Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho

The journey to the Annapurna circuit starts from your arrival in Kathmandu. After the flight arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be transferred to the hotel. There, you can relax and take a nice shower. The rest of the day can be used to enjoy the city. Thamel is a tourist place in Kathmandu known for the availability of restaurants, pubs, and its nightlife.

Before embarking on our quest to the Annapurna circuit, we take this day to visit various historical and religious sites in the Kathmandu valley. These include the holy temple of Pashupatinath, the largest stupa in the world—Bouddhanath—and the Monkey temple of Swoyambhunath. We will also visit the Kathmandu Durbar Square. All of these are enlisted in UNESCO world heritage sites. In the evening, a briefing about the trek will be done, and we'll get packing for the next day.

After an early morning breakfast at our hotel, we drive to the Chamje village. Located west of the valley, we take Prithvi Highway to get there. Along the way, we can enjoy the view of the hills, Trishuli river, and the green grasslands. Reaching Chamje, we can stroll around the village and interact with people. There is also a waterfall in the area where we can go for an excursion. 7 hours of driving. BLD included.

We trek through the plain grassland. Then we will come across Rhododendron and Bamboo forests. After crossing a long suspension bridge, we reach Bagarchap with the view of the beautiful Mt. Annapurna II. Walking uphill, we cross Tal village and reach Dharapani. 6 hours of walking. BLD Included.

It’s a gradual ascent through the rocky landscape. Then we enter an oak and pine forest to reach Danaque (2,201m). Throughout the way, we can enjoy the view of the Lamjung Himal and Annapurna II and IV in the distance. Crossing the Timang village, we trek some more and reach Chame. 7 hours of walking. BLD included.

Trekking alongside the Marsyangi river we walk up to the narrow valley and enter the Manang region. The view of the Annapurna ranges will keep us company as we trek through the dense forest and open lands. After a gradual uphill trek, we reach Pisang and rest for the night. 7 hours of walking. BLD included.

Initially, it's an uphill trek to Upper Pisang. Then, the trail opens up with the view of Annapurna III and IV. From there, the trail becomes rocky. Through the uneven lands and cold, windy weather, we reach Manang, where we stay overnight at a lodge. 6 hours of walking. BLD included.

Leaving Manang, we head up the hill through the gorge. The view of the Tilicho peak can be seen up on the horizon. We pass through the Gurung settlements with the view of the Annapurna range along the way, and walking alongside the Khangsar river we reach Khangsar village. 4 hours of walking. BLD included.

Today we trek uphill through the thin air, so we have to proceed carefully and slowly. After an open grassland at the beginning of the day, we ascend up the hill through the rocky lands. Then again, we drop down to Tilicho Base Camp. Along the way, we can enjoy the chortens and Gompas. 6 hours of walking. BLD included.

We start our trek early in order to avoid strong winds. The lands are rocky and uneven. After a steep climb through the moraine, we reach our next destination—Tilicho Lake. The view of the surrounding mountains from the area is mesmerizing. The water is clear and still and the lake is worth some great pictures. After spending some time, we climb down to the camp. 6 hours of walking. BLD included.

As we move out of the Marsyangdi Valley, the rocky landscape is substituted by shrubs and greenery. Through the juniper and alpine shrubs, we descend down to Yak Kharka. Yak Kharka is an open land with animals like yaks and sheep grazing. Furthermore, the Annapurna range can be seen acting as a backdrop to the green landscape. 6 hours of walking. BLD included.

This is an uphill walk through the hillside. We also have to cross a long suspension bridge above the Jharsang river. Trekking slowly, we have to be careful of the high altitude. Occasionally, we will be blessed with the wild creatures like the Himalayan griffon or the blue sheep in the area. Climbing up hills, we reach Thorang Phedi. 6 hours of walking. BLD included.

This is the toughest day, as we have to cross the Thorang La (5,416 m)—the pass that connects Manang to the holy land of Muktinath. The air is thin, and we walk slowly through the uneven landscape. The panoramic view from the Thorang pass is majestic, with the snow-clad mountains reflecting the sunrays. Reaching Muktinath, we pay our blessing to the holy temple. 8 hours of trekking.

After enjoying the beautiful sunrise along with the view of Dhaulagiri, we descend down through the rocky trails and grassy lands. Moving alongside the Kali Gandaki river we reach Kagbeni. Then, through the terraced farmland and wide meadows, we reach Jomsom. 7 hours of walking. BLD included.

We take an early morning flight to Pokhara. Through the window of the plane, we can see the view of the majestic western Himalayas. Flying between the great Annapurna range and the Dhaulagiri range is a grandeur on its own. We will have an entire day in the Lake city for boating, cycling, and strolling around the town. At night, we can enjoy the live music in the bars and restaurants around town. 30 minutes of flight. Breakfast included.

After the breakfast at the hotel, we board the flight back to Kathmandu. The rest of the day you have to yourself. It’s either roaming around the city, souvenir shopping, or taking a well-deserved sleep back at the hotel. Treat yourself with the delicacies of Nepal. 30 minutes of flight.

It's the end of the journey. Now you have conquered the Annapurna circuit and visited the grand Tilicho lake as well as the holy temple of Muktinath. Depending on the time of your flight’s arrival, you will be dropped at the Tribhuvan International Airport.