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Tilicho Lake Trek
All Meals on Trek Included
Duration
Grade
Max Altitude
Walking Days
Accommodation
Trip Overview
Wild trekking to one of the world’s highest lakes.
Although Tilicho Lake is claimed to be the highest lake in the world, at over 4900 m, there’s no doubt it’s a high-altitude lake. It rather depends on what lake classification is used, though. For example, Lake Titicaca is a good 1100m lower than Tilicho Lake! Both spectacular, remote, and wild, Tilicho is the realm of the snow leopard too. Indeed, the snow leopard population above Manang and in the Tilicho area is the subject of an ongoing study. Utilising the Jeep road that now extends to Manang has its benefits. So, the first couple of days of trekking are on a section of the main Annapurna Circuit Trail to Manang to afford some sensible acclimatisation before heading to the high ramparts of Tilicho itself. This trek can also be readily combined with our Full Annapurna Circuit Trek or the Best of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Indeed, the trek duration can also be lengthened or shortened, although due consideration still needs to be given to sensible acclimatisation when considering shortening this trek and utilising the jeep road further. Don’t forget that our trekking holidays are tailor-made, and although the rate of altitude gains is reasonable, you may wish to consider adding additional acclimatisation days, rest days, and even contingency days. The itinerary is merely a suggested itinerary and is not entirely 'set in stone'. Sleeping bags (4-season) will be required for nights spent in trekking lodges. We can arrange sleeping bag rentals if required.
You can also combine this trek with our Full Annapurna Circuit Trek or Best of the Annapurna Circuit Trek to make a longer trek
Wild trekking to one of the world’s highest lakes.
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Although Tilicho Lake is claimed to be the highest lake in the world, at over 4900 m, there’s no doubt it’s a high-altitude lake. It rather depends on what lake classification is used, though. For example, Lake Titicaca is a good 1100m lower than Tilicho Lake! Both spectacular, remote, and wild, Tilicho is the realm of the snow leopard too. Indeed, the snow leopard population above Manang and in the Tilicho area is the subject of an ongoing study. Utilising the Jeep road that now extends to Manang has its benefits. So, the first couple of days of trekking are on a section of the main Annapurna Circuit Trail to Manang to afford some sensible acclimatisation before heading to the high ramparts of Tilicho itself. This trek can also be readily combined with our Full Annapurna Circuit Trek or the Best of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Indeed, the trek duration can also be lengthened or shortened, although due consideration still needs to be given to sensible acclimatisation when considering shortening this trek and utilising the jeep road further. Don’t forget that our trekking holidays are tailor-made, and although the rate of altitude gains is reasonable, you may wish to consider adding additional acclimatisation days, rest days, and even contingency days. The itinerary is merely a suggested itinerary and is not entirely 'set in stone'. Sleeping bags (4-season) will be required for nights spent in trekking lodges. We can arrange sleeping bag rentals if required.
You can also combine this trek with our Full Annapurna Circuit Trek or Best of the Annapurna Circuit Trek to make a longer trek
Example Itinerary
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Day 1Arrive Kathmandu
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Day 2Overland to Chame
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Day 3Trek to Upper Pisang
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Day 4Trek to Ngawal
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Day 5Trek to Manang
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Day 6Acclimatisation Day in Manang
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Day 7Trek to Khangsar
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Day 8Trek to Tilicho Base Camp
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Day 9Tilicho Lake and to Siri Kharka
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Day 10Trek to Manang
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Day 11Drive to Besisahar
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Day 12Drive to Kathmandu
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Day 13Depart Nepal
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DAY
1Arrive Kathmandu
Arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you'll be met and receive a private transfer for the short distance into central Kathmandu and to the "KGH" Hotel in the heart of the Thamel district. You'll be given a briefing on your forthcoming adventure, and in the evening, you can take dinner at your leisure in one of the many choices of cafes and restaurants in Kathmandu, although the open-air courtyard cafe of the KGH Hotel is as good as anywhere.
DAY 1
Arrive Kathmandu
Arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you'll be met and receive a private transfer for the short distance into central Kathmandu and to the "KGH" Hotel in the heart of the Thamel district. You'll be given a briefing on your forthcoming adventure, and in the evening, you can take dinner at your leisure in one of the many choices of cafes and restaurants in Kathmandu, although the open-air courtyard cafe of the KGH Hotel is as good as anywhere.
