Experience the combination of two iconic treks, the Classic Annapurna Circuit and Tilicho Lake, in a seamless 17-day journey guided by the Nepal Hiking Team. Explore captivating landscapes and cultural riches among the Himalayas.
Do you want to witness the spectacular views of Annapurna Lake and visit the beautiful Tilicho Lake? If you wish, you can look at the Classic Annapurna Circuit with the Tilicho Lake trekking package. The package is attractive, and the adventurer can trek and explore the trip beautifully.
The trek follows an ancient route that was embarked on by travelers all around the world. The Tilicho Lake is visited by many and has a remarkable history. Significantly, the Lake holds religious value for the Hindus. In the Ramayana, the holy book of the Hindus, it is written that a sacred sage, Kak Bhusundi, shared the events of Ramayana with Garuda, the King of Birds. Hence, the holy is scared and regarded highly by all.
We would love to welcome you to Tilicho Lake and witness the beauty with your eyes. We have a fantastic team that includes trekking leaders and guides. They are eager to guide you and accompany you on this splendid trek. So why wait? Please send us an inquiry, pack your bags, and let's get ready for an adventure!
Before you begin the journey, we'd like to give you a route overview of the Classic Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake.
Firstly, the trip begins upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Staff will greet you and escort you to the hotel. Then, we'll drive to Dharapani and start our trek to Chame. From there, we'll hike to Pisang, Manang via Ghyaru, Ngawal, and Mungji. At Managa, a day is set aside for acclimatization to the higher altitude. The hike then continues to Siri Kharka and finally to Tilicho Base Camp. Later, we'll visit Tilicho Lake and descend to Siri Kharka, Yak Kharka, and Thorong Phedi.
From Thorong Phedi, we'll ascend to Thorong La Pass and then descend to Muktinath. After spending a night there, we'll drive back to Tatopani to enjoy a relaxing dip in the hot spring. The hike continues to Ghorepani, followed by a morning hike to the Poon Hill viewpoint. After visiting Poonhill, we will return to Ghorepani. Then, we trek down to Ulleri, catching a jeep to Pokhara.
We'll again take a drive back to Kathmandu and then bid farewell.
The Classic Annapurna circuit with Tilicho Lake is done throughout the year, but spring and autumn are the best times.
Spring (March, April & May) is one of the most popular times to go on this trip. You’ll witness the wildflowers in full bloom. It’s the best time to experience nature at its best and is a perfect moment to see local farming communities in full swing.
Autumn (September, October, and November) is another best time to trek. It offers perfect weather and a temperate climate. During this time, you can also witness Mount Annapurna seamlessly, with clear skies and stunning panoramas.
You can also go on this trek during the summer. If you want to see greenery and wildflowers in their natural form, this might be the perfect time for you. The season brings mild temperatures during the day, making it ideal for trekking.
Lately, there has been extensive road construction (KATHMANDU TO POKHARA )on Prithvi Highway, causing traffic congestion and air pollution. The journey that used to take around 6-7 hours now takes roughly 8-9 hours. We appreciate your patience.
Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by one of the Nepal Hiking Team's representatives. He will help you get transferred to your hotel. You will also be given further details about the plans and programs for the trip. Since no other planned activities are today, you may relax at the hotel.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Kathmandu, you will have a scenic but very long drive to Dharapani. The road is laden with beautiful natural sceneries, and you will experience the quintessence of Nepal's countryside. Crossing forests and clearings, you will reach Dharapani after passing several rural villages on the way. It is a great way to quickly glimpse the local people who reside in natural villages away from the bustling capital.
Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Dharapani.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
The trail climbs along the mule track into a fir forest and then follows the river alongside the higher oak and maple trees. On the way, you will be awestruck by spectacular views of major Himalayan peaks.
Overnight at Guesthouse.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included.
Our trail now follows a narrow, steep river valley winding through deep woodland. The view of Pisang Peak and Annapurna II on our way is truly unique.
Overnight at the Guesthouse.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included.
Today we will take the upper route to Manang via Ghyaru – Ngawal – Mungji. We will experience more breathtaking scenery as the towering, majestic peaks overwhelm our senses with panoramic views of Annapurna, Pisang Peak, and several others. We will notice a change in the landscape and vegetation from today. The cold, dry climate creates a much harsher environment. Our short visit to Barge Monastery, the largest in the entire district of Manang, will be memorable.
This day is set aside for acclimatization to the higher altitude. We'll spend our time visiting the monastery with a side trip to Gangapurna Lake. We can also visit the local villages and the Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic.
