Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake

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Trek at a Glance

Price From

Contact for pricing

Duration

10 days

Trip Grade

Challenging

Max. Altitude

5,416m

Best Season

Mar-May, Sep-Nov

Group Size

1-12 pax

Region

Annapurna

Accommodation

Tea houses

Meals

Varies by package

Start / End Point

Pokhara / Pokhara

Permits

ACAP, TIMS card

Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake Overview

Itinerary designed by Rohit Timilsina, Co-Founder & Lead Guide Verified local guide

The Annapurna Circuit with a detour to Tilicho Lake at 4,919m before you cross Thorong La at 5,416m. Ten days from Pokhara to Pokhara, with Tilicho doing the acclimatising that a rest day would otherwise do.

Most Circuit itineraries build to one big moment. This one has two. On day four you leave the main trail at Manang and head up the Khangsar valley towards Tilicho Lake, a glacial lake at 4,919m in a basin beneath Tilicho Peak. Two days later you rejoin the Circuit, and on day nine you cross Thorong La at 5,416m.

The order matters. Tilicho comes before the pass, and that is what makes ten days work. You sleep at Tilicho Base Camp (4,150m) and stand at 4,919m several days before you need to be at 5,416m, which is a far better build-up than the standard route gives you. Run the other way round, it would be reckless.

The walk in is half the appeal. Beyond Khangsar the trail crosses a long, exposed traverse cut into a crumbling hillside, the section everyone photographs, before it drops to Tilicho Base Camp. Khangsar and the base camp are far quieter than the main Circuit trail.

There is no separate rest day in this itinerary, and that is deliberate: the Tilicho detour does the same job, and more of it. It suits trekkers who have been to altitude before. If you would rather have slack in the schedule, or this would be your first time above 4,000m, our 12-day Tilicho Lake Trek adds a night at Ngawal and an Ice Lake acclimatisation day at Manang.

Signature Moment

Tilicho Lake

4,919 m / 16,138 ft

A glacial lake in a vast basin beneath Tilicho Peak, reached by a steady zig-zag climb from base camp. You stand only about 500m below the height of Thorong La, days before you cross it.

Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake Highlights

Tilicho Lake (4,919m), one of the highest large lakes in the world
Cross Thorong La Pass (5,416m) after a strong acclimatisation build-up
The exposed traverse from Shree Kharka to Tilicho Base Camp
The high route through Ghyaru and Ngawal, facing Annapurna II, III and IV
Quiet trail and lodges in the Khangsar valley, away from the main Circuit
Descend to Muktinath and drive out down the Kali Gandaki valley

Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake Itinerary

Day	Itinerary	Max Altitude	Duration
Day 1	Drive Pokhara to Chame (2,670m) via Besisahar	2,670m / 8,760ft	9-11 hours drive
Day 2	Chame to Upper Pisang (3,300m)	3,300m / 10,827ft	5-6 hours
Day 3	Upper Pisang to Manang (3,540m) via Ghyaru and Ngawal	3,540m / 11,614ft	6-7 hours
Day 4	Manang to Khangsar (3,750m)	3,750m / 12,303ft	2-3 hours
Day 5	Khangsar to Tilicho Base Camp (4,150m)	4,150m / 13,615ft	4-5 hours
Day 6	Tilicho Lake (4,919m), then down to Shree Kharka (4,050m)	4,919m / 16,138ft	7-9 hours
Day 7	Shree Kharka to Yak Kharka (4,050m)	4,050m / 13,287ft	5-6 hours
Day 8	Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4,450m) or High Camp (4,880m)	4,450m / 14,600ft	3-4 hours
Day 9	Cross Thorong La (5,416m) and descend to Muktinath (3,760m)	5,416m / 17,769ft	7-10 hours
Day 10	Drive Muktinath to Pokhara (820m)	820m / 2,690ft	6-9 hours drive

