Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake

The Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the oldest and popular trekking trips to do in Nepal. If you include the Tilicho Lake itinerary or Nar Phu Valley Trek itinerary then it would be the perfect amalgamation of travel packages that includes all regions of Manang valley. In this blog, we will delve into the various details of the region, especially the Tilicho Lake and the Annapurna Circuit Trek route. Let’s find out more about the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake via this blog.

If you are planning to do the Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal then consider adding the itinerary of the Tilicho Lake as well. The visit to the highest situated glacial lake at an altitude of 4919 m from sea level will definitely provide you majestic trekking experiences besides mountain vistas. Relish tranquility and serenity while trekking in Nepal’s most coveted trekking route inside the Annapurna region of Nepal.

Now, let’s dissect the minute details of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake! This blog will help you get the most astounding things related to the trek. It will definitely help you plan for the wonderful trekking activities.

Annapurna Circuit Trek

At first, let’s know more about the Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal. This is one of the commercial trekking trips to do in Nepal after the Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, and Langtang Valley Trek. These four trekking routes are the cornerstone of the Nepalese trekking industry. The classical trekking route of the Annapurna Circuit Trek used to include the portion of the Ghorepani Poon Hill section as well upon crossing the Thorong La Pass. However, the construction of road has curtailed the trekking route. It is nice and cozy for locals to have the road connectivity but it has greatly affected the charm of the trek.

The most highlighting activity on this journey is the crossing of the Thorong La Pass. It is one of the longest Himalayan alpine passes that is at an altitude of 5416 m from sea level. Trekkers can relish the breathtaking scenery of mountains from the Dhaulagiri range and Annapurna range. In addition, the trekking route encompasses great villages of the Manang and Mustang valleys of Nepal. Similarly, the trail also traverses through the sacred Muktinath temple and Buddhist nunnery. Overall, the journey of the Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal is regarded as the glorious detour trekking trip that you must not avoid at least once in a lifetime. Please note that you can do the Annapurna Circuit Cycling tour as well. The trail is feasible for cycling activities as well but in some sections you may have to carry the bicycle or get help from porters.

Tilicho Lake Trek

It is possible to do the Tilicho Lake Trek only without doing the detour Annapurna Circuit Trek that includes the crossing of the Thorong La Pass (5416 m). Trekkers often use the this way to visit the lake only and enjoy their stay in the Manang valley. This is the normal itinerary followed by the Nepalese trekkers who wish to visit the world’s highest situated glacial lake only without the hassles of crossing the Thorong La Pass to enter the Mustang Valley. However, the majority of the trekking itinerary of the Tilicho Lake Trek encompasses the itinerary of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. It takes about 6 to 7 hours of walking from the village of Manang to reach the Tilicho Lake Base Camp. Earlier, there were no tea houses or eateries in the base camp but nowadays you can get few tea houses in the base camp. It has made lodging comfortable for the trekkers on the Tilicho Lake Trek journey.

Detailed Itinerary of Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake

Let’s dig deep into the details of the Annapurna Circuit Trek 12 Days with Tilicho Lake itinerary. The first day of trekking starts from the village of Chame. Until this village you will have to take the road trip. Before the construction of the road, the classical Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake used to start from Besisahar but the road connectivity has curtailed the trekking route. Make sure that you are with the right trekking agency to do this trek. Finding the best trekking agency can solve your half of the trekking issues. If you are searching for the right trekking agency to knit an itinerary and organize the trekking trip for you then look no further than the Nepal High Trek. It is the trekking agency that deals expertly with the high altitude trekking and extraordinary hospitality including top notch services. So, let’s find out more about day to day activities that happen during the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake.