From Manang, we will head out through the western gates and follow the path down to the river. Crossing the river, we will continue walking on its southern side through coniferous forests. After reaching the Kangsar Village, we will walk towards Siri Kharka and pass a monastery. The uphill walk could be tiring, but we will have the Gungang Himal and Mount Chulu in the backdrop to keep us company.
While the path from Siri Kharka to Tilicho Base Camp is relatively steep and physically strenuous, it could be exhausting as we will have to walk on narrow paths in a loose scree and landslide-prone area. Our trail goes through the middle of the landslide area, where we can see impressive rock formations along the trail. Overnight stay at the Tilicho Base Camp.
Our trail steadily climbs along the side of the mountain after the challenging ascent until we reach the watershed. Along the way, we can witness yaks and deer grazing. Across the mountain is the magnificent Tilicho Lake located at the bottom of the north face of Tilicho Peak.
We will eventually backtrack to Tilicho Lake Base Camp and proceed to Siri Kharka.
We will leave Siri Kharka and descend towards the Khangsar Village today. On the way, we will pass Tare Gumba- a thousand-year-old monastery that is very important to the local people there. Upon reaching the Khangsar Village, we can see it is unhabituated except for occasional herders during festival times.
Following a rock wall out of Khangsar, we will walk further until we reach a seasonal bridge in the Thorang Khola Valley. After crossing the river, we will ascend to a plateau.
Next, we will be walking until we reach Yak Kharka.
We will make our way to the foot of the pass to Throng Phedi. This is a small yet busy settlement catering to the needs of tired trekkers and climbers. Groups such as ours use this point as a base camp. Some group members might want to hike to the High Camp today to make the next day easier.
A tough day is planned for tomorrow, and we stop at Thorong Phedi to sleep soundly (rather than risk a less peaceful night in the higher altitude at High Camp).
We will make an early start on our climb to the pass. We need to be fresh because the initial ascent stage is very steep. As we approach the peak, the trail becomes slushy from melting snow.
After making our way through rocky ridges, we arrive at the top of the pass (5416m). The top offers an indescribably magnificent 360-degree panorama of snow-capped peaks extending northwards into Tibet.
Looking back, we can see several peaks of Annapurna, and in front of us is the beautiful gorge of Kali Gandaki. Our trail then descends steeply down to Muktinath (3800m) – an important pilgrimage site for Hindus. It is a special place and home to many ethnic Tibetans and devout Buddhists.
Take a scenic drive to Tatopani, passing through charming towns like Jomsom, Marpha, Tukuche, and Ghasa. Along the way, you can relish the breathtaking views of the valley, rivers, waterfalls, and villages.
Rest and relax in the hot spring.
After leaving the hot spring, we hike up to Ghorepani and arrive in the afternoon. The journey is quite long and mostly uphill.
Hike to Poon Hill (3210m) and trek to Banthanti 4 hours hike and a 2-hour drive to Pokhara.
This morning, we will get up early and hike to Poon Hill. You will see superb sunrise and panoramic views of the Himalayas, including Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Fishtail, and others. After visiting Poonhill, we will return to Ghorepani. Then trek down to Banthanti where we catch a jeep to Pokhara.
Enjoy a scenic drive back to Kathmandu on a tourist bus. Rest comfortably.
Please Note
Instead of driving from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you can opt for domestic flights. The ride usually takes 8-9 hours or more, depending upon the traffic, and can get exhausting. The flight is 25 minutes on-air, and the additional cost is USD 90.00 per person.
Approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight, a representative from Nepal Hiking Team will take you to the airport.
Read our genuine feedback from past travelers with Nepal Hiking Team sourced from TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook, and Trustpilot.
I recently did the 14-day Annapurna Circuit trek with the Nepal Hiking Team.
The Nepal Hiking Team organised everything right from our pickup at the airport to our drop-off at the end of the trip, and the quality of service was incredible, making it feel as if we didn’t lift a finger the entire trip.
The trek was incredible, but was uplifted even further by our excellent staff, Prakash Sapkota, our head guide, Basu, our assistant guide, and our three amazing porters.
The whole team was friendly, funny, and professional. Our porters were the friendliest and the hardest-working people I have ever met. Despite the language barrier, we managed to play cards and still became friends.
Basu, a professional, experienced, and fun guide, made us laugh and always wore a smile. Although he has walked the trail multiple times, he still made sure that we enjoyed it ourselves on our first time.
