Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake Trek

Your arrival at the airport marks the first day of the journey. You will be greeted by one of Neal Hiking Team’s representatives who will proceed to explain the program further to you. Transferred to your hotel with no further planned activities for the day, you may relax for the remainder of the time. 

We will drive to Beshisahar by private car then we take a jeep from Beshisahar to Jagat. This drive gives you some insight of the rural people - their lifestyle and their culture. 

While trekking from Jagat to Dharapani, you will pass through the village of Tal. Tal is a small village situated in the Manang District of the Gandaki Province. It is a picturesque settlement along the renowned trek. Along the trail, you will encounter several well-constructed suspension bridges that provide safe passage across deep gorges and rivers. These suspension bridges offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes, adding to the enchanting experience of your trek.

Today, we start our hike to Chame. The villages you'll pass are Bagarchhap, Danaque, Timang, and Koto. Bagarchhap is known for its Tibetan-style houses and scenic views. Danaque offers insights into the local culture, while Timang provides breathtaking views of the mountains. Koto serves as the gateway to the Nar Phu Valley. Interacting with the locals and experiencing the rural lifestyle will enrich your trekking experience.

Today, we will begin our day trekking through a forested, steep and narrow valley. Crossing a river on a long bridge at 2910 meters, we can look at the view of the towering Paungda Danda rock face beginning to appear. From there, the trail climbs to Pisang. 

We will continue through the upper part of the Manang district. The terrain of this part resembles a dry and heaving landscape as it is cut off from the monsoon rains by the Annapurna Range. People of this region herd yaks and raise crops for certain parts of the year. They also continue to enjoy special trading rights granted to them in 1784. Leaving Pisang, there are alternate trails north and south of the Marshyangdi River, which meets up again at Mungji.

The southern route by the Hongde airstrip at 3325 meters involves less climbing than the northern route via Ghyaru, though there are better views on the trail that follows the northern bank of the river. From Mungji, the trail continues past the picturesque but partially hidden village of Bryanga at 3475 meters to nearby Manang at 3500 meters.

Today, we will spend a day acclimatizing in Manang. We can spend the day sightseeing and viewing the wonderful sights around the village and hiking along the landscape as we return to our accommodation and enjoy a night's rest.

From Manang, we will head out through the western gates and follow the path down to the river. Crossing the river, we will continue walking on its southern side through coniferous forests. After reaching the Kangsar Village, we will walk further up towards Siri Kharka and pass a monastery on the way. The uphill walk could be tiring but we will have the Gungang Himal and Mount Chulu in the backdrop to keep us company.

While the path from Siri Kharka to Tilicho Base Camp isn’t very steep or physically strenuous, it could be exhausting as we will have to walk on narrow paths in a loose scree and landslide-prone area. Our trail goes through the middle of the landslide area where we can see impressive rock formations along the trail. 

After the initial tough ascent, our trail continues to pester along the side of the mountain in a gradual steep incline before reaching the watershed. On the way, we can enjoy yaks and deer grazing along our trail. On the other side is the Tilicho Lake, a large spectacular lake nestled at the foot of the north face of the Tilicho Peak. 

The lake was referred to by the leader of the French expedition team as ‘The Great Ice Lake’. The Lake also holds an important place for the Hindus as this sacred lake is featured in one of the holiest texts of the Hindus, The Ramayana. After spending some time at the lake, we will retrace our steps and return back to Siri Kharka.

We will leave Siri Kharka and descend towards the Khangsar Village today. On the way, we will pass Tare Gumba- a thousand year old monastery which is very important to the local people there. Upon reaching the Khangsar Village, we can see that it is unhabituated except for occasional herders during festival times. Following a rock wall out of Khangsar, we will walk further until we reach a seasonal bridge in the Thorang Khola valley. After crossing the river, we will ascend for a while to a plateau. Next, we will be walking until we reach Yak Kharka.

Today, the trail descends to cross the river at 4310 meters, then ascends to Phedi at 4420 meters. At High Camp (elevation- 4600 meters), some good guesthouses have been built.

Phedi’s literal translation is “foot of the hill”. The journey from Phedi to the Thorong La Pass starts today. We will make a steep climb along a trail that is regularly used and easy to follow. However, problems may occur due to the altitude and snow which can often make the crossing impossible if the pass is covered by snow. It takes about four hours to climb up to the pass marked by chortens and prayer flags. As you reach the top, you will be rewarded by the magnificent view of the entire terrain from the top.

Your drive from Muktinath to Pokhara takes you through diverse landscapes. Along the way, you’ll pass through the apple orchards of Marpha, known for its delicious apple products, and the traditional Thakali village of Tukuche.

Enjoy a refreshing break at Tatopani, where you can relax in the natural hot springs. For those seeking adventure, a stop in Kushma offers the chance to experience one of the highest bungy jumps in the world.

The journey provides ever-changing views, from rugged mountains to terraced fields, with Annapurna and Dhaulagiri accompanying you along the way. Arrive in Pokhara ready to unwind by the serene lakeside.

A short 30-minute flight to Kathmandu, followed by a transfer to your hotel.

Approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight, a representative from the Nepal Hiking Team will take you to the airport from where you will depart.