Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake

Your very first day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake is when you arrive in Kathmandu. Your flight to Kathmandu will be scenic and exciting as you are about to begin your Himalayan trek journey. After you land at the airport, you will be directed towards the immigration section, where an officer will help you get your tourist visa to Nepal. First, you have to fill out a visa application form that you can ask for at the immigration desk.

After you are done with the application form, you have to pay your visa fees at the nearby bank counter. They accept many international cards but always have backup cash, in case things go south. After paying your fees, you will be given a receipt. You need to present this receipt and your visa application form, along with your passport, proof of accommodation, proof of return tickets, and two passport-sized photos.

Alternatively, you can apply for a tourist visa to Nepal online. You can visit the official site and fill out a digital application form. You will have to wire transfer your visa fees to the designated bank account to complete the process. You will get a barcode after a couple of business days, which you should present at the immigration desk.

The next day, we will leave the Kathmandu Valley following the Tribhuvan Highway, heading eastward. We will first get to Chandragiri, followed by Naubise, where the Prithvi Highway starts. This highway passes by Chatbesi, Malekhu, and Aanbu Khaireni to take us to Dumre. From there, we will head north towards Khahare and turn northwest from Palungtar. We will eventually arrive at Besisahar in a matter of hours.

Our ride up until this point will be a comfortable tourist bus, however, the road up ahead requires a maneuverable 4WD Jeep since it is very rocky and rugged. Passing by Bhulbhule, Lampata, Jagat, and Tanchok, we will finally make it to Chame after about 3 more hours of driving.

Our starting point of the day is 2650 meters above sea level at Chame, the central trading hub of the Manang region. At the end of the day, we will reach an altitude of 3300 meters, gaining 650 meters of elevation throughout the 14 km trek. Since it is our first day of trekking in the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake itinerary, it will be a short trek day, requiring about 4 to 5 hours of trekking.

Leaving Chame, we will pass the archway gate with prayer wheels and follow a jeep road with a mix of slight ascents and descents. After we reach Talekhu, we will diverge from the jeep road to a more secluded trail, going through a pine forest. The trail will be covered in pine leaves, which can make it a bit slippery. Moving forward, we will get to Paungda Danda, where a huge curved rock will get your attention. From there, Upper Pisang is not that far away.

Day 4 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake takes us to Manang, reaching 3540 meters above sea level. This will gain us about 240 meters of elevation, starting from 3300 meters. The total distance we have to cover is 15.5 km, which should take no more than 6 hours. We will start the day with a trek to Ghyaru, an alternative trail is also viable that goes along the valley floor.

From Ghyaru, we will move towards Ngawal, where Tibetan-style houses are dominant. This route is a bit more difficult than the other one, but it is better for acclimatization and offers a more scenic experience. From Ngawal, we will descend to the valley floor and get to the village of Mungji. Passing this village takes us to the final climb to Manang, a very doable ascent passing by Braka village.

Today’s the one and only acclimatization day on the entire Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake itinerary. This day is an important step to any successful Himalayan trekking adventure. To make the most of our time, we will not be sitting idle, but rather go on a hike to Ice Lake. This is the most popular acclimatization hike option in this region. The total hiking distance is 10 km with an elevation gain of 1080 meters, taking us to 4620 meters above sea level.

This hike takes around 6 to 7 hours to complete, which can be a bit too much for some. But don’t worry, we have some easier alternatives as well. One of them is the Gangpurna Lake and Glacier Viewpoint hike. This one is just 3 km long round trip and can be completed in just 1.5 hours. You can spend the rest of your day exploring the Manang village or visiting nearby monasteries, including Praken Gompa, Milarepa Cave, and more.

Today’s starting point of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake itinerary is Manang, sitting at 3540 meters. From there, we will cover over 9 km to get to Shree Kharka, with an elevation gain of 520 meters. This will require over 4 hours of trekking, and our final elevation of the day will be 4060 meters above sea level. Leaving Manang, we will go over a gently ascending trail with an amazing view of the entire Annapurna Himalayan range.

Following a 4-hour trek, we will arrive at the village of Khangsar, reaching 3734 meters above sea level. You can see a bunch of stone houses up there, as we will rest there for a short while. Leaving Khangsar, the trail continues to be gently ascending all the way up to Shree Kharka. It’s just an hour’s trek from Khangsar to Shree Kharka.

