| Trip code | ACTPHT-42 |
| Package name | Annapurna Circuit With Tilicho Lake poon Hill Trek |
| Duration | 22 Days |
| Max. elevation | 5416 Meter |
| Level | MODERATE |
| Transportation | private vehicle, public bus tickets during the trek |
| Accomodation | Three-star Hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara; best Available Lodges on route trek |
| Starts at | Kathmandu |
| Ends at | Kathmandu |
| Trip route | Kathmandu-Beshi-Shar-Chamche-Bagarchap-Chame-Pisang-Manang-Tilicho Lake-Siri Kharka-Yak Kharka-Phedi-High camp-Muktinath-Thorang-La Pass-Marpha-Jomsom-KaloPani/ Lete-Tatopani-Ghorepani-Poon-Hill-Pokhara-Kathmandu |
| Cost | USD 1,496 per person |
On arrival in Kathmandu and Nepal International Airport via various international airlines, received by our guide and staff for a short transfer to the heart of Kathmandu city. Where is your hotel is located, after checking into your rooms, and then meet other members of the trip at the hotel lobby for a briefing. The briefing includes important information regarding Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake and Poon Hill Trek, to make your holiday in Nepal more enjoyable. The evening group welcomes dinner in a lovely Nepalese Restaurant with an introduction to the culture of Nepal with folk dance and music.
After early breakfast, a scenic drive leads towards the scenic highway. This is an interesting drive through the foothills of the Himalayas. The road has been greatly improved in recent years. As our route diverts from Dumre town towards north to Besisar from the main highway. A large town and headquarter of the Lamjung region. From here drive continues on a rough track following Masrsyangdi River, as the road follows upstream to reach Syange village.
The drive continues high above the river valley to reach Jagat and then at Chamche village for an overnight stop, after a long exciting overland journey from Kathmandu. Transfer into a nice local lodge and get rest for the next morning's walks towards Manang and Tilicho Lake.
Morning from Chamche, walk leads to cross a suspension bridge over raging Masrsyangdi river, after the bridge climb for another 2-3 hours till Tal Besi is reached, the village situated on a wide valley by the side of the Masrsyangdi River. From here on into Manang district, on leaving Tal walk gets easier on the gentle path till to a bridge, from here a short climb to a small place with few teahouses, the walk winds on the up and downhill path coming to a large bridge, after the bridge another hour of great walk brings to the village of Dharapani.
From Dharapani the vegetation, people, and the landscapes changes and the air gets cooler, the trail then climbs through forests to Bagarchap, the first village on the trek with typical Tibetan architecture, facing views of Annapurna peaks. Transfer to a nice lodge, around this quaint village with strong Tibetan culture of Buddhism religion.
After a pleasant overnight stop at Bagarchap, a cool morning walk begins as altitude gains slowly reaching the apple country area at Dhanaqi village. As the walk leads past a farm area of apple orchard and beautiful pine forest with views of Lamjung and Annapurna II peaks.
From here climb to Timang village for the lunch stop, a large village of mixed hill tribes with views of Lamjung, Annapurna, and Manaslu Himalaya towards the east. The afternoon walk follows the river Masrsyangdi upstream past Koto village which is near Chame. From Koto, a short hour of easy walk brings you to Chame for an overnight stop. Chame an important place in the Manang region, and the district headquarters.
The walk from Chame follows on the other side of the river's northern bank, on leaving Chame, walk through pine and rhododendron woods with few ups and downs till Bratang village. After a short rest walk continues on a gradual path up to a bridge and then climbs into a pine forest to reach a high ridge called Dukure Pokhari for a possible lunch stop before Pisang village. From here an easy downhill walk facing views of Pisang and Chulu peaks with Pisang village, an hour walk brings you to Pisang village for overnight stop, from here on into wide Manang scenic valley.
From Pisang onward walks lead with grand views of high snow-capped peaks, as the trail climbs steeply up for an hour, after a short gradual walk from the Pisang village to reach the top of a small hill. The top offers dramatic views of Manang valley and surrounding high peaks of Gangapurna, Annapurna II, III, Tilicho, and on the right Chuli east, on the back facing Pisang peak.
After a great view downhill on a gradual path to Hongde village with a small airstrip. From Hongde walk is more or less flat on a wide trail to Manang. As altitude gains were slowly as you reach Braga village near main Manang village. At Braga visit Braga Monastery the oldest and most important Buddhist monastery located on top of a village, it has an outstanding display of statues and Thangka (religious paintings) with ancient Buddhist manuscripts. From here it is only an hour's walk to the main Manang village for an overnight stop.
