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The Annapurna Tilicho Lake trek lets you visit the spiritual hub of the country Muktinath and look at sights of amazing mountain peaks of Annapurna from one of the most famous vantage points- Poon Hill. It takes you through the lowland villages occupied by Brahmin and Chhetri ethnic people to far off settlements of Manang. Encounter a wide range of culturally rich and ethnically diverse villages and settlements as you walk on the beautiful trekking trails through the very heart of the Annapurna region. Experience the differences on the terrain that ranges from subtropical woodlands to dry arid landscapes as you move higher.
Tilicho Lake is the highlight of the trek which is one of the most winsome destinations for trekking in the country. Tilicho Lake has a distinct emerald glow in its water. Experiencing the best elements of the region, the Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake Trek is sure to leave you with beguiling natural presentations of the region’s wonders. The trekking trails are filled with lush vegetation and sights of the distant mountain peaks augment the feel of surrealism to the trekking journey. The whole experience of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake is unforgettable and brimming with the natural, cultural and Himalayan elegance of one of the most exquisite regions in the country. You can see views of the Annapurna range, the Dhaulagiri range and the Manaslu Himalayas as you walk on paths that reach the far northern peaks all the way to the Tibetan plateaus.
The trekking starts with the ride from Kathmandu to Jagat which is about 8 hours. This ride gives you some insight of the rural people; their lifestyle and their culture.
The walk begins on the rocky trail following the Marshyangdi River and progressively travelling uphill to Tal that lies at 1675 meters. This is the first village in the Manang district. The trail crosses an extensive flat valley, then ascends along a stone staircase at 1860 meters. Continuing the journey, you would be trekking to Dharapani at 1890 meters where you can find stone chortens- a typical character pertaining to religious beliefs of the Tibetan villages from here northwards. Then you will visit the village of Bagarchhap at 2160 meters where you can get the view of typical flat roofed stone houses of local Tibetan design.
The trail takes you to the beautiful village of the Chame. The often rough and rocky trail climbs to Timang first at 2360 meters and continues through lush forests near the river to Kopar that lies at an elevation of 590 meters. Approaching Chame- the headquarters of the Manang district, you will be rewarded by amazing views of Annapurna and two small hot springs by the town.
The trek begins through a forested steep and narrow valley. After crossing a river on a long bridge at 2910 meters, you can look at the view of the Towering Paungda Danda rock face beginning to appear. From here, the trail climbs to Pisang.
The trekkers will continue through the upper part of the Manang district. The terrain of this part resembles a dry and heaving landscape as it is cut off from the monsoon rains by the Annapurna Range. People of this region herd yaks and raise crops for certain parts of the year. They also continue to enjoy special trading rights granted to them in 1784. Leaving Pisang, there are alternate trails north and south of the Marshyangdi River which meet up again at Mungji. The southern route by the Hongde airstrip at 3325 meters 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 at 3475 meters to nearby Manang at 3500 meters.
This day is specially arranged for the trekkers to explore the area of the Manang. You can spend your day sightseeing and viewing the wonderful sights around the village and hiking along the landscapes as you return back to your accommodation.
The day starts early in the morning as the trekkers will head out through the western gates and follow the path down to the river. After crossing the river, you will continue your walk on its southern side through coniferous forests. Then you will reach the Kangsar Village and walk further up towards Siri Kharka and pass a monastery on the way. The uphill walk is tiring but the views of the Gungang Himal and Mount Chulu in the backdrop will ease your mind and body.
The path from Siri Kharka to Tilicho Base camp is not very steep or physically strenuous. But it could be exhausting as you have to walk on narrow paths in a loose scree and landslide prone area. The trail goes through the middle of the landslide area where you can see impressive rock formations along the trail.
After the initial tough ascent, the trail continues to pester along the side of the mountain in a gradual steep incline before reaching the watershed. On the way,you can enjoy yaks and deer grazing along the trail. On the other side is Tilicho Lake, a large spectacular lake nestled at the foot of the north face of Tilicho Peak. The lake was referred to by the leader of the French expedition team as ‘The Great Ice Lake’. The Lake also holds an important place for the Hindus as this sacred lake is featured in one of the holiest texts of the Hindus, The Ramayan. After spending some time at the lake, you will retrace your step and return back to Siri Kharka.
The trail descends towards the Khangsar village. On the way, you will pass Tara Gumba; a thousand year old monastery which is very important to the local people there. Upon reaching the Khangsar Village, you can see that it is unhabituated except for occasional herders during festival times. Following a rock wall out of Khangsar, you will walk further until you reach a seasonal bridge in the Thorang Khola valley. After crossing the river, you will ascend for a while to a plateau. Next, you will be walking until you reach Yak Kharka.
The trail descends to cross the river at 4310 meters, then ascends to Phedi at 4420 meters.
This is the trekking route from the Phedi to the Thorong La Pass. The trail is steep climb and easy to follow. However, problems may occur due to the altitude and snow which can often make the crossing impossible if the pass is covered by snow. It takes about four hours to climb up to the pass marked by chortens and prayer flags. As you reach the top, you will be rewarded by the magnificent view of the entire terrain from the top.
Muktinath is one of the most important sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindu as well as Buddhists pilgrims. Travellers begin their day with a visit to Muktinath temple. From here you can appreciate the wonderful perspectives on Dhaulagiri. There are water gushes which channel into the stream running over the sanctuary. There is additionally a Buddhist Monastery close by. From here a path slides through the town of Jharkot where you can investigate the Jharkot religious community; this is both a Tibetan homegrown clinical focus and an old post. The hike proceeded back to Jomsom . The perspectives on the Kali Gandaki valley and Kagbeni town en route are genuinely overpowering. We pass by Ekle Bhatti and lastly show up at Jomsom.
The travellers will take a flight back to Pokhara. The remaining afternoon can be spent exploring the beautiful landscapes, lakes and hills of the city. You can also roam around the market area of the Pokhara in the night and get yourself immersed in the limelight of the city.
It is time to bid farewell to the Pokhara valley and take a bus ride back to the Kathmandu valley. You can enjoy the beautiful landscapes, river valleys and clear sky through the window of the bus before reaching the city.
The Annapurna Tilicho Trek will let you enjoy the beautiful landscapes, lush vegetations and culturally rich villages. Tilicho Lake and Mt Annapurna are the highlights of this trip so you can ease your tired mind and soul with the majestic and stunning scenarios.
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