I would recommend the Nepal Hiking Team to anyone visiting Nepal for a future trek. They offer an excellent service at a competitive price without a doubt.
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I just finished a three-week adventure in Nepal focused on the Annapurna Circuit, including Tilicho Lake and the Thorong-La Pass. I went solo with a licensed guide, Bibek, and a porter, and it was the best decision I could have made. We reached Thorong-La with perfect weather and not a single day felt wasted.
Why I recommend choosing a private guide from a reputable company, whether solo or with a partner:
About the porter: I hired one who carried most of my gear while I managed water, snacks, and essentials. Portering is demanding work, and many porters carry loads for multiple trekkers, so having one person dedicated to me made a big difference. It allowed me to move efficiently and even fit in short trail runs in village stops.
Efficiency and extras: On two occasions we combined trekking stages and used the extra time for unique side experiences along the route. Those additions became some of the most memorable parts of the journey.
Safety and altitude: Bibek’s pacing, hydration reminders, and daily checkpoints kept me safe and strong. We climbed gradually, slept low when needed, and pushed higher only when conditions were right. I never felt rushed, only well guided and confident.
Bottom line: If you are unsure, go with a trusted company, book a private guide, ask for Bibek if possible, and hire a porter. The logistics become simple, the food stays safe, the weather works in your favor, and what could be just a great trek turns into something truly unforgettable.
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We just completed a 12-day trek through the Annapurna Circuit, and having Hari as our guide made the experience truly unforgettable! From start to finish, he went above and beyond to ensure we had the best possible time.
Hari was incredibly helpful and always made sure we felt comfortable and well-prepared. He took us on extra hikes at our request, accommodated our spontaneous plans, and was always clear about which costs were included and which were optional add-ons. This level of honesty and transparency made everything so easy and stress-free.
What really stood out was Hari’s energy and consistently positive attitude. He was not only friendly and approachable but also very attentive to our well-being. Both my girlfriend and I got sick during the trek, and Hari’s calm, careful approach made a huge difference. He ensured we had the right medications and took every necessary precaution to keep us safe and healthy. His experience and attention to the acclimatization process gave us real confidence as we gained altitude.
Toward the end of the trek, our group chose to skip the final hike from Muktinath to Jomsom. Hari quickly arranged a flight from Jomsom to Pokhara and even booked a hotel for us—all at no extra cost. He also made sure we had the best available rooms at each stop, which made a long and sometimes challenging journey much more comfortable.
Hari’s passion for guiding and his genuine care for his clients shone through every single day. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to experience the Annapurna Circuit.
Our porters—both named Ram—were also fantastic. They greeted us each day with smiles and made sure our gear was always waiting for us at the next stop.
Thank you to Hari and the Rams for making this trek truly special!
We just finished the classic Annapurna Circuit trek with our amazing team! Our guide Arjun, and assistant porters Bashu and Pradib did an incredible job taking care of us throughout the entire journey. We felt comfortable, seen, supported—and had so much fun. The entire experience felt very safe.
As a group, we decided to change the final section of the route due to three long trekking days along the road. It turned out to be the best decision, and Arjun quickly created a new plan for us. His flexibility was simply amazing.
Arjun is the funniest, most positive, and sweetest guide ever. He always made sure we were walking with a smile—and usually a little laugh too. I personally had a tough time with blisters, hip pain, and altitude sickness. Arjun stayed upbeat and helped me every step of the way. He even lent me his shoes, walked at a slow pace with me, and made sure I was okay when I got sick. He explained everything in detail, and his care and attentiveness made a huge difference.
This entire trek was an incredible experience, and I 100% recommend both the trip and this team.
It wouldn’t have been the same without these amazing guys!
After an unforgettable Everest Base Camp trek, we chose to book the Annapurna Circuit trek with Ganga ji and the Nepal Hiking Team—and once again, the experience was exceptional from start to finish. Everything was meticulously organized, beginning with the airport pickup, so we didn’t have to worry about a thing.
Our guide Bibek and porter Ratna were outstanding. They ensured we had the best possible accommodations at every stop and even went out of their way to accommodate our custom food preferences. Bibek was constantly attentive to our safety and well-being, making sure we enjoyed every moment of the journey.
I will definitely plan my next trek with Nepal Hiking Team and highly recommend them to anyone considering an adventure in the Himalayas. Ganga and his team are extremely professional and available 24/7 to assist with anything you need. For a stress-free and memorable trekking experience, Nepal Hiking Team is the way to go.
- Guided by Bibek Dhamala