Manang is a large main village of the district after Chame town, enclosed by high peaks of the Annapurna range in the south with a Chulu group of peaks towards the north. Manang is a perfect place and altitude for a necessary rest day for acclimatization before heading to higher ground, the morning after breakfast explore Manang.
The village of about 500 flat-roofed houses, a picturesque setting amongst some spectacular scenery of Annapurna- II, Annapurna- III, and Gangapurna to the South - Tilicho peak at 7,132 m. includes the Grand Barrier to the North-West - Chulu West, and Chulu East peaks.
After Manang village morning walk leads to another highlight of the trip, as the route diverts from the main Annapurna circuit trail to reach the last village of Manang at Khangsar on route Tilicho Lake. From here head further with an ups and down path on windswept terrain to reach a small settlement at Siri Kharka with a few fine simple lodges for overnight stay.
From Siri, Kharka walks towards Tilicho Lake, facing tremendous views of Gangapurna and Tilicho peaks, walk leads beyond isolated areas of Manang valley, morning walk on rough path of stones and scree with ups and down to reach at Tilicho Base Camp for an overnight stop before heading to our destination at Tilicho Lake in a local lodge with chances of spotting some wild-life like antelopes, musk deer or elusive snow leopard.
The morning starts with the scenic hike to one of our main destinations at beautiful Tilicho Lake situated within the complete wilderness. Surrounded by high peaks of Tilicho and Gangapurna Himal, from here onward into the dry and arid country, as morning heads downhill for some time, then with steep up for a while and then descend to reach Tilicho Lake, after a hike of few hours from base camp.
Tilicho Lake, fed from the glacier of Tilicho and Gangapurna peaks including other smaller mountains of Nilgiri peaks, this scenic lake is regarded as holy by the Hindu and Buddhist followers, the spiritual mystical story is based on ancient Hindu sacred books. Here enjoy the fabulous scenery within the lake premises and return to base camp and continue walking for another few hours to SiriKharak for an overnight stop after a marvelous time around Tilicho Lake.
After a pleasant overnight at Siri Kharka, the morning starts with down and ups and a gradual path to Khangsar village. Having a refreshing break continue to walk to reach the main trail of Annapurna Circuit, as the route leads to a small settlement of Ghunsang village, and then reach Yak Kharka for an overnight stop. Enjoying a scenic trek with views of snowcapped mountains, on crossing a small stream to Yak Kharka, a small settlement with several good lodges facing views of Gangapurna, Annapurna-III, and Chulu Peaks.
From Yak Kharka, morning leads on gradual ups as elevation gains to reach the base of Thorang-la, after crossing a bridge and then climbing along a riverbank of Jarjung. A walk leads to Thorang Phedi, after a short stop at Phedi continue to climb for an hour to reach Thorang High Camp for an overnight stop.
Today, another highlight of the adventure as the walk starts after an early breakfast is a long climb to Thorang-la with a steep and winding path to reach atop Thorang La Pass at 5,416 m / 17,700 feet high. The highest spot of the journey enjoys the spectacular panorama high mountain range of Annapurna, Chulu, and Damodar Himal with Dhaulagiri snow-capped peaks.
The pass festooned with Buddhist prayer flags, and from here a long downhill to Muktinath around the Lower Mustang area. After an easy walk from the bottom of Thorang-La reach Muktinath for an overnight stop, a holy spot for both Hindus and Buddhists the word Muktinath means a place for Liberation from the present life to Nirvana.
After Muktinath, the adventure continues with an easy descent of 1,200 m drop to Kaligandaki River valley, as walk passes Ekale Bhatti as the valley gets very windy in the afternoon time. Walk from here follows on the gentle trail for another two hours to reach Jomsom town. Jomsom, headquarter of the Mustang district with a small airstrip, above Kaligandaki River.
Stopping in Jomsom for lunch and then a few hours of easy walk brings you to Marpha village for an overnight stop. A lovely place with whitewashed houses, paved streets, and many well-kept lodges. Here enjoy and celebrate with the local apple products like cider, brandy, and juice. Marpha and Kaligandaki River valley are famous for delicious apples and the local products from the apples.
From Marpha, an enjoyable trek following Kaligandaki River downstream to reach another lovely village of Tukuche, located beneath high Tukuche peak and Mt. Dhaulagiri and its massif Ice-Fall. From here close views of Mt. Nilgiri. After Tukuche down to Larjung village, then cross over a wide river bed, either by series of temporary small wooden bridges or take a high suspension bridge.
