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Altitude: 1,350 meters
Included Meals: Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu
Welcome to Nepal! Your journey begins with your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Eve Holidays representative will transfer you to your hotel in Thamel. You will meet your trekking guide for a comprehensive pre-trip briefing regarding the trail safety and gear and an authentic Nepalese Welcome Dinner at a traditional cultural restaurant in the evening.
Altitude: 1,860 meters
Distance: 240 kilometers drive
Duration: 10 to 12 hour drive
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Dharapani
You will board your private 4WD jeep early in the morning to beat the valley traffic. The drive follows the paved Prithvi Highway along the Trishuli River to Besisahar. From Besisahar the road changes to a rugged dirt track carved into the cliffs of the Marshyangdi River valley leading directly to the gateway village of Dharapani.
Altitude: 2,670 meters
Distance: 16 kilometers
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Chame
Your first walking day begins through pine forests and past steep landslide areas. You will pass through the traditional village of Bagarchhap and climb steadily up to Timang village for your first clear views of Lamjung Himal. The trail then levels off through rhododendron forests until you reach the administrative hub of Chame.
Altitude: 3,200 meters
Distance: 14 kilometers
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Pisang
You will cross a suspension bridge over the Marshyangdi River and walk through a deep pine forest. The trail opens up to reveal the massive curved rock face of Paungda Danda rising over 1,500 meters from the river bed. You will continue hiking into the broad U-shaped upper Manang valley to reach the village of Pisang.
Altitude: 3,540 meters
Distance: 19 kilometers
Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Manang
You will take the scenic upper route via Ghyaru and Ngawal villages for better high altitude acclimatization. This path provides panoramic views of Annapurna II, Annapurna III, and Pisang Peak. You will drop down past the ancient Braga monastery before reaching the flat desert-like landscape of Manang.
Altitude: 3,540 meters
Distance: 3 to 4 kilometers
Duration: 3 hours hike
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Manang
This dedicated rest day is essential to prevent acute mountain sickness. You will go on a short morning acclimatization hike up to Gangapurna Lake viewpoint or the hundred-rupee monk monastery. The afternoon will be spent resting and attending the high altitude safety lecture held by the Himalayan Rescue Association.
Altitude: 4,060 meters
Distance: 11 kilometers
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Siri Kharka
You will branch away from the main Annapurna Circuit trail and head towards the Tilicho lake region. The path moves through the old old settlement of Khangsar village. You will climb a steady ridge path through alpine meadows that offers wilderness views of the surrounding peaks before arriving at Siri Kharka.
Altitude: 4,150 meters
Distance: 8 kilometers
Duration: 4 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Tilicho Base Camp
The trail leads through the infamous landslide zone which features steep gravel slopes and stone pillars. You must maintain steady footing and watch for loose falling rocks as you navigate this narrow high altitude path. The trek terminates at the isolated cluster of lodges known as Tilicho Base Camp.
Altitude: 4,919 meters at Tilicho Lake and 4,060 meters at Siri Kharka
Distance: 16 kilometers
Duration: 7 to 8 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Siri Kharka
You will start hiking up a steep switchback trail long before sunrise to avoid afternoon winds. You will reach the pristine turquoise waters of Tilicho Lake which sits frozen beneath Tilicho Peak. After enjoying the high altitude lake panorama, you will descend back to base camp for lunch and continue walking to Siri Kharka.
Altitude: 4,110 meters
Distance: 12 kilometers
Duration: 5 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Yak Kharka
You will descend past the ruins of Old Khangsar village and follow an alpine track that bridges the Thorong Khola valley. This path bypasses Manang village completely and rejoins the main Annapurna Circuit loop. You will walk through juniper bushes and grassy pastures where blue sheep graze until you reach Yak Kharka.
Altitude: 4,450 meters
Distance: 7 kilometers
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Thorong Phedi
The route climbs steadily along the east bank of the Jarsang Khola. You will cross a wooden bridge and negotiate a narrow scree slope that requires careful steps. You will reach Thorong Phedi at the base of the pass where you will rest early to prepare for the massive high altitude crossing tomorrow.
