The Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake is a fusion of two Himalayan gems, combining the classic Annapurna Circuit with a detour to the stunning Tilicho Lake. What a lovely adventure to explore the surrounding Annapurna Region of Nepal. If you prefer to tour one of the most significant and holy places for Hinduism and Buddhism pupils, Annapurna Circuit Trek is excellent because it has Tillicho Lake. It is renowned for its new Himalaya series of cliffs. If you are looking for a venture to pass the highest pass, the Thorang La Pass is there to greet you.
Tilicho Lake is the highest altitude lake on the whole globe. So be delighted! The well-managed hike offers magnificent insights into the majestic Himalayas ranges including, Mt. Annapurna, Thorang Peak, Nilgiri, Chulu West, and Chulu East, Tukuche Peak, Himal Lamjung, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna II, IV along, with icecaps, lakes, and beautiful falls.
You will get to travel to Tibetan villages and Buddhist culture. Also, tour the biggest monastery of Manang which is called Barge Monastery. How wondrous! During this hike, you get to witness the majesty of nature like the snowcapped Himalayas, lakes, glaciers, and falls, along with the settlements of ethnic crowds like Thakali, where you will be emotionally adopted.
You will get to travel the Tibetian villages and Buddhist culture and also hit the largest monastery of Manang, Barge Monastery, on your way. In this 17-night 18 days trek, you will appreciate the perfection of nature, including the snowcapped Himalayas, lakes, glaciers, and waterfalls, along with the settlements of ethnic groups like Thakali, and Tibetan people, where people are incredibly hospitable. Believe me or not, they are going to treat you like one of their kind.
Our meticulously crafted Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake trek itinerary ensures a well-paced and immersive journey. Traverse through iconic villages like Pisang and Manang, witness the mesmerizing beauty of Tilicho Lake, and conquer the challenging Thorong La Pass, the highest trekking pass in the world.
Accommodations in Tilicho Base Camp provide a comfortable and cozy retreat for trekkers. There are main 5 tea houses at the base camp all are simple and common room. At the time of the season, you cannot get a private room here at Basecamp all share a bed. You just get a simple bed with a mattress cover and blanket. Bathrooms are outside and eating area is common at big hall. Do not expect high service just basic needed things are available.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Dinner
You will be entering Kathmandu, and our airport representative will pick you up at the airport and accompany you to a hotel near Thamel. You can unwind yourself from all the jetlags for some time and have your meal on time. Our representative may stroll you around the Thamel area where you can buy some souvenirs. After that, we will serve you authentic Nepali cuisine as your supper.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
You will be eating your breakfast and commence your day. Then your trek guide will take you for a visit to different and famous places around the valley. You will observe ancient and historical temples and buildings, some heritage sites like Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa. You will have a pre-consultation with our agents and tour guide in the evening.
The day also marks for last trek preparation. There are nearby markets where you can visit and buy some trekking gear as per your requirement.
Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
With the yummy breakfast in the dawn, we will drive to Besisahar. We will be traveling by sharing a bus. Make sure you encounter the beautiful scenery of the charming terraced farms and settlements along the Trisuli River. You will savor the tasty lunch on the way. Our guide, escorting you, will record the permit at the checkpoint. After that, we will be eating our snacks at the small lodge. Then, we will be heading towards Besisahar.
Dinner and Overnight in a small lodge of Besisahar.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
After having an early morning breakfast, we will drive to Chame leaving Besisahar by sharing a jeep. The drive passes from Khudi with beautiful landscape views. After 4-5 hours, you will reach Chame. Chame is the headquarters of Manang district lying in the northern part of Nepal. After reaching Chame, you can rest and buy the needy things for the trek in nearby shops.
Dinner and Overnight in Chame.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Here is an exciting day; the official trek starts today. Leaving Chame, the trail continues towards Pisang village. The trail passes through Talekhu and Bhartang. After 5 to 6 hours of walk, we will reach Upper Pisang. After reach upper pisang rest at hotel have some food and then explore Upper Pisang (3300m) for the mesmerizing sunset view, old monasteries, and Mt Annapurna view. The Upper and Lower Pisang are separated by the Marshyangdi River.
