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This trek will take you on an exceptional excursion to the Pisang Peak Base Camp and bring you to one of the most beautiful natural sites of Himalaya, the Tilicho Lake at 4919m (16138ft).
Up along the Marsyangdi gorges. Excursion above Pisang village for a spectacular view of the Annapurna glaciers and serac falls. Spend a night in Gyaru off the beaten tracks. Continue on a path overlooking the classic Annapurna trail.
From Manang up to the Tilicho lake. Pass by Kangshar and elevate into the moraines till the Tilicho peak base camp, the only populated area in the valley. It is from this inhabited area that you go on an excursion to the Tilicho lake. Your physical efforts are rewarded by the turquoise colored lake surrounded by arid landscapes and snowy peaks.
We return to the classic trail of the Annapurna circuit to Yakharka, and up to Phedi. The next day we climb up the highest point of our trek, Thorong pass, 5300m. With the help of our excursions to the Pisang Peak and the Tilicho lake the acclimatization will be a lot easier so you can enjoy the view from the pass.
Descend towards Jomsom passing in the Mustang region, the parts where the special permit is not required. Impressive views of ocre and brown coloured eroded gorges.
Back to Kathmandu by plane or car.
March to May and September to November
| Day 1 | From Kathmandu to Nadi, 880m(2887 ft) Bus from Kathmandu to Dumre. The journey can take around 6 hours. We then take the bus or truck till Besi Sahar. Walk along the rice fields till the lovely village of Ngadi. |
| Day 2 | From Ngadi to Jagat, 1290m (4232 ft) Uphill towards the terraced fields till Bahun Danda. Lunch. The corn fields take place instead of the rice fields. Descent of 30 minutes, crossing of a little river and continuation till Syange Bazar. The track crosses the Marshyangdi after two hours of walk and uphill to Jagat. We are now in Bhotia land. |
| Day 3 | De Jagat à Dharapani, 1850m (6070 ft) Ascent till Tal, 1700m. Waterfalls.Exit of the suffocating gorges.We cross over 4 suspension bridges. Lunch. Walk till Dharapani, 2000m, Gurung and Manangi village of Buddhist religion. Overnight in lodge |
| Day 4 | From Dharapani to Chame, 2630m (8629 ft) Easy slope uphill till Khodo. We then walk through a forest till Chame, its Buddhist monastery, hot water source and the view of Manaslu make it a very pleasant vilalge to stay in. |
| Day 5 | From Chame to Pisang, 3190m (10466 ft) Crossing of the Marsyangdi river. We pass by important apple orchards and numerous prayer walls. The valley slowly becomes wider. The village Pisang is separated in tweo. The upper part’s architecture is typical of the valley with its flat roofs. We have a lovely view of the Annapurna II, the Pisang Peak and the Chulu. |
| Day 6 | From Pisang to Pisang Base Camp and Gyaru,3670m (12040 ft) We leave the classic trail and climb to the north of Pisang village; As we climb up the Annapurna glaciers and surrounding summits appear, what an amazing site it is ! We can even see serac falls on the other side of the valley at the higher altitudes. The bravest will reach the Pisang base camp. Down hill to Gyaru, a small settlement off the beaten tracks. |
| Day 7 | We go uphill til we reach a narrow pathway on the flanks of the Annapurna II. We then walk on flat land till Hongre. The village has an airstrip. After three hours of whike we arrive in Manang, 3300m. View of the Annapurnas II and III and IV, Manaslu and Pisang Peak. |
| Day 8 | From Manang to Kangshar, 3600m ( 11811 ft) After a morning’s rest we take on a small hike till Kangshar. |
| Day 9 | From Kangshar to the Tilicho Base Camp, 4150m (13615 ft) Uphill till the Tilicho Base Camp. Difficult day of hike. |
| Day 10 | Excursion to the Tilicho lake. Slow ascent to the turquoise lake, 4919m( 16138 ft), 4 km long located at the foothill of the Tilicho Peak, 7134m and back to the base camp. Note: when the lake is frozen it is not turquoise, but just as breathtaking. |
| Day 11 | From the base camp to Yakkharkha, 4018m ( 13182 ft) We hike on a trail used by yaks and join the classic Annapurna trail till the Yakkharkha sheep pen. |
| Day 12 | From Yakkharkha to Thorong Phedi, 4420m (14501 ft) Slow and short uphill which prepares us for tomorow’s difficult day of hike. |
| Day 13 | From Thorong Phedi to Jharkot, 3550m (11646 ft) Early morning departure to go up a long ascent to the Thorong La, 5416m (17769 ft). From the pass the view of the ’great barrier’ is incredible. We then go back down on a difficult descent , 1850m, till the Muktinath and its temples, pilgrimage location for hindus and buddhists. The downhill becomes less harsh and we arrive in the lovely village of Jharkot and its monastery. |
| Day 14 | Form Jharkhot to Jomosom, 2750m (9022 ft) This morning we will spend some time visiting the village. We then continue our hike downhill till Kagbeni, beautiful village with a Tibetan architecture, the gateway to Mustang. From here we follow the Kali Gandaki to arrive in Jomosom. |
| Day 15 | From Jomosom to Kathmandu. Flight in the morning to Pokhara from there bus to Kathmandu (flight Pokhara to Kathmandu possible on demand). |
