountain views. The acclimatization day will also give you time to visit the Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic, where you learn about altitude sickness and how to avoid it.

Day 6 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake will bring you to a trek along the Manang-Khangsar (3700m) route for approximately 4 to 5 hours. The trail goes upward through the forested area and lets you enjoy the beautiful sights of Annapurna IV (7525m) and Tilicho Peak (7134m). When going through the trail, small farm-based communities come across, and there is a chance that people would be seen tending to their crops or herding animals.

Khangsar is a small village, which can be a good station from where one can watch the Gurung and Manangi communities in real life. The first thing one can do after arriving is take a walk through the local monastery and enjoy some fine views of the nearby peaks. Overnight stay at Khangsar.

The trek from Khangsar to Tilicho Base Camp (4140m) can take around 4-5 hours. It’s an easy gradual ascent along the alpine meadows, rocky areas, and sparse settlements where beautiful vistas of Tilicho Peak (7134m) come into the scene. Once you reach Tare Gumba, you can even have a good view of the Tilicho Glacier.

After a few hours of trek, you will finally reach Tilicho Base Camp. It serves as an ideal base point before going for the trek to Tilicho Lake the next day. The atmosphere is peaceful and snow-capped mountains around create a majestic setting for rest and reflection.

Day eight is perhaps the biggest: you’ll be hiking to Tilicho Lake (4949m), which is the highest lake in the world. This trek is steep and rocky and follows rugged paths with much more challenging ascents. As you approach the lake, you’re likely to see that blue-turquoise color perfectly set in between the mighty peaks.

After a while at the lake, you will return to the Tilicho Base Camp. This descent is an opportunity to reflect on the marvelous beauty that is Tilicho Lake and its scenery. Once you reach the base camp, you can rest at a tea house enjoying a warm dinner.

You go on a hike from Tilicho Base Camp to Yak Kharka today, at an altitude of 4040m; it will take about 4 to 5 hours. The path goes along a ridge via rocky and alpine meadows with spectacular views of the surrounding peaks like Annapurna IV (7525 m), and Tilicho Peak (7134 m).

Yak Kharka is a quiet settlement in the beautiful Himalaya surrounding. It is an area famous for yak pastures where you will often find herdsmen moving their animals across the meadows. Overnight stay at the tea house.

Today, you will hike from Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4450m), the base camp for Thorong La Pass (5,416 m). The hike takes about 4-5 hours and is on a gradual ascent through a rugged land formed by tiny streams and scattered vegetation. As you approach Thorong Phedi, the scenery grows sparse, and rocky, and reveals incredible images of the neighboring peaks, including that of Thorong Peak (6144m). The trail provides some amazing intimate views of the Annapurna massif with the towering Thorong La Pass.

After the trek reaches Thorong Phedi, you’ll find an extremely humble settlement with a few basic lodges. You will stay at a local tea house and prepare for the next day’s trek through Thorong La Pass.

Today’s trek is somewhat difficult as you will be at Thorong La Pass (5416m). The ascent starts very early in the morning, for it is very important to reach the pass before winds begin to pick up in the afternoon. The trail up to the pass has steep landscapes, but the view from the top is no match. Here, you will be presented with stunning views of the Annapurna range. After crossing the pass, you will descend to Muktinath (3800m), a site of pilgrimage for both Hindus and Buddhists.

Muktinath is a beautiful place of cultural and religious value. The temple is known for its holy shrines of the deity Lord Vishnu which thousands of pilgrims visit every year. The descent to Muktinath is with the views of Dhaulagiri (8167m) and Nilgiri (7061m). You will spend a night in this sacred village.

On the twelfth day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake, you trek from Muktinath to Jomsom (2743 m), and it takes 5 to 6 hours. As you move towards the windiest town of Nepal, you will enjoy the scenic beauty of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri. The trail then passes through Kagbeni village.

As you enter Jomsom, you can feel that you have been at one of the busiest hubs for trekkers in the Annapurna Circuit Region. Here, you have several local shops and cafes to explore while getting accommodated in one of the lodges, that offers several dishes like Thakali Khana Set.

Today you will take your flight from Jomsom to Pokhara (820m). This is a flight surely worth your time because it is above the world-renowned Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. Also, you will soar over the deepest gorge in the world, the Kali Gandaki Gorge.

Arriving in Pokhara, you will check into your hotel, and enjoy near the serene Phewa Lake. Pokhara is a town of exceptional beauty with lakes, and the views of the Annapurna Range are reflected in the waters. You can take a trip to boating on the lake or wander through the busy Lakeside area. Overnight stay in a hotel in Pokhara.

As we have completed the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake, it is time to return to Kathmandu. We will take an early bus from Pokhara which takes us through the lush green forests and rivers like Marsyangdi and Trishuli for over 6 hours. Once in Kathmandu, you can check in at your hotel and then spend your last night in Nepal unoccupied. It is the last day of the trek, and it carries the sense of a finale after a great adventure in the Annapurna region.

On your final day in Nepal, our representative from Mountain Treks Nepal will escort you to Tribhuvan International Airport. From there, you will board a flight to your home, taking all the memories of this beautiful journey.