Tilicho Lake and Thorong La Pass Trek - 19 Days
Tilicho Lake at 5,200 m collects the glacial melt of the entire northern slopes of Annapurna and Thorong Peak. It is claimed to be the highest-located lake in the world. It is situated at an altitude of 4,919 metres (16,138 ft) in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas another source lists the altitude of Lake Tilicho as being 4,949 metres (16,237 ft). The trip to Lake Tilicho is an ideal package to observe the natural landscapes and discover the unique culture of this region. This trek offers a panoramic view of much of the east coast of the world-famous Annapurna Trail, with sublime natural beauty, cultural and traditional values, beautiful waterfalls and streams of drinking water, as well as attractive flora and fauna.
The trekking of Tilicho Lake and Thorong La Pass begins in Besisahar, Lamjung, which runs along the Marshyangdi River, with magnificent views of Manaslu and Himal Chuli to the east. This beautiful trek in Tilicho Lake takes you to the beautiful village inhabited by a great diversity of people belonging to different ethnic groups, which offer spectacular and magnificent views of the white Himalayas. On the way, we will pass through every type of vegetation zone from lush sub-tropical to harsh semi-desert and the highest trekking passes in the world. This trek encompasses the best of Annapurna trekking – its mountains, landscapes and culture – with the high, immensely cold glacier lake and its mythology.
Trip Highlights:
- Guided tours in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Ascent of the Marshyangdi River Valley
- Meet the mountaineers in the heart of the Himalayas
- Views of the world’s highest mountains: Dhaulagiri I (7th), Manaslu (8th) and Annapurna I (10th)
- Tilicho Lake, the highest-located lake in the world
- Crossing the Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m
- The pilgrimage town of Muktinath
- Scenic flight from Jomsom to Pokhara
Day to Day Itinerary
Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. You will be then transferred to your respective hotel in our private tourist vehicle. In the evening, a welcome dinner will be organized by the Trek Ethik Overnight in Kathmandu.
Today, after early morning breakfast, we begin a tour of many of Kathmandu's most historical and spiritual attractions. Some of these monuments are considered World Heritage sites, such as the Historic Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, the famous "Temple of the Monkeys" (Swayambhunath) and the Buddhist Sanctuary (Boudhanath), which is one of the biggest stupas in the world. In the early evening, there will be a pre-trip discussion during which we will meet our trek leader and other team members. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Today we will take a private vehicle from Kathmandu to Besisahar and from there we will take a jeep to Syange. We will witness beautiful landscapes, rivers and waterfalls on the way. We will rest at Syange tonight.
Today, after breakfast, we will begin to walk gradually along the beautiful Marsyangdi River. This hike will be slightly ascending and we will find the beautiful waterfalls before reaching Tal. We'll rest in Tal tonight.
We will continue our walk admiring the view of the mountains and the waterfalls on the way. Today will be an easy day. After 6 hours of trek, we will arrive at Chame, the headquarters city of Manang. It has lodges, internet cafes, trek-gear shops, a health post and a bank if you need any. We will spend the night in Chame.
After early morning breakfast, we continue our trek to Upper Pisang. On the way, we will walk through the dense forest, and the Marsyangdi River and discover beautiful panoramic views of the meadows and mountains. Finally, after 6 hours of walking, we will reach Upper Pisang, where we will see a majestic Annapurna II high in the south. Overnight in Upper Pisang.
There are two trails in Manang. We continue our hike by following the path of our choice through the big hills, the jungle and the wetlands. On the way, we can see beautiful landscapes, stupas and a school of lamas. After 7 hours of walking, we will arrive at Manang. Overnight in Manang.
We spent a day acclimatizing to Manang. There is no shortage of options for hiking around Manang. The Gangapurna Lake and Glacier are just 15 minutes’ walk away. If you want to explore the local cultural heritage, there are several gompas and monasteries in the smaller villages around Manang. The most notable and one of the oldest in the region is the monastery in Braga, about 45 minutes’ walk from Manang. Overnight in Manang.
After acclimating to Manang, we continue our adventure to Lake Tilicho, located on the west end of Manang, following the path to the river. After crossing Khangsar Khola, we arrive in Khangsar and head towards the village region, still traditionally Tibetan and known as the last village in Nepal. Night at Kangsar Village.
We continue from Khangsar by a large path. The road ahead follows a recently built path towards a high mountain range. We meet the two trails on the way. A trail maintains altitude, and crosses the slopes to a place where the valley is narrow; the other continues to climb towards the ridge line. The first is the old road and it is much more difficult because it is very steep; the latter is the new path that follows a completely different path. We continue on the new trail, we reach a high ridge and descend on the slopes of the sides of the main valley. In its lower part, there is a stream. On the other side is a building called the Tilicho Base Camp, at an altitude of 4,200 m. Night at Tilicho Lake Base Camp.
Our trip starts early in the morning after breakfast while we try to avoid wind and rain. From base camp to Tilicho Lake, it takes another 3-4 hours. Tilicho Lake is a cold and arid place in the afternoon and is the highest lake in the world. After spending some time around Tilicho Lake, we will return to base camp in the same way. Night at Tilicho Lake Base Camp.
After breakfast, we continue to walk. We climb steadily through Tenki Manang, leaving the Marsyangdi valley. Continuing through the Jarsang Khola valley, we arrive at Yak Kharka at 4,000 m where we will spend the night.
After a two-hour ascent, the trail descends to cross the Marshyangdi River at 4,310 m. Then we climb to Thorong Phedi at 4,450m, where decent guest houses have been built in recent years. Overnight at Thorong Phedi.
Today is a long journey that starts before dawn at 4 am to reach the pass at 9 am to 10 am. Otherwise, the weather will greatly affect the trip, especially at Thorong La Pass. Then we climb a regular route quite easy to follow. However, some problems may occur due to altitude and snow. The crossing of the pass often causes terrible problems if it is covered with thick snow. After four hours of climbing to the neck marked by chortens and prayer flags, we will be rewarded with breathtaking views from the top of the pass. Another four hours of walking will take us to the sacred village of Muktinath. Overnight at Muktinath.
We head for Eklebhatti, then we follow the Kaligandaki River to Jomsom. Jomsom is a big city with many facilities. It is also the headquarters city of the entire district of Mustang. We will spend the night at Jomsom.
A 30-minute flight in the morning takes us to Pokhara from Jomsom. Once we arrive at the Pokhara airport, we head towards the hotel where we can rest for a while. In the evening we can have a short walk around the few lakes. Night in Pokhara.
After breakfast, a full-day sightseeing tour of Pokhara city begins. You will visit Bindhabasini Temple which lies in the centre of the religious old bazaar, Davis Fall locally known as Patale Chhango, Gupteshwor Cave which holds special value to Hindus since a phallic symbol of Lord Shiva is preserved, Seti River Gorges Which is one of the natural wonders of Pokhara and the Tibetan Refugee Camps.
After breakfast, we will bid farewell to the beautiful northern skyline of Pokhara and head to Kathmandu. It will be a trip on the banks of the river with a magnificent view of the hills and the rural Nepalese way of life. Once we arrive in Kathmandu, we take a break or do some souvenir shopping. To celebrate the success of our trip, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.
The trip concludes here. Our airport representative will drop you at the international airport in Kathmandu 3 hours before your scheduled flight departure from Nepal.