Kathmandu to Chame via Besisahar

The total road distance between Kathmandu and Besisahar is about 175 kilometers. It takes about 6 to 8 hours to reach Besisahar from Kathmandu. The highway is under renovation! Therefore, you may have to wait in the traffic jams or you may have to adjust with the multiple stops during this road trip. It is expected to have the better road condition after 2026 in this section. Besisahar to Chame road distance is about 65 to 67 kilometers. The majority of the road is off road and some sections are well cemented. Travelers can enjoy the majestic waterfalls along the trip. The most famous waterfall in this route is the Octopus waterfall. The bumpy jeep drive from Besisahar to Chame becomes joyous due to the presence of the natural attractions present along the route.

Chame to Manang

Trekking starts from Chame village. Some trekkers feel annoyed in this trekking route until they reach the Manang village. It is because the majority of the trekking trail is on the off road where you may encounter various local jeeps and tractors. The construction of road has made it easy for the trekkers to walk but it has also decreased the charm of trekking in the tranquil environment. The trail is well maintained and trekkers can reach the village of Manang after stopping either in Lower Pisang or Upper Pisang.

Acclimatization in Manang with Gangapurna Lake Trek

The journey of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake reaches up to 5416 m from sea level. You will have to spend overnight in the places above 4000 m altitude. Therefore, acclimatization is key for the successful trekking. As a part of the acclimatization activity, trekkers visit gorgeous Gangapurna Lake. Trekkers have to cross the Marshyangdi River and trek uphill to the Gangapurna Lake view point. It is the marvelous sight where you can get the canvas kind of scenery as the alpine forests ends with the snowy mountains. The green turquoise lake of Gangapurna offers breathtaking scenery of mountains like Annapurna III, Gangapurna, and Annapurna II. The scenery of Manang village seen from the lake and vantage point is majestic.

Trek to Tilicho Lake

Trekking from Manang to Tilicho Lake is not possible in a day. Trekkers have to stay overnight in the Tilicho Base Camp. The Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake journey becomes fruitful when you reach the world’s highest situated fresh water glacial lake. Moreover, the trail between Manang and Tilicho Lake Base Camp is enticing as well with the presence of beautiful villages like Khangsar and Shree Kharka including the 700 years old Tara Monastery. The trail is on the landslide risky zone. Therefore, trekkers need to walk carefully from Shree Kharka to base camp. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach the lake from Tilicho Base Camp.

Tilicho Lake to Thorong La Pass

Trekkers have to retrace the same trail via Shree Kharka to Yak Kharka to continue their journey of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with the Thorong La Pass crossing. You don’t have to reach the Khangsar village instead you can trek the upper route directly to Yak Kharka. Trekkers stay overnight either in the Thorong Phedi or in Thorong High Camp. This blogger highly recommend you to stay in the high camp so that you will have easy crossing of the Thorong La Pass. Upon crossing this amazing long Himalayan pass, trekkers enter the Mustang region’s Muktinath temple area. It is simply awesome to enjoy the scenery of two different landscape in this trekking trail.

Can I visit Nar Phu Valley from Annapurna Circuit Trek route?

It is possible to visit Nar and Phu villages during the Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal. However, you must acquire the special restricted area permit to enter these villages. Upon reaching these villages, trekkers have to take the Ngawal route to reach the village of Manang to continue the journey of either Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake or simply the Annapurna Round Trek. Please contact the trekking agency if you wish to add the Nar Phu itinerary because you are not allowed to do independent trekking to Nar Phu and you must trek organized by the trekking agency.

Why you must visit Tilicho Lake?

In the high altitude places of the Annapurna region of Nepal at an altitude of 4919 m, the Tilicho Lake is situated majestically. This is not an ordinary lake rather a glacial lake surrounded by snowy mountains. Moreover, the trekking trail up to the lake consists of countless monasteries, multi – ethnic villages, diverse vegetation, and landscape. In one single trekking journey, trekkers can experience diverse trekking moments. Therefore, you must not skip the chance to visit the Tilicho Lake of Nepal.

Plan your Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake for the months of spring and autumn season. You don’t need to worry about accommodation and logistics while doing the trek. I hope that this blog has helped you to plan for the marvelous trekking journey of the Annapurna Round and Tilicho Lake.