On arrival at Kathmandu international airport get transferred to hotels after being received by our guides and staff, at hotel check-in and join in for a group briefing regarding treks and other useful information, with a welcome dinner.

In the morning drive leads you away and beyond Kathmandu Valley heading to low warmer areas with views of snowcapped mountains to reach at mid Nepal. It lies in the Lamjung district and Besisahar is headquarter of the Lamjung District. Probably, It takes 7- 8 hours by local bus and you can explore the courtyard with the scenic view of the Trishuli river and thrilling mountain ranges.

After breakfast, we will drive to Chame. The Chame is the headquarter of the Manang district. The road is unpaved but you can see the stunning sceneries of multi-authentic villages, various landscapes, pine forests, hills, and a delightful view of mount Manaslu. The road goes through the Marshyangdi river and it’s a challenging drive to Chame. From Jagat, the walk begins on a winding path to Chamje. Chame is a small mountain town located at 2670 m above sea level and where you spend a beautiful time.

From here onward walk gets closer to the mountains heading through a beautiful alpine forest, following the Masrsyangdi River upstream to Bhratang village, as the walk heads uphill into pine trees to Dhukure Pokhari a small place with few lodges and views of Chulu and Pisang Peak, after a lunch stop walk downhill to Pisang village for an overnight stop.

Pisang village is situated within Manang valley facing stunning mountain views where altitude gains slowly from here onward, as the walk takes you to a short uphill with views of Annapurna II and III, Gangapurna Chulu, and Pisang peak to reach Hongde village. From here tree lines fades to barren, arid landscapes as the walk leads to Manang village on route visit the old Braga monastery enriched with Buddhist relics, ancient wall painting, frescos, and a superb panorama of Annapurna Himalaya, from here an hour’s walk to Manang village.

Rest day for acclimatization before heading to high altitude and crossing the Thorang La Pass. We would highly recommend the hike to Gangapurna Lake or Ice Lake. Even though Ice lake is quite difficult to get it lies at 4430m above sea level. Besides, explore Manang village beneath towering Annapurna and Gangapurna peaks, a nice short hike up for views of Gangapurna Glacier and the Manang glacial Lake.

Today we are heading to Khangsar village from Manang village. Probably the Khagsar village is the last village during the trip and where you can immerse the charming culture with beauties of the Annapurna Himalayas. The trial is flat with gradually up and should climb around 3 hundred meters. Along the trail you will have memorizing scenarios with a marvelous valley. It takes a maximum of 4 hours to get at Khangsar village.

Today’s quite a short walk but strenuous walking day towards the Tilicho Base Camp. In the morning enjoy the marvelous Annapurna peaks and with beautiful valley. The trailhead to through Sirikharka (4050 m) and it’s a brilliant place to discover nature.  The trail is sleepy and quite dangerous so you should walk carefully.

In the early morning hike to the world’s Tilicho Lake (4919m) and it takes 2/3 hours to get to the lake. Where you can extremely explore the mesmerizing lake with the Annapurna Himalayas. The lake is frozen in the winter season and it looks splendid as well. After completely visiting Tilicho Lake the trail goes to Shrikharka. It’s located between the Tilicho base camp and Yark Kharka.

After having breakfast at Siri Kharka we'll head to Ledar. It's attractive gradually up through with unexpectedly scenarios of diverse peaks with a beautiful valley of Manag. However, you will extremely soak into the diverse sparkling peak of Annapurna with other peaks too. You will reach at Ledar within 3 to 4 hours from Siri Kharka. When you reach at Ledar after the tea break you should climb at least 2 -3 hundred meters and it's very helpful to adjust to high altitudes.

The morning walk leads closer to Thorang-la as the walk progresses crossing a bridge and then a climb along the Jarjung River. After that, the trail leads to Thorung Phedi where you can have lunch. After lunch a maximum strenuous uphill to Thorong High Camp. It's the best place to test your buddy in high altitude for a night.

