Annapurna Circuit via Tilicho LakeAnnapurna Circuit via Tilicho Lake

Annapurna Circuit Trek via Tilicho Lake

Trip Facts
  • Duration14 Days
  • Max. Altitude 5416 m
  • Group Size 2-15
  • Trip Style Tea house
  • Best Season Autumn & Spring
Highlights

 

  • Enjoy stunning landscapes and breathtaking mountain views of the Annapurna region
  • Trek through dense forests, beautiful river valleys, and picturesque villages
  • Cross thrilling suspension bridges on the way and walk past lovely waterfalls
  • Come across a wide range of flora and fauna as the trail goes via Annapurna Conservation Area
  • Witness the stunning turquoise color of Tilicho Lake
  • Navigate through landslides debris and glacial paths
  • Cross Thorong La pass and Lubra pass
  • Visit Muktinath Temple and a Bonpo gompa in Lupra village
  • Enjoy jaw-dropping aerial mountain views while flying from Jomsom to Pokhara to Kathmandu
  • Experience mountain lifestyle and get to see the tradition & culture of the natives

"Embark on an adventurous and immersive trekking expedition in Nepal's Himalayas with a professional team of mountain guides and porters. Witness stunning views of the seventh and tenth-highest mountains in the world. Test your endurance and rejuvenate as you trek from one village to another completing the Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek."

Annapurna circuit and Tilicho lake are two high-altitude destinations in the western Himalayas of Nepal. This 14 days trek involves crossing the highest mountain pass in Nepal, Thorong La (5,416 m/17,756 ft), with an excursion to beautiful Tilicho lake (4,920 m/16,138 ft), which is known as one of the highest lakes in the world. The trek further takes you to the Muktinath Temple (3,760 m/12,623 ft) and crosses Lubra pass (3,772 m/12,375 ft) while descending to Jomsom (2,743 m/8,999 ft), where the trek ends.

Perfect for experienced trekkers, the Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trekking is one of the best treks in the Annapurna region in Nepal. The trekking route goes through lush rhododendron and pine forests. You will spend nights in beautiful mountain villages and cross many thrilling hanging bridges along the way. The landscapes are breathtaking, and the snow-capped mountain views will keep you mesmerized throughout the trek.

The small interactions with the locals and the scattered stupas and prayer wheels along the Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trekking route make the journey more meaningful. You will learn about the daily lifestyle of the mountain people and their customs, beliefs, and practices. As the trail is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, you may come across wildlife and exotic birds.

From Kathmandu, you will take a long bus ride to Dharapani via Besisahar, from where the trek begins. Trekking along the Marsyangdi Khola, you will gradually ascend through dense forests and uneven cliffsides. The upper part of the trail involves walking on vast meadows and follows the Thorong Khola. And while trekking from Muktinath, you will take a different route via Lupra village to Jomsom, visiting Bonpo gompa on the way.

Mountains like Annapurna (8,091 m/26,545 ft), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m/ft), Nilgiri (7,061 m/23,166 ft), Hiunchuli (6,441 m/21,132 ft), Fishtail (6,26,795 993 m/22,943 ft), Tilicho Peak (7,134 m/23,406 ft), and many others are seen on the way. The best time to do the Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek is from March to May and September to November when the weather favors the trekking conditions.

Join us on our Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek 2023/2024 adventure. We offer the best Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek cost and an experienced crew to support you during your journey with us. You can also customize the itinerary as per your requirements. For more information, kindly contact us anytime.

Annapurna Circuit Trek via Tilicho Lake Itinerary

  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Meals: Welcome dinner

Meet the team of Happy Yeti Adventure at the airport terminal gate after completing your visa process. Our airport team will escort you to the hotel and help you with your luggage. Upon checking in at the hotel, spend some time relaxing. Later, we will meet you in our office for trek preparation. Our mountain guide will brief you about the program, and then we'll proceed with the final packing. We will end this very evening with a delicious welcome dinner.

  • Duration: 9-10hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Dharapani is the starting point of our trek. From Kathmandu, it takes around 9 to 10 hours of driving to reach there. We will leave Kathmandu early on this day, and follow a beautiful highway along the rushing Trishuli river and lush green rolling hills. The ride will be very smooth till Dumre, and from here onwards, we may encounter bumpy sections till Dharapani. At Besisahar, we will change the vehicle and use a local jeep to continue our further journey.

  • Duration: 5-6hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

The trail from Dharapani goes through lush forests of oak, pine, fir, and maple. The trail gradually ascends along cliff sides, offering beautiful scenery and mountain views of Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, and Lamjung Himal. Chame is the district headquarter of Manang. Most of the modern amenities are available in this village.

 

  • Duration: 5-6hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

The trail further ascends to Pisang village. We will be trekking following green hillsides and small villages. On the way, we will also trek past lovely apple orchards and forests of pine & fir. We will stop for lunch at Dhukur Pokhara and then continue trekking on a steep trail to Bratang.

