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The Tilicho Lake Trek is a grand trek around the Annapurna massif, just like the famous Annapurna Circuit Trek. However, this route offers you the high mountain pass of Thorong La (5,416 m) AND a quiet detour to this spectacular lake.
It is a unique blend of adventure and serenity as you traverse rugged terrains, ancient trails, and picturesque valleys. Along the way, you will be rewarded with gorgeous views of snow-capped peaks, cascading waterfalls, and rough landscapes.
You can complete this trek in 14 days. For that, you will follow a big part of the Annapurna Circuit Trail around the entire Annapurna massif.
You just need to see Tilicho Lake with you own eyes. It is a lake with turquoise waters that reflect the surrounding majestic mountains. The lake collects the glacial melt of the entire northern slopes of Annapurna and the Thorong Peak. People even claim that this is both a holy and the highest lake in the world.
Of course! Actually, we encourage you to do so. Because that makes this trek unique and truly YOURS! Obviously, you don’t need to figure it all out by yourself. We are here for you. Do you want to speed up and make it more challenging? Or, take it easy and slow? Just contact us, and let us know what you’d like to do.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
– Govinda & Lilly
Welcome in Nepal! We will pick you up at the international airport in Kathmandu, and bring you to your hotel in the backpackers area of Thamel.
airport transfer – hotel
After a good night of sleep and hopefully beating the jetlag, we will meet again for a pre-trip meeting. We will introduce you to your mountain guide and we will discuss the itinerary. If you have any questions or requests, please let us know.
Note: please, make sure you bring your passport to the meeting, along with your travel insurance policy. Carry both the original policy and a copy for us. We wil also request you to clear the due balance, if any.
What’s next? You can use this day to adjust to the different timezone, altitude and climate. Also, you can prepare yourself for your trek and do some last shoppings at one of the many outdoor gear shops around your hotel.
breakfast – hotel
Early morning, at 7 a.m., your mountain guide (and porter) arrives at your hotel to pick you up. After a 7 to 8 hour drive, we will reach Besi Sahar (760 m) where we spend the night.
breakfast – bus – dinner – mountain lodge
Today, our mountain trek really begins! We start walking from Besi Sahar where the trail makes a climb to Khudi (790 m), the first Gurung village. Interesting to know is that many of the famous Nepalese Gurkha soldiers are Gurungs. When we continue from Khudi, the trail offers fine views of Himalchuli and Peak 29 (Ngadi Chuli). We climb to Bhulbhule (825 m) and then via Ngadi to Lampata nearby Bahundanda (1,310 m).
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
Today, we begin the day by following a steep trail down to Syange (1,070 m). Along the way, depending on the season, we can see a large waterfall. After crossing the Marsyangdi river via a suspension bridge, we walk along the river to the stone village of Jagat before we climb through the forest to Chamje (1,410 m).
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
Now the day begins with a rocky trail uphill along the Marsyandi river all the way to Tal (1,675 m). This village in a wide, flat valley is the first in the district of Manang. From here our trek continues up and down to Dharapani (1,890 m). When we approach Bagarchhap (2,160 m), we can see the typical Tibetan flat roofed stone houses surrounded by apple orchards and maize fields.
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
We climb up to Tyanja (2,360 m), and then we continue through the forest near the river to Kopar (2,590 m). As we reach Chame, the headquarters of the Manang district, we can have rewarding views of Annapurna II. This town has two hot springs, where you can soak and relax yourselves from the trekking so far. Along this route you will be introduced to a local community of which the residents migrated from Tibet centuries ago.
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
This day starts with a trek through a deep forest in a steep and narrow valley and, crossing a river via a long bridge (2,910 m). When we cross another bridge at 3,040 m, 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).
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) to the nearby Manang (3,540 m).
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
Today, is a day to relax by spending an acclimatization day in Manang. This day we can spend 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 Khangsar and head towards the village region. This area is still very traditionally Tibetan and, it is known as the Last Village of Nepal.
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).
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).
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). From here, we see that herds of yaks and vegetations clearly thin out.
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
We ascend for two hours and then descend again to cross the river (4,310 m). Then, we climb again to Thorong Phedi (4,450 m) where decent guesthouses have been built in the recent years.
