Highlights

• The most amazing and the highest lake Tilicho Lake which is also regarded as a holy lake

• Witness views of Mt Dhaulagiri and Mt Annapurna I

• Explore Gurung culture and tribal ethnic Thakali community

• Explore natural, adventure and spiritual dimension

• Walk the holy land through Mesokanta La Pass

• Experience unique Natural vegetation

• Witness the other unseen pictures of Annapurna region

Nepal is an amazing land of mountains. Nepalese Himalayas are rich for so many things, seen and unseen, explored and unexplored. All natural explorers, adventure explorers and spiritual seekers have always found these Himalayas beautiful. Among every other Himalayas, Annapurna Himalayan range is extremely famous for its beauty all around the world. Annapurna region includes many amazing lakes. One of the most profound and mystical lake lies in this region. Tilicho Lake is one of the names, not only known for its beauty but according to Hindu religion it is considered as a holy lake. It is said that Tilicho Lake is supposed to be the ancient Kak Bhusundi Lake (mentioned in Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit epic about God Rama). Tilicho Lake is also one of the highest lakes in the world (4,919 m) stretching 4 km long and 1 km wide. This mystical lake lies in the base of Tilicho Peak (7,134 m).

Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La pass trekking is another adventurous effort by Nature Lovers Treks and Tours to give you most profound experience in Annapurna region. In Mesokanta la pass trek you have to cross many villages of Manang valley. During this trek many people often forget the small but magical villages but we are not in that mission to forget such beautiful villages. As far as we are concerned we are offering you more, less explored places in this trek. Mesokanta la pass trek route is alternative route of Thorong la pass trek aka Annapurna Circuit trek. Tilicho Mesokanta la pass trekking will be absolutely amazing and unique wilderness trekking route from fascinating Manang villages to the wide and popular valley of Jomsom. Tilicho lake Mesokanta la pass trek offers you the astonishing views of Mt Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Mt Annapurna I (8,091 m) and many other snowcapped mountains. This Annapurna region trek offers you the variety of landscapes and thrilling routes. Natural vegetation along our way makes it more interesting and will make you feel like it’s a natural garden. Tilicho Mesokanta la pass trekking will be extremely beautiful exploration of Himalayas where you can also witness the cultural sides of Gurung ethnic communities. Among various ethnic groups is the Thakalis which is the most important. They are also indigenous tribes of Nepal’s hillside. This holy region is ideal and suitable for any types of visitors. 

During Tilicho lake trek, we will cross through amazing Manang valley. It is one of the lowest populated district of a country. Many villages are just crossed by many trekkers without knowing its beauty which is not this trekking trail was explored for. Pisang is one of those small villages which claims to be one of those most magnificent places that can show the best side of Nepal. Here you can witness beautiful scenery, mountains’ culture and generosity of the spiritual land.

We will begin Tilicho lake Mesokanta la pass trek from Chyamje and will end at Jomsom airport when we will pass through many tiny villages and different temples, monasteries on the way. Timang to Chame takes about 3 hours of walk via Thanchowk. Chame is the headquarter of Manang Valley. Finally, we will cross the Tilicho Lake and ultimately Mesokanta La pass to finish off the trek in Jomsom. 

Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La pass trekking Outline Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU 1,400 M

DAY 2: DRIVE TO CHYAMJE 1,405 M VIA BESISAHAR

DAY 3: TREK FROM CHYAMJE TO DHARAPANI 1,920 M

DAY 4: TREK FROM DHARAPANI TO CHAME 2,670 M

DAY 5: TREK FROM CHAME TO PISANG 3,230 M VIA DHIKUR POKHARI 

DAY 6: TREK FROM PISANG TO BHRAKA 3,520 M

DAY 7: TREK FROM BHRAKA TO MANANG 3,519 M

DAY 8: TREK FROM MANANG TO KHANGSAR 3,735 M

DAY 9: TREK FROM KHANGSAR TO TILICHO BASE CAMP 4,150 M

DAY 10: TREK FROM TILICHO BASE CAMP TO TILICHO LAKE 4,919 M

DAY 11: TREK FROM TILICHO LAKE TO KAISANG 3,510 M VIA MESOKANTA LA PASS 5,300 M

DAY 12: TREK FROM KAISANG TO JOMSOM 2,710 M

DAY 13: FLY FROM JOMSOM TO POKHARA 900 M

DAY 14: DRIVE TO KATHMANDU 

DAY 15: INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La pass trekking detailed Itinerary

BLD represents Breakfast Lunch Dinner

DAY 1:ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU 1,400 M, HOTEL

We heartily welcome to you all in Nepal, the Himalayan paradise. You will be greeted by our staffs in the airport and taken to the hotel for the rest. Short briefing will be held in the evening time by your team leader.