Dinner and Overnight to Upper Pisang.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Leaving Pisang, the trail goes toward Ngwal. Firstly, we will go through the green lake and then climb steap up to Ghyaru in 2-3 hours. From Ghyaru, the path climbs towards a pass. From this point, you can have a beautiful view. From here walking for a few hours will take you to Ngwal. Ngwal is also a breakpoint for lunch for many climbers.
Dinner and Overnight to Ngwal.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
By welcoming the radiant dawn, we will travel through the dry valley of Manang. Today will be a easy and comfortable trek because the trekking route is a flat valley. However, we will view the enchanting panoramas of mountains from the hike routes.
Dinner and Overnight in Manang
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
We will spend a day acclimatizing the beautiful Manang. After having breakfast, we will go around the Manang village and see the lifestyle of locals. Then we will hike to Gangapurna Lake which is the turquoise glacial lake from the Gangapurna Glacier. Then we will hike to the Chongkar viewpoint, from here you will get the splendid mountain views and the view of lake Gangapurna. Finally, we will hike back to Manang village.
Dinner and Overnight in Manang.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
We will commence the day with a tasty breakfast. Then, we will be hiking through a new route, which has opened lately. We will be trekking through culturally welcoming monasteries. We will leave the upward path and downward because the downward one is simpler and less sheer. After the tiring hike, we will reach the Tilicho Base Camp.
Overnight stay in Tilicho Base Camp.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Welcome your dawn with a mouth-watering breakfast. After having breakfast, we will trek to the main destination – Tilicho Lake. Reaching the mesmerizing Tilicho Lake will make you feel like in heaven. This lake was referred to by the head of the French expedition team as ‘The Great Ice Lake.’ The Tilicho Lake also carries importance for the Hindus as this is a sacred lake. The shining blue lake surrounded by the mountain is the perfect view. You can take a few photos and videos for memory. Then we will trek back to Tilicho Base Camp. Our trail passes through the middle of a landslide-prone place. Here, we could witness remarkable rock formations on the route. Then we will head towards Sri Kharka.
Dinner and Overnight stay in Sri Kharka.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
After having a warm breakfast, we will continue our steps towards Ledar. On the way to Ledar are beautiful landscapes. The path passes through dry terrain along with the splendid view of the Annapurna Ranges. Then we will cross the Gunsang river with the help of a wooden bridge and finally reach Ledar.
Overnight in Ledar.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
We hope you had a perfect sleep. Enjoy your tasty breakfast. Today’s Trek has an uphill hike to Thorang High Camp. After touring for some time, we will pass a suspension bridge and arrive at Ledar village. Furthermore, we ascend some towering cliffs before entering Thorang High Camp. It is the last settlement before Thorong La. This Trek rewards us with one of the best scenery of Mt. Syagang, Mt. Gudang, Mt. Khatungkan, and Thorung Peak.
Dinner and Overnight stay in Thorang High Camp
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Wake up to the early dawn and enjoy your delicious breakfast. Today we will be crossing through Thorong La pass, one of the highest passes in the world. It will be our ultimate goal for a day. We will be traveling this pass from east to west (Manang to Muktinath). This direction is the easiest and most secure approach. We will be awake at three in the morning and trek the mountain.
When we ultimately make it to the top, we understand that our journey was worth it. So, we click a few photos to cherish the moment before heading to Muktinath Valley at the foot of the Thorong La pass.
Dinner and Overnight in Muktinath
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Today we will be driving to Tatopani after having breakfast in Muktinath. We will be traveling by sharing a bus or jeep so travel hours might differ than stated one. We will be driving along the Kali Gandaki River. Tatopani means hot spring in Nepali, here you will see the natural hot spring. After reaching you can relax in the hot spring for some time.
