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Looking for an unforgettable adventure with your brothers, dad, or best friends? The Tilicho Brotherhood Trek is just the journey you need. It’s like the famous Annapurna Circuit, but with an extra twist: not only do you conquer the mighty Thorong La Pass (5,416 m), but you also take a quiet detour to the stunning turquoise Tilicho Lake.
Get ready for rugged trails, ancient paths, and valleys straight out of a postcard. Along the way, you’ll be rewarded with jaw-dropping views of snow-covered peaks, crashing waterfalls, and wild landscapes that make you feel alive.
This epic trip is 17 days in total, including 13 days of trekking. You’ll cover an impressive distance of 125 km (78 mi), with plenty of time to bond, explore, or simply chill out. All accommodations, transportation, and services are sorted, so you can focus 100% on the adventure.
You’ll hike a big chunk of the Annapurna Circuit Trail, including Manang, Tilicho Lake, Thorong La Pass and the holy pilgrimage destination of Muktinath.
Tilicho Lake is something you’ve got to see for yourself. Its turquoise waters mirror the towering peaks around it. The lake is fed by glaciers from Annapurna’s northern slopes and Thorong Peak, making it a sacred spot. Some say it’s the highest lake in the world—and we’ll let you decide when you get there.
We can’t wait for you to join us on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
– Govinda
The Tilicho Brotherhood Trek: An Epic Adventure for Men
Welcome to Nepal! You have arrived at Tribhuvan Airport, the international airport of Kathmandu, Nepal. Our airport transfer is ready to bring us to the hotel in Thamel. This is the traveller’s area of the city, with many hotels, hostels, restaurants, outdoor gear shops and other shops.
airport transfer – hotel
After a good night of sleep and hopefully beating the jetlag, we will meet again for a pre-trip meeting. Today, we will discuss the itinerary and check if we’ve packed everything we need for the trek.
What’s next? You can use this day to adjust to the different time zone, altitude and climate. Also, you can prepare yourself for your trek and do some last shopping’s at one of the many outdoor gear shops around your hotel.
breakfast – hotel
Early morning, at 7 a.m., Govinda arrives at your hotel to pick you up with our jeep, driver and porters. After a 10-hour drive, we’ll reach the village of Chame where we’ll have dinner and spend the night.
Distance: 170 km / 105 mi
breakfast, dinner – mountain lodge
Our trek begins!! The day starts with a trek through a deep forest in a steep and narrow valley and, crossing a river via a long bridge. When we cross another bridge, the view of the soaring Paungda Danda’s rock face really begins to appear. From here, the trail joins to climb to Pisang, which sprawls between 3,200 m and 3,300 m.
Distance: 13 km / 8 mi
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
Today, we continue our trek through the drier upper part of Manang district, cut off from the full effect of the monsoon by the Annapurna Range. People of this region herd yaks and raise crops for a part of the year.
When we leave Pisang, there are alternate trails from the north and the south of the Marsyangdi river which meets up again at Mungji. The southern route by Hongde, with its airstrip (3,325 m), 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 (3,475 m / 11,400 ft) to the nearby Manang (3,540 m / 11,614 ft).
Distance: 18 km / 11 mi
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
Today is a day to relax by spending an acclimatization day in Manang. We can spend the day by going for fine, short hikes and viewing the magnificent sights around the village. By the end of the day, we return to our accommodation for a good meal and sleep.
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
After acclimatizing at Manang, we continue our adventure towards Tilicho Lake! The lake is situated on the west end of Manang following the path down to the river. After crossing Khangsar Khola, we reach Shree Kharka. This area is still very traditionally Tibetan and, it is known as the Last Village of Nepal.
Distance: 10 km / 6.2 mi
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
Today, we trek via a large path and pass a Gompa, a Buddhist monastery. The route ahead follows a quite new path up towards a high ridge. Then, we reach a high crest and descend on switch backs carved out through the screed slopes to a side valley of the main valley. At its bottom is a brook which we cross to the building on the other side that is known as Tilicho Base Camp (4,200 m / 13,780 ft).
