1 daysEasy4,130 mAnnapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour — 1 Day
From / person
$900
Trek
Tilicho Lake Trek
11 days4,919 mFrom Besisahar (drive from Pokhara/Kathmandu)Best: Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Photo by Santosh Mishra on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Duration
11 days
From
$1,450/person
Max Altitude
4,919 m
Difficulty
Strenuous
Starts
Besisahar (drive from Pokhara/Kathmandu)
Group Size
2–10 People
Stay
Tea House / Camp
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Best Season
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
4.9 NMA-licensed guides Secure Stripe checkout Reserve now, pay later
Trip Highlights
Stand on the shore of Tilicho Lake at 4,919 m, one of the highest large lakes on earth
Skip the high Thorong La pass — a shorter, lower-risk route to the region's single greatest highlight
Explore the medieval Tibetan-influenced village of Manang beneath the Gangapurna glacier
Take the high Ghyaru–Ngawal route for sweeping Annapurna and Gangapurna panoramas
Proper built-in acclimatisation with a full rest day in Manang
Cross the dramatic, remote high-mountain trail to Tilicho Base Camp
Tea-house trekking with a tented or basic-lodge night at high camp
Relax in lakeside Pokhara at the end of the trek
A focused 11-day trek to Tilicho Lake (4,919 m), one of the highest large lakes on earth, through Manang and back — no Thorong La crossing.
Day-by-Day Itinerary(11 days)
Altitude Profile
Peak: 4,919 m · Day 7Scenic drive from Pokhara or Kathmandu to Besisahar (760 m), then transfer to a 4WD jeep up the rough Marsyangdi road through Dharapani to Chame, the headquarters of Manang district. Overnight in a tea house beside hot springs.
2,670 m––DinnerTea House
The Tilicho Lake Trek is a focused, out-and-back Himalayan adventure to one of the highest large lakes in the world. Cradled in a vast glacial amphitheatre beneath the Tilicho Peak and the Grande Barrier, Tilicho Lake sits at a breathtaking 4,919 metres, its turquoise meltwater framed by ice walls and bare rock. Rather than committing to the full multi-week Annapurna Circuit, this 11-day itinerary follows the classic approach up the Marsyangdi valley to Manang, builds in proper acclimatisation, then makes the dramatic side trip to Tilicho Base Camp and the lake before returning the same way.
From Besisahar a jeep road carries you to Chame, where the trek proper begins. You will walk through pine and apple-orchard country to Pisang, then on to the medieval Tibetan-influenced village of Manang with the Annapurnas and Gangapurna filling the skyline. A full rest day in Manang is essential to adjust to the thinning air before the demanding push along the notorious landslide-prone trail to Tilicho Base Camp and the pre-dawn climb to the lake.
Why this trek instead of the full circuit
This is the ideal choice for trekkers who want the single most spectacular highlight of the Annapurna region — Tilicho Lake — without the time, expense and high-pass risk of crossing Thorong La. It is shorter, the logistics are simpler, and you still earn the high-altitude tea-house culture, the dramatic Manang valley and that unforgettable frozen-blue lake. It pairs naturally with a Pokhara stay at either end.
What to expect on the trail
Expect long days, real altitude and exposed, rocky sections on the approach to the lake — this is a strenuous trek best attempted in spring or autumn. Nights are spent in simple tea houses, with a tented or basic-lodge night at Tilicho Base Camp. With our experienced government-licensed guides, careful acclimatisation and a steady pace, fit trekkers with some hill-walking background will find it deeply rewarding.
