Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake

After an early morning breakfast, you will get ready for a long day of driving. Although you might expect the driving hours to be boring, it is actually the opposite. Passing across the lush trails, high hills, charming waterfalls, and beautiful settlements alongside the banks of the Trishuli River and the Marsyangdi River will be a delightful experience.

Every corner of this day’s drive will amaze you with its spectacular magnificence. After leaving the Prithvi Highway, you will head toward Besisahar and drive past Khudi to reach the beautiful settlement of Ngadi, located on the east side of the Marsyangdi River.

You will move along with your exciting trekking route from this day onward. The first stop on today’s trek will be Bahun Danda Village. You will cross a suspension bridge from Ngadi to reach the village and then trek on the gradually descending route that stretches toward Syange.

En route to Bahun Danda and Syange, you will pass Ghermu Village. This beautiful Himalayan village will be your lunch stop on this day’s trek. Then, after enjoying lunch, you will trek past the beautiful farmlands and the big waterfall to reach the suspension bridge over the Marsyangdi River.

After crossing the bridge, you will move along the gradually inclining route for about 1.5 hours to reach Jagat Village.

The second day of your exhilarating trekking trail will take you to even higher altitudes. After breakfast, you will trek on a gradual flat trail heading toward Chamche Village (approx. 1.5 hours farther from Jagat). Moving further in your trail, you will be able to catch the spectacular view of the Chamche Waterfall, the highlight of the region, right across the Marsyangdi River.

Then, from here, you will trek toward the Tal Village, which is situated on the bank of the Marsyangdi. You will enjoy your lunch here, enjoying the stunning views of the surrounding region. Dharapani is just about 2 hours away from here; you will trek past Karte and cross the landslide area to reach your destination tonight.

As you ascend to higher points of this exploration, you will start seeing the incredible beauty of the Himalayan peaks in your route. You will find the magnificent Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, Manaslu, and Lamjung Himal looming over you on today’s trail.

Leaving Dharapani, you will first follow the gradual trail for about 2 hours to reach Danakyu Village. You will then switch trails toward the steep section and follow the inclining route to reach Timang Village, which is on the lap of Lamjung Himal.

The path up ahead from the village is relatively leveled as you move along the bank of the Marsyangdi River and trek past Thanchowk and Koto to reach Chame. At Chame, there is a natural hot spring; you can take a refreshing dip here to wash away your fatigue.

After breakfast, you will trek along a gradually ascending route that follows the banks of the Marsyangdi River and the Manang Valley. The views of the Himalayan peaks start getting even more enchanting as you climb to even further elevation. Gangapurna, Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, Annapurna III, and Annapurna IV are the major highlights of this day’s adventure.

You will trek for about 2 hours from Chame to reach the Bhratang Village. This high-altitude settlement is famous for its apple garden; there are also several cafes and a bakery here for a rejuvenating experience.

The path ahead leads you to Dhikur Pokhari. This lunch destination on today’s trek offers stunning views of the Annapurna and Pisang Peak. From here, you will trek along your ascending route to reach Lower Pisang, your resting point today.

Leaving Pisang, you will continue with your ascending route and head toward the Ghyaru Village [3,670 meters/ 12,040 feet] during the initial part. This village is situated at a higher elevation point than Manang and rewards you with the breathtaking views of Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak, Chulu Peak, Annapurna I, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV.

You will then cross a wooden bridge over the Marsyangdi to reach Ghyaru Village. A short descent from this point leads you to Ngawal Village. This will be your lunch stop today, and you can enjoy the incredible views of Chulu East Peak and Chulu West Peak from here.

As you move further in your trekking trail, you will descend to the Bhraga Village. This village houses a 900-year-old monastery, Bhraga Monastery, and several other old stupas. The path further ahead leads you through Mungji, and in about 3 hours, you will finally reach Manang.

This is an important day in your Himalayan journey; you will use this day to acclimatize to the rising altitude before trekking to other high-elevation points of this adventure. You can do some short hikes around Manang during the morning to properly adapt to the new altitudes.

Gangapurna Glacier, Hundered Lama Monastery, Kicho Lake, and Chongkar View Point are some of the popular hiking destinations for acclimatization in Manang. These hiking points will reward you with stunning views of the pristine Himalayan ranges.

In the evening, you can just stroll around this vibrant Himalayan settlement, checking out the cafes, restaurants, and the fascinating lifestyle of this Himalayan town.

