18-Day Annapurna Circuit Trek from Kathmandu: Tilicho Lake & Thorong La Pass

The Thorong La Pass sits at a high altitude, eye level with the Annapurna range.

An 18-day trek from Kathmandu through the Annapurna Circuit, visiting Manang, Tilicho Lake, and crossing Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters before descending to Muktinath and Poon Hill. The trek includes teahouse accommodation, an English-speaking guide, porter support, all permits, and transport from Kathmandu to the trailhead and back. You walk through subtropical forests, alpine terrain, and the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest gorge on the planet, encountering Brahmin, Chhetri, Gurung and Magar communities along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and hotel check-in in Kathmandu

• Arrive at Kathmandu Airport
• Complete visa and customs formalities
• Meet office representative
• Transfer to hotel
• Check into hotel and refresh

Day 2: Drive to Syange via Besishahar

• Drive from Kathmandu to Besishahar
• Stop for lunch en route
• Drive from Besishahar to Syange
• Overnight stay at local teahouse

Day 3: Trek from Syange to Dharapani

• Have breakfast at Syange
• Trek through forests and cross suspension bridge
• Ascend to Tal and walk along cliffs
• Pass Karte village and descend to riverside
• Cross river and reach Dharapani
• Overnight at local teahouse

Day 4: Trek from Dharapani to Chame

• Ascend through pine and oak forests
• Cross wooden bridge and climb to Temang
• Enjoy views of Manaslu range
• Lunch at Temang teahouses
• Walk to Thanchok settlement
• Reach Chame and overnight at teahouse

Day 5: Trek from Chame to Pisang

• Morning trek from Chame
• Steep climb to Bhartang
• Jungle walk to Pisang valley
• View Pisang Peak and Annapurna Himalayas
• Overnight at local lodge

Day 6: Trek from Pisang to Manang

• Climb steep ridge from Pisang
• Pass Hongde airstrip and Ngwal village
• Follow Marshyandi river to Manang
• Stay two nights in Manang for acclimatization

Day 7: Acclimatization day in Manang

• Scenic walk around Manang village
• Optional hike to Gangapurna lake or Melarepa cave
• Return to teahouse in Manang

Day 8: Trek from Manang to Yak Kharka

• Leave Manang and cross river stream
• Climb through tough terrain above 4000m
• Descend to Jarsang valley and cross river
• Lunch near Jarsang valley
• Steep climb to Yak Kharka yak pasture
• Optional hike to Ledar
• Overnight at local lodge in Yak Kharka

Day 9: Trek from Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi

• Descend to Marshyandi river riverside
• Lunch by the river
• Ascend to Ledar
• Arrive at Thorong Phedi
• Optional stay at Thorong high camp
• Overnight at local lodge

Day 10: Cross Thorong La Pass to Muktinath

• Start early before sunrise
• Climb to Thorong La Pass
• Enjoy panoramic Annapurna views
• Descend to Muktinath
• Overnight at local lodge in Muktinath

Day 11: Trek from Muktinath to Marpha

• Visit holy Muktinath temple
• Breakfast at Muktinath
• Descend to Ekley Bhatti
• Walk to Jomsom
• Arrive at Marpha and taste apple products
• Overnight at local teahouse

Day 12: Trek from Marpha to Kalopani

• Walk along local tea shops
• Taste apple brandy, tea or coffee
• Cross Tukuche village and see Dhaulagiri icefall
• Continue to Largung and Kobang villages
• Arrive at Kalopani
• Optional visit to Tukuche Distillery
• Overnight at local lodge

Day 13: Trek from Kalopani to Tatopani

• View Mt. Annapurna I and surrounding peaks
• Descend to Dana for lunch
• Descend to Tatopani
• Take dip in natural hot spring
• Overnight at local lodge

Day 14: Trek from Tatopani to Ghorepani

• Ascend from 1190m to 2780m
• Cross villages Ghare, Shika, Phalate, Chhitre
• Enjoy cultural and natural sights
• Overnight at guest house

Day 15: Hike to Poonhill and descend to Tadapani

• Early morning hike to Poonhill viewpoint
• Watch sunrise over Annapurna Himalayas
• Return to Ghorepani for breakfast
• Trek to Tadapani via Deurali and Banthati
• Overnight at guest house

Day 16: Trek to Ghandruk and drive to Pokhara

• Hike from Tadapani to Ghandruk
• Experience Gurung cultural insights
• Walk to Pokhara Baglung Highway
• Drive to Pokhara
• Overnight at hotel in Pokhara