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
This is a big day. We are crossing world’s highest pass: Thorong La (5,416 m)! 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 four 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 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.
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
Today, we trek down to Kagbeni and then follow the Kali Gandaki river to Jomsom (2,720 m). Jomsom is a large town with many facilities. It is also headquarter and official town for the Mustang district, where all the district government offices are present.
breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge
We wake up early for the bus that takes us to Pokhara.
breakfast – bus – hotel
We take the bus back to Kathmandu. There, we will bring you back to your hotel.
breakfast – bus – hotel
Option: To save time, you can opt for a 30-minute flight to Kathmandu, instead of taking the bus. This would give you the opportunity to explore the city. Contact us for more details.
If this is the final day of your holiday in Nepal, we will bring you back to the international airport. Goodbye friends! We hope that we will meet each other again in the future.
breakfast – airport transfer
Together, we set a goal and we'll do everything we can to make it happen!
Govinda & Lilly tailor these sample trips to your preferences and budget.
With memories that last a lifetime!
Our guests give us 5-star ratings on Tripadvisor.
Merel L07/04/2024Best organisation to book your hike We loved our 4-day trip to the Muldai Viewpoint and Poonhill! By Mountain People suggested to do the Muldai Viewpoint combined with Poonhill in 4 days. The hike to Muldai was a climb but doable for everyone with basic condition. We walked to the Muldai top practically on our own with amazing viewpoints during the hike. From the Poonhill viewpoint there were lots of other tourist but also a little bit more comfort so we loved the combination. Especially our guide Pratap made the trip unforgetable. He knows everything about the nature, birds and animals. By Mountain People helped us with the preparation and fixed everything for us. Permits, food, overnight homestays etc. Would recomment to everyone. Was the best four days of our trip to Nepal
Angela M17/03/2024Crafting Memories with By Mountain People in Annapurna When we decided to go to Nepal for our holidays, we knew we wanted to do a trekking in the Annapurna region, but we didnt know from where to start. That's when we met Govinda, who helped us with everything related to our trip, providing a personalised proposal for the 4 days we had, giving us all the information needed, and being a reliable and helpful point of contact during our whole journey before, during and after our trek. In the end we went for the Mulde peak trek, a less crowded route that exceded all expectations. Our guide Ganesh, was the best guide we could have wished for, always with a smile he knew every little secret of the Annapurna range, explaning not only the different routes, but also about the plants & animals present in the area, and about Nepal and its traditions. He was very caring and he made our experience unforgettable. We can only recommend to do a trekking with By Mountain People, they know what they are doing, accomodation and food was included in the total price and we didn't have to worry about anything. Having a guide in the Annapurnas is really an added value, and we can't wait to be back with a little extra time to do the Annapurna circuit next time. If you're looking to get most out of your experience in the Himalayas, and for a personalised and personal approach, then By Mountain People is the right party to team up with.
Jess M07/03/2024Keep your head in the clouds but your feet on the trail. The hard miles brought big smiles on this trip with By Mountain People. They were flexible, positive, and really just a joy to be with. Made for a fun and easy trip. I continue to recommend By Mountain People to both friends and family if they have a thought of doing a trek in Nepal. Many Thank You Guys!
Sean G18/02/2024Great people for a great adventure! I can't say enough about how well everything was orchestrated. Our guide and porter were wonderful and very friendly. Nepal is a beautiful country with very friendly people. It's been a few months now and I still think of the trekking almost daily. If I ever have another opportunity to hike in Nepal, I would be blessed! Thank you Govinda!
