Annapurna & Tilicho Lake Trekking Holiday - 18 Days
ANNAPURNA & TILICHO LAKE TREKKING HIGHLIGHTS:
- Beautiful combination: Annapurna Circuit with a side trip to Tilicho Lake.
- Tilicho Lake (4919m) is the highest lake for its size in the world.
- Visit Muktinath, a famous sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists.
- Enjoy the natural scenery of Manang.
- Cross Thorong La (5416m): highest point of the Annapurna Circuit.
- Wonderful region for birdwatching.
- Impressive suspension bridges swinging high over rivers.
- Breathtaking vistas and spectacular views of the Himalayas.
- Scenic flight from Jomsom to Pokhara.
Day 01. WELCOME TO NEPAL
Upon arrival in Kathmandu, our friendly representative will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign displaying your name. He will then drive you to your hotel.
Depending on your time of arrival, you are free to relax or explore the city.
Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel.
Day 02. KATHMANDU SIGHTSEEING AND TREK BRIEFING
After breakfast, we will take you on a sightseeing tour in Kathmandu with our private city guide - by private car / van. We will visit:
After the sightseeing tour, we will conduct a pre-departure briefing.
Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 03. DRIVE FROM KATHMANDU TO CHAMJE (1430m)
Early in the morning, we will drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar via Dumre by private vehicle. Then, we will drive to Chamje (starting point of the trek) by local jeep.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 04. TREK FROM CHAMJE TO DHARAPANI (1960m) | ≈ 5 hours
Our first trekking day. We will walk through the pine and rhododendron forest up to Tal, the first village in the Manang District. Then, we will continue our trek to Dharapani along the Marshyangdi River.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 05. TREK FROM DHARAPANI TO CHAME (2710m) | ≈ 6 hours
We will follow the Marshyangdi River and trek from Dharapani to Chame, capital of the Manang district, through the beautiful pine forest.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 06. TREK FROM CHAME TO UPPER PISANG (3310m) | ≈ 6 hours
We will continue our trek from Chame to Upper Pisang. We will walk through the valley and witness the stunning view of the beautiful Paungda Danda rock face (the Gateway to Heaven). We will stop for lunch at Dhukur Pokhari before reaching Upper Pisang.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 07. TREK FROM UPPER PISANG TO MANANG (3540m) | ≈ 7 hours
It'll be a long trekking day. We will continue our trek through the upper part of the Manang District, from Upper Pisang to Manang. The landscape will change and we will see clear panoramic views of the Annapurna range.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 08. MANANG - ACCLIMATIZATION DAY
The key to a successful trek is a proper acclimatization. Today, we will stay in Manang. Short hike to the Gangapurna Lake and visit of a Buddhist Gompa.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 09. TREK FROM MANANG TO KHANGSAR (3756m) | ≈ 3-4 hours
We will leave the Annapurna circuit trail and continue our trek up to the village of Khangsar.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 10. TREK FROM KHANGSAR TO TILICHO BASE CAMP (4140m) | ≈ 5 hours
Witness the stunning views of the valley as you trek up to the Tilicho Base Camp.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 11. TILICHO LAKE EXPLORATION (4919m) AND TREK BACK TO TILICHO BASE CAMP
Hike to the Tilicho Lake, the highest lake for its size in the world (4919m). Enjoy the spectacular views of Tilicho Lake and the surrounding peaks. Hike back to Tilicho Base Camp.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 12. TREK FROM TILICHO BASE CAMP TO YAK KHARKA (4020m) | ≈ 5-6 hours
We will trek from Tilicho Base Camp to Yak Kharka and join the Annapurna circuit trail. We will enter the Jarsang Khola Valley.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 13. TREK FROM YAK KHARKA TO THORONG PHEDI (4540m) | ≈ 3-4 hours
Short hike today (3-4 hours). We will trek from Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi via Letdar. We will rest in the afternoon in order to be ready for tomorrow's challenge: crossing the "Thorong La Pass".
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
We will cross Thorong La Pass, the highest point of the Annapurna Circuit (5416m) and the most challenging part of our trek. Exceptional vistas on the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs and Mustang high altitude deserts.
Then, we will continue our trek down to Muktinath. Temples and religious shrines are the major attractions of this holy place. Muktinath is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. In Muktinath, if you have the courage to do so, you can follow Hindu devotees and take a holy bath under the 108 chilled fountains (Muktidhara).
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Accommodation: Tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 16. FLIGHT FROM JOMSOM TO POKHARA*
Scenic flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. Free time in the afternoon.