DAY
2Overland to Chame
It's an arduous full day's drive today (around 10–12 hours) as a private vehicle takes you from Kathmandu along the main highway to Besishar. Here you’ll change to a 4WD vehicle and then turn towards the mountains on an increasingly rough and ready jeep road that follows the Marsyangdi River Valley as far as Chame (2713m).
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Chame
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerFind out more about Trekking Lodges
DAY 2
Overland to Chame
It's an arduous full day's drive today (around 10–12 hours) as a private vehicle takes you from Kathmandu along the main highway to Besishar. Here you’ll change to a 4WD vehicle and then turn towards the mountains on an increasingly rough and ready jeep road that follows the Marsyangdi River Valley as far as Chame (2713m).
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Chame
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerFind out more about Trekking Lodges
DAY
3Trek to Upper Pisang
Now on the Annapurna Circuit, your trek begins as you climb further up into the Marsyangdi Valley, which involves several crossings of the river (via suspension bridges) to emerge above forests and to a more open grazing landscape affording particularly good views of Annapurna 2 and onto Upper Pisang (3300m). For the trek up to Manang, it is impossible to avoid walking on the jeep road at times. Walking time is around 5 hours.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Upper Pisang
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 3
Trek to Upper Pisang
Now on the Annapurna Circuit, your trek begins as you climb further up into the Marsyangdi Valley, which involves several crossings of the river (via suspension bridges) to emerge above forests and to a more open grazing landscape affording particularly good views of Annapurna 2 and onto Upper Pisang (3300m). For the trek up to Manang, it is impossible to avoid walking on the jeep road at times. Walking time is around 5 hours.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Upper Pisang
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY
4Trek to Ngawal
Today's walk continues to climb higher up from the valley floor and along the upper slopes. The Tibetan influence becomes more apparent in terms of the villages you pass through with their Buddhist monuments. Passing through Gyaru (3680 m), you walk as far as Ngawal. Overall, this takes around 4 hours of walking and a height gain of 300m. A relatively short day to help the body acclimatise.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Ngawal
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 4
Trek to Ngawal
Today's walk continues to climb higher up from the valley floor and along the upper slopes. The Tibetan influence becomes more apparent in terms of the villages you pass through with their Buddhist monuments. Passing through Gyaru (3680 m), you walk as far as Ngawal. Overall, this takes around 4 hours of walking and a height gain of 300m. A relatively short day to help the body acclimatise.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Ngawal
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY
5Trek to Manang
The walk starts by dropping down towards the lower part of the valley and back onto the principle Annapurna Circuit trail as you head steadily up to the very Tibetan village of Manang (3540m). Walking time is around 4-5 hours.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Manang
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 5
Trek to Manang
The walk starts by dropping down towards the lower part of the valley and back onto the principle Annapurna Circuit trail as you head steadily up to the very Tibetan village of Manang (3540m). Walking time is around 4-5 hours.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Manang
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY
6Acclimatisation Day in Manang
Now at 3500 m, it’s vital to have an acclimatisation day before proceeding any higher. An acclimatisation day isn’t a rest day, although you can rest if you need to. Rather, an acclimatisation day is best served as a day hike to get a little higher before returning to a lower altitude to sleep. There are quite a few options for a day walk to aid the acclimatisation process, depending on how well you are doing so far. A long day’s hike can take you up to the Ice Lake, or a shorter walk to Gangapurna Lake or Milarepa’s Cave. But if you can, it’s a good idea to try and gain an additional 300m of altitude and descend back down to Manang.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Manang
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 6
Acclimatisation Day in Manang
Now at 3500 m, it’s vital to have an acclimatisation day before proceeding any higher. An acclimatisation day isn’t a rest day, although you can rest if you need to. Rather, an acclimatisation day is best served as a day hike to get a little higher before returning to a lower altitude to sleep. There are quite a few options for a day walk to aid the acclimatisation process, depending on how well you are doing so far. A long day’s hike can take you up to the Ice Lake, or a shorter walk to Gangapurna Lake or Milarepa’s Cave. But if you can, it’s a good idea to try and gain an additional 300m of altitude and descend back down to Manang.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Manang