Starting early morning to reach the highest point of the great adventure, after breakfast climbs up to Thorang-la at above 5,416 m marked with Buddhist prayer flags, which offers superb vista landscapes and snowcapped peaks, from here a long descent to Muktinath at 3,800m. Muktinath is a holy place for both Hindus and Buddhists, the word Muktinath literally means ‘the place for Nirvana or Liberation’.

Today you must long drive to Pokhara. It’s challenging with a scenic drive to explore the various views with the magnificent place too. After Muktinath, the rest of the journey is easier with an exciting scenic drive all the way downhill with a big drop of 1,200m to Kaligandaki River valley. The ride leads at Kaligandaki River valley, from here heading past Jomsom, the headquarters town of Mustang area with a small airstrip above Kaligandaki River, through Marpha village, as the drive leads downhill past Lete. The journey enters between Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna forming world’s deepest gorge of the Kali-Gandaki River.

Morning from Pokhara an exciting overland journey back to Kathmandu by tourist A/C bus en route to observe farm villages and towns and then reach Kathmandu by afternoon.  The rest of the day is free for individual activities and shopping for souvenirs. Except for the tourist bus, you can take a short flight back to Kathmandu.

Morning from Pokhara an exciting overland journey back to Kathmandu by tourist A/C bus en route to observe farm villages and towns and then reach Kathmandu by afternoon.  The rest of the day is free for individual activities and shopping for souvenirs. Except for the tourist bus, you can take a short flight back to Kathmandu.

The altitude of the Tilicho Lake is 4919 m from sea level and the altitude of the Thorong La Pass is 5416 m from sea level. The Thorong La Pass is the highest point on the Annapurna Circuit Trek 12 Days trip followed by an altitude of the Tilicho Lake. Please note that you don’t have to stay overnight in the places above 4900 m altitude on this trekking trip.

Tilicho Lake (4919 m) is in the outskirts of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Therefore, trekkers have to take the itinerary and route of the Annapurna Circuit Trek to reach the Tilicho Lake. Trekking starts whether from Chame or Jagat. Travelers have to take the bus or jeep to Besisahar and further travel by four wheel jeep to Chame. Nowadays, trekkers can start the trek directly from Pisang or Manang Village as well because of the construction of the road in the area. Once you are in the Manang Village, you can take the route to Tilicho Lake via Yak Kharka on the Annapurna Circuit Trek followed by Khagsar and Siri Kharka.

The trekking trail of the Annapurna Circuit Trek 12 Days is one of the commercial trekking routes of Nepal. It is also the oldest trekking route and it is well trodden for years now. However, the trekking route to the Tilicho Lake Trek was off the beaten few years back. Nowadays, the trek route to the Tilicho Lake from Yak Kharka is also full of tea houses and eateries. There are no tea houses and eateries on the shores of the lake but there are few quality lodges and eateries in the Tilicho Base Camp. The Annapurna Circuit Trek is fully equipped with the quality tea houses and wide varieties of menu items ranging from Indian, Chinese, Continental to Nepalese dishes. It costs about 35 $ to 50 $ per day for the meals and about 5 $ to 15 $ per night for an accommodation.

The Annapurna Circuit Tilicho Lake Trek is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). Therefore, trekking trip requires the ACAP permit that costs NRs. 3000 to foreigners and NRs. 1500 to SAARC citizens.

The best time to do the Annapurna Circuit Trek 12 Days is during the months of spring (March - May) and autumn (September - November) season. The upper section of the Annapurna Circuit Trek is in the rain shadow area where little rainfall allow trekkers to trek during the monsoon season as well. The biggest hurdle to do the monsoon trek in Annapurna Circuit Trek route is the start of the trek. In the lower altitude places, heavy rainfall may disturb the travel plans. It is good to avoid the winter season for safety but some adventure enthusiasts can do the winter trekking as well if they are with an experienced local trekking guide.