This day’s trekking route will lead you close to one of the major highlights of your Himalayan adventure. After breakfast, you will leave Manang, following the western gate that eventually leads you to the riverbed.

You will cross the river and move further with your trekking trail, passing the coniferous forest. After reaching the Khangsar Khola, you will follow the ascending path that leads you to the beautiful Tibetan settlement, Khangsar Village. This day’s trek is relatively shorter, and you won’t gain much altitude in a single day; this will make your adventure tomorrow slightly easier.

It’s an exciting day’s trek today; on this day, you will explore one of the most popular base camps in the Annapurna region, Tilicho Base Camp. Although the path in this trekking route is relatively easy, you will have to overcome some landslide-prone areas.

Enjoying views of incredible rock formations and enhancing Himalayan peaks, you will also pass a gompa and arrive at the interesting old and new paths. Then, following the new trail, you will descend on the switchbacks of the screed slopes and cross the stream to reach the Tilicho Base Camp.

This day’s trek starts with an early morning breakfast; you will hike up to the Tilicho Lake before noon to avoid the high winds. As the altitude gain is significant, make sure to stay hydrated and trek slowly. Overcoming the steep trails, you will reach the pristine glacial lake in about 2-3 hours.

Tilicho Lake is the highest lake in the entire world and is nestled between magnificent peaks like Nilgiri, Annapurna, and Tilicho Peak. After relishing the pristine beauty of this glacial lake to your heart’s content, you will then make your way down toward the Shree Kharka. Your resting destination for tonight.

Today, after completing the exploration of the Tilicho Lake, you will rejoin the classic Annapurna Circuit Trek route. After breakfast, you will first retrace your steps back to the Khangsar Village. You will pass the Tare Gumba en route, which is believed to be older than 1,000 years.

Moving along the rock wall that leads you out of Khangsar, you will enter the Thorong Khola Valley and move along the gradually ascending route to reach Yak Kharka. If you are lucky, you might even witness the eloping blue sheep and snow leopard on this day’s trekking route.

Moving higher in your delightful Himalayan exploration, during the first part of this day’s trek, you will follow the trail on the east bank of the Jarang Khola. Continuing with your ascending route, you will push for the Thorong Phedi, enjoying the magnificent views of the Thorung Peak, Syagand, Gudang, and Khatungkan.

Thorong Phedi is the last village before the high Himalayan pass and is also home to the endangered Bearded Vulture (Lammergeyer). There is also a mythical belief that magical creature griffons are nestled in this region.

Elevation Gain: 856 meters/ 2,808 feet

Trek Duration: 8-9 hours

This day’s trek is one of the most demanding and rewarding adventures in your Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake itinerary. You will begin your trek on this day early in the morning as well to avoid the strong winds at the higher altitudes.

Overcoming the steep and rugged trails, you will reach the top of Thorong La Pass in about 2 hours from Thorong Phedi. You can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks like Annapurna, Gangapurna, Khatungkang, Dhaulagiri, Tilicho, and other surrounding peaks from the top of Thorong La Pass.

Then, you will make your descent from the pass and head toward the religious marvel of the region, Muktinath. This religious site has a significant value in the Hindu and Buddhist religions. It is believed that taking a bath in the 108 water sprouts of the temple will cleanse the soul and free it from sins.

Concluding your delightful trekking adventure, you will now follow the descending trail of this circuit trek. You can visit the Muktinath Temple in the morning for blessings and enjoy the serene high Himalayan environment one more time before the descent.

Then, after breakfast, you will drive in a comfortable vehicle heading toward Tatopani. This delightful drive will take you across the scenic landscapes and vibrant settlements of the region. You will also drive past the deepest gorge in the world, Kali Gandaki Gorge, and the bustling Jomsom Bazaar before reaching Tatopani.

You can take a relaxing dip in the natural spring of Tatopani, which is believed to have healing properties, to end this day’s exploration on a high note.

This is the final day’s adventure in your Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake itinerary. Today, you will bid farewell to the magnificent Himalayan region and head toward the major tourist hub of Nepal, Pokhara, the city of lakes.

Enjoying the charming nature of this mainstream trekking region, you will drive past the popular highlights in the region, like Ghorepani, Tikhedhunga, Nayapul, and Birenthati, to reach Pokhara.

After reaching Pokhara, our representatives will drop you back at your respective hotels. You can explore the nearby highlights around the lakes or just take a stroll around this vibrant city for the remainder of the day. Thank you for trekking with Marvel Adventure. Have a safe journey!