The Tilicho Lake Trek

Grade 1 2 3 4 5
Grade 4 – Demanding
These treks require participants to be in excellent health. They take you into the high Himalaya, altitudes ranging from 9,000ft / 2,800m to often in excess of 16,500ft / 5,000m. Trails venture into sparsely populated or uninhabited high-mountain wilderness, and are often ill defined, occasionally on glacial moraines. Average walking is 6 - 9 hours a day.

Click here for a full explanation of Trip Difficulty Grading

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Trek Difficulty Grading

Our treks vary from easy hikes in the foothills to challenging climbing adventures in the high Himalaya. More often than not, we use trails that have since ancient times been the only link between villages, settlements, and their inhabitants. The trails may take you through a well-inhabited area with many villages and tea-shops, or through a mountain wilderness without a single permanent settlement for days, but one thing is certain: there'll be lots of ups and downs as we walk from one Himalayan valley to another. Treks are graded on the basis of altitude, trails, walking hours per day, and length of trek.

Grade 1 – Easy
Treks in the foothills staying below 6,500ft / 2,000m. Trails are relatively gentle & wide, and average walking is 3 - 4 hours a day.
Grade 2 – Moderate
Treks in the foothills and the middle-hills going up to 10,000ft / 3,000m. Trails are mostly gentle and wide, but at times may involve more difficult stretches like a steep stone staircase. Average walking is 5 - 6 hours a day.
Grade 3 – Challenging
Fairly demanding treks, usually in the high Himalaya, going up to 13,000ft / 4,000m. Trails can be ill defined, narrow, steep, and rocky, and will usually take you into uninhabited or sparsely inhabited areas. Average walking is 6 - 7 hours a day.
Grade 4 – Demanding
These treks require participants to be in excellent health. They take you into the high Himalaya, altitudes ranging from 9,000ft / 2,800m to often in excess of 16,500ft / 5,000m. Trails venture into sparsely populated or uninhabited high-mountain wilderness, and are often ill defined, occasionally on glacial moraines. Average walking is 6 - 9 hours a day.
Note on altitudes
The altitude definitions indicate elevations through the major part of the trek. Treks usually involve side-trips into elevations exceeding the altitude ranges defined for their grades. Grade 3 and grade 4 trek itineraries are designed to allow proper acclimatization, with acclimatization days when we take side trips to higher elevations where necessary.

 

15 days – The ultimate high-altitude Monsoon trek in Nepal
  • 12 days demanding trekking in the high Himalaya (maximum elevation 5,120m / 16,790′)
  • Spectacular views of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri & Nilgiri Himal ranges, Tilicho Peak and Tilicho Lake
  • High Himalaya wilderness camping experience
  • Explore monasteries and settlements off the main trails
tilicho-lake-180x270In the Annapurna range of the Central Nepal Himalaya lies Tilicho Tal (lake), at 4,919m / 16,135′ one of the highest of its size in the world. Stretching about 4km / 2.5mi long and about 1km / 0.6mi wide, it lies at the foot of the 7,134m / 23,400′ summit of the same name, north of the Grande Barriere – a 10km / 6mi long wall of rock, ice and snow.

Our trans-Himalayan adventure begins with a drive up the Marsyangdi valley to the Chame, in Manang district. Here we meet up with our team of porters and spend three 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, 5,100m / 16,730′) where we are rewarded with the first views of the Kali Gandaki valley. We descend to stay at the charming Thakali village of Marpha. 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 Itinerarymap_atl

Day 1  Arrive Kathmandu. Orientation.
Day 2  Morning drive to Dumre. Change transport and drive to Chame (2,710m / 8,890′).
Days 3-5  Trek to Pisang (3,185m / 10,450′) and continue up the valley to Manang (3,540m / 11,611′) via Ghyaru. Extra day for acclimatization at Manang.
Days 6-8  Trek to Tilicho Lake (4,919m / 16,135′) and Tilicho Base Camp (4,200m / 13,780′) via Khangsar (3,745m / 12,280′).
Days 9-11  From our camp at Meso Kanto La Phedi (4,900m / 16,070′), climb to cross the Mesokanto La (5,120m / 16,790′) and camp at summer pastures above Kaisung. Descend to the Kali Gandaki valley, meeting the main trekking trail at Marpha (2,680m / 8,790′).
Day 12  Trek via Dhumba Tal (2,830m / 9,280′) and Thinigaon (2,780m / 9,120′) to Jomsom (2,760m / 9,050′).
Day 13  Morning flight to Pokhara. Rest of day at leisure.
Day 14  Drive to Kathmandu. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 15  Depart for onward destination.

Dates and Pricing

Jul 29 - Aug 12

Aug 27 - Sep 10

  Standard Hotels
2 - 5 personsUS$ 1,356
6 - 12 personsUS$ 1,144
Single room supplement US$ 160
Airfare Jomsom - PokharaUS$ 111
Cost Information
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Cost Information

The trip cost quoted is the cost per person, and includes:

  • Hotels: Accommodations in Kathmandu and Pokhara on twin / triple room-sharing basis with breakfast.
  • Tours: Sightseeing tours indicated with a certified English-speaking guide.
  • Transfers: All land transfers by car (Toyota Corolla or similar) or van (Toyota Hiace or similar).
  • Trekking: Room-sharing accommodation in local lodges, all meals, services of trek crew (guide, sherpa(s), and porter(s) to carry all luggage & equipment), applicable trekking / ACAP permit / National Park entry fees.
  • Permits, Fees, & Taxes: All applicable permits, entry fees, and taxes.
  • Trek leader: We provide a trek leader on groups of six or more. A tour leader can be provided upon request for smaller groups, upon additional cost.

Not included in the cost are:

  • Meals other than indicated.
  • Flights: All internal flights are extra. Internal airfares indicated are subject to change without notice.
  • Personal clothing & equipment (upon confirmation you’ll receive a clothing & necessity checklist of items we recommend you bring, items you can hire / purchase locally are indicated).
  • Personal expenses, bottled / alcoholic beverages, and tips to crew.
  • Insurance: We strongly recommend that all trip participants be covered by their own personal insurance that also covers emergency evacuation.
  • Other unforeseeable expenses that may arise due to factors beyond our control, like bad weather or flight cancellations.
  • Nepal visa fee.

 
  Standard Hotels
KathmanduNirvana Garden Hotel
PokharaHotel Trek-O-Tel
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Suggested Trips

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The Kali Gandaki Trek

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Langtang Himal range at dawn.

The Langtang Valley Trek