Day 01: Drive Pokhara to Chame (2,670m) via Besisahar
2,670m / 8,760ft
Duration9-11 hours drive
Altitude2,670m / 8,760ft
A long jeep day: four to five hours on tarmac to Besisahar (760m), then four to six hours up the Marsyangdi valley on a rough mountain road. Nine to eleven hours in total, and longer if the road has slipped. Overnight in Chame, the district headquarters of Manang.
Day 02: Chame to Upper Pisang (3,300m)
3,300m / 10,827ft
Duration5-6 hours
Altitude3,300m / 10,827ft
Elevation Gain+630 m
Five to six hours through blue pine and fir, beneath the great curved rock wall of Paungda Danda. We take the upper trail to Upper Pisang for a better night and a better start to the high route.
Day 03: Upper Pisang to Manang (3,540m) via Ghyaru and Ngawal
3,540m / 11,614ft
Duration6-7 hours
Altitude3,540m / 11,614ft
Max Elevation3,730m
Elevation Gain+240 m
A steep zig-zag up to Ghyaru (3,730m), then a near-level traverse to Ngawal with Annapurna II, III and IV across the valley, before dropping into Manang. Reaching 3,730m and sleeping at 3,540m is the first real acclimatisation of the trek.
Day 04: Manang to Khangsar (3,750m)
3,750m / 12,303ft
Duration2-3 hours
Altitude3,750m / 12,303ft
Elevation Gain+210 m
A gentle day by design. The morning is spent around Manang, with Gangapurna Lake and the monastery at Braga, then two to three hours up the side valley to Khangsar, the last proper village before Tilicho. You gain only about 210m of sleeping altitude, which is right at this stage.
Day 05: Khangsar to Tilicho Base Camp (4,150m)
4,150m / 13,615ft
Duration4-5 hours
Altitude4,150m / 13,615ft
Elevation Gain+400 m
Four to five hours, with lunch at Shree Kharka (4,050m). The well-known section comes after it: a long traverse across loose, eroding ground with a big drop below. It is exposed rather than technical, with no rope and no scrambling, but it needs your full attention and is no place to hurry. We cross it in the morning, when the ground is firmest.
Day 06: Tilicho Lake (4,919m), then down to Shree Kharka (4,050m)
4,919m / 16,138ft
Duration7-9 hours
Altitude4,919m / 16,138ft
Elevation Gain+769 m
The first big day. Three to four hours of steady zig-zag climbing from base camp brings you to the lake, about 500m below the height of Thorong La. After time at the shore it is two to three hours back to base camp, and one to two more down to Shree Kharka.
Seven to nine hours in all, cold and usually windy at the top, and the view most people remember longest from the whole Circuit.
Day 07: Shree Kharka to Yak Kharka (4,050m)
4,050m / 13,287ft
Duration5-6 hours
Altitude4,050m / 13,287ft
Back down past Khangsar and across to rejoin the main Circuit trail at Yak Kharka. Five to six hours, with the high country of the pass now ahead of you.
Day 08: Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4,450m) or High Camp (4,880m)
4,450m / 14,600ft
Duration3-4 hours
Altitude4,450m / 14,600ft
Elevation Gain+400 m
A short day of three to four hours to Thorong Phedi. If the group is strong and beds are free, you can push on for about another hour to High Camp, which shortens the pass day. Your guide decides on the day, based on how everyone is actually doing.
Day 09: Cross Thorong La (5,416m) and descend to Muktinath (3,760m)
5,416m / 17,769ft
Duration7-10 hours
Altitude5,416m / 17,769ft
Elevation Gain+966 m
A pre-dawn start, a long climb to the prayer flags at 5,416m, then about 1,650m of descent into the Mustang rain shadow to Muktinath. Seven to nine hours from High Camp, eight to ten from Thorong Phedi.
With Tilicho behind you, your body is far better prepared for this height than on the standard route, though the day is just as long and the weather no kinder. Thorong La closes in bad weather, and your guide will turn the group around if conditions or anyone's health make the crossing unsafe.
Day 10: Drive Muktinath to Pokhara (820m)
820m / 2,690ft
Duration6-9 hours drive
Altitude820m / 2,690ft
Elevation Gain-2,940 m
Six to nine hours by jeep down the Kali Gandaki valley through Jomsom, Marpha and Tatopani, rough as far as Beni and then on tarmac to Pokhara, where the trek ends.

