Trekking Around Annapurna and Tilicho Lake

Arrival in the capital of Nepal, transfer to the hotel, a short rest after the road. Walk along the narrow streets of the tourist area of ​​Kathmandu – Thamel. Here are small shops, currency exchange points, restaurants. In the shops with mountain equipment you can buy everything you need.
In the evening we get to know the group, after which we stay overnight at the hotel.

Early in the morning we set off by private transport to the starting point of the route – the village of Besisahar. Travel time is about 8 hours (it is impossible to say exactly how long the road will take, so the figures are approximate), we first go on asphalt, then – on a mountain road.
We will pass the city of Pokhara, where the Peace Stupa and the International Mountain Museum are located, and the village of Besisahar, which is the foothills of Annapurna. Along the way, we will make several stops to have a snack.
After arriving in Besisahar, we will begin preparations for trekking and hire porters (equipment porters). Check-in and overnight in a loggia (mountain shelter).

Breakfast. Along the way, views of the peaks of Annapurna, Manaslu, Genesh open up. Transfer along the mountain road to Cham. Travel time by transport is 9 hours, we make stops, upon arrival we check in for the night in the lodge.
To avoid developing altitude sickness, it is recommended not to gain a lot of altitude in one day, so the route is designed in such a way that the ascent and descent are not too steep.

Wake up, breakfast, transfer to the village of Lower Pisang (on the left bank of the Marsyangdi River). We will spend approximately 7 hours on the way.
Lunch. Transfer to Upper Pisang village (on the left bank of Marsyangdi), where the Puja monastery is located. Entrance to the temple is free.
The Annapurna II peak and the bowl-shaped rock called the Gate of Heaven are very well visible from the villages. Overnight stay in a lodge.

Breakfast, transfer to the ancient village of Braga (about 5 hours). The path will run through the forest, suspension bridge, pass. The village is surrounded on three sides by mountains, so here, as a rule, good windless weather. Travel time from Braga to Manang is only 30-40 minutes.
Manang is a large settlement where it is recommended to spend not one, but several nights for acclimatization. Here we will visit the ethnographic museum, where we will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the life of the local population. The exhibition includes clothing items, masks, tools, etc. Overnight stop in the lodge.

The trail from the settlement to the base camp runs through the beautiful high-mountain lake Tilicho. The traditional Annapurna Circuit trek does not include a hike to the lake, it is included in the route at will. We will go to Tilicho, because the landscape that opens up from the base camp is one of the most beautiful throughout the trek.
The road takes about 8 hours, along the way you can have a snack in a guest house. Check in at the base camp, which is a small hotel. Here you can have dinner, take a warm shower. We stay overnight in the lodge.

In the morning we go to the lake to see the beautiful blue waters surrounded by snow-capped rocks. To acclimatize the body before the long climb to the Trong La Pass, we return to Manang. The road will take about 7 hours.

From Manang it takes about 6 hours to get to Thorung Pedi. Upon arrival we will stay at the lodge. You can borrow a horse from the owner to cross the pass. We will rest and prepare to conquer the highest point of our route – the Thorung La pass.

Thorung La is an ideal pass for trekkers who want to try altitudes above 5,000 m, but do not have much travel experience. You can get here without special mountaineering equipment and serious training, it is enough to have good physical shape and a companion, because it is dangerous to go to the mountains alone.
The road will take about 8 hours. We will get to the valley of the ancient Mustang region, the upper part of which still belongs to the Kingdom of Lo. The capital of this state is Lo Manthang, it is closed to tourists.
From the pass you can see the top of Dhaulagiri, which in Sanskrit means “White Mountain”. The eight-thousander is very reminiscent of a giant pyramid. Descent to Muktinath – a monastery sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Stop for the night in a lodge.

In the morning we get on SUVs and drive the way to Kabeni and Jomsom with stops for photos. The descent will take place along the river called Kali-Gandaki. Stop for lunch in the small village of Kagbeni with stone houses located close to each other. In the afternoon, transfer to the village of Marfa, the spiritual capital of Lower Mustang. Night in the lodge, Jomsom village.

We will get to Pokhara by plane. The flight takes about 30-40 minutes. Upon arrival, check into a hotel. We will rest after a long climb, enjoy the views and local cuisine. The city is located near the second largest lake in Nepal – Phewa. In the middle of the reservoir there is a small island where a temple of Varahi, one of the Hindu goddesses, was built. Night at the hotel.

Another day of rest and recuperation in Pokhara. Those who wish can fly a paraglider along the Himalayas, this type of activity is very common here. Mild climate conditions contribute to the development of paragliding clubs, you can fly both alone and in pairs. Most flights are carried out from the top of Sarangkot.
There is a mountaineering museum in Pokhara, which we will visit. Arrival at the hotel, overnight stay.

Transfer by chartered transport to Chitwan National Park, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main tourist center of the jungle is the small village of Sauraha. After lunch, we will visit the elephant orphanage, and in the evening we will be able to see a performance by representatives of the local population – the Tharu people. Overnight at a hotel on the river bank.
For those who have planned to participate in the 14-day program, today departure to Kathmandu. Arrival in Kathmandu in the afternoon. Accommodation at the hotel. Day 14 departure from Kathmandu.

We continue our exploration of the jungle. We canoe down the river and then walk along a beautiful trail to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon we go on an elephant excursion through the jungle. We return from our walk to dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Early rise to meet the sunrise in the jungle. Before the sun rises, we will ride elephants. Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Kathmandu by minibus.
The road will take approximately 7 hours. Check-in at the hotel, overnight.

The day will be filled with excursions to the shrines and other attractions of the Kathmandu Valley. The city of Patan is the second largest in Nepal, the second name of the settlement is Lalitpur, which means “city of beauty”. Indeed, the architecture here is impressive. What is the Royal Palace on Durbar Square.
After Patan, excursions to the holy places: the Buddhist monastery Kopan, the temple Pashupatinath, the stupa Boudhanath and the Monkey Temple. Return to the hotel, festive dinner.

Free time to buy souvenirs, pack for the trip. Flight home in the evening.
The route “Nepal Annapurna Circuit Trekking” can be adjusted depending on weather conditions, the health of the trekkers, etc.