Annapurna Circuit and Tilicho Lake Trek

Day 01 - Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)

Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu and s/he will be displaying an Nepal New Generation signboard outside the airport terminal. You will be then transferred to your respective hotel in our private tourist vehicle.

Note: If you happen to arrive after 4 pm you would be briefed about the trip by our guide, this will be the pre-trip meeting for you, so please make sure that you ask all the questions. But if you arrive earlier than 4 pm, your pre-trip meeting would be on that very day at our office. During the meeting, we will introduce your trek leader/guide. For the meeting, please make sure you bring the passport, three copies of passport-size photos and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance, if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer.

Overnight at a hotel. No meals included.

Day 02 - Guided Sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley

After a hearty breakfast, at 8.30 am your sightseeing trip will start. You will have a private vehicle and a professional tour guide at your disposal. Today we will visit some heritages listed below:

Pashupatinath Temple:
Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most significant Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Though you are not allowed to go inside the temple as it is strictly for Hindus only, you can clearly see the temple and the activities from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. It is a square two-tiered pagoda temple built on a single-tier plinth which is famous all over the world.

Boudhanath Stupa:
Boudhananath is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. It was built in the 5th century with four pairs of eyes of Lord Buddha in four cardinal directions keeping an eternal watch over the people and their doings. You will find Buddhist pilgrims from Tibet going round the stupa spinning the prayer wheels.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
Visit the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the Royal Residential Quarter of Bhupatindra Malla, famous five-storied temple of Nyatapola in Pagoda style Batsala temple, Bhairavnath temple, Duttatraya temple, Pujari Muth and Palace of 55 windows.The rest of our time in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel area for trekking essentials.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast included.

Day 03 - Drive to Besisahar (830 m) in a Public Bus and Take a Jeep to Syange (1,100 m) - 8 hours

Today we will take a public bus from Kathmandu to Besisahar and from there we will take a jeep to Syange. We will witness beautiful landscape, rivers and waterfalls on the way.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 04 - Trek to Tal (1,700 m) – 5 hours

Now tighten up the shoes laces. We will start walking gradually following the beautiful Marsyangdi River. This walk will be slightly ascending and we will come across the beautiful waterfalls on this walk. We will rest at Tal tonight.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 05 - Trek to Danaque (1,860 m) – 5 hours

This will be our exciting day. We will leave Marsyangdi River behind and continue our journey to witness Annapurna II and Pisang Peak and beautiful landscape and old villages. Don’t miss an opportunity to take beautiful pictures as we observe mountains, waterfalls and countryside life style of Nepal. We will rest at Danaque.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 06 - Trek to Chame (2,670 m) – 4 hours

We will continue our walk enjoying the view of mountains, and waterfalls on the way. Today will be an easy day. After 4 hours of walking, we will reach Chame, the headquarter of Manang. It’s a beautiful little town with more facility than our previous days.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 07 - Trek to Upper Pisang (3,300 m) – 6 hours

After breakfast, we continue our trek to Upper Pisang. On the way, we will walk through the dense forest, Marsyangdi River and come across the beautiful panoramic views of meadows and mountains. During this walk, we will see the first view of gigantic Paungda Dada rock face, which is curved like a bowl shape. Eventually, after 6 hours walk, we will reach Upper Pisang from where we can see  Majestic Annapurna II standing high on our south and we will rest here today.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 08 - Trek to Ngawal (3,660 m) – 5 hours

Today, wake up early in the morning, watch the beautiful sunrise and first ray of sun on Annapurna II. After breakfast, we will continue our trek towards Ngawal. The trail to Ngawal is about 400 m higher than the lower trail but you will have great opportunities to witness high altitude flora and fauna, beautiful gorges, Annapurna II and III and Pisang Peak. We will take rest in Ngawal.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 09 - Trek to Manang (3,500 m) via Bhraka (3,360 m) – 3 hours

We continue our trek walking through the big hills, jungle and wetlands. On the way, we can see beautiful landscapes, stupas and lama school. After 6 hours of walking, we will reach Manang, one of the happening places of the trek.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 10 - Acclimatization Day at Manang Village

We spend a day acclimatizing in Manang by doing some walks and sightseeing around the village. We will visit a monastery and go to Gangapurna Glacier Lake during our walk. Towards the end of the day, we return to our accommodation for a night’s rest.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 11: Manang to Kangsar (3745 m) 2-3 hours walk (B, L, D)
After breakfast, the trek continues up to the village of Kangsar, as you walk ahead the trail cuts down through a gorge and the Tilicho Peak can be spotted shrouded in clouds far above.  Experience the natural beauty of the Annapurna range all along the way. Plus, you will also pass small scenic settlements, the Tore monastery, and the view of the Khangsar River and the grand barrier. Overnight in Kangsar. 