Anouk K10/12/2023Jiri - Everest Base Camp My friend and I booked a 20+ day trek with Lily & Govinda from mid-nov to begin-dec. We loved their personal approach in arranging the trip, from preparations and choosing which trek to go for, to regular check-ins during and a great feedback/debrief session afterwards! We started from Jiri instead of the popular way of flying to Lukla. That was a great experience and an absolute recommend to start lower if you have time!
eliza b19/11/2023Magnificent slow trek and bird watching to Khopra Danda! Magnificent trek!! In October 2023 the two of us did this beautiful trek organized by BMP. It all started 6 months earlier, when I was looking for a company that would put people first in organizing treks in Nepal. What a nice coincidence when I learned that Govinda, a former language student of mine, happened to be the owner of By Mountain People, an organization that had customized and small scale treks as its core business! We had very nice and informative preparative talks about our wishes. Being almost 70 years of age, we wanted to have sufficient possibilities to adapt our journey on the way, in case the altitude would cause problems. Also we wanted to visit places off the beaten track and see something of village life on the way. Govinda suggested the Khopra Danda trek with some extra days so we could shorten the daily walking distance. This was a very good advice and he organized it very well! We met Govinda again in Kathmandu before we started out. He introduced us to our guide Pratap Gurung. Pratap was really a very excellent guide!! His knowledge of the natural surroundings and especially of the birds were truly amazing!! He was very attentive to our wellbeing and patiently answered our many questions. He taught us so much about the different species and habitats of all the birds he would point out to us. His experience made that we always felt safe and well looked after. Also we learnt that Govinda stayed regularly in contact to ensure that everything went well. Following our 2 weeks of trekking, BMP also organized an extra 4 days visit to Chitwan National Park. Here we stayed in the nice Safari Club hotel. Her also we were very happy with our guide Yadav Duwadi He is a nice and calm guide with a lot of knowledge and very attentive. We absolutely recommend this “slow trekking” by BMP! Specially for senior travellers such as us, but also for everybody who wants to fully enjoy the beauty of the Himalayas. A guide such as Pratap Gurung was perfectly suited for this type of trekking. Thank you BMP!! Thijl and Linda
Gira_sv12/09/2023Tilicho Lake and Annapurna Circuit I went on a 19-day trek on the Annapurna Circuit. I had great communication with Lily and Govinda before arriving in Nepal and throughout my trip. They shared with me all the information that I needed. Ganesh, and a porter, Nima. Both of them were incredibly kind. They literally held my hand through the toughest parts of the trek and we also had lots of fun playing cards, sharing anecdotes and trying to learn each other’s languages. The Annapurna circuit itself is incredibly beautiful and diverse. Since I arrived at the end if the monsoon season there were still some rains and landslides which made the days at lower altitudes a little tricky but once we started to ascend the weather changed and we had wonderful views of the mountains on this range and visited several Tibetan towns and Gompas. Overall, I had a great experience with them I would take a trip again with them in a heartbeat. Thanks, Ganesh, Nima, Lily, and Govinda!
Explore5828402007330/07/2023Small but super professional trekking company! Wish we could go back already! Govinda and Lilly just went above and beyond for my friend and I!! Shortly before arriving in Nepal, I started experiencing knee pain. I got so worried about the trek, but they changed our itinerary without any fuss whatsoever. They got us the most caring and knowledgeable trekking guide Ganesh. And they checked in with me frequently during the trek, to check if I was doing ok and enjoying. After the trek they even organized a very nice jungle safari to Chitwan NP for us. Their great tips and flexible attitude before and during our trip made it a HUGE succes!! Govinda and Lily thank you so much for your patience and helpful advice. I will be back for sure!Jonatan D27/02/2020Otrolig resa i Nepal Vi hade en jättebra resa i Nepal! Govinda på By Mountain People var superhjälpsam med att tillgodese våra önskemål och att skräddarsy en resplan som passade oss perfekt. Han såg till att vi fick med alla våra önskemål. Vi hann med vandring i de fantastiska bergen samt en otrolig dag med fågelsådning strax utanför Kathmandu. Jag kan verkligen rekommendera By Mountain People om du vill ha en unik upplevelse!
Gabriel G22/02/2020Father and son Nepal trek By mountain people organised an incredible trip through Gokyo Lake and EBC. Everything ran smoothly, they took care of all the little details and genuinely care about you and your experience throughout. Handled everything with a smile and extreme professionalism - can not recommend them enough! Our amazing guide Ganesh is the reason we can look back on the trek successfully, he helped us at every step and is an all round great guy - be sure to ask for Ganesh he will make your trip unforgettable I cannot wait to book again:)
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