Elevation Profile

Highest point: 5,416m (Day 9)Start: 2,670mEnd: 820m

Your Trek Is Prepared & Led by a Local Guide

Govt. License #1497

Rohit Timilsina

Co-Founder & Lead Guide · 6K Nepal Treks

Hi, I'm Rohit Timilsina

I started 6K Nepal Treks to give travellers the trek I would want myself: small groups, honest prices and a guide who actually knows the trail. I have guided across the Annapurna, Manaslu and Everest regions for over five years, and I design every itinerary on this site personally.

“Whether it is your first teahouse trek or your tenth Himalayan expedition, I want you back home telling everyone it was the best trip of your life.”

Govt. License #14974.9★ from 90+ reviews30+ countries guidedHighest guided: 5,416m

Meet the full team

Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake Cost & What's Included

Here is exactly what this guided package covers. We price it per departure, so ask us for a quote for your group size and dates.

What is included in this trek package?

Accommodation

Twin-sharing accommodation in tea houses or local lodges throughout the trek
Hotel accommodation on nights before and after the trek where applicable (breakfast included)

Meals & Drinking Water

All standard meals on the trail (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with one hot drink per meal
Purified drinking water throughout the trek (filter or purification tablets)
Seasonal fruits when available

Transportation

All ground transfers by private or shared tourist vehicle as per the itinerary
Domestic flights where explicitly noted in the itinerary

Guide and Staff

Experienced, first-aid trained, government-licensed, English-speaking lead guide
Assistant guide for groups of 7 or more
One porter per two trekkers for carrying main luggage (up to 10 kg per person)
Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, and insurance for all trek staff

Permits

All required trekking permits and conservation-area fees for the route
TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card where applicable
All permit paperwork arranged before the trek starts

Safety and Support

Comprehensive first aid kit including pulse oximeter for daily altitude checks
Emergency oxygen on treks above 4,000m
24/7 operational support from our Pokhara office
Trip completion certificate

What is excluded in this trek package?

Flights & Visa

International flights and airport departure tax
Nepal entry visa (USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, USD 125 for 90 days, on arrival at Kathmandu airport)

Insurance & Personal Gear

Travel insurance with high-altitude and emergency helicopter evacuation coverage (mandatory)
Personal trekking gear, clothing and footwear

Meals Outside the Trail

Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu or Pokhara before and after the trek
Any beverages including alcoholic drinks, bottled and boiled water

Other

Tips for trekking staff and drivers (recommended but not included)
Hot showers, WiFi, and charging fees at tea houses
Any personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, or souvenirs
Any additional costs caused by natural disasters, political disturbances, or flight delays
Any items not explicitly listed in the Price Includes section

Private departures, your dates

We run this trek as a private trip on the dates that suit you. Tell us when and we will confirm availability.

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Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake Reviews

4.9★ from 90+ Google Reviews

Trekkers guided from 30+ countries.

No published review names the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake yet.

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Why Book With 6K Nepal Treks

Licensed & Insured

Registered with Nepal Tourism Board, TAAN and NMA. Fully insured for trekking, climbing, and high-altitude emergencies.

Expert Local Guides

Every trek is led by a licensed, first-aid trained Sherpa or Gurung guide, born and raised in these mountains.

Safety First

Pulse oximeter and emergency oxygen carried on all high-altitude treks. Helicopter evacuation protocol on standby.

Small Groups

Maximum 12 trekkers per group, and one porter per two guests whenever porters are part of your package. You are a person, not a tour number.

Fair & Transparent Pricing

No hidden fees. Every quote itemises exactly what your package covers and what it does not, so nothing lands on you at the trailhead.