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY
7Trek to Khangsar
Leaving Manang and crossing the Khangsar Khola, you have now left the Annapurna Circuit trail too, and the trail you follow climbs up and up to Khangsar (3740m), a small village of around 300 people. A recent jeep road up to Khangsar can’t be avoided. Walking time: approx. 5–6 hrs.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Khangsar
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 7
Trek to Khangsar
Leaving Manang and crossing the Khangsar Khola, you have now left the Annapurna Circuit trail too, and the trail you follow climbs up and up to Khangsar (3740m), a small village of around 300 people. A recent jeep road up to Khangsar can’t be avoided. Walking time: approx. 5–6 hrs.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Khangsar
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY
8Trek to Tilicho Base Camp
Passing a monastery, you will continue the trek on a recently constructed path up towards a high ridge. Things will soon start to feel really wild. Further ahead, a newer path climbs higher and higher to reach a crest. From the crest, a sharp descent via a series of switchbacks carved out of the slopes drops to a small valley and stream. On the opposite side is a lodge otherwise known as the Tilicho Base Camp (4135m). Walking time is approximately 5–6 hours.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Tilicho Base Camp
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 8
Trek to Tilicho Base Camp
Passing a monastery, you will continue the trek on a recently constructed path up towards a high ridge. Things will soon start to feel really wild. Further ahead, a newer path climbs higher and higher to reach a crest. From the crest, a sharp descent via a series of switchbacks carved out of the slopes drops to a small valley and stream. On the opposite side is a lodge otherwise known as the Tilicho Base Camp (4135m). Walking time is approximately 5–6 hours.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Tilicho Base Camp
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY
9Tilicho Lake and to Siri Kharka
Tilicho Lake is not at Tilicho Base Camp, and as there’s no lodge accommodation anywhere nearer the lake than this, to visit the lake, you must hike up from 4135m to the lake at just over 4900m. Those adventurous enough to tackle the challenging Mesokanto Pass and ultimately trek down to Jomsom would camp by the lake and spend a very chilly night here. This is still by far the toughest day of the trek, and with much of it being between 4000 and almost 5000 m, anyone in reasonable doubt of their physical capabilities, or wanting to spend a lot of time up at Tilicho Lake should seriously consider making this day two days (adding an extra day to the trip duration) by trekking up to Tilicho Lake and back to Tilicho Base Camp only. Physical effort and challenge are worth it, though, as this is a real mountain wilderness and usually bitterly cold up here at the lake too. Winter time can be particularly brutal and the lake is often frozen during the winter months. An early start is essential to make the 3.5hr or longer trek up to Tilicho Lake. After exploring the lake area that is surrounded by icy peaks and the realm of the blue sheep and the snow leopard you’ll then head back down to Tilicho Base Camp, which should take around 2hrs. After lunch at Tilicho Base Camp you then return along the trail that brought you here as far as a lodge in an area known as Siri Kharka (4060m), which is around 3hrs walking from Tilicho Base Camp. Total walking time approx. 8-9hrs.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Siri Kharka
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 9
Tilicho Lake and to Siri Kharka
Tilicho Lake is not at Tilicho Base Camp, and as there’s no lodge accommodation anywhere nearer the lake than this, to visit the lake, you must hike up from 4135m to the lake at just over 4900m. Those adventurous enough to tackle the challenging Mesokanto Pass and ultimately trek down to Jomsom would camp by the lake and spend a very chilly night here. This is still by far the toughest day of the trek, and with much of it being between 4000 and almost 5000 m, anyone in reasonable doubt of their physical capabilities, or wanting to spend a lot of time up at Tilicho Lake should seriously consider making this day two days (adding an extra day to the trip duration) by trekking up to Tilicho Lake and back to Tilicho Base Camp only. Physical effort and challenge are worth it, though, as this is a real mountain wilderness and usually bitterly cold up here at the lake too. Winter time can be particularly brutal and the lake is often frozen during the winter months. An early start is essential to make the 3.5hr or longer trek up to Tilicho Lake. After exploring the lake area that is surrounded by icy peaks and the realm of the blue sheep and the snow leopard you’ll then head back down to Tilicho Base Camp, which should take around 2hrs. After lunch at Tilicho Base Camp you then return along the trail that brought you here as far as a lodge in an area known as Siri Kharka (4060m), which is around 3hrs walking from Tilicho Base Camp. Total walking time approx. 8-9hrs.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Siri Kharka
