Tilicho Lake Trek

Welcome to Kathmandu, the city of temples, you can call it the most developed city of Nepal as of now, and it is here, where we are located to serve you in a way you want right from TRIBHUWAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, where you can see us waiting for you with our TRAVEL MAX GUIDE SIGNBOARD, and your name so that you can spot us at once, and you will be taken to your hotel in a vehicle or to our office where you can ask us questions, having tea or coffee, after all these activities, if you have time, then there is nothing better than spending your time in Thamel, the tourist hub which is just outside the door of our office, you ask us, what you want to eat, what you want to enjoy, we will show you that the tourist like you most desired in a new place.

The sightseeing that you are going to do, today, comprises of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and they can be categorized as Stupas, Temples, and Palaces. The sightseeing can be personalized, according to your interest, and all the effective route planning for the sightseeing will be done by the city guide of TMG.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

From the hotel where you are staying, nothing is near the Kathmandu Durbar Square. It was a ceremonial site; it was a palace where the would-be kings used to be coronated in the past, now it is a palace cum museum, and to be there is to experience how the royals spend their life. Stand among the monuments, temples, and statues that back to the 17th and 18th centuries. 

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)

Be well prepared in advance because this stupa is located at quite an altitude and is more than 2,000 years old. This is the most important of all the Buddhist Stupas in Nepal and has a fascinating face of Lord Buddha on every side, and its base has the stonework of 5 Dhyani Buddhas – Vairocana, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi, and Aksobhya, and each of these represents the wisdom of Lord Buddha. People flock to this stupa to see the birds-eye view of Kathmandu.

Pashupatinath 

Pashupatinath is as old as the hills, but the Hindu Committees of Nepal, looks after it, such as renovation and maintenance, and there are new adds on in and around the temple. Pashupatinath is the most important temple of Lord Shiva and located not far away from the heart of Kathmandu. Only Hindus are permitted to enter from the main gate to Pashupatinath Temple. As a visitor, you will enjoy the rich combination of architecture from a distance. If you are lucky, then you might see the Hindu Cremation taking place.

Bouddhanath 

Bouddhanath is also a stupa. It is one of the holiest pilgrimages of the Buddhists. It has a white doom just like Swayambhunath, whatever the myth is, it contains the bones of Kasyapa Buddha (Buddha incarnation), while others say it contains the bone of Lord Buddha. Around the base of the stupa are 108 small images of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha. Go anytime to enjoy these images.

On the way, you will pass through towns, villages, and beautiful landscapes. There are also terraced farmland and rivers. After some pretty long hours, you will reach Beshisahar. You then take a local jeep from Beshisahar to Syange. This drive gives you some insight into the rural people – their lifestyle and their culture. From Syange, you begin your trek. Before Besisahar, you reach Dumre. It will be a new experience to drive on the public bus in Nepal. When you reach Syange, you will find yourself in a typical countryside.

The up trekking trail that lies before you take you to the traditional and beautiful villages. Some parts of this trail are rocky, and these are also the parts that run by the Marsayangdi River. This is one of the important rivers of Nepal. From this river, you head to Tal which is the first village of Manang district. Enter the stone gate that has “Welcome to the Manang district”. You will see the sandy valley floor. Tal lies on the bank of the river surrounded by the lush hills.

On the way, there are suspension bridges, waterfalls, up trekking trail, villages, and the Marsyangdi River. There are stone cliffs. After crossing these cliffs, you head to Khorte and Dharapani. This last village is the source of information to the people who want to study the Tibetan Culture in detail. You will see green hills and the river below the road. Danakyu is a small village, and it also has apple trees.

Before you reach Chame, you come across a wooden bridge, and you will follow the decision of your guide who says which trail is the best. On the way, you will see the spectacular view of the waterfall, and you will also walk in a beautiful forest. Later you will reach Tamang village. You will be walking uphill most of the time. On the way, you will see the spectacular view of the mountains like Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV. You will also come across a hot spring where you can dip before you reach Chame.

As you trek in a steep and narrow trekking trail, that is, switchback, you reach a dense forest, and you will see the best view of the mountains. You will not take one photo, but hundreds. There, you see a dramatic rock face. There is also a vertical rock on the way. After this rock, you see the Paungda Danda, a massive sloping rock face that rises over 5,000ft (1500m). You are in the Marshyangdi Valley, and as you come out of it, you will see the stunning view of the mountains Like Annapurna and Pisang. You will reach the Upper Pisang via a village called Geru.

Although the upper trekking trail is difficult, the view that you see is incredible. Today, it is all about walking uphill. You will walk on a switchback most of the time to reach the top of the hill. You can buy apples on the way and see the horse and ponies. Here, the air is thinner. You will also be in the region which is dry. This is so because of the Annapurna Ranges. You will see these ranges blocking the monsoon. Looking at the ranges, you head to Ngawal.

