Overview
Tilicho Lake with Mesokanto Pass Trekking begins from Kathmandu to Syange hamlet in Lamjung district, along the roaring Marshyangdi River. The Mesokanto pass paths run via the well-known Tilicho Lake, which is the world’s highest point lake at 4920 meters. The hike from Tilicho Lake to Mesokanto Peak is an exhilarating and beautiful path that is also a little tricky, especially the downhill portion from Mesokanto-La pass.
This wonderful trek starts on the famous and well-known Annapurna circuit path for a week before traveling into the far-flung remoted side of Manang through lovely Tilicho Lake and completing this awesome journey at Mustang area in Jomsom after passing the magnificent extreme Mesokanto pass.
The trail will lead through beautiful settlements inhabited by people from various cultural groups, with amazing and breathtaking views of the high snow-capped peak. To traverse the Mesokanto adventure pass, we will need adequate equipment such as crampons, rope, and a day’s worth of tented accommodation, as well as conking utilities.
The spectacular Annapurna mountains, the Pisang peak, the Tilicho peak, and the Chulu east and west will all be visible along the trip. During your days of walking, you will also have the opportunity to observe Tibetan-style villages. You’ll also have the chance to visit and explore traditional temples in Muktinath, a religiously significant site for both Buddhists and Hindus.
This is the ideal walk for people wishing for a unique journey in an under-appreciated area, combining amazing mountain vistas, a unique culture, a varied climate and vegetation, and the serenity of Tilicho Lake.
Trek Facts
Trek Highlights
Itinerary Outline
Thamel Marga Central Thamel Kathmandu (Google Map)
Max. Elevation: Kathmandu (1,400 m)
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Outside the airport terminal building, one of our agents will be waiting for you. You will be received and brought to the pre-arranged accommodation upon arrival at the airport. A quick meeting about trekking and preparation will be held in the hotel. After that, you can check-in and unwind at the hotel.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Trip Duration: 7-8 hrs
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
After breakfast, you embark on a guided tour of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu, including the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupati Nath, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath), and the Buddhist shrine (Boudhanath), which is one of the world’s largest Stupas. After the sightseeing, you will be introduced to your trekking guide and have a little pre-trip meeting following the sightseeing program. You can also rent/buy last-minute trekking equipment or negotiate for souvenirs in several shops. You must then pack your belongings and prepare for your trip, which will begin the next day.
Overnight in Kathmandu
Max.Elevation: Syange (1100m)
Accommodation: Hotel, Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Drive duration: 7-8 hours
This morning, you leave early from Kathmandu for Besi Sahar. The ride to the hike road-head is breathtaking. After breakfast, we left for Pokhara. Today’s driving is exciting and enjoyable as it snakes down the mountainside amid terraced fields. We reach the Trishuli River by following the Mahesh River’s side. We continue along the Trishuli River’s side all the way to Mugling, where the Trisuli River meets the Marshyangdi River. We continue west to Pokhara after crossing a bridge over the Marshyangdi River. The ride today provides plenty of opportunities to witness planted terraced fields, rivers, streams, verdant valleys, rocky gorges, farmlands, and typical rural life in Nepal if you are on the right side of the window of your car. You stop for lunch at a restaurant on the route. Then you drive up to Syange from Besishahar. From the time you leave Besisahar, the panorama will take your breath away. The jeep route follows the Marsyangdi River upstream, narrowing and becoming increasingly lush as it does so, with the Marsyangdi River flowing wildly below. If the Weather permits, magnificent views of the Manaslu Range’s Himalchuli (7893m) and Ngadichuli (7541m) mountains are available.
Overnight in Syange.
Max.Elevation: Dharapani (1,860m)
Accommodation: Local Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Trek Duration: 6-7 hours
After breakfast, you get started early. Chamje is reached through a rising and descending track, after which we cross a suspension bridge and rise through an oak woodland. Today, the environment will change dramatically as the valley narrows into a deep gorge, and falling waterfalls, such as this one across the valley will be a common sight in the region over the next few days. The trail then enters a level valley, where the next settlement, ‘Tal,’ is located at the base of a magnificent waterfall (1700m). You continue walking by several holy stones, following Tal Village. Walking on the left side of the Mani walls is the traditional norm. Then you will cross Marshyangdi river(via suspension bridge) a couple of times before you reach Dharapani.
Overnight in Dharapani.
Max.Elevation: Chame(2,710m)
Accommodation: Local Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
The ascent from Dharapani to Bagarchap is relatively easy, and you will be blessed with a view of Annapurna II (7937m) gazing up the valley. As you pass past Danakyue and ascend to Temang, you can’t help but admire the vista of the Manaslu Range. You’ll notice a shift in the vegetation today, with pine and fir taking the lead. From here, the trail continues pretty flat for about an hour until it emerges into a clearing with a few tea shops and farmland. You will then descend to cross a bridge before ascending into Thanchok Village, which is known for its apple orchards. You will walk thirty minutes from Thanchok village to Koto and another thirty minutes to Chame, the Manang District headquarters.
