Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake - 16 Days

The lake appears without warning. You crest the final moraine ridge above Tilicho Base Camp, lungs working hard in the thin air at 4,919 metres, and there it is: a vast sheet of frozen turquoise wedged between sheer limestone cliffs and the north face of Tilicho Peak. No trees. No sound except wind scraping across ice. At nearly 5,000 metres, Tilicho Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world, and standing on its shore feels like standing at the edge of the earth itself. Two days later, you'll be climbing again, this time towards Thorong La Pass at 5,416 metres (17,769ft), the highest point of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the great Himalayan crossings. Two high-altitude milestones in a single trek. This is the Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake, and it is not for the faint-hearted.

This 16-day itinerary takes the classic Circuit route and adds a detour to Tilicho Lake that most trekkers only dream about. You'll walk from the subtropical lowlands near Chame through pine forests and apple orchards, past ancient Buddhist gompas and Gurung and Magar villages, up into the stark high-altitude desert of Manang, then branch off to Tilicho before rejoining the Circuit for the crossing of Thorong La. On the other side, the sacred temple of Muktinath and the wind-carved Kali Gandaki gorge await, with Jomsom and the apple-brandy village of Marpha marking the final trail days before the drive back to Pokhara. Every night is spent in a teahouse, eating dal bhat and local dishes cooked by families who have run these lodges for generations. The itinerary has been designed personally by Shreejan Simkhada, whose family has been guiding people through these mountains since the 1960s.

What Makes This Trek Unforgettable

• Stand on the shore of Tilicho Lake at 4,919 metres (16,138ft), one of the highest lakes in the world, surrounded by 7,000-metre walls of rock and ice that few trekkers ever see up close
• Cross Thorong La Pass at 5,416 metres (17,769ft), the highest point of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the most celebrated high-altitude crossings on earth
• Experience two major high-altitude milestones in a single trek, something the standard Circuit alone cannot offer
• Walk through the full climate spectrum of Nepal: subtropical forests, terraced rice paddies, pine and rhododendron woodland, alpine meadows, and high-altitude desert above the treeline. The best months are September to November and March to May
• Explore Manang, the ancient trading village at 3,540 metres where acclimatisation days let you wander past Buddhist monasteries, yak pastures, and ice-lake viewpoints
• Visit the sacred temple of Muktinath (3,710m), a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists, with its 108 water spouts and eternal flame burning from natural gas beneath the rock
• Walk through Marpha, the whitewashed apple-brandy village in the Kali Gandaki gorge, and Jomsom, the gateway to Upper Mustang
• Trek through the deepest gorge in the world (Kali Gandaki, between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri), with 8,000-metre peaks rising on both sides. Bring your camera for this stretch
• All permits included (ACAP and TIMS), so you don't spend a day in Kathmandu queuing at government offices
• Small groups of 2 to 20, always with a Nepal government well-trained guide who knows this trail intimately and monitors your health with a pulse oximeter daily
• Three tiers (Budget, Standard, Luxury) so you choose your comfort level. Read about luxury trekking or our budget tips to find your fit
• Every booking supports education for 70 children in rural Nepal through the Nagarjun Learning Center

16-Day Overview

Your journey begins and ends in Kathmandu, but the trek itself starts from Pokhara, reached by road through Nepal's middle hills. From Pokhara, you travel to Besisahar, the traditional gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, where the trail begins its steady climb through rice terraces and river gorges. The first days follow the Marsyangdi River valley through Chame and into the increasingly dry plains approaching Manang, where you'll spend an acclimatisation day before the Tilicho detour. The trail to Tilicho Lake branches northwest from Manang, climbing through Khangsar and Tilicho Base Camp before the final steep ascent to the lakeshore at 4,919 metres. After returning to Manang, the main Circuit resumes: Yak Kharka, Thorong High Camp, and the pre-dawn crossing of Thorong La at 5,416 metres. The descent to Muktinath takes you into the rain shadow of the Annapurna range, through Jomsom and Marpha along the Kali Gandaki. Some variations of the Circuit continue through Tatopani and its famous hot springs, but this itinerary takes the more direct route from Jomsom back to Pokhara and then Kathmandu.

Before You Arrive

Please arrive in Kathmandu the day before your trek starts. This gives you time to recover from your international flight, meet your guide, and do any last-minute gear shopping in Thamel if needed. We arrange your airport transfer, so you can step off the plane knowing everything is sorted. Make sure your Nepal visa and trekking insurance are in order before you fly. Your insurance must cover altitude up to at least 5,500 metres and include helicopter evacuation, as this trek reaches 5,416 metres at Thorong La.