Day 12: Kangsar to Tilicho Base Camp (4140m) 5-6 hours walk (B, L, D)
As you commence the trek from Kangsar to Tilicho Lake Base Camp, you will come across wide grassy fields and after making a slight climb up a small hill, witness the glorious views of the entire valley. After trudging down a steep inclination, you now enter the Tilicho Base Camp. Camping is the only option as there are not many lodges out here. Overnight at Tilicho Base Camp. 

Day 13: Visit Tilicho Lake (4,949m) then trek back to base camp 5-6 hours (B, L, D)
After the initial tough ascent, the trail traverses onto a moraine and then cuts along the side of the mountain. However, the spectacular views of Tilicho, Nilgiri, Khangsar and Muktinath peaks are always there. The tranquil Tilicho Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world as sometimes the reflection of the surrounding peaks are seen on the turquoise waters, at other times the lake is literally frozen. Take a break beside the calm waters and soak in the astounding views of the place before you head back to the base camp. Overnight in Tilicho Base Camp/Kangsar.

Day 14: Tilicho Base Camp to Yak Kharka (4040m) 4-5 hours walk (B, L, D)
When returning from the Tilicho Base Camp, the trail leads out of the Marsyangdi valley and the abrupt change in surroundings can be noticed as the trees are left behind and replaced with more alpine vegetation. The trail continues some three to four hundred meters over Khangsar village and through the ruins of the old Khangsar village, until you cross the log bridge over the river between Gumsang and Yak Kharka from where you see the breathtaking views of Annapurna III. The typical Himalayan village is an accolade to its name, as lots of yaks can be seen grazing and standing around. Overnight in Yak Kharka.

Day 15 - Trek to Thorong Phedi (4,450 m) – 5 hours

After a two-hour ascent, the trail descends to cross the river at 4,310 m. We then climb up to Thorong Phedi at 4,450 m where decent guesthouses have been built in the recent years.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 16 - Trek to Muktinath (3,800 m) via Thorung La Pass (5,416 m) – 8 hours

Today is a long trek starting before sunrise at 4 am to reach the pass by 9-10 am. Otherwise weather conditions (strong winds) will greatly affect the journey, particularly at the Thorong La Pass. We climb steeply on a regular route which is quite easy to follow. However, some problems may arise due to altitude and snow. It often causes terrible problems to cross the pass if it is covered by heavy snow. After four hours of climbing to the pass marked by the chortens and prayer flags, we will be rewarded with stunning views from the top of the pass. Another four hours of walking will take us 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 we feel are relieved when visiting the Temple. It is a sacred pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. The prime pilgrimage month is September. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and has 108 waterspouts around it. Another attraction nearby is the Jwala Mai Temple which has a gorgeous natural spring and an eternal flame fueled by natural gas.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 17 - Trek to Jomsom (2,710 m) via Lubra Pass (4,020 m) – 8 hours

So now, we are at the other side of the Thorong La Pass, most of the land we see will be dry and looks somewhat like the desert. We will continue our trek walking by the bank of Kali Gandaki River. Most of the time, we will descend with closer view of stupas and old traditional houses and civilization of Mustang. Jomsom is a large town with many facilities. It is also the headquarter and official town for whole Mustang district where all the district government offices are present.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 18 - Trek to Kalopani (2,530 m) – 7 hours

We descend through the valley following the Kali Gandaki River. On this trail, we will have an opportunity to view Annapurna I and beautiful landscapes.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 19 - Trek to Tatopani (1,190 m) – 6 hours

We still continue to descend through Kali Gandaki River Valley. On the way, we will encounter the world’s deepest gorge, Kopchepani. Tatopani is famous for its hot springs. This is the best place to relax our body after a long trek. We will spend another day relaxing at this spot.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 20 - Rest Day at Tatopani

Take a shower, dip into the natural hot springs, enjoy drinks and local food.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 21 - Trek to Ghorepani (2,810 m) – 6 hours

Today is another big day. It will take about 7 hours to walk from Tatopani to Ghorepani. We climb about 1,620 meters up. From Ghorepani, we will be able to see Annapurna South, Himchuli and Tukuche Himal. We will pass a couple of Magar and Gurung villages on the trail.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 22- Hike to Poon Hill (3,210 m) and Trek to Tikhedunga (1,570 m) – 5 hours

Very early in the morning, we start an hour hiking to Poon Hill at an elevation of 3,210 m – a brilliant spectacle. This vantage point provides unobstructed views of the early morning sunrise over the high Himalayas, weather permitting. There we spend about an hour. We return to Ghorepani where we take a hot breakfast at the hotel. We trek down towards Tikhedunga, walking down along the ridges and through rhododendron forests before finally reaching Tikhedhunga.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 23 - Trek to Nayapul (1,010 m) and Drive to Pokhara – 4 hours

After some light trekking, we reach Nayapul (1,010 m). An hour drive takes us to Pokhara.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast included.

