Adventure may hurt you but monotony will kill you. Are you in need of some inspiration in your life? If so, the Tilicho Lake walk provides a comprehensive response. Located at a height of more than 4919 meters, deep within the massive spine of the powerful Himalayas One of the highest lakes in the world, Lake Tilicho was created by the glacial melt of the Thorong Peak and Annapurna Massif's northern slopes. Everybody who makes it there is inspired by the inspiring and difficult voyage to its turquoise coastlines.
When making this epic journey to circumnavigate the Annapurna Massif, the lake comes into its own when the morning light rises. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the turquoise-colored lake offers a mesmerizing sight and a peaceful atmosphere. It is considered a sacred site by the local people and is also known for its serene beauty.
The trek takes you over the famous Thorong La Pass, situated at an altitude of 5,416 meters (17,769 feet). Crossing the pass is a challenging and exhilarating experience, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, including Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. It often combines with Annapurna circuit trek passing through the beautiful village of Manang, which is known for its unique Tibetan-influenced culture, monasteries, and traditional architecture. It's an excellent opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about their way of life. Throughout the trek, you'll encounter a variety of landscapes, including lush forests, cascading waterfalls, terraced fields, and alpine meadows.
Our first day of trekking starts driving from Kathmandu to Besisahar which is the district headquarters of Lamjung District in Gandaki Zone. Besisahar is about 172KM far from the Capital Kathmandu and will require about 4 to 5 hours of drive. Besisahar Municipality has a warm and sub-tropical type of climate with deciduous forest type during this season.
From Besisahar, you can easily find the 4wd jeep in Besisahar waiting for passengers to Manang or you can simply tell your lodge owner to call for the jeep they will even pick you at your lodge as well. You can trek from Besisahar itself which will take round 5 days to reach Manang which is of 90km uphill trekking.
If you decide to walk, you will not be alone you will find many travelers on the way. Road is totally off road, obstacles but much more scenario on the way. The best thing about the Besisahar to Manang is the waterfalls on your way. There are numbers of waterfall which is one of the beauty of the bumpy and shaky road that will definitely fascinates you.
You will see beautiful villages on the way to Manang but you can’t satisfy your eyes just seeing them. So, we highly recommend you to spend some of those villages. You will not regret! One of the best scenery you will find is the ‘Tal village’. If you are interested in experiencing village lifestyle or home stay you should stay by. They have good facilities of accommodation for the guest. We highly recommend people to spend one night here if possible to experience local life style of people and their culture. Similar you will pass by many other villages such as Timang, Katra, Lower and Upper Pisang, Dharapani, Jagat, Chame (headquarter of Manang districts) and Barkha Village.
The Beautiful scenario in the morning at Manang will definitely win your heart for sure. Manang village in this District is one of the best village you will witness during this trek. The village is surrounded by the mountains with the flow of the Marsyandi river and the landscape view of the dry land having its unique art and cultural, and the people here in Manang are very friendly and helpful.
If you plan to move on the same day then you must be prepared to reach Tilicho base camp on the same day for next stop. Once you reach Manang you will feel like you are somewhere else on the earth from your daily life, the life style, scenario, culture, tradition and the surrounding will amaze you in different way.
After the short hike of 15mins from Manang, you will reach one of the beautiful lake inside the Manang Village “Gangapurna Lake”. You will be crossing by the Suspension and the wooden bridge invented by the local people to reach here. The Gangapurna Lake is formed by the avalanche falling down from the Gangapurna Himal as you can see while being there avalanche falling from the Gangapurna Himal to the Ganpurna Lake.
Once you finish sightseeing in Gangapurna lake, you should march to our end point destination ‘Tilicho Base Camp’ for the accomodation. While marching toward the base camp we will be entering several village before we could make to the base camp. One of them is the Khangsar which is 2/3 hours from Manang depending on the speed of the individuals.
Early Morning after your quick breakfast including garlic soup, pack your bag with only the needed things and leave everything in the Hotel since you have to be back again to Tilicho Base Camp. The best time to make a move from Base Camp would be early morning as much as possible so that you can reach Tilicho Lake early as possible and can spend much time there with clear view. We need 3 hours to reach there, for slow and beginners it might take to the 4 or even 5 hours. Things to remember here is there is no hotel in Tilicho Lake, but Luckily there is one tea shop where you can have some tea and some noddles as well. The cost here is little expensive but it’s worth it even you will also feel the same that the cost is nothing for the availability of food in such a high camp.
The most challanging part of the day would be 22 Ghumti(turnings), you can see from the below that you have climb this Ghumti(zig-zag) in many way. After this one, feel relief the road is much easy and will require just 30mins after you complete this. Sooner or later you will be to your destination ‘TILICHO LAKE’ world highest altitude situated lake at 4919M.
After you are done with Tilicho Lake, now it’s time to be back to the base camp. NOTE:- no matter how much you are enjoying it will be better to go down to base camp after 4PM. As we still need 2hours to be in base camp so 4pm is the last hour to stay in the Tilicho. Please don’t stay more than this other wise as the sun falls down, the darkness and the windy blow of the mountain will make you suffers and even altitude Sickness. When you are back to the lodge have some hot soup, garlic soup is the best one.
Quick Facts
Duraton: 8.1km
Tilicho Base Camp to Tilicho Lake to Tilicho Base Camp: 8 Hours including photography session and sight seeing at tilicho lake
Day 5 is to say good bye to Base camp, so with heavy heart it’s time to move downwards to Manang again. It’s better to walk right after having some breakfast and the route is same from where you came from the Manang. So, you know much more about this way and easily pass the trial. Have some foods in the Shree Kharka and enjoy the night in the Manang Village by hanging with your crew.
Take a look around to Manang village for the last time, if you got some time in the morning go for the Barkha Village which is just few minutes walk from the Manang Village or ask the local where you can have some walk for couple of hours. After you are done with the everything now it’s time to go back to the Besisahar through the same bumpy road and the same 4wd jeep.
Besisahar to kathmandu is about 4 to 5 hours of drive so you can make your own time to return and extend your destination to nearby place of the same route while returning to kathmandu and it’s up to you and your crew.
Packing Lists
ESSENTIAL GEARS
MEDICINES
SNACKS
HYGIENE PACKS
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