DAY 2:DRIVE TO CHYAMJE 1,405 M VIA BESISAHAR, BLD, TEAHOUSE

After having a healthy breakfast, we will take a drive towards Chyamje. It will take us around 8 hours of ride. Chyamje will be our starting point of the trek where we will spend our first night.

DAY 3:TREK FROM CHYAMJE TO DHARAPANI 1,920 M, BLD, TEAHOUSE

From today we will start our trek from Chyamje towards Dharapani which will take us about 6 hours of walk. We can witness the amazing Natural vegetation on our way along with the panoramic Himalayas in front and behind us.

DAY 4:TREK FROM DHARAPANI TO CHAME 2,670 M, BLD, TEAHOUSE

As we continue our trek further, we can feel the changes already, most of all the air starts getting cooler and the landscape varies. By the time we arrive in the headquarter of Manang district, Chame village, the towering Lamjung Himal and Annapurna II will be accompanying us time and again. Some interesting villages Bagarchhap, Danaque, Timang and Koto on the way.

DAY 5:TREK FROM CHAME TO PISANG 3,230 M VIA DHIKUR POKHARI, BLD, TEAHOUSE

Many trekkers always miss to explore this wonderful village in their trek but we will not miss this chance here at Pisang. We will go through Bhratang and Dhikur Pokhari and walk side by side with Annapurna II. Pisang is divided into lower and upper part. Both of the Pisang vilages have much things to be explored.

DAY 6:TREK FROM PISANG TO BHRAKA 3,520 M, BLD, TEAHOUSE

Witnessing the amazing Pisang village for a night, today we will move our footprints towards another beautiful place Bhraka also known as Braga. You choose either to go with the upper or lower part of the Pisang. The Upper Pisang will take comparatively 2 to 3 hours more to finish the journey than from taking the lower route. Ice Lake trek can be done at the end of the day or the day after if you wish, the same goes with the Milarepa Cave also. Explore the mystical Braga village and the Braga monastery while you are here.

DAY 7:TREK FROM BHRAKA TO MANANG 3,519 M, BLD, TEAHOUSE

A short day walk to reach the beautiful village Manang. The last developed village in the district, Manang has so many side trips for you which you can undertake in this day. Gangapurna Lake and glacier, Milarepa cave, Ice Lake and more you can travel to, in this acclimatizing day.

DAY 8:TREK FROM MANANG TO KHANGSAR 3,735 M, BLD, TEAHOUSE

This day will be another short, easy and amazing day for us. Continue the journey to the lower part of Khangsar and later, explore the surroundings while enjoying the stunning mountain views. 

DAY 9:TREK FROM KHANGSAR TO TILICHO BASE CAMP 4,150 M, BLD, TEAHOUSE

Today early morning after our breakfast, we will walk towards Tilicho base Camp witnessing amazing mountain views along with passing through the thrilling landslide and scree areas. The last night before we come to witness the main highlight of our journey, Tilicho Lake.

DAY 10:TREK FROM TILICHO BASE CAMP TO TILICHO LAKE 4,919 M, BLD, CAMPING

We know that you had the sleepless night in the base camp because of excitement {or also altitude maybe}, yet to add some more sugar in the trip today, we will trek towards Tilicho Lake. We will camp right after the lake in the lap of Tilicho peak.

DAY 11:TREK FROM TILICHO LAKE TO KAISANG 3,510 M VIA MESOKANTA LA PASS 5,300 M, BLD, CAMPING

Today is the most awaited day of our whole trekking journey and also the toughest day. We will be crossing Mesokanta La pass while feasting the views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs on the pass. As we walk towards Kaisang to spend our last camping night, we will see the differences in the terrain that we passed through earlier on and the one we are facing now. Gentle descent to Kaisang for the night.

DAY 12:TREK FROM KAISANG TO JOMSOM 2,710 M, BLD, TEAHOUSE

Finally in the end, we have come to the conclusion of our trek, ending at Jomsom. Jomsom is one of the most beautiful destinations in Nepal and is the district headquarter of magnificent Mustang with majestic Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri forming the backdrop. There’s a lot to see between Kaisang and Jomsom so enjoy the descent day today while exploring the region. It will be our last night in the mountain so drinks on you to celebrate our victory. ;)

DAY 13:FLY FROM JOMSOM TO POKHARA 900 M, B, HOTEL

Storing all of those beautiful memories inside our brain of our remarkable journey in the Annapurna region of Nepal, we will take the first flight to Pokhara. Very popular city in whole Nepal, Pokhara awaits you to share the love and beauty. Enjoy the city in this relaxing day.