Day 24- Guided Sightseeing in Pokhara

After breakfast, a full day sightseeing tour of Pokhara city begins. There will be a professional city guide and a private tourist vehicle at your disposal. You will visit the following sites:

Bindhabasini Temple:
The temple lies in the center of the religious old bazaar. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, another manifestation of Shakti. The park grounds offer a fine picnic and relaxing area.

Davis Fall:
Locally known as Patale Chhango and located in the southern flank of the Pokhara valley, it is where the stream flowing from Fewa Lake collapses and surges down the rock into a deep gorge, leaping through several potholes. This is hugely popular with tourists and locals alike.

Gupteshwor Cave:
The revered Gupteshwor Cave is situated 2 km from the Pokhara airport. The entrance is right across from Davis fall and the cave is almost 3 km long. It has some big hall-sized rooms and some passages where you have to crawl on all four. This cave holds special value to Hindus since a phallic symbol of Lord Shiva is preserved here in the condition it was discovered.

Seti River Gorges:
Carved by the Seti Gandaki River, it is one of the natural wonders of Pokhara. K.I. Singh bridge at Bagar, Mahendrapool and Prithivi Highway Bridge near bus park provide a perfect view of the river’s dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by the turbulent flow of white water.

Tibetan Refugee Camps:
The Tibetan village Tashiling in the south and the Tashi Palkhel village in the north of Pokhara are renowned for the production and trade of woolen carpets and other handicrafts. The original Tibetan settlers in this region migrated to Nepal in the ‘50s.

World Peace Pagoda:
World Peace Pagoda, also known as Pokhara Shanti Stupa, is a Buddhist pagoda-style monument. It is the shrine built as a symbol of peace. The spot is situated at the height of 2,100 meters on the Ananda Hill. Nepal has two of the eighty peace pagodas in the world i.e. Shanti Stupa in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and Shanti Stupa in Pokhara. It also provides a panoramic view of the Annapurna range, Pokhara city and Fewa Lake.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast included.

Day 25 – Drive or flight Back to Kathmandu (1,400 m) in a Tourist Bus – 7 hours

We will be driving back to Kathmandu in the morning.

If you are interested in extending the trip, there are many options such as Chitwan jungle safari, river rafting adventure, Kathmandu shopping tour, mountain biking and other activities.

In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast and farewell dinner included.

Day 26 - Transfer to the International Airport for Your Final Departure

The trip concludes here. Our airport representative will drop you at the international airport in Kathmandu for your flight departure from Nepal.

Breakfast included.

* All Price is Per Person Price

Price Includes

• Airport / Hotel / Airport pick up & drop off service by a private tourist vehicle
• Standard twin-sharing accommodation in a three-star hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara including breakfast
• Guided city tour in Kathmandu valley and Pokhara by trekking Guide by private tourist vehicle
• All standard meals during the trek (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• Guesthouse accommodation during the trek in mostly twin-share and occasionally dormitory-style rooms ( 17 nights only)
• Local Ace the Himalaya licensed English-speaking trekking guide
• The required number of local staff and porters to carry your luggage during the trek (We assign one porter for every two guests.)
• Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment and medicine for all staff
• Annapurna Conservation Area Permits and TIMS permit for trekking
• Public bus from Kathmandu to Besisahar, jeep from Besisahar to Syange, private vehicle from Nayapul to Pokhara and tourist bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu
• Duffle bag andT-shart will probed Nepal New Generation Trek
• Sightseeing/Monument entrance fees in Kathmandu and Pokhara
• Farewell dinner in a traditional Nepali restaurant with cultural performances
• All our government taxes, vat, tourist service charges
• Official expenses

Price Does not Include

• Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
• Travel insurance which covers emergency high-altitude rescue and evacuation (See the travel insurance page.)
• International airfare and airport departure tax (See the international flights page.)
• Nepal entry visa; you can obtain the visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days can be obtained by paying USD 25 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days can be obtained by paying USD 40 and 100 respectively. Please bring 2 copies of passport size photos.)
• Alcoholic, hot and cold drinks
• Personal trekking equipment (Click on the Equipment tab.)
• Tips for trekking staff and driver (Tipping is expected.)
• Any others expenses that are not mentioned in the Price Includes section
• Down jacket and sleeping bag by Ace the Himalaya