Tilicho Lake Trek Route

Tilicho lake Trekking    

The trek to Tilicho Lake takes you on an adventurous journey full of mountains, landscapes, and sceneries that ends with a jaw-dropping view of Tilicho Lake.

Among various trekking destinations available in Nepal, Tilicho Lake Trekking is famous. Tilicho Lake is popular worldwide as the highest lake on earth, located at an elevation of 4919m/ 16134ft. Tilicho Lake is one of the most visited places in the Annapurna Region Treks. Most tourists and trekkers choose this destination due to the immense beauty of Tilicho Lake. The trek to Tilicho has a lot to offer throughout the way. The tour is mildly tricky as you will hike above 5000 meters. Accommodations in these regions are mainly tea houses and guest houses.

Tilicho Lake is considered one of the main attractions of the Annapurna region. This trek offers you immense spectacular lifetime memories. Many trekkers cross the Thorong La Pass after completing the Tilicho Lake Trek. Tilicho is also one of the holy lakes for Hindus; they take a sacred bath in the lake. The tour starts from Besisahar and goes to Pisang village. From the Pisang, it leads to Manang village. You can acclimatize for a day in Manang. Then the trail goes to Tilicho Base Camp and hikes to Tilicho Lake. You will descend, continuing the same route to Besisahar and driving to Kathmandu. 

Trip Highlights

Here are a few highlights of the trek you might want to know:

Panoramic view of the highest located lake on earth.

The mesmerizing glimpse of mountains such as; Annapurna, Nilgiri, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, Himchuli, and more.

Hike to Upper Pisang for a clear view of Annapurna II and Annapurna III.

Visit various ancient Gompas and monasteries of the region.

Opportunity to explore the hidden natural beauty and cultural aspects of the Annapurna Region.

Exploring the cultures and lifestyles of the Annapurna region.

Passing through beautiful, turbulent river Georges

Trip Overview:

Duration: 12 to 14 days

Highest Elevation: 5416m

Best Season: Autumn and Spring

Trek Difficulty: Moderate

Accommodations: Lodges/ Tea Houses/ Guest Houses

Mode of Transportation: Jeeps and buses

Where is Tilicho Lake situated?

The worldwide famous lake Tilicho situated at an elevation of 4919m/ 16134ft, is the highest lake on the earth. The Tilicho Lake Trek lies in the Annapurna Region. The Tilicho Lake is situated in the Manang district between the ranges of Annapurna. It is a glacial lake with no living organism in it. The average depth of the lake is 85m/ 279ft. Tilicho Lake is a part of the Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Route to Tilicho Lake

The trek to Tilicho Lake begins with a 4 to 5 hours drive to Chame, a Gurung Village. After spending a night in the Gurung village on the hilltop, we will start our trek. We will trek to Upper Pisang, strolling through the woods. You will be spending the day exploring Pisang village and visiting the Gompas. You can also take a walk to Upper Pisang for a mesmerizing view of Annapurna II and Annapurna III. The next day starts with a 6 hours trek to Manang village, which is the headquarter of the region.

You can then walk down to explore the nearby places and towns towards Thorung La. It will take another day to explore the Manang Village. There are many activities in Manang like the hike to Ice Lake, a short visit to Hundred Rupee Lama above Manag, 2 hours of walk to Milarepa’s cave, and visits to Manang’s bakeries.

Leaving Manang, the trek continues to Siri Kharka after crossing the Khangsar Khola and overnight staying in a tea house. Early morning the tour leads towards the Tilicho Base Camp. After reaching the intersection point, you will have to continue with the ascend towards the ridgeline. The following path is the old path which is difficult and leads to a steep screed. You will spend the night at the Tilicho Base Camp. The next day is the hike to the primary destination – Tilicho Lake.

It will take 3 to 4 hours of walking to reach the lake. The view of Tilicho Lake is worth all the long treks and difficulties. After spending a little time viewing and photo clicking, you will descend to Siri Kharka. You can relax during your evening and overnight stay in Siri Kharka. Then following the same route, the trail descends back to Manang village. 

You can utilize your free time in refreshing in Manang village. Finally, the last day of the trek goes to Besisahar and ends with a drive to Kathmandu.

Your choice can alter the trek days; you can inform your travel agency to add and deduct the places and stays during the trek. After finishing the journey, you might as well explore the historical and cultural sites of Kathmandu.

Tilicho Lake Trek Difficulty

Along with adventures, the Tilicho Lake Trek can be difficult as we walk above 5000 meters. The layer of oxygen starts to get thinner as we hike upwards, leading to altitude sickness for trekkers. Powerful breathing exercises can be helpful during hikes. Trekking in the Annapurna region is not as easy as in other regions; hiking up from Thorong La Pass with complicated ups and downs will need high stamina.

The trail above Shree Kharka can be the challenging part of the journey. In the worst case, you may have digestion problems, so you can carry a few Digene tablets. The trekking experience is always great for this trek. Good physical and mental strength is necessary. 

With warm wear, steady climbs, resting, and balanced meals, you can avoid sickness.

Best Time for Tilicho Lake Trek

The gateway to every trekking destination in Nepal is open all months of the year. Still, you can make your journey comfortable and slightly easy by choosing the excellent season for that particular destination. Here is the best time for the Tilicho Trek:

March to May

September to November

These months are mostly favorable for the trek as these periods avoid the rainy season. The scenic views are clear till far, and the paths are good. The trails are way too slippery and risky during the rainy seasons as the roads in these regions are not good. The weather is hot overall from March to May, but it is perfect in the Himalayan areas. You can carry only a few cotton clothes which will reduce your baggage.

September to November is the season of treks. It is hard to find accommodations during this time as it is the perfect time for the tour. During this time, the winter starts in Nepal; you will discover snows in the upper altitude. Since the temperature is not much low in this period, it will be convenient for trekking.

Useful Items to carry

Along with warm clothes and trekking shoes, it will be helpful to carry the following items:

Windcheaters, shades, gloves, waterproof pants.

Sleeping bags, extra batteries for cameras, power bank, books, pocket travel games, Torch lights

Digene, water purifying tablets, wet tissues, band-aids, cold medicines, etc

Travel Permits and Entrances

The trekkers need the Annapurna Conservation Area Protection (ACAP) permit that costs Rs 3000 per person. Along with ACAP, the trekkers also require Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) pass costing Rs 2000 per person.

You will need a copy of your passport and three passport-sized photos to apply for the permit.

(These permits are only for foreigners, Nepali citizens can enter the trek without a license.)

Additional Destinations

If you are willing to extend the Tilicho Trek, you have various other trekking destinations in the Annapurna region to add to the Tilicho Lake Trek. 

You can also use Mustang, Ghorepani – Poonhill, Thorang La Pass, etc., for this trek. These destinations have their routes connected, so adding these places to the tour will not be challenging.

Frequently Asked Questions. FAQs

Can you swim in Tilicho Lake?

The lake is cold and isolated. You cannot swim far in Tilicho Lake. The lake is usually unaffected by the tourists.

What is the difficulty level?

The difficulty level is moderate in Tilicho Lake trekking, but an experience is always great for the trek.

How far can the vehicle go?

The small vehicle can be driven until Khangsar; after that, the roads are damaged, so you must trek ahead.

Are there wifi facilities in the Tilicho area?

Wifi facilities are available in most of the tea houses we stay in, but there are chances of interruptions in the network sometimes.