The trail then goes past an old military station and gradually ascends along a rocky trail. Crossing a wooden bridge, we will follow a winding path and trek via dense forests to Pisang village. The views of the Annapurna range and Mt. Manaslu is excellent here.

  • Duration: 5-6hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

We will have a fantastic walk from Pisang to Manang. The trail is very beautiful. Following the upper route via Geru village, we will trek, enjoying the breathtaking mountain panoramas. Further, the trail goes through lush forests to Humde village.

From here, we will trek alongside the rolling hills and pass by Sabje Khola valley. Crossing a wooden bridge over the Marsyangdi river, we'll trek past Mungji and Barga villages before reaching Manang. Manang offers superb views of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna, Fishtail, etc.

  • Duration: 7-8hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

The trail to Tilicho Base Camp is steep and offbeat. From Manang, we will follow a rocky and steep route. Crossing a bridge, we will trek past landslide areas to Khangsar. From here, the trail continues to Shri Kharka. We will cross another bridge over Tho Khola and descend to a rockfall and another landslide area. The trail then gradually ascends, from here to Tilicho Base Camp, crossing one more bridge over Khangsar Khola. This part of the trek route is rarely visited and often isolated.

  • Duration: 8-9hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

On this day, we will hike to gorgeous Tilicho lake early in the morning. The hike will take 3 to 4 hours. We will be trekking on steep and glacial trails to reach the lake. Surrounded by hills and snow-capped mountains, Tilicho lake is known for its mesmerizing beauty and high elevation. We will spend some time here, enjoying the views and taking pictures. After that return to Khangsar via Tilicho Base Camp to spend the night.

  • Duration: 6-7hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

From Khangsar, we have two routes to reach Ledar. First, we can trek back to Manang village and ascend to Ledar via Tengi, Gunsang, and Yak Kharka. This will be a long route. Or, we can trek via Upper Khangsar and ascend, crossing a bridge to Ghyanchang.

From here, the trail sharply ascends to Yak Kharka along the Thorong Khola. Further, the trail crosses a landslide area and slowly ascends to Ledar for the next stay. We can see stunning views of Thorong Peak, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Syagang, Khatungkang, Gundang, etc.

  • Duration: 3-4hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

From Ledar to Thorong Phedi, the trail distance and trekking time is short, which lets us relax and enjoy our time in this remote Himalayas. Leaving Ledar early, we'll cross two bridges over Kone Khola and follow a steep and rocky uphill trail to Thorong Phedi. The mountain views are outstanding.

  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

 

Today, we will get a little bit closer to Thorong La pass. We will begin the day leisurely and ascend to Thorong High Camp after a delicious breakfast. The high camp is located 400 meters above phedi. On the way, we can see fantastic scenery and views of mountains like Thorung Peak, Putrun Himal, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Hiunchuli, Syagang, Khatungkang, etc.

  • Duration: 8-9hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

We will leave Thorong High Camp early in the morning and follow a steep-trodden route to Thorong La pass. On the way, we will cross a bridge and navigate through a rocky trail. Upon reaching the top of the pass, we get rewarded with a jaw-dropping mountain panorama. From here, the trail descends to Muktinath for a night stay. We will trek along Thorong Khola and pass by the ruins of yak herders' hut.

  • Duration: 7-8hours
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Muktinath is one of the significant pilgrimage sites in Nepal. In the morning, we will spend time exploring the temple and its surroundings. After breakfast, we will leave Muktinath and follow the trail via Lubra pass (3,772 m/12,375 ft). From the Lubra pass, the trail descends and crosses a bridge over Panda Khola and reaches Lupra village. It is a Thakali village, and we can see a BonPo gompa here. Further, the trail descends to Jomsom village for the night stay

  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Meals: Breakfast & farewell dinner

Today, early in the morning, we will fly out of Jomsom to Pokhara. The flight will be short and offer surreal landscapes. From Pokhara, we will take another flight back to Kathmandu. Our team will drop you at the hotel. You have the remaining day free in Kathmandu. This is your time to explore the local market and window shop in Thamel. We highly recommend visiting Kathmandu Durbar Square or Boudhanath in the evening. In the late evening, meet us for a farewell dinner.

Our airport team will drop you at Tribhuvan International Airport terminal gate and bid you our last goodbye.