The journey of the Annapurna Circuit Tilicho Lake Trek is comparatively moderate trekking trip. There are not much steep uphill and downhill sections in the trekking route. The most difficult day of the trekking is during the Tilicho Lake Hike from Tilicho Base Camp and during the crossing of the Thorong La Pass. While crossing the Thorong La Pass, trekkers have to start the trek early in the morning around 4 am and walk uphill for about 3 to 4 hours to reach the top. Upon reaching the top, trekkers have to again walk for about 3 to 4 hours to reach Muktinath. In an average, trekkers have to walk for about 6 to 7 hours every day. Therefore, you must possess strong physical fitness level and good stamina with strong cardio - vascular abilities.

You can prepare for the Annapurna Circuit Trek in terms of budgeting, physical fitness, essential packing list and mental strength. There are different tips to minimize the difficulty level of the trekking trip. Make sure that you are well hydrated and eat well. Don’t pace too fast or too slow! Maintain the uniform pace for the trek and get help from the trekking poles. Build up the fitness level at least one month prior to the trek. Do exercises like running, walking, cycling, and swimming for one month to build the fitness level. Pack only the essentials like rain coat, sweat pants t - shirts, sunblock cream, hat, trekking poles, sturdy hiking boots, layered jackets, sleeping bag, water bottle, power bank, and permit. The cost of the trekking package starts from 825 $ per person for larger group of more than 11 pax and solo trekker package costs about 1025 $. Besides the cost of the trekking package, you must allocate funds for tips, personal shopping, and emergency purposes.

There are two ways to cross the Thorong La Pass. The first one is by staying overnight in the Thorong High Camp and the second one is by staying at the Thorong Phedi. The altitude of the Thorong High Camp is about 4880 m from sea level. It is difficult to stay overnight in such altitude but it becomes a lot easier to climb the Thorong La Pass from the high camp. However, staying at the Thorong Low Camp is comfortable as it is in 4460 m altitude but it takes long for trekkers to cross the Thorong La Pass from Phedi. The choice is yours and if you are trekking with the guide then he or she will decide where to stay according to your conditions.

Yes, there is risk of altitude sickness in the Annapurna Tilicho Lake Trek but it can be avoided easily by following the correct itinerary plans. Proper acclimatization helps trekkers to avoid the risk of altitude sickness. Don’t skip the acclimatization activity in the Manang Village before embarking to the higher altitude places. The itinerary of the Nepal High Trek is very flexible and allows trekkers to maintain their own pace for quick acclimatization. Therefore, trekking with us is less risky. Make sure that you get a travel insurance before the trek for safety.

There are few side trips possible from the Annapurna Circuit Trek route. This short Annapurna Circuit Trek package consists of Tilicho Lake Hike as well which is also the famous side trip to do from the trek route. Trekkers can also add the Meso Kanta La Pass (5320 m) from Tilicho Lake Trek route and enter the Manang Valley by skipping Thorong La Pass. Another popular side trip from the trek route is the Nar Phu Valley Trek. However, trekkers have to get additional special restricted area permit for the Nar Phu Valley Trek in Nepal.

The total distance of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake Trek is around 230 kilometers. The classical Annapurna Circuit Trek is longer than the modern trekking route. Normally, it takes about 16 to 20 days to complete the trekking course. The travel planners of the Nepal High Trek are highly experienced and they have trekked the route thousands of times. Therefore, our itinerary consists of 9 days of trekking and 5 days of city including arrival and departure days.

There is no strict government rule regarding the trekking guide and porter hire for the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Nepal allows travelers to drift on their own without guide in many places and trekking routes except in the restricted regions. Therefore, you don’t have to hire a guide if you prefer to trek independently. It is highly recommended to hire a trekking guide and porter for the trek. Having a trekking guide means that you get authentic information about the place and the guide helps you to interact with the locals comfortably. In addition, a guide can also help you navigate safely in the difficult terrain. Leave all your trip logistic hassles to your trekking guide and trekking agency. Simply, enjoy the trek safely without any kinds of hiccups!