Online Briefing

After you book, we schedule a video call to walk you through everything: what to wear, what to pack, what the teahouses are really like, how acclimatisation works on this route (especially important given the double high-altitude exposure at Tilicho and Thorong La), and anything else on your mind. This is also when you share your hotel preferences in Kathmandu and Pokhara so we can match the right accommodation to you. No question is too small. We'll also share advice on layering for the altitude range and whether to buy gear in Kathmandu or bring it from home.

Transport

All three tiers travel the same route: Kathmandu to Pokhara by road (approximately 6-7 hours), then Pokhara to Besisahar (about 4-5 hours) to reach the trailhead. On the return, you travel from Jomsom back to Pokhara by road, then Pokhara to Kathmandu. The difference between tiers is the vehicle. Budget trekkers travel by local tourist bus or shared vehicle, which is comfortable, safe and well-used by Nepalis and travellers alike. Standard trekkers ride in a private tourist vehicle with more legroom and air conditioning. Luxury trekkers get a premium private vehicle with extra comfort for the long drives. There are no internal flights on this itinerary; everything is by road, which keeps costs down and gives you more of Nepal's countryside. Read our budget trekking tips or our full breakdown of what trekking in Nepal actually costs.

Your Trek, Your Way

Every trek we run is arranged privately for your group. You won't be paired with strangers unless you choose to join a public departure. Whether you book as a solo trekker, a couple, or a group of friends, this itinerary belongs to you. Want to add an extra acclimatisation day in Manang? Spend longer exploring Muktinath? Skip the Tilicho detour and do the standard Circuit? We can adjust. Our three tiers (Budget, Standard and Luxury) give you genuine choice over accommodation, meals, porter support and transport without affecting the route itself. Same expert guides. Same safety standards. Three comfort levels. Read more about what the price difference actually buys or explore our budget trekking guide.

Difficulty

We rate this trek Very Challenging (5 out of 5). That rating reflects the combination of extreme altitude, long trekking days, remote terrain and the double high-altitude exposure that sets this itinerary apart from the standard Circuit. You'll reach 4,919 metres at Tilicho Lake and 5,416 metres at Thorong La, both well above the threshold where altitude sickness becomes a serious concern. The Tilicho trail involves exposed sections along steep scree slopes with significant drop-offs, and the Thorong La crossing starts before dawn with a relentless climb through snow and loose rock. Daily walking ranges from 5 to 8 hours over varied terrain, and the overall distance covered across 16 days demands genuine cardiovascular fitness. Our guides carry a pulse oximeter and monitor your oxygen levels daily. We build the itinerary with a steady altitude gain profile and include acclimatisation time in Manang. We also recommend consulting your doctor about Diamox before departure. If you can comfortably walk 6-8 hours a day on hilly terrain and have done some altitude hiking before, you can do this trek. If you have concerns, read our beginner's guide to Nepal trekking.

Compare Our Three Packages

Himalayas for Every Budget. Same expert guides, same safety, three comfort levels. Every tier includes all permits (ACAP and TIMS), a Nepal government well-trained guide, airport transfers, sleeping bag and down jacket, and 24/7 emergency support. The only things that change are the comfort details. Note: in Pokhara, only breakfast is included at your hotel across all tiers; other meals in Pokhara are at your own expense and choice, giving you the freedom to explore the city's lakeside restaurants. Meals during the drive between Kathmandu and Pokhara are not included. At high altitude near Tilicho and Thorong La, accommodation options are limited and all tiers receive the best available rooms at each stop. Check our guide on WiFi and charging on the trail so you know what to expect above Manang. Explore our luxury trekking guide if you want to understand what premium service looks like at altitude.

Your Trek, Our Family

The Everest Holiday is not a faceless agency. It's a family.

Hari Lal Simkhada, Shreejan's grandfather, arranged logistics and supported Himalayan expeditions in the 1960s and 1970s, back when reaching Nepal's high mountains required weeks of approach marching and a willingness to solve problems nobody had solved before. Ganesh Prasad Simkhada, Shreejan's father, has held senior positions in Nepal's tourism and mountaineering institutions, helping shape the industry that now brings over 200,000 trekkers to Nepal each year.