Altitude: 5,416 meters at Thorong La Pass and 3,760 meters at Muktinath
Distance: 16 kilometers
Duration: 8 to 10 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Muktinath
You will begin climbing the steep incline to High Camp at 3:00 AM under starlight. The trail ascends a series of moraine ridges until you stand at the top of Thorong La Pass marked by prayer flags. After celebrating you will make a long steep descent down to the sacred temples and eternal flames of Muktinath.
Altitude: 822 meters
Distance: 175 kilometers
Duration: 7 to 9 hour drive
Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Pokhara
You will board your private 4WD jeep in the morning and begin a dramatic overland drive down the wind-whipped Kali Gandaki Gorge. The route takes you through the administrative hub of Jomsom and past classic stone-built villages like Marpha and Larjung. You will descend from the arid trans-Himalayan desert zones into lush subtropical forests, passing the massive Rupse Chhahara waterfall before driving through Tatopani and Beni to arrive at your hotel by Phewa Lake in Pokhara.
Altitude: 1,350 meters
Distance: 200 kilometers drive
Duration: 6 to 8 hour drive
Included Meals: Breakfast Farewell Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu
You will board your tourist bus after breakfast for the scenic overland mountain drive from Pokhara back to the capital city of Kathmandu. The journey takes you along the Prithvi Highway, offering a final look at rural Nepalese villages, terrace farms, and the flowing Trishuli River. You will be transferred back to your hotel in Thamel where you have the evening free for souvenir shopping and the farewell dinner.
Altitude: 1,350 meters
Distance: 5 kilometers
Duration: 20-30 minute drive
Included Meals: Breakfast
Your Himalayan trekking tour comes to an official end today. A private airport vehicle will pick you up from your hotel in Thamel and transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your final international flight departure back home.
Rooms are comfortable but basic, typically featuring twin beds and shared bathrooms. As you reach higher spots like Tilicho Base Camp and Thorong Phedi, amenities become more rustic, and indoor plumbing may be limited due to freezing temperatures. Hotel upgrades and single supplement are provided on request.
Teahouse menus are surprisingly extensive. You can fuel your body with nutritious local Dal Bhat (free refills on rice and lentils), garlic soups to prevent altitude sickness, fried noodles, momos, porridges, and even continental dishes like pasta and pancakes.
The spring time from March to May and the Autumn months from September to November is considered the best months for Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake
The Tilicho Lake detour actually serves as an excellent natural acclimatization buffer before you attempt Thorong La Pass. Spending multiple nights above 3,500m in Manang and climbing up to Tilicho Lake (4,919m) forces your body to produce more red blood cells. By the time you return to the main trail to cross the 5,416m pass, your body is thoroughly adapted to the thin air, significantly reducing the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
This trek is classified as strenuous and challenging. While it requires no technical climbing or mountaineering skills, it demands excellent physical fitness, cardiovascular endurance, and leg strength. You will be hiking for 5 to 8 hours a day over rugged, steep terrains and loose scree slopes, particularly on the segments leading to Tilicho Base Camp and during the grueling crossing of Thorong La Pass.
A classic, safely paced itinerary typically takes 14 to 18 days round-trip from Kathmandu. The detour to Tilicho Lake adds roughly 2 to 3 days to the standard Annapurna Circuit timeline.
The highest point on this itinerary is the Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters (17,769 ft). The second highest milestone is Tilicho Lake, situated at 4,919 meters (16,138 ft).
The Tilicho Lake detour actually serves as an excellent natural acclimatization buffer before you attempt Thorong La Pass. Spending multiple nights above 3,500m in Manang and climbing up to Tilicho Lake (4,919m) forces your body to produce more red blood cells. By the time you return to the main trail to cross the 5,416m pass, your body is thoroughly adapted to the thin air, significantly reducing the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
You should start a targeted physical training regimen 2 to 3 months before your trip. Cardio workouts: Running, cycling, swimming, or rowing to build lung capacity. Leg strength: Squats, lunges, step-ups, and calf raises. Real-world hiking: Regular weekend hikes with a weighted backpack, specifically practicing long ascents and descents to condition your knees and joints.
Prior experience above 3,000 meters is highly recommended but not strictly mandatory. Because the trek reaches extreme altitudes-4,919 meters at Tilicho Lake and 5,416 meters at Thorong La Pass-knowing how your body reacts to thinner air is a major advantage. If you have never been to high altitudes, you must strictly follow a slow pacing strategy and listen to your guide's acclimatization instructions.
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