Distance: 6 km / 3.7 mi
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
We are going to Tilicho Lake today! The day begins very early in the morning, around 6 a.m. as we try to avoid the wind. From Basecamp to Tilicho lake takes another 3 to 4 hours. Tilicho Lake, claimed as the highest lake of the world, is a cold barren place in the afternoon. After spending some time around Tilicho Lake, we return the same way back to Base Camp as there are no accommodation facilities at Tilicho Lake (4,920 m / 16,142 ft).
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 mi
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
Today, we continue to ascend by nearly 500 meter to Yak Kharka. We climb steadily through Tenki Manang, leaving the Marsyangi Valley. From there, we continue through the Jarsang Khola Valley and reach Yak Kharka (4,000 m / 13,123 ft). From here, we see that herds of yaks and vegetations clearly thin out.
Distance: 15 km / 9.3 mi
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
We ascend for two hours and then descend again to cross the river (4,310 m / 10,532 ft). Then, we climb again to Thorong Phedi (4,450 m / 14,600 ft) where decent guesthouses have been built in the recent years.
Distance: 7 km / 4.5 mi
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
Today’s a big day. We will be crossing one of the world’s highest passes: Thorong La (5,416 m / 17,770 ft)! It is a long day, starting before sunrise at 4 or 5 a.m. to cross the pass by 9 or 10 a.m. before the strong wind comes up. These weather conditions may greatly affect our journey, particularly at Thorong La.
Steeply, we climb on a regular route which is quite easy to follow. However, difficulties may arise due to altitude and snow. About 4 hours of climbing up to the pass, marked by chortens and prayer flags, we will be rewarded with stunning views from the top of the pass. Then another 4 to 5 hours of walking down take us to the holy town of Muktinath.
Muktinath means ‘place of Nirvana’ and is home to the Muktinath temple as well as several monasteries. It is said that all sorrows you feel are relieved when you visit the temple, which is a scared pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists.
Distance: 17 km / 11 mi
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
Today, we trek down to Kagbeni and then follow the Kali Gandaki river to Jomsom (2,700 m). Jomsom is a large town with many facilities. It is also the headquarter and official town for the Mustang district, where all the district government offices are present.
Distance: 17 km / 11 mi
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
We wake up early for the jeep that takes us to Pokhara. This is a relaxed city by a lake, with many restaurants, bars and shops. It’s the perfect place to celebrate our massive personal achievement on completing the grand trek to Tilicho Lake AND crossing the Thorong La Pass!
Distance: 160 km / 100 mi
breakfast – hotel
Today is our contingency day, in case we needed an extra day for our trekking. If we have reached Pokhara as planned, we can spend the day relaxing by the hotel or exploring the city and surroundings.
Things you can do in and around Pokhara:
breakfast – hotel
In the morning, you’ll take a scenic 30-minute flight back to Kathmandu. During the flight, you’ll get a front-row view of the stunning Himalayas. Once we land, we’ll take you straight to your hotel.
You can spend the day exploring the sights of Kathmandu, doing some souvenir shopping, or just kicking back and relaxing at your hotel. A tip if you like to explore interesting sights near Thamel:
breakfast – 2x airport transfer – mountain flight – hotel
This will be your last day in Kathmandu. You can grab a taxi and explore more interesting sights, a bit further in the city. Some tips:
breakfast – hotel
This is the final day of your holiday in Nepal, we will bring you back to the international airport. Goodbye friends!!
breakfast – airport transfer
Govinda is the co-founder and co-owner of By Mountain People. He loves going on adventures, both as a guide and as a traveller.
What’s more? Govinda splits his time between Nepal and the Netherlands with his family.
Transport, accommodation, meals, and a great trek. No stress, just enjoyment!
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