Day 17: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu

• Early morning bus ride to Kathmandu
• Arrive at Icicles Adventure Office
• Hotel transfer and check-in

Day 18: Airport drop and departure

• Transfer from hotel to Kathmandu Airport
• Depart Nepal

The experience

You arrive at Kathmandu airport and meet your guide at the gate for a hotel transfer. After a night in the city, you drive seven hours through mountain roads and river valleys to Syange, following the Trishuli and Marshyandi rivers with views of the Manaslu range. The next morning the walking begins: gradual forest descents, suspension bridges, and climbs through pine and oak to Chame, the Manang district headquarters. From there the trail steepens as you gain altitude toward Pisang and then Manang at 3,540 meters, where you spend two nights for acclimatization. The optional hike to Gangapurna Lake or Melarepa Cave helps your body adjust to the elevation.

Leaving Manang, the terrain turns alpine: no greenery, just rock and pasture. You climb through Yak Kharka and reach Thorang Phedi at 4,420 meters, the base camp for the pass. The crossing happens early, starting before sunrise between 4 and 5 AM to reach Thorong La before the afternoon wind and clouds roll in. At 5,416 meters, you stand at the highest point of the trek with panoramic views of the Annapurna Himalayas. The descent to Muktinath takes the same day. You visit the spiritual temple in the morning, then walk steeply downhill through the windy Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest gorge on Earth, to reach Marpha by noon.

The final stretch descends gradually through apple orchards and Gurung villages. You pass Tukuche with views of the Dhaulagiri icefall, drop to Tatopani where natural hot springs offer relief, then climb to Ghorepani. Before dawn you hike to Poon Hill for sunrise over the Annapurna range from a different vantage point than you saw from the pass. The last walking day takes you through rhododendron forests and bamboo to Ghandruk, then a drive to Pokhara for a night in a 3-star hotel. The final morning you return to Kathmandu by tourist bus, arriving at the office by midday.

What’s included

• Teahouse accommodation throughout the trek.
• an English-speaking, government-licensed trek leader and assistant guide.
• one porter for every two trekkers to carry your gear.
• all trekking permits (ACAP and TIMS).
• airport pickups and drops in a private vehicle.
• jeep transfer from Kathmandu to the trailhead at Jagat and return drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu on a tourist bus.
• one night in a 3-star hotel in Pokhara with breakfast.
• one night in a hotel in Kathmandu.
• a medical kit carried by your trek leader.
• all government and local taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 75 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Accessible Adventure Pvt. Ltd

Is this one for you?Book this 18-day trek if you have at least moderate fitness and want to cross a high alpine pass (5,416m) while walking through multiple climate zones and ethnic communities. The fixed itinerary with two nights in Manang for acclimatization is what makes the Thorong La crossing safer and the full circuit possible in one trip. Your guide manages the timing and weather decisions, so you focus on walking.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

24 verified traveler reviews

5 ★24

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is Tilicho Lake and when do I see it on this trek?

Tilicho Lake is the highest located lake on Earth, a sapphire-colored alpine lake you visit during the trek's high-altitude section. The itinerary includes it as part of the Annapurna Circuit route through the upper valleys.

How high does the Thorong La Pass climb and what makes it dangerous?

Thorong La Pass reaches 5,416 meters, making it the highest point on the trek and standing at eye level with the Annapurna Himalayas. Heavy snowfall, strong winds after midday, and the altitude itself create hazards. Your guide will decide whether conditions allow crossing and will instruct you to follow their lead rather than your instincts or other trekkers.

What kind of accommodation do I get during the 18 days?

You stay in teahouses (local lodges run by families along the trekking route) for the nights on the trail, plus one night in a 3-star hotel in Pokhara and one night in Kathmandu at the start. Teahouse rooms are basic but comfortable, and meals are provided at each stop.

Do I need to arrange my own porter and guide, or are they included?

Both are included: you get one porter for every two trekkers to carry gear, and an experienced English-speaking government-licensed trek leader plus an assistant guide (one assistant for every four trekkers). The guide carries a medical kit and makes decisions about weather, pace and safety.

What permits and paperwork do I need for this trek?

All necessary permits are included: the ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) and TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card. Your guide handles the paperwork. You do not arrange these separately.

What is the Kali Gandaki Gorge and where do I walk through it?

The Kali Gandaki Gorge is the deepest gorge on the planet. You descend through it on the trek's final phase after crossing Thorong La Pass, walking steeply downhill from Muktinath toward Marpha on windy trails alongside the river.