After an hour's walks, head back into a tree line of pines, oaks, and rhododendron, the path meanders away from the river for a while and then back to the river bed just before Kalapani and Lete village. As a walk leads to crossing a suspension bridge over the Kaligandaki River. From the bridge a short walk to Kalapani village. Kalapani, another lovely village of more than 20 houses with excellent lodges with a grand view of Mt. Annapurna- I, Nilgiri, and Dhaulagiri above beautiful forest surrounding, and then a short descent takes you to Lete village for an overnight stop.
Morning enjoys views of Annapurna, Nilgiri, and Dhaulagiri range of peaks, and then start gently from Kalapani or Lete, as the trail leads to a dramatic change of vegetation from dry, arid desert to pine and conifer forests walk leads through in-between two giant peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himalaya that forms into the world's deepest gorge of Kaligandaki. The first two hours trek heads through Ghasa village, which is the end of the Mustang area.
As you enter within Mygdi district enjoy the view of snow-capped peaks and walk past the cool forest surrounding, as the route heads past many farm villages, to reach an open wide lower warm country of paddy fields to reach Tatopani. The pleasant walk amidst beautiful surroundings continues back to the terraced paddy fields and into the warm sub-tropical climate to the village of Tatopani walking past the beautiful waterfalls of Rupsi. Then finally end the day at a village with a natural ‘Hot Spring’ hence the village name is Tatopani.
The warm valley of Tatopani is quite constricted with sub-tropic climate and vegetation. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon with a dip in a hot pool near your lodge in Tatopani village.
After a refreshing time at Tatopani, the trek continues on a gradual trail for an hour to cross a suspension bridge over the Kaligandaki River. A walk leads by the river for a while to reach the mid-way of Beni and Ghorepani routes. Our walk diverts heading for a steep climb, from here onwards heading towards the terraced hillside, dotted with farms and villages.
After the steep climb of a few hours, and then on a gradual path within farm terraces as the walk enters into a cool dense rhododendron forests to reach Sikha and Chitre villages. As climb gains heights then end the long day at Ghorepani village for an overnight halt in a nice lovely warm lodge with views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South peaks.
Early morning an hour hike and climb to Poon-Hill at 3,210 m high, to catch stunning sunrise over panorama of Himalayan peaks, that includes Dhaulagiri-Annapurna to Mt. Manaslu range. After a busy photo session return to Ghorepani for breakfast.
From Ghorepani walk on the main trail with much downhill through lovely rhododendron and pine forest. As the walk follows past Bhanthati village to reach a large Ulleri village. From here on stone-paved steps to the suspension bridge at Tirkhedhunga. After Tirkhedhunga, pleasant walk downhill to the beautiful village of Bhirethati, located by the river Modi.
From this village another half hour of easy walk to Nayapul, which is on the main highway of Beni and Pokhara. From here a scenic drive of fewer than two hours to reach Pokhara for an overnight stop by the serene Lake Phewa with time for a visit around the Lake and bid farewell to the rest of the trekking staff and porters.
Pokhara is an amazing and beautiful place for all types of adventure sports to enjoy, from paragliding, zip-flyer, ultra-light flights, or taking a Bungee jump. For leisure activities boating on Phewa Lake, biking around Pokhara, and taking a short hike to Peace Stupa opposite the hill from the lake. As well one can enjoy an early morning short drive uphill to Sarangkot, a famous place for striking sunrise views over an array of snow peaks range.
This scenic spot is also famous for other sports activities like Para-Gliding, Zip Flyer, and a short hike within the beautiful backdrop of Annapurna Himalayas. After grand views of sunrise and enjoying the panorama of the snow mountain range, then head back to the hotel for breakfast, with a tour of Pokhara's natural wonders of the deep Seti River gorge, the wonderful waterfalls, and spend time in the heart of Pokhara and watch the hill people of western Nepal and their varied culture and custom.
An enjoyable time in Pokhara, a great place to relax, from this scenic city morning drive to Kathmandu on the main interesting highway past many farm villages and towns, and then upon the winding road to reach the outskirt of Kathmandu valley. From the top of Nag-Dhunga and Thankot town, down towards hustle, and bustle city in Kathmandu, and then back to your hotel, where our great adventure completes.
A free day to enjoy free individual activities or just relax and join in for an interesting sightseeing tour of Kathmandu major cities of Patan / Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. All the cities are steeped with historical and religious places listed in a world heritage site.
On your last day in Nepal, enjoy a memorable adventure and experience on Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake and Poon Hill Trek, as time for your international flight our staff transfer you to the airport for homeward bound.