Overnight stay in Tatopani.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Leaving the arid landscapes of Mustang, the journey heads towards the lush forest and wildflowers parts of Annapurna Trekking routes. It will take us 6 to 7 hours to reach Ghorepani. Ghorepani is a beautiful place with numerous mountain views
Overnight stay in Ghorepani.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, and Lunch
The trek will start early morning today as we need to capture the sunrise view. We will climb to PoonHill at 4 or 5 am in the morning. From Poon Hill, you will get the most amazing sunrise view over the mountain of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, and Dhaulagiri. Then we will return to Ghorepani for breakfast and then trek to Ullari. From Ullari we will drive to Pokhara.
It has loads of exciting places to visit. Pokhara is one of the significant tourist hubs of Nepal. There are a lot of aesthetic cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a good cup of coffee. You could enjoy some services at your hotel or explore the nightlife of Pokhara.
Overnight Stay in Pokhara.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast, we bid farewell to the stunning lake city of Pokhara and drive towards Kathmandu. Experience the scenic ride with hills while traveling to Kathmandu. After arriving in Kathmandu, we have the rest of the day off to rest or do some souvenir shopping. To mark the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Enjoy delicious Nepali Cuisine on behalf of our agency as a farewell dinner.
Or you can take a flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu which cost you extra or you can Stay at Pokhara on Your Own.
Dinner and Overnight Stay in Kathmandu.
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy your last day in Nepal. We hope you had good memories with us. At the time of the flight, our people will drop you at the airport. Have a great flight, and choose us if you want to revisit Nepal.
The Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake is a 18 to 21-day complete circuit trek around the Annapurna massif that includes the famous Thorong La Pass (5,416 m) and a side trip to Tilicho Lake (4,919 m), the highest lake in the world, making it one of the most rewarding long-distance treks in all of Nepal.
The Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake with Nepal Mountain Adventure starts from USD 1,399 per person, including a licensed guide, porter, teahouse accommodation, three daily meals, ACAP permit, TIMS card, and restricted area fees for the Tilicho Lake side trip.
This trek is rated strenuous due to its long duration, the high-altitude crossing of Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m, and the demanding side hike to Tilicho Lake at 4,919 m. It is best suited for trekkers with prior high-altitude experience and strong physical fitness.
Nepal Mountain Adventure runs this trek over 18 to 21 days, covering the full circuit from Besisahar through Chame, Manang, Tilicho Lake, Thorong La Pass, Muktinath, and Jomsom before finishing in Pokhara, with acclimatization days built into Manang at 3,519 m.
Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m is the highest point of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the most famous high mountain passes in the world. The crossing involves a pre-dawn start of 3 to 4 AM from High Camp (4,925 m), 5 to 6 hours of steep ascent, and a long descent to Muktinath — physically demanding but non-technical.
The best seasons are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). The Thorong La Pass can close in heavy winter snowfall from December to February, and Tilicho Lake becomes inaccessible during monsoon. October is the single most popular month for the full circuit.
Three permits are needed which are the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP, ~USD 30), the TIMS card (~USD 20), and the Manang Restricted Area Permit for the Tilicho Lake side valley. Nepal Mountain Adventure arranges all permits and restricted area documentation before departure.
Yes, this is one of the higher-risk trekking routes in Nepal for AMS as trekkers spend multiple days above 4,500 m including at Tilicho Base Camp (4,150 m), Tilicho Lake (4,919 m), High Camp (4,925 m), and Thorong La Pass (5,416 m). NMA’s mandatory acclimatization day at Manang (3,519 m) is critical.
This combination delivers three world-class highlights in one trek — the complete Annapurna Circuit through diverse landscapes from subtropical jungle to high-altitude desert, a visit to one of the world’s highest lakes at Tilicho, and the iconic crossing of Thorong La Pass, all in a single unforgettable 3-week journey.
There were 4 of us trekking around the Annapurna circuit. We took a side trip to Tilicho Lake. Our guide and porters provided us excellent care and service. They were very attentive and accommodating to our every needs. They treated us like family and made sure we had fun and were safe. They taught us about their culture, dances, and even taught us how to play cards. They made our trek very memorable.
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