The Tilicho Lake Trek
The ultimate high-altitude Monsoon trek in Nepal.
In
the Annapurna range of the Central Nepal Himalaya lies Tilicho Tal
(lake), at 16,135' / 4,919m one
of the highest of its size in the world. Stretching about 2.5mi
/ 4km long and about 0.6mi / 1km wide, it lies at the foot of the
23,400' / 7,134m
summit of the same name, north of the Grande Barriere --
a 10km / 6mi long wall of rock, ice and snow.
This trans-Himalayan adventure begins with a spectacular flight from Pokhara up the Marsyangdi valley to the airstrip at Hongde, in Manang district. Here we meet up with our team of porters and spend two days exploring the region, taking in some of the best stretches of the classic trek around the Annapurnas. We soon leave the lodges on the main trail to head up toward Tilicho Tal. These high Himalayan reaches are the habitat of the Himalayan tahr (mountain goat) and the snow leopard, among other mammals. From our camp by the shores of the lake, we climb up to the Mesokanto La (pass, 16,730' / 5,100m) where we are rewarded with the first views of the Kali Gandaki valley. We descend to stay at the charming Thakali village of Marpha. Here on we follow the Kali Gandaki upstream to Kagbeni, and up a side valley to the shrine at Muktinath, sacred to Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims alike. The trip ends in Jomsom with an early morning flight to Pokhara.
This is a splendid summer trek, as rewarding as it is challenging. The Tilicho lake trek undoubtedly ranks among the finest high-altitude Nepal treks best experienced in the Monsoon.
Trip
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Kathmandu.
Day 2 Morning drive to Pokhara.
Days 3-4 Fly Pokhara – Hongde; trek down to Pisang
via Ghyaru and back up the valley to Manang.
Days 5-7 Trek to Tilicho Lake via Khangsar.
Days 8-9 Climb to cross the Mesokanto pass, and camp
at summer pastures
above Kaisung. Descend to the Kali Gandaki valley, meeting the main trekking
trail at Marpha.
Days 10-12 Trek up the Kali Gandaki valley to Muktinath
via Kagbeni and Jharkot, and back to Jomsom.
Day 13 Morning flight to Pokhara. Rest of day at leisure.
Day 14 Drive to Kathmandu. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 15 Extra day for sightseeing or leisure.
Day 16 Depart for onward destination.
Options & Extensions
Hotel
Selection
Flight
Pokhara - Kathmandu
Mountain
Flight to Everest
Trisuli High Water rafting
(2 days, KTM - KTM)
Royal Chitwan National
Park safari tour (3 days, KTM / PKR - KTM)
Lhasa Overland fly-in
drive-out Tibet tour (8 days, KTM - KTM)
trip overview
16 days in Nepal
trek highlights
group size
trip cost
dates 2007
dates 2008