Overnight in Chame.
Max.Elevation: Pisang (3,300m)
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
You spend the rest of the morning traveling to Brathang through a dense forest of blue pine and fir, staying close to the river. The ancient Brathang village was a Tibetan resistance camp that used to make raids across the border to combat Chinese rule of Tibet. Only an apple orchard and a couple of tea shops remain now. You continue going through the forest; the trail clings to a cliff face for a bit, and as we cross the bridge, the view of Mui Tscho (Paunde Danda), a massive rock face reaching 1500 meters above the valley floor, is stunning. As you enter the Upper Manang District after climbing steeply through the forest, the environment changes dramatically. The valley widens, and the vegetation, primarily pine, juniper, and berberis plants, becomes scarce. Lower Pisang is reached after a lovely and easy hour of walking in the shadows of Annapurna II. You’ll have hiked around to the north side of the Annapurnas at this time, with views of Annapurna II and IV to the south and Pisang Peak and the Chulu East to the north.
Overnight in Pisang.
Max.Elevation: Manang(3,540m)
Accommodation: Local Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
Today you travel through the drier upper Manang district, which is shielded from the monsoon’s full force by the Annapurna Range. For a portion of the year, residents of this region herd yaks and grow crops. You have alternate pathways from the north and south of the Marsyangdi River, leaving Pisang, which link up again at Mungji. The southern route through Hongde, with its 3,325m airstrip, requires less ascending than the northern route through Ghyaru and Ngawal settlements. You take the northern path, which passes through upper Pisang and follows the river’s northern bank, for greater vistas. You come across a charming settlement clinging to a cliff face, with houses that appear to be stacked on top of one another. Its Bragha settlement is dominated by the region’s oldest monastery, which is almost 500 years old. After arriving in Manang, you can spend the rest of the day strolling around the hamlet, seeing the monastery, and acclimating while enjoying the view from the lodge.
Overnight in Manang.
Max.Elevation: Manang (3,540m)
Accommodation: Local lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
In Manang, you spent a day acclimating. It is advisable that you stay active and take a short stroll to a higher altitude to acclimate to the altitude. You spent the entire day doing beautiful day hikes and admiring the gorgeous sites around the area. The next two days will be an extremely tough and exhausting walk for us, with a rapid ascent in height. You should never take the altitude for granted and should constantly be cautious. From an acclimatization standpoint, Bodzo Gompa or Gangapurna Lake are worthwhile stops. Himalayan Rescue Association is based in Manang village. During the trekking seasons, volunteer western doctors help educate trekkers and do research on Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
Overnight in Manang.
Accommodation: Local lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Trek Duration: 3-4 hours
You leave Manang through the western gates and follow the path down to the river. You will cross the river and continue south through dense coniferous woodland towards Khangsar. One segment crosses a rocky, exposed scree slope. On the bridge below Khangsar, cross the Khangsar Khola and climb the slope to the settlement.
Overnight in Kangsar.
Max.Elevation: Tilicho Base Camp (4,150m)
Accommodation: Local lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Trek Duration:5-6 hours
Continue on a broad route from Khangsar. Pass through a Gompa (monastery). The trail ahead leads up to a high ridge on a newly constructed path. There is an intersection at one site. One trail keeps upward, climbing the slopes towards a narrowing of the valley, while the other keeps ascending towards the ridgeline. The former is the old trail, which is far more difficult because it travels through an extremely steep scree; the latter is the new path, which travels in a completely different direction. Continue down the new trail to a high crest, then descend to a side valley of the main valley by switchbacks carved out of the scree slopes. A creek runs through it, and then you will reach the base camp.
Overnight in Base Camp.
Max.Elevation: Tilicho Lake (4,920m)
Accommodation: Local lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Trek Duration: 5 hours
The path follows that route from Tilicho Base Camp. You continue along the shoreline until you reach a small plain. Leave the lake here and head up the mountain to a tiny saddle. The path is quite steep, with plenty of loose scree and rocks to contend with. On the other side of the first pass, you drop to a valley. Following it upwards, you arrive at a flat, safe glacier with no crevasses. Upwards, following the glacier’s left (south) side. You leave it where there is a clear westward saddle. You continue on a dim route past a little lake, drop a little altitude, and then gain another saddle. On the other side, there is a little valley that heads south. The western edge of Tilicho Lake is reached after exiting it. The broken ice and the sheer walls of Grande Barrier and Tilicho Peak guard the coastlines on the left side. Mt. Khangsar Kang is where the Himalayan ranges of the Grande Barrier and Annapurna meet. It was nicknamed “Roc noir” by a French expedition team, which means “black rock.” It’s so steep that no snow can stick to it, and it’s always black. From Annapurna Base Camp, the other side of Khangsar Kang can be viewed! You take a stroll and take in the beauty of this immaculate and wonderful location.