*The mountain weather in Nepal is always unpredictable and the flight from Jomsom to Pokhara may be delayed or canceled due to the bad weather. If our flight is cancelled, we will drive to Pokhara (full day drive).
Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 17. DRIVE FROM POKHARA TO KATHMANDU
Scenic drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist bus. In the afternoon, you will have some free time to relax or explore the city.
In the evening, we will have our farewell dinner at a local restaurant, where you will also enjoy a Nepali cultural dance show.
Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and Farewell Dinner.
Day 18. DEPARTURE
After a fun-filled trekking holiday, our journey ends. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed your trip. We will take you to the Tribhuvan International Airport. If you have time and would like to extend your stay in Nepal, we would be happy to offer our recommendations.
Meals: Breakfast.
- Rucksack or duffle bag.
- Daypack.
- Outdoor clothing: Outdoor clothing should be tough and comfortable. Wearing several thin layers is better than a few thick layers.
- Trekking boots, trainers & sport sandals. Lightweight socks & med-heavy wool socks.
- Gaiters.
- Crampons.
- Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder with Water Purification Tablets. We recommend LifeStraw, an advanced water filter bottle.
- Trekking pants & Shorts.
- Trekking shirts.
- Lightweight thermal pants.
- Breathable underwear.
- Fleece jacket.
- Down jacket.
- 1 waterproof jacket.
- Gloves.
- Scarf.
- Sun hat and knit cap.
- Balaclava.
- Trekking poles.
- Sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- Flashlight.
- Sleeping bag.
- Wash kit & Travel towel.
- Medicine (in particular, diarrhea medication): Isotonic Powder/ Basic First Aid Kit/ Bandages/ Diamox/ Oximeter / Ibuprofen for general aches and pains/ Imodium or Pepto Bismol capsules for upset stomach or diarrhea.
- Copies of important documents (passport, vaccination certificates, travel insurance), air tickets & extra passport photos.
- Power adapters.
- Padlocks.
- Camera with extra cards and extra batteries.
- Little trash bags to carry your waste during your trek.
*THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE.
What’s included
- Pre-departure support.
- Airport pick-up & drop-off (private vehicle).
- Experienced and government licensed English speaking trekking guide.
- Porter service (2 members : 1 porter).
- All ground transportation as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Flight ticket: Jomsom to Pokhara.
- Accommodation: 3-Star Hotels on twin sharing basis in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and tea houses during the trek.
- Meals (refer to itinerary for meal plan).
- Trekking permits (ACAP & TIMS).
- Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu (day 2).
- Entrance fees.
- First aid kit/s including a pulse oximeter to monitor your oxygen during your trek.
- Trekking map for the group.
- Little trash bags to carry your waste during your trek.
- Farewell dinner in Kathmandu.
- All government taxes, VAT and service charges.
What’s NOT included
- International flights and extra domestic flights.
- Excess baggage fees (domestic flight).
- Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara (except farewell dinner in Kathmandu).
- Tips for porters, guides & others.
- Personal climbing boots, clothing & equipment.
- Personal expenditures, all bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, nutri-bars, etc.
- Medical examination (if required) & vaccination costs.
- Visa fees.
- Travel and rescue insurance (mandatory).
- Anything else not specified in the ‘what’s included’ section above.
Accommodation:
Kathmandu: 3-Star Hotel.
Pokhara: 3-Star Hotel.
During trek: Tea houses.
The rooms in the tea houses (or guest houses) on the Annapurna Circuit are fairly basic; the quality varies and the comfort becomes more rudimentary as you ascend in altitude. Hot water for showers are sometimes available at an additional cost. At high altitude, hot showers often mean a bucket of warm water. Most of the tea houses have basic access to electricity (power outages are common at high altitudes) and WiFi is not always available (you'll have to pay a fee to have access to the WiFi and plug your devices). The rooms do not have heaters; bring a sleeping bag with you for the nights at high altitudes. Toilets (often squat toilets) are most of the time outside the rooms; tea houses do not always provide toilet paper (at least, not for free); do not forget to bring a couple of rolls with you.
Meals:
Kathmandu: Breakfasts & Farewell Dinner.
Pokhara: Breakfast.
During the trek: Breakfasts, Lunches & Dinners.
Health:
Excellent level of fitness.
Very active walker in good health.
Experience:
You should be able to walk for 5 to 10 hours in a day.
You are required as a condition of booking to have an adequate travel insurance.
Please note: Before your arrival, we will send you a complete detailed brochure regarding Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and how to prevent it. Please read this brochure carefully.
Our local trekking guides are highly experienced in preventing, recognizing and treating altitude sickness. They will monitor your health closely during your trek. A proper acclimatization is not only essential but also a necessary life-saving measure.