What's Included
Included
- All ground transport: Pokhara/Kathmandu–Besisahar and Besisahar–Chame 4WD jeep transfers
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and TIMS card
- Experienced government-licensed English-speaking trekking guide
- Strong, insured porter (one per two trekkers)
- Guide and porter wages, meals, insurance and equipment
- All standard tea-house accommodation on trek (twin share)
- Three meals a day on the trek (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Two nights accommodation in Pokhara with breakfast
- First-aid kit and pulse oximeter for altitude monitoring
- All government taxes and service charges
Not Included
- International airfare to and from Nepal
- Nepal entry visa fee
- Travel and high-altitude rescue insurance (mandatory)
- Lunches and dinners in Pokhara and Kathmandu
- Hot showers, charging, Wi-Fi and bottled/boiled water on trek
- Personal trekking gear and equipment
- Alcoholic and bottled drinks
- Tips for guide and porter
- Any cost arising from delays beyond our control (weather, landslides, road closures)
Pickup
Pokhara or Kathmandu: where should we pick you up?
This trip begins in Pokhara, Nepal’s lakeside trekking town. Most international flights land in Kathmandu, about 200 km away (25 minutes by plane or 6 to 8 hours by tourist bus), so you can either make your own way to Pokhara or let us collect you in Kathmandu.
Pickup in Pokhara
Trip starts hereAlready in Pokhara? We collect you from your hotel at no charge.
- Pokhara hotel pickupFrom any hotel in Pokhara, Lakeside included.Included
- Pokhara airport pickupWe quote
- Pokhara tourist bus park pickupWe quote
Pickup in Kathmandu
Landing in Kathmandu? We meet you at the airport or your hotel and get you to the start.
- Kathmandu international airport (on arrival)Includes getting you to Pokhara by tourist bus or flight. The price depends on your arrival, so we confirm it with you.We quote
- Kathmandu domestic airportWe quote
- Kathmandu hotel pickupIncludes getting you to Pokhara by tourist bus or flight. The price depends on your arrival, so we confirm it with you.We quote
- Kathmandu tourist bus park pickupWe quote
Hotel in the city
- No hotel, I will book my own$0
- Pokhara: tourist standard guest houseWe quote
- Pokhara: 3-star hotel (bed & breakfast)We quote
- Pokhara: 4-star hotel (bed & breakfast)We quote
- Pokhara: 5-star hotel (bed & breakfast)We quote
Prices are per person and added to the trip price when you book. “We quote” means the price depends on your flight time and hotel, so our team confirms it with you before the trip. It is never added to your payment without asking.
Best Time to Go
Spring (Mar–May)
Warm, stable weather with rhododendron blooms lower down and clear mountain views. One of the two prime seasons for Tilicho.
Low: -8°C High: 15°C Possible old snow near the lake early in the season; trail generally clear.
Summer / Monsoon (Jun–Aug)
Rain, cloud and a markedly higher landslide risk on the Tilicho Base Camp approach. Not recommended for this trek.
Low: 2°C High: 18°C Little snow but wet, slippery and hazardous scree slopes.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
The most popular season: crisp, dry, stable weather and the clearest Himalayan views of the year. Ideal for Tilicho Lake.
Low: -10°C High: 12°C Generally clear trails; cold but settled conditions at the lake.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Very cold and quiet, with real snow and ice near Tilicho Base Camp and the lake. Only for well-equipped, experienced trekkers.
Low: -18°C High: 6°C Significant snow and ice at high altitude; the lake is often frozen.
Permits Required
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
NPR 3,000 (about US$23)Required for all foreign trekkers entering the Annapurna region; SAARC nationals pay a reduced fee.
TIMS Card (Trekkers Information Management System)
NPR 2,000 (about US$15)Mandatory trekker registration card; cost is for foreign nationals on a guided trek.
All permits are arranged and included in your package price. Nothing to organise yourself.
What to Pack
Merino or synthetic base layers — two sets, one worn one drying
Fleece or light insulated mid-layer
Waterproof shell jacket
Trekking trousers (not jeans, not cotton)
Sun hat and sunglasses — UV is fierce above the treeline
Warm hat and gloves for early starts and evenings
Down jacket for the evenings — rent one in Kathmandu or Pokhara for a couple of dollars a day rather than buying
Thermal bottoms for sleeping
A detailed packing list will be sent with your booking confirmation. Gear rental available in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Frequently Asked Questions
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