Day 7 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake itinerary is an exciting day as we will be getting all the way up to the Tilicho Base Camp. Today’s trek is just 6 to 7 km long, but it will take us almost 5 hours to reach our destination since the trail is rugged and icy. The elevation gain of the day is just 120 meters, taking us to 4150 meters above sea level. The day begins with breakfast in Shree Kharka, enjoying the scenes of the valley.

The initial portion of the trek is gently descending, but soon turns into a gentle ascent as we make our way towards the base camp. We will then pass a landslide-prone area with loose rocks; this part of the trek can be a little unstable. After we pass this section, we will get to enjoy a great view of the Tilicho Peak and a few of the Annapurna range peaks. Eventually, we will reach the Tilicho Base Camp, where accommodations are confined to a couple of inns and tea houses.

Today is the climax of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake as we will finally get to visit Tilicho Lake. From the base camp, we will trek just 11 km with an elevation gain of 769 meters to get to the lake. This trek can be completed in 5 to 6 hours, taking us to 4919 meters above sea level. The 4 km long Tilicho Lake spans 1.2 km in width, and offers an absolutely stunning scene.

We will leave the base camp early in the morning, preferably around 6 or 7 AM. The initial portion of the trek is steep with loose rocks and a narrow trail. Trekking over icy patches and rocky trails, we will get to the shores of the lake after 5.5 km of trekking. On the way, we will get to see Nilgiri, Tilicho, and some of the Annapurna range summits. After spending quite some time at the lake, taking photos, and resting, we will get back on the trail and descend to the base camp to spend the night.

Leaving the Tilicho Base Camp, we will cover over 13 km with an elevation loss of 140 meters. Throughout the route, we will have to climb many ascents and drop many descents, this is going to be an exhausting trek day. The total up time is 5 to 6 hours, with a final elevation of 4010 meters. The day starts with breakfast at the base camp. After our morning meal, we will grab our bags and head east to leave the base camp.

Passing through a forest of Juniper, we will reach the old Khangar village, which, at present, is nothing more than a pile of rubble and ruins. From there, we will descend to the Thorong River Valley after crossing a suspension bridge at Gumsang. After this, we will get to the final leg of the day. It’s a gentle ascent all the way to the village of Yak Khara, a popular village where you will get to meet a few other groups of trekkers.

Today is the shortest trekking day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake itinerary, as we have to trek for just 3 to 4 hours to cover 6 km and reach Thorong La Phedi, the base camp for the Thorong La Pass. The elevation gain of the day is 310 meters, taking us to 4420 meters above sea level. The trek starts with a gentle ascent with sparse vegetation. After about 1.5 km of trekking, we will cross the Kone Khola over a suspension bridge.

After that, we will ascend steeply over a trail of loose rocks, accompanied by the scenes of Thorong Peak and other distant peaks. We will soon reach Thorong Phedi, where we will spend the night.

From Thorong Phedi to Mukitnath, we will cover a little over 15 km with an ultimate elevation loss of 620 meters. Throughout the trek, we will gain almost 1000 meters of elevation as we get to the summit of Thorong La Pass, reaching 5416 meters above sea level. This trek will have us on the track for 7 to 8 hours, and our final elevation will be 3800 meters.

Our day will begin at around 4 AM, as we have to cross the pass before the afternoon winds start. Starting the ascent, we will trek over 4 km to reach the Thorong La Pass. The path is rocky with patches of ice scattered all over. From the top, you will enjoy a panoramic scene of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range peaks.

Descending from the pass, we will lose about 1600 meters of altitude to get to Muktinath. This long descent will definitely take a toll on your knees, so we recommend using trekking poles. It’s just 11 km from Thorong La Pass to Muktinath.

After a morning visit to the Muktinath Temple, we will get back to our accommodation and have a leisurely breakfast. Following our morning meal, we will get on a jeep and drive down to Jomsom, reaching 2743 meters. Today’s total distance is 20 km, which should take no more than 3 hours to reach. We will follow the Kali Gandaki River and pass by Kagbeni and Ekle Bhatti to get to Jomsom.

The following morning, we will have a quick breakfast and get to the Jomsom Airport to catch our flight to Pokhara. This flight only happens in the morning because the swift afternoon winds are unsuitable for flights. It will take us just 20 minutes to reach Pokhara. The Glory Adventure guide will take you to your accommodation for the night.

Today’s drive is going to be a long one, as we will cover over 200 km to get back to Kathmandu. This drive is going to take over 8 hours to complete. We will ride a tourist bus since they are the most comfortable option.

This is the ultimate day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake. We will drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport after a short celebratory program at our office.