Today, Shreejan Simkhada runs The Everest Holiday as CEO and third-generation guide. He personally designs every itinerary, selects every guide, and remains available to trekkers before, during and after their trip. This is not a company where you are handed off to a call centre. When you message us on WhatsApp (+977 9810351300), you are talking to the family.

Our Credentials

• 196 TripAdvisor Reviews, rated 4.9 out of 5, TripAdvisor Travellers Choice 2024
• 108+ Google Reviews, rated 4.9 out of 5
• TAAN Certified, Member #1586, Government Registration: 147653/072/073
• Secure 20% deposit processed through Himalayan Bank Limited, Nepal's most trusted commercial bank
• Himalayas for Every Budget: three tiers, one standard of care
• Three generations of Himalayan guiding since the 1960s

Solo Trekkers Welcome

Most of our trekkers book alone. It's the single most common booking type we receive, and if you're wondering whether it's strange to trek solo in Nepal, it isn't. Nepal's mandatory guide rule means nobody treks without professional support, and our small groups (2-20 people) mean you'll be walking with a handful of like-minded travellers, not a convoy. By day three, most groups feel like friends. Read about what you'll eat on the trail and how WiFi and charging work at altitude. You can book a private departure if you prefer to walk with just your guide, or join a public group to share costs and meet people. Either way, you are not alone out there. You'll want to read our guide on tipping your guide and porter before you go. Read more in our solo female trekking guide (the advice applies to everyone, not just women). If this is your first time in Nepal, our beginner's planning guide covers everything from gear shopping in Thamel to what the first trail day actually feels like.

Difficulty

Very Challenging (5 out of 5). Here is what that means in practical terms for the Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake.

The maximum altitude is 5,416 metres (17,769ft) at Thorong La Pass. This is well above the threshold where altitude sickness can occur, and the additional climb to Tilicho Lake at 4,919 metres means your body faces two sustained periods above 4,500 metres rather than one. This double exposure is what makes the Tilicho variant significantly harder than the standard Circuit. Our guides monitor your oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter and know when to slow down, when to push on, and when to turn back. We also recommend consulting your doctor about Diamox before departure. Your travel insurance must cover altitude up to at least 5,500 metres and include helicopter evacuation.

The terrain varies enormously. The trail to Tilicho involves a narrow path cut into steep scree slopes with significant exposure. Loose rock, landslide debris and sudden weather changes make this section the most technically demanding part of the trek. The Thorong La crossing begins at around 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning, climbing steeply through snow and moraine in the dark with headlamps, reaching the pass at dawn. The descent from Thorong La to Muktinath is long and punishing on the knees, dropping nearly 1,600 metres in a single day. Read our 15 safety tips before you leave home.

Daily walking hours range from 5 to 8 hours, with the longest days on the Tilicho Lake approach, the Thorong La crossing, and the descent day. You should be comfortable walking uphill for extended periods and ideally have some previous experience at altitude. Good cardiovascular fitness is essential. If you're unsure, our beginner's guide covers what fitness level is genuinely required, though we'd recommend the standard Annapurna Circuit or the Annapurna Base Camp Trek as a first Himalayan experience rather than this extended route.

Trek With a Purpose — Changing the World, One Step at a Time

In 2019, Shreejan Simkhada and Shamjhana founded the Nagarjun Learning Center in one of Nepal's most remote communities. Today, 70 children receive free education and hot meals every school day at the centre's flagship branch in Saldum Village, Dhading District. More than 600 people have received free medical care through annual health camps. 275 women have been reached through support and skills programmes. Seven learning centres now operate across Nepal.

The Nagarjun Learning Center is verified and listed on the UN Partner Portal.

When you trek with us, you are not just crossing high passes. You are building futures. A portion of every booking goes directly to the centre, funding teachers, meals, and internet access for children who had none before. Every trek also upholds our commitment to responsible trekking and porter welfare. You can learn more at nepallearningcenter.com.

If you're arriving early or staying after the trek, consider a day trip to Dhulikhel for sunrise views of the Himalayan range from close to Kathmandu, or add a Chitwan National Park safari to see the Nepal that exists below the mountains: rhinos, tigers, and subtropical jungle on the Terai plains.

What Trekkers Say About This Trek

"Shreejan helped us plan a pace that worked for our fitness level. We never felt pushed beyond our limits and the views exceeded our expectations every single day."

— Google Review, 5 stars

Read all 320+ reviews →