Responsible Travel

Fair wages for all staff, eco-friendly practices on the trail, and direct support for the mountain communities we work with.

Know Before You Go

This itinerary is graded Challenging, and it asks a little more than the standard Circuit. There are two high days instead of one: the Tilicho day (seven to nine hours, up to 4,919m) and the pass day (seven to ten hours, up to 5,416m), with no rest day between them.

The traverse between Shree Kharka and Tilicho Base Camp is the one section with real exposure. It is a narrow path over loose ground with a long drop below, but it is not a climb and needs no rope. If you are uneasy on exposed paths, tell us before you book so we can talk it through. You should be comfortable walking six hours a day on consecutive days, and previous experience above 3,500m is strongly recommended.

Tilicho Lake sits inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so the same two permits cover the whole route: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the TIMS card. We arrange both in Pokhara before you set off. Whether the permit fees are part of your price depends on the package you choose, and your quote spells it out.

Sleeping altitudes run Chame 2,670m, Upper Pisang 3,300m, Manang 3,540m, Khangsar 3,750m, Tilicho Base Camp 4,150m, Shree Kharka 4,050m, Yak Kharka 4,050m, then Thorong Phedi 4,450m or High Camp 4,880m, and Muktinath 3,760m after the pass.

The detour does the work of a rest day and more. You sleep at 4,150m days before the pass, then climb to 4,919m and sleep back down at 4,050m: climb high, sleep low, at exactly the height where it helps most. Anyone feeling the altitude at Tilicho Base Camp should say so rather than push on. Our guides carry an oximeter, check everyone daily, and descend with anyone whose symptoms get worse.

Trekkers who want more than the standard Circuit without adding a week, people who have trekked at altitude before and are comfortable with a schedule that has no rest day, photographers, and anyone who prefers a quieter trail. The Khangsar valley sees a fraction of the main Circuit's traffic.

If you are new to altitude, our 12-day Tilicho Lake Trek adds a night at Ngawal and an Ice Lake acclimatisation day at Manang. If you only have eight days, the 8-day Annapurna Circuit keeps the pass and leaves out Tilicho.

The following is a solid starting point for most multi-day treks we run. Adjust for the season and the maximum altitude of your specific route. Shorter, lower-altitude hikes need far less than this full list. For the key insulation items (down jacket and four-season sleeping bag) we offer rental in Kathmandu or Pokhara for USD 35 each.

General

Four-season (zero degree) sleeping bag (rental available: USD 35)
Insulated down jacket (rental available: USD 35)
Daypack, 30 to 45 litres, with rain cover
Sleeping bag liner

Head & Face

Sun hat or cap
Beanie or knitted hat for colder mornings and evenings
Buff or neck gaiter
Sunglasses with full UV protection
Headlamp with spare batteries

Upper Body

Technical base layer shirts, two
Technical long-sleeve shirts, two
Fleece or synthetic mid-layer
Waterproof and windproof shell jacket

Lower Body

Hiking pants, two pairs
Technical base-layer leggings for cold mornings
Waterproof or windproof outer shell pants
Comfortable pants for evenings in the teahouse

Hands

Lightweight liner gloves
Insulated outer gloves for high altitude or winter conditions

Feet

Waterproof trekking boots with ankle support, broken in before the trip
Hiking socks, three to five pairs
Liner socks if prone to blisters
Comfortable shoes or sandals for evenings
Microspikes recommended November to March on routes above 4,000m

First Aid & Medications

Personal prescription medications
SPF 50+ sunscreen and SPF lip balm
Blister care, plasters, and antiseptic cream
Electrolyte sachets or tablets
Note: our guides carry a comprehensive group first aid kit with pulse oximeter

Other Essentials

Passport, two passport-sized photos, and photocopies of travel documents
One-litre reusable water bottle or hydration bladder
Trekking poles (strongly recommended)
Small toiletry kit, quick-dry towel, and toilet paper
High-protein snacks for the trail (bars, nuts)
Waterproof dry bag for documents and electronics

We provide a free duffel bag at your pre-trip meeting, used for luggage carried by the porter. The duffel stays yours afterwards.
One porter is assigned per two trekkers. The duffel bag should weigh no more than 10 kg / 22 lbs per person.
Always carry your own daypack with essentials: cash, documents, water, camera, rain gear.
Non-trekking luggage can be stored securely at your hotel in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Down jacket and four-season sleeping bag are available for rent at USD 35 each. Loss or damage reimbursement is USD 100 per item.