Looking at the elevation, Manang is lower than Ngawal. The down trekking trail takes you to the Marsyangdi valley. On the way, there are rocks sculpted by the wind as well as pine trees that have slowed to growth. But the view of the Annapurna Ridge is beautiful, and it will capture your eyes frequently. There, the climate is cold, so you see less vegetation. On the way, you will come across the largest monastery of Manang that is called Bhraka which you will visit. On the way, you will also see the stunning view of nature, including that of Annapurna and Pisang mountains.

This is a must for today’s activity because you are ascending to a higher altitude tomorrow. Rest or acclimatization does not mean staying in one place. You can use it to walk to interesting places, interact with people, learn about their culture and tradition, their way of living, and enjoy the local cuisines. Hike to either Bhojo Gumba, a monastery, or Gangapurna Lake. You can also hike to Vraga Village.

You follow the down trekking trail in the western direction. There are rivers and forests on the way. From the forest, you head to Khangsar Village and walk uphill to reach Shree Kharka. On the way, you will see the stunning view of Gungang Himal and Mt. Chulu or from Manang, you will walk in the coniferous format, reach Kangsar Village, and then follow an uphill trekking trail that goes to Shree Kharka, passing a monastery. The view of Gungang Himal and Mount Chulu will be seen along the way.

Today. you will trek to the Tilicho Base Camp. The trekking trail offers you a panoramic view of Tilicho Peak. During the time of trekking, you will pass through a narrow path that is newly constructed. There is scree on this trail which is prone to landslide. The landscape, especially rock formation will impress both to mind and eyes. The trekking trail is not steep and challenging. However, the narrow trail makes you tired. After this, you will head to the base camp at an elevation of 4,200 m.

The first part of the trekking is tough and goes upward. At this time, you walk by the mountains. Later, you reach watershed. There are yaks and deer grazing fields on the way. You can see Tilcho Lake from here as well as Tilicho Peak. Tilicho lake has religious significance; it is so to the Hindus, and it has been mentioned in the Ramayan. Tilicho Lake was one of the highest altitude scuba dives. A Russian diving team, consisting of Andrei Andryushin, Denis Bakin, and Maxim Gresko, conducted a scuba dive in 2000.

Today, you will follow a trekking trail that will take you to the Marshyangdi Valley. En route, there are streams and a village named Tangki. Following the uphill trekking trail, you walk through pasture as well as through juniper trees. You will also reach a village named Ghusang where you will see flat mud roofed houses. At the beginning of the trek, you follow a descending trekking trail. There is Tare Gumba, a monastery on the way. On the way, the most important village is Khangsar. Most of the time, you will be trekking in the Thorang Khola valley. You cross the river and ascend a plateau before reaching Yak Kharka.

Today also it is an uphill walking, but this walking is the most difficult walk of the Annapurna Circuit because you are heading to the higher elevation and spend a night at Thorong Phedi which means the base of the Thorong La Pass as well as it is a village. To reach the base, you have to cross a suspension bridge and reach a village called Ledar. You have to reach the top of the pass known as the Thorong La Pass tomorrow. From there, you can see the stunning view of Mt. Gudang, Mt. Syagang, Thorung Peak, Mt. Khatungkan, and others.

This is the highest altitude of the Annapurna Circuit Trek, that is, you are at the Thorong La Pass (5,416m). From this pass, you head to Muktinath, and on the way, you come across the area that is heavily covered with snow which might stumble you. But this walk is rewarding because it leads you to the top of the pass. When you reach the top, you will see the stunning view of the mountains. To ascend this pass, you have to start early in the morning before the sun rises.

Muktinath is famous for 108 cow heads spigots near the Vishnu temple. The water that comes to these spigots is believed to come from the sacred lake called Mansarovar which is near Mount Kailash that is the abode of Lord Shiva, the most powerful deity of the Hindus. To the Buddhists, Muktinath is known as Chumig Gyatsa and is holy to them as the site of Lokeswar, the protective deity of Tibet. From Muktinath, you trek to Jomsom, enjoying the good view of Mt. Dhaulagiri which is 8000m plus.

You take an early morning flight to Pokhara. The plane passes between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains and gives you a unique experience. In Pokhara, you will do boating in Fewa Lake and the evening, you can walk around the lake.

Today, you will drive from Pokhara. As you head from the City Of Lakes to the City Of Temples, the scenery changes from lush forest to less vegetation area. Cross the rivers, streams, and pass through the scenic view of hilly landscapes. You will check-in the hotel. In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant, seeing the Nepali dance.

A company representative will drop you to the airport in a private vehicle.