Annapurna Circuit & Tilicho Lake Trek

Arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport where you will be met by your representative of Vertical Expedition. You will be escorted to your hotel where there are complimentary welcome drinks and a short briefing with plenty of time to relax from your flight.

Your day will be spent visiting several of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  This is a great day to get a feel of the culture, spirituality and the beauty of the famed Kathmandu Valley. The Valley is larger than the country of Singapore and is known for its temples, shopping and great hospitality.

We travel by private vehicle, leaving the capital city behind as we move into the mountains. We pass the Trisuli and Marshyangdi Rivers, enjoying great views of the canyons and lower mountains of the hilly region of Nepal. Along the way, enjoy views of the snowcapped peaks like Lamjung Himal, Peak 29 and Manaslu while on the road to the village of Jagat where we will spend the night in a local lodge.

We begin trekking uphill as we start into the Annapurna Mountains. We leave the beautiful little village Jagat where the road has ended. From now on, we are working our way upward in elevation as we pass through rhododendron forests and along fast moving mountain streams. At Tal Village, there are many beautiful waterfalls to explore as we stop for lunch. We continue the rocky trail to the village of Koto and then move on toward Dharapani where we will spend the night in a local lodge. Trekking time is 5 – 6 hours.

The journey takes us first to the village of Bagarchhap which takes about an hour. The trail today passes through wonderful forests of rich pine and fir with its aromatic aroma. We will stop at the white-washed monastery at Bagarchhap village and then upwards to Tamang village which will give us an incredible view of Mt. Manaslu, the 8th highest peak in the world. We will also see Peak 29 with its snowcapped peak. Our destination is Chame Village where we will spend the night. Trekking time is 5 -6 hours.

There are rivers to cross today, and we will cross them on high suspension bridges as we pass through dense forests. It is a day of climbing, especially after Bratang Village. The trail turns steeply upward from here as we make our way to Dukurpokhari. It may be a strenuous day, but the view is worth it. From Dukurpokhari, we can see close up the mountains of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, Annapurna IV and Pisang Peak. Finally the trail becomes level as we make our way to our destination village of Pisang. At Pisang, we can visit a newly built Buddhist monastery as we will spend the night in the village. Trekking time is 5 -6 hours.

We have a choice of trails today. We can take the lower, faster trek (5 – 6 hours or the longer, most adventurous higher trek (6 – 7 hours). The upper trail is quite scenic, taking you through the village of Ghyaru and by Mringchho Lake. Each trail affords different views of the mountains and both go through different villages. Our destination is Manang village where we will spend the night at a local lodge.

Manang is an impressive Gurung village. It is a large village and there is plenty to see and do. As we are climbing to higher elevations, it is necessary to allow our bodies to adjust to the higher altitudes in order to avoid altitude sickness. Today is a day of short hikes to help us acclimatize.. We will hike to Gangapurna Lake which will give us a close-up view of the Annapurna Mountains: Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak, Chulo Peak, Thorong Peak and more. The morning will be for exploring around the lake, and then back to Manang in order to have lunch. Following lunch, we can hike to Cave Gompa (elev 4500 m) for one of the most impressive views of the Annapurna Mountains.  We will spend one more night in Manang.

It’s a day of trekking as we get back on the trail and head for Khangsar Village where you can tour a monastery. The trail will descend slightly from this point until arriving at Thare Gompa to have lunch and to spend the night. Trekking time is 4 – 5 hours.

Our walk today is not all that physically demanding as we trek to Tilicho Base Camp. This is the place where climbers start for ascending this peak. We won’t be climbing the mountain, but we will be using this as our place to stay. Trekking time is 4 – 5 hours.

Tilicho Lake is one of those beautiful mountain lakes here in the Himalayas that reflect the incredible beauty of the snowcapped peaks. It is a bit of a climb to the lake which sits at 4920 meters above sea level. We will see plenty of wildlife along the trail as we make our way to and from this lake with its beautiful blue waters. We will have time to spend admiring the lake and the surrounding mountains. We will return to Tilicho Base Camp to spend a second night. Hiking time is around 3 – 4 hours.

It’s a return trip to Thare Gompa, passing by a large landslide area. We will have lunch and dinner in Thare Gompa, as well as spending the night in the village. Trekking time is 4 – 5 hours.

Our journey to Yak Kharka will return us back to the classic Annapurna trail. It is about four hours to Yak Kharka where we will spend the night. This is also a day to do some additional acclimatization. Trekking time 4 – 5 hours.

From Yak Kharka, we rejoin the better trail. We are climbing upwards to the village of Letder, which takes about one hour. The trail continues along the Kali Gandaki River. We cross the river on wooden bridges and then start a short, steep climb up to the village of Thorong Phedi where we will spend the night. Great views along the way of mountains and waterfalls. Trekking time is 4 – 5 hours.

It is a long day, but one that will take you to the highest trekking passes in all of Nepal. Thorong La Pass. It is a steep climb upwards to the pass, but what a view. It is worth the extra effort as you stand on what feels like the roof of the world and look out over the myriad of snowcapped peaks that will surround you. There is Tibet to the north, Manaslu in the east and Dhaulagiri to the west. And there are the close-up views of the peaks of the Annapurna Range. After spending a few hours at the top, your journey will begin a long descent to the village of Muktinath with its famous sacred temple that is a center of worship for Hindus and Buddhists as well as followers of the ancient Bön religion. The trek today is 7 – 8 hours and we will spend the night in a local lodge in Muktinath.

We won’t leave Muktinath until we have visited the sacred temple here with its ever burning flame. This flame has been lit for thousands of years and burns inside of the temple. Outside there are 108 brass water spouts and around the temple are a number of Buddhist monasteries. The trek continues downhill through impressive forests and scenic overlooks until we arrive at Kagbeni where we will spend the night. Trekking time is 4 – 5 hours.

Today is the last day of trekking as we make our way toward the ancient village of Jomsom. This village has been here on the main trail to Tibet where in ancient times black salt and gold passed southward while items from India were taken by traders to the north. Jomsom was once the capital of an ancient kingdom. Today it is a major entry point to the Annapurna Conservation Area and has a good airport. We fly tomorrow, but today we get trek to Jomsom and relax at our lodge for the night.

It is a short 45 minute flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. We take an early morning flight and upon landing in Pokhara, will check into our Three Star Hotel.  You can choose to relax today, or take in the sights in Pokhara. There is plenty to see and do in Pokhara. From boating on Phewa Lake to incredible mountain views and more, Pokhara is a favorite of all visitors to Nepal.

It is about a 6 – 7 hour trip back to Kathmandu. The trip is interesting as you follow fast flowing rivers, drive past terraced farms and see the deep river valleys. It is a beautiful journey as you return to the Kathmandu Valley.

It will be a great day to explore the Kathmandu Valley. It is said that there are 1000 temples in the Valley. While we haven’t counted them all, we do know that there are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and we will visit a number of them today with your guide. It is a great way to finish your Nepal trip. In the evening, we will attend a culture show, serving the finest of local foods. Spend the night in a Three Star Hotel.

All good things must come to an end, and your trip to Nepal is no exception. Before leaving, why not talk to your representative at Vertical Expedition about returning to Nepal for your next holiday. The vast majority of people make a return trip to Nepal because they are impressed by not only the beauty, but also the local people.  Vertical Expedition offers trips into neighboring Tibet, Bhutan and India. Be sure to discuss your interests and plans with them today.