Overnight in Tilicho Lake.
Max.Elevation: Yak Kharka (4,200m)
Accommodation: Tented camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Trek Duration: 7-8 hours
You get up early because today is a major highlight of our trip. The tough Mesokanto La pass will be crossed. It’s possible that we’re more tired today because we’re climbing above 5000m. You begin on the lake’s coastline and climb about 300 meters on loose scree to a cathedral guarded by fluttering prayer flags, after which we cross a lengthy section of the flat snowfield to the lake’s far end, known as Eastern Pass. Dhaulagiri looms ahead of us for the first time, slowly poking out on the far horizon at first but quickly taking over the view. We reach the top of a rocky knoll at the far end of the cathedral after a gentle climb.You descend a short distance to the base of another scree hill. The route ascends as Tilicho Lake reappears between the mountainsides behind us for a brief moment. You reach the start of the pass after another brief rise up a snow slope, which entails a half-mile of rocky gradient traversing. The Mesokanto La is marked by a rock tower and an oddly incongruous signpost to Jomsom. Because the far side is coated in ice and extremely steep, it is known as one of the Annapurnas’ most challenging passes. In more icy circumstances, you’ll need ropes in addition to cutting steps to go through. The ice portion is just around 200 vertical meters long, and then we’re back on solid ground. When you get to the Kharka, you pitch your tents and take a break to rest your shaky legs.
Overnight in Yak Kharka.
Max.Elevation: Jomsom (2,700m)
Accommodation: Local lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Trek Duration: 4-5 hours
You are currently in the Kali Gandaki Valley. On our final day trip, you descend to Jomsom via the lovely settlement. You travel to the summit of Thini village via juniper woodland and plants, which have a pleasant scent. All of Thini’s fields are lush with wheat, barley, potato, and other vegetables. You can have an explicit view of the lower Mustang valley, which includes Marpha, Syang, Dhumba, Thini, ancient and new Jomsom, and so forth.
Overnight in Jomsom.
Max.Elevation: Pokhara (822m)
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Flight Time: 30 minutes
From Jomsom, you board a 30-minute morning flight to Pokhara. You drive to the hotel after arriving at Pokhara airport. Afternoon sightseeing tour in Pokhara valley, including Fewa Lake, Devil’s Waterfall, Museum, Tibetan Refugee Settlement, Gupteshwor Cave, and many others.
Overnight in Pokhara.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Because Jomsom to Pokhara flights are heavily influenced by mountain weather, today is a free day in case your flight is delayed or canceled. If all goes according to plan, you can spend the day touring Pokhara, a lovely place to visit after a long trip.
Overnight in Pokhara
Max.Elevation: Kathmandu (1,400m)
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Driving Time: 6 hours
Today, we’re driving back to Kathmandu. During the trip, try to reach the left window to view the greenery, mountains, river gorges, villages, and terraces. In the evening, we will have a farewell supper with cultural performances in a traditional Nepalese restaurant.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Today is the last day of your Tilicho Lake and Annapurna Circuit Trek. Our airport agent will send you off at Kathmandu’s international airport for your trip out of Nepal. We hope that the beautiful Nepal, stunning Himalayan scenery, and unique cultural experience you had on your Annapurna Circuit Trek will stay with you forever, and that you will return home with a sense of accomplishment.
The expedition to Tilicho lake is challenging. There are no specific requirements or skills that you need to have during the trek. All you need is the energy and a positive vibe to push yourself during the hectic trek and reach your destination. Day after other, you will be moving towards a higher altitude, so you might have altitude sickness and difficulty breathing. The trek is strenuous because of uphill and downhill landscapes to go for days. But the view that you see after you reach will be worth all the sweat and hardship.
Spring and autumn are the most promising times to trek. The weather is clear and favorable during these seasons. You can get a clear view of mountain ranges. There are fewer chances of unstable weather during spring and autumn. However, the weather is quite unstable in monsoon, and the days are particularly cloudy and full of fog. So you might not be able to enjoy the beautiful landscape of mountains and hills. Also, the trails are slippery and dangerous during the rainy season.
Since you will be trekking at a higher altitude, there is a possibility that you will get altitude sickness. Altitude Sickness is caused by a lack of oxygen at higher elevations. Some of the major symptoms of Altitude sickness are headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath. Due to this reason, acclimatization is required when traveling at high elevations.
Throughout the walk, electricity is accessible at several points. All of your electronic devices can be charged. While traveling in the winter, cold temperatures can drain your batteries. So hide your electronics under a blanket.
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