Tilicho Lake Trek [Thorong La]

Your mountain guide (and porter) arrives at your hotel at 7am in the morning to pick you up. After a 7/8 hour drive you’ll reach Besi Sahar (760m) where you spend the night.

breakfast – bus – dinner – mountain lodge

Today your journey really begins! You start walking from Besi Sahar where the trail makes a climb to Khudi (790m), the first Gurung village. Interesting to know is that many of the famous Nepalese Gurkha soldiers are Gurungs. When you continue from Khudi, the trail offers fine views of Himalchuli and Peak 29 (Ngadi Chuli). You climb to Bhulbhule (825m) and then via Ngadi to Lampata nearby Bahundanda (1310m).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today, you begin the day by following a steep trail down to Syange (1070m). On the way, depending on the season, you can see a large waterfall. After crossing the Marsyangdi river via a suspension bridge, you walk along the river to the stone village of Jagat before you climb through the forest to Chamje (1410m).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Now the day begins with a rocky trail uphill along the Marsyandi river all the way to Tal (1675m). 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 (1890m). When we approach Bagarchhap (2160m) we can see the typical Tibetan flat roofed stone houses surrounded by apple orchards and maize fields.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Up to Tyanja (2360m) we climb, from there we continue through the forest near the river to Kopar (2590m). As we reach Chame, the headquarters of the Manang district, we are rewarded by fine 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’re 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 (2910m). Soon we cross another bridge (3040m) from there the view of the soaring Paungda Danda’s rock face really begins to appear. From there the trail joins to climb to Pisang, which sprawls between (3200m) and (3300m).

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 (3325m), 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 (3475m) to the nearby Manang (3540m).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today is time to relax by spending an acclimatization day in Manang. This whole day we can spend doing fine day walks 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 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 and meets an intersection. One path maintains the altitude, traversing the slopes towards a place where the valley is narrow. The other continues to ascend towards the line of the ridge. The original path is very old, and is much more difficult as it goes on really steep screed. The second path is the new one that goes a completely different way. We follow the new path, where 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 (4200m).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today we go to Tilicho Lake! The day begins very early in the morning at around 6am as we try to avoid the wind. From Basecamp to Tilicho lake takes another 3 to 4 hours. Tilicho Lake, claimed as 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 Basecamp as there are no any accommodation facilities at Tilicho Lake (4920m).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today we continue and 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 (4000m). From here you see that herds of yaks and vegetations clearly thin out.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today we ascend for two hours and then descends again to cross the river (4310m). Then we climb up to Thorong Phedi (4450m) where decent guesthouses have been built in the recent years.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today we cross world’s highest pass! This is a long day, starting before sunrise at 4 or 5 am to cross the pass by 9 or 10 am before the strong wind comes up. These weather conditions may greatly affect our journey, particularly at Thorong La pass (5416m). 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 climb up to the pass, marked by chortens and prayer flags reward you with stunning views from the top of the pass. Then another 4 to 5 hours of walking takes you 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. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The prime pilgrimage month is September.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today we trek down to Kagbeni and then follow the Kali Gandaki river to Jomsom (2720m). Jomsom is a large town with many facilities, it is also headquarter and official town for whole Mustang district where all the district government offices are present.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today we wake up early for the 30-minute morning flight that takes us to Pokhara. From Pokhara airport we drive to the hotel.

breakfast – domestic flight – airport transfer – hotel

Today, we take the bus back to Kathmandu. And there, we will bring you to your hotel.

In the evening, we offer you and your guide a farewell dinner together in a traditional Nepalese restaurant.

breakfast – bus – farewell dinner – hotel

If it’s 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