What's Included
  • Transportation as described in the program: bus or 4x4.
  • Full board during the trek from lodge to lodge (Tea House) except the beverages.
  • An English-speaking guide and assistant guides (Sherpas) (French speaking guide when required).
  • One porter for 2 people.
  • Annapurna Conservation Fee & TIMS card.
  • 3 nights in the hotel in Kathmandu.
  • Nepali staff insurance.
What's Excluded
  • Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu.
  • Any expenses caused by reason beyond our control such as roadblocks due to climate or accidents and unforeseen events, etc…
  • Personal insurance (medical / repatriation of the participants).
  • Personal trekking equipment (sleeping bags, etc.).
  • Airport Tax and tips for the staff during the trek.
  • Bottled water, alcohol, hot shower during the trek.
  • Visa fee.
Essential Info & Equipments

Trek Difficulty and Safety

The Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek distance covers approximately 250 km (115 miles). This trek is full of challenges and considered strenuous by the trekking experts. To join the Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek, trekkers have to be fit and experienced. Each day 5 to 6 hours of walking is required via steep and rugged terrain.

You will gain elevation every day too. To minimize the chances of altitude sickness during the trek, we recommend you keep yourself hydrated and take plenty of rest. Our expert mountain guide will take care of your well-being in the mountains and assure your safety.

To prepare for the Annapurna circuit and Tilicho lake trek, do regular exercise and walks. Keep yourself engaged in cardio activities, like cycling, hiking, running, swimming, etc, to build your stamina. Also, meet your doctor once to learn about your health and the effects it may have because of the trek.

Accommodation & Meals

We use tea house accommodation during the trek. It is the common one on the Annapurna circuit trail. The rooms have twin shared beds, and washrooms can be common or private. For solo travelers, we can book single rooms, so let us know. In the remotest places like Khangsar, Leadar, Thorong Phedi, High Camp, etc, it can be difficult to find a single room because of limited accommodation providers.

The rooms will be clean. The charging station is in the dining area. You have to pay an extra USD 2 to USD 3 to charge your device. We highly recommend getting a solar charger for a long trek like this one. Likewise, some tea houses have paid WiFi service. It is better to get a tourist sim and use data for the internet. Likewise, you may get hot shower service in some places for a few additional bucks.

*Note: These are your personal expenses, so make sure to carry extra Nepali cash with you during the trek.

Meals are provided as per the menu of the tea houses. The menu has a wide range of options to choose from. Dal bhat, momos, thukpa, curries, roti, soups, porridge, Tibetan bread, sandwiches, toasts, eggs, coffee, tea, etc, are commonly found. Similarly, boiled drinking water is available in all tea houses.

Gear and Equipment

You will need proper trekking clothing and gear for the Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trekking.

  • Trekking gear: Down jacket, Trekking shirts, Trekking pants (breathable, wind and waterproof), Hiking shorts (breathable, wind and waterproof), Thermal trousers, Full sleeve shirt (woolen and cotton), Bandana or head scarf, Regular underwear, Woolen hat & Sun hat, Gloves, Trekking boots (waterproof), Socks (Woolen & Cotton), Sandals, Sunglasses with UV protection, Small day-pack & Medium rucksack, Large duffel bag, Padlocks for duffel bag, Trekking poles, Sleeping bag, and Headlamp
  • Miscellaneous: Personal medical kit, Water purification tablets, Earplugs, Sewing-repair kit, Camera, Power bank ( or solar charger optional), Knife, Water bottle, Quick drying towel, Toothbrush/paste, Multi-purpose soap, Nail clippers, Face and body moisturizer, Sunscreen, Reading book, Notebook & pen, Trek route map, Tissue/toilet roll, Anti-bacterial hand wash, bars, snacks, etc

Annapurna Circuit Trek via Tilicho Lake FAQs

  • The toughest part of the Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek is navigating through steep, rocky, and landslide debris to the lake and crossing the Thorong La pass. These two parts of the trail are very demanding and require proper guidance from mountain guides.

  • Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek can be a very challenging and exhausting venture for beginner trekkers. So, we only recommend this trek to individuals who have previous trekking experience or are very fit.

  • The trail to Tilicho lake is steep and rugged. The trail goes by landslide areas and steeply ascends via glacial paths and rocky terrain.

  • Yes, the Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek is more difficult than the Everest base camp trek. The Annapurna circuit trail has more challenges and includes many steep ascents and descents than the EBC trail. Likewise, the trek also crosses the highest mountain pass of Nepal.

  • To join Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trekking, you have to be physically and mentally fit enough to walk 6 to 7 hours a day and adjust to limited facilities. Trek like this demands strong mental resilience and willpower.

  • Tilicho lake is one of the highest alpine lakes in the world at 4,920 meters (16,138 ft). It is a stunning lake with a breathtaking view, and the journey to this lake is very adventurous.

  • No, you cannot do the Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek without a guide. Trekking alone in the Annapurna region is banned from April 1st, 2023.

  • The Tilicho lake is around 200 meters deep. Likewise, the lake is 4 kilometers long and 1.2 kilometers wide.

  • Yes, you have to carry a sleeping bag during the trek. You can rent or buy one in Thamel, Kathmandu.