Guide & Porter Services

Every trek is led by a government-licensed, English-speaking lead guide who is also trained in first aid and high-altitude emergency response. For groups of seven or more we add an assistant guide. Porters are assigned one per two trekkers, each carrying up to 10 kg of your main luggage so you only carry a daypack. All staff wages, accommodation, meals, gear, and insurance are fully covered in the package price.

Accommodation Bookings

We pre-book every night's accommodation before you start, so you never arrive at a full teahouse during peak season. Nights before and after the trek are in 3-star hotels in Kathmandu or Pokhara with breakfast included. On the trail you stay in tea houses or local lodges on a twin-sharing basis, with the best available rooms in each village. Private rooms and en-suite bathrooms are available where offered, usually at lower altitudes.

Transportation Arrangements

All ground transfers are arranged by private or shared tourist vehicles as specified in the itinerary. Airport pick-up and drop-off are included. Where a domestic flight is required (for example, Kathmandu to Lukla for Everest, or Jomsom to Pokhara for Mustang routes), the round-trip fare is covered in the package. We monitor flight and road conditions daily and adjust logistics proactively when weather or landslides affect the schedule.

Equipment Rental

A four-season sleeping bag and an insulated down jacket can be rented in Kathmandu or Pokhara at USD 35 per item for the duration of the trek. Trekking poles, microspikes, and additional layers are also available on request. We supply a 75-litre duffel bag for you to keep at your pre-trip briefing. A full packing checklist is sent after you book so you can pack with confidence.

Insurance Requirements

Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for every trek we operate. Your policy must explicitly cover trekking at the maximum altitude of your route and include emergency helicopter evacuation, medical treatment, and trip cancellation. Please send us a copy of your policy at least two weeks before departure. We cannot start the trek without confirmation of valid coverage. This is for your safety and ours.

Good to know. Arrive in Pokhara at least one day before departure so there is time for your pre-trip briefing and any last-minute gear hire. We can store spare luggage while you trek.

FAQs for Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake

4,919m (16,138ft). It is one of the highest lakes of its size in the world, and only about 500m below Thorong La.

No. Tilicho is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so the ACAP and TIMS card you need for the Circuit cover it. We arrange both before the trek.

It leaves you better acclimatised, if you do them in this order. Sleeping at 4,150m and walking to 4,919m before the pass is a much stronger profile than the standard route gives you. It does not make the pass day shorter or the weather kinder.

It is exposed rather than technical: a narrow path across loose, eroding ground with a long drop below. There is no rope work and no scrambling. We cross it in the morning when the ground is firmest, and we turn back in bad conditions.

Because the Tilicho detour does the same job. You sleep higher and walk higher than a Manang rest day would take you. If you want a rest day as well, our 12-day Tilicho Lake Trek includes an Ice Lake acclimatisation day at Manang.

Both visit Tilicho before crossing Thorong La. The 10-day version goes from Manang to Khangsar on day four and drives out from Muktinath. The 12-day version adds a night at Ngawal, an Ice Lake acclimatisation day at Manang and a night at Marpha via Dumba Lake, so it is gentler on the body and better for first-timers at altitude.

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) give the most settled weather and the clearest views, with October and November the most reliable. Outside those windows, snow on the pass and on the Tilicho trail becomes much more likely.

We quote this itinerary per departure. Send us your dates and group size on WhatsApp or through the enquiry form, and we will confirm the per-person price and exactly what it includes, in writing.