Without Tilicho · 12 days
Skip the lake and go straight from Manang to Yak Kharka. See our [Annapurna Circuit trek](/treks/annapurna-circuit/).
Annapurna (Manang and Mustang)
Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake
Tilicho Lake at 4,919 m, then over Thorong La
- Days15
- High point5,416 m / 17,769 ft
- GradeHard, 4 of 5
- Best monthsMar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
Overview
The full Annapurna Circuit with a three-day side trip from Manang to Tilicho Lake at 4,919 m, which also gives you extra time at altitude before you cross the Thorong La pass at 5,416 m.
Highlights
- Follow the Marsyangdi valley from rice terraces to high pasture
- Acclimatise in Manang, beneath Annapurna II, III and Gangapurna
- A side trip from Manang to Tilicho Lake (4,919 m), one of the highest lakes in the world
- Cross the Thorong La pass at 5,416 m
- Muktinath, a temple sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists
- Descend into the wind-carved Kali Gandaki valley to Jomsom
Guide & safety
- A licensed trekking guide with you every day.
Is this trek for me?
Fitness & difficulty
Hard, 4 of 5 Challenging (long days, one very high pass)
- No climbing skills needed, but the day over Thorong La is long, cold and high, with an early start.
- The rest of the trek is a steady climb up the Marsyangdi valley, which helps you acclimatise.
- Train with hill walks or stair sessions two or three times a week for eight to ten weeks before you go.
- The trail between Shree Kharka and Tilicho Base Camp crosses steep scree slopes with rockfall risk. Your guide checks conditions before you go.
- You visit 4,919 m at Tilicho Lake, then cross 5,416 m three days later. Anyone can get altitude sickness, so read our safety approach before you go.
15 days · scroll to climb
Day by day
The marker follows you down the itinerary. Red figures are height gained since where you slept the night before.
Loading map…
Day 1: Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar
Day 2: Drive and trek up the Marsyangdi valley
Day 3: Trek to Chame
Day 4: Trek to Upper Pisang
Day 5: Trek to Manang
Day 6: Acclimatisation day in Manang
Day 7: Trek to Shree Kharka
Day 8: Trek to Tilicho Base Camp
Day 9: Hike to Tilicho Lake, return to Shree Kharka
Sleep at Shree Kharka.
Day 10: Trek to Yak Kharka
Day 11: Trek to Thorong Phedi
Day 12: Cross Thorong La, descend to Muktinath
Sleep at Muktinath.
Day 13: Descend to Jomsom
Day 14: Fly or drive to Pokhara
Day 15: Tourist bus back to Kathmandu
Dates & price
Plan your dates
Pick the day you want to start walking. We'll lay out your whole trip and check the season.
- Arrive in Kathmandu by–
- Trek–
- Fly home from–
- Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar760 m
- Drive and trek up the Marsyangdi valley
- Trek to Chame2,670 m
- Trek to Upper Pisang3,300 m
- Trek to Manang3,540 m
- Acclimatisation day in Manang3,540 m
- Trek to Shree Kharka4,070 m
- Trek to Tilicho Base Camp4,130 m
- Hike to Tilicho Lake, return to Shree Kharka4,070 m
- Trek to Yak Kharka4,050 m
- Trek to Thorong Phedi4,450 m
- Cross Thorong La, descend to Muktinath3,760 m
- Descend to Jomsom2,720 m
- Fly or drive to Pokhara
- Tourist bus back to Kathmandu
Private trek
Your own guide and your own pace, starting on a date you choose in season.
Small group departures
Ask us for current details.
What's included
In the price
Included
- Licensed trekking guide
- Hotel night in Pokhara after the trek, and the tourist bus back to Kathmandu
- Teahouse accommodation on the trek
- All meals on the trek: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit
Not included
- International flights and Nepal visa
- Hotel nights in Kathmandu
- Porter (we can add one; ask us for the price)
- Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover
- Tips for guides and porters
You pay on the trail
- Hot shower
- On request
- Wi-Fi
- On request
- Phone or battery charging
- On request
- Boiled or filtered water (1 litre)
- On request
- Dal bhat (set meal)
- On request
Prices rise the higher you go. Bring cash in Nepali rupees.
No hidden costs, no surprise group merging, a named guide, and a descend-first safety plan. Read our promises → Ask us
Make it yours
Ask about these →Extend or change it
Other ways to walk it
Add-ons
Poon Hill finish
Instead of driving out from Jomsom, walk down via Ghorepani and the Poon Hill sunrise viewpoint.
Extra nights in Pokhara
Rest by Phewa Lake before you fly home.
Practicalities
Good to know
Where you'll stay
Teahouses are family-run lodges: simple twin rooms with foam mattresses and blankets, and a shared dining room warmed by a stove in the evening. Toilets are often shared, and hot showers and charging cost extra the higher you go.
Teahouse lodges, twin-share rooms
What you'll eat
Most teahouses serve a similar menu: dal bhat (rice, lentil soup and vegetable curry, usually with free refills), noodles, momos, eggs, porridge, pancakes and plenty of tea. Higher up the menu shrinks and prices rise, because everything is carried in.
Permits
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
- NPR 3,000 (SAARC nationals NPR 1,000)
- TIMS card (arranged by your trekking agency)
- NPR 2,000 (SAARC nationals NPR 1,000)
Before and after, in Pokhara
Your bus from Kathmandu and hotel nights in Pokhara are included. For an airport pickup, extra nights or a rest day with the Sarangkot cable car, we help you arrange it.
Plan your Pokhara days →Circuit + Tilicho guides
Questions
FAQ
How much harder is the Circuit with Tilicho Lake?
It adds three days and a long hike to 4,919 m, plus an exposed scree section below Tilicho Base Camp. The extra time high up also helps you acclimatise before Thorong La.
How difficult is the Annapurna Circuit?
Long rather than technical. Most days are a steady climb up the valley, then one very hard day crosses Thorong La at 5,416 m with an early start and a long descent to Muktinath.
Is the road ruining the circuit?
Roads now reach far up both sides of the circuit. Good itineraries use trails away from the road where they exist. Ask us
When can I cross Thorong La?
The pass is most reliable from March to May and from October to November. Snow can close it in winter and early spring. Your guide decides each morning whether it's safe.
What time do you start on pass day?
Before dawn, to cross before the wind picks up in the late morning. Ask us
What permits do I need?
An Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). Your guide arranges it. See the permits guide for current fees and whether a TIMS card is also needed.
Will I get altitude sickness?
You might. The gradual climb and the rest day in Manang help a lot. If you feel unwell, don't go higher, and tell your guide straight away. Turning back before the pass is always an option.
Can I add Tilicho Lake?
Yes. From Manang, a side trip to Tilicho Lake adds two to three days and a lot of extra altitude practice before the pass.
How do I get back from Jomsom?
By a short morning flight to Pokhara, weather permitting, or by road down the Kali Gandaki valley.
What travel insurance do I need?
Insurance that covers trekking up to at least 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation. Check the altitude limit in the policy wording, not just the summary.
Ready?
Plan your Circuit + Tilicho
Tell us your dates. We'll send a day-by-day plan and full quote within 24 hours.
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