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY
10Trek to Manang
To make the trek a little more interesting and avoid following the same trail you ascended on back down to Manang, there’s another trail from Siri Kharka that those ultimately heading for the Thorung La and thus re-joining the Annapurna Circuit use. So, instead of heading down, you’ll be ascending instead as the trail climbs steeply at first above Siri Kharka past Thare Gompa, and there are some great views to enjoy on this detour too. As the uphill gradient eases, you contour the mountain side to “Old Khangsar”, which is just a few scattered buildings. Beyond here, it’s mostly descent to join the Annapurna Circuit Trail and a further 1.5 hours to Manang. Total walking time is approx. 5-6hrs.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Manang.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 10
Trek to Manang
To make the trek a little more interesting and avoid following the same trail you ascended on back down to Manang, there’s another trail from Siri Kharka that those ultimately heading for the Thorung La and thus re-joining the Annapurna Circuit use. So, instead of heading down, you’ll be ascending instead as the trail climbs steeply at first above Siri Kharka past Thare Gompa, and there are some great views to enjoy on this detour too. As the uphill gradient eases, you contour the mountain side to “Old Khangsar”, which is just a few scattered buildings. Beyond here, it’s mostly descent to join the Annapurna Circuit Trail and a further 1.5 hours to Manang. Total walking time is approx. 5-6hrs.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Manang.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY
11Drive to Besisahar
It’s a long day's drive down the bumpy and rather arduous jeep road in a 4WD vehicle to Besisahar that will probably take pretty much the whole day. Before the jeep road, Besisahar was the “road head” and the usual starting point for the Annapurna Circuit.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Besisahar
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 11
Drive to Besisahar
It’s a long day's drive down the bumpy and rather arduous jeep road in a 4WD vehicle to Besisahar that will probably take pretty much the whole day. Before the jeep road, Besisahar was the “road head” and the usual starting point for the Annapurna Circuit.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge - Besisahar
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY
12Drive to Kathmandu
Into a private vehicle, and at least today’s drive back to Kathmandu is on a better road surface than yesterday as you join the main highway to return to the capital. It usually takes around 6 hours, so if you get an early start, you should arrive back in Kathmandu in time for some last-minute souvenir shopping.
Accommodation: KGH Hotel - Kathmandu
Included Meals: Breakfast, LunchDAY 12
Drive to Kathmandu
Into a private vehicle, and at least today’s drive back to Kathmandu is on a better road surface than yesterday as you join the main highway to return to the capital. It usually takes around 6 hours, so if you get an early start, you should arrive back in Kathmandu in time for some last-minute souvenir shopping.
Accommodation: KGH Hotel - Kathmandu
Included Meals: Breakfast, LunchDAY
13Depart Nepal
A private transfer will take you to the airport for your return international flight.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Of course, there's no reason to depart today; your Nepal holiday can be readily tailor-made
DAY 13
Depart Nepal
A private transfer will take you to the airport for your return international flight.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Of course, there's no reason to depart today; your Nepal holiday can be readily tailor-made
IMPORTANT
This is an EXAMPLE ITINERARY and can be customised for you accordingly.
Please consider whether you want your customisable, private trip itinerary to also include CONTINGENCY.
See our ABOUT CONTINGENCY Information
Please CONTACT US to discuss CONTINGENCY and ADDITIONAL ACCLIMATISATION, as well as other CUSTOMISATION POSSIBILITES for your PRIVATE CUSTOM TREK
Price Guide
- $ US 1695
What's included
The price shown is for guideline purposes only. The price is inclusive of all accommodation described in the detailed itinerary, all airport and land transfers, private overland travel, meals as indicated in the itinerary (all meals on trek), porterage on trek, permits and fees, and a Snow Cat Travel Trekking Guide. All guides are English-speaking, professionals and fully licenced.
Don't Forget
We can customise
all our trips.
extend. shorten. upgrade
Read our Nepal Travel Guide
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