DAY 14:DRIVE TO KATHMANDU, BD, HOTEL

After spending wonderful moments in the lake city Pokhara, it’s time for us to drive back to Kathmandu, the capital city.

DAY 15:INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT, B, FLIGHT.

We will miss the Tilicho lake trekking adventure moments that we did together. It has been lovely, traveling with you. Cannot wait to do the next Himalayan adventure with you in Nepal. Good bye.

Cost for 1 PAX: $1770 /-

Cost for 2 or more PAX: $1550 per person

Note: Trip cost varies with the group sizes.

Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking Cost Breakdown

Cost Include

• Airport pickup, drop and other ground transports

• Domestic flights from Jomsom to Pokhara

• Complimentary farewell dinner at typical Nepali restaurant with cultural performances

• Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara on BB basis

• Teahouse lodges with two nights tented camping on the mountain

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea / coffee in cups for trek plus freshly cooked meals during camping days

• Clean drinking water and proper look after

• Experienced English speaking trekking guide, his salary, equipment and insurance

• Porter service (1 for 2 trekkers) and extra Sherpas to carry the camping stuffs, gears and equipment with food supplies

• ACAP permit fee (Annapurna Conservation Area Project)

• TIMS card fee (Trekkers Information Management System)

• Company T-shirt and letter of appreciation

• Route maps

• First Aid medical kit

• All government Tax and VAT

Cost Exclude

• Nepal visa fee and International flight (airfare)

• Meals and sightseeing in Kathmandu and Pokhara

• Extra drinks as alcoholic and non-alcoholic

• Personal expenses as phone bill, chocolate, bakery, battery charge, hot shower, laundry and extra porter

• Extra accommodation and meals behind schedule

• Travel and rescue insurance

• Duffel bags, walking stick and down jacket (if necessary and to be returned after)

Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking Useful Information

Kathmandu airport pick up and drop services

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours’ staffs will pick you up from the airport as per your flight arrival time and similarly drop you off in the airport for international departure according to your flight schedule. During arrival, please don’t forget to look for your name placard hold by the team, outside the airport arrival gate. Our staff will be impatiently waiting for your arrival to greet you and warmly welcome you in Nepal. ‘NAMASTE’ is the foremost and the most commonly used greeting word in Nepal which you will hear from our staff at the very first moment you meet him.

Customized Trips and Trip departure

Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking departs from Kathmandu as per our fixed departure dates. You can join any available fixed departure groups if you are a solo or small group travelers if you wish to, when the trips cannot be customized.

But if you are in a private group, fixed departure dates are not suitable for you and so you need to choose your own dates and packages, when you can customize the trek as per your travel needs. For further information, please kindly contact your own friendly neighbor, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.

Accommodations in Kathmandu, Pokhara and during trek

You will be staying in the 3 star hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara while in the teahouse lodges and tented camps during the trek.

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours has the best accommodation arrangement for you from the beginning to the end. We believe after the tough walking day, everyone deserves the proper rest and the right ambience to relax and chill. Therefore, our choice of accommodation is the best when it comes to the trekking days. The rooms will be clean and comfy. Our entire accommodations will be on twin-sharing basis as you can see, so you have to let us know if others; let’s say if you want triple or quadruple sharing or if you want a double bed, etc. There will be extra charge for the single supplement. Similarly, you will have the proper comfy tents during camping days.

If you wish to change the accommodation category to a better ones in Kathmandu and Pokhara, please let us know and we can change it for you on added cost.

Route Map and Company T-shirt

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers you a complimentary trekking map and the company t-shirts.

Safe Drinking Water during Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking

Hydrating yourself is the most important thing to do during the trek. You should drink at least 3 liters of water every day or more. The main reason is to avoid the altitude sickness and to avoid other health issues. Nature Lovers Treks and Tours provides you water purification tablets or liquids to purify the water in the mountains. You can even buy mineral water or boiled water on extra cost.

Your trekking guides and porters

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours has the best guides and porters in the whole tourism industry. We can guarantee you on that. Ask yourselves a question. What do you look for in a guide and a porter? Are they fully insured and are they paid well? Well, they are the staffs of Nature Lovers Treks and Tours so they are hundred percent happy with their treatment by the company. They are experienced, licensed and knowledgeable in the field. They are well paid and fully insured for their journey as well as for the medicals.

Now, let’s talk about our backbones. The leader or a guide should have a significant knowledge in the climbing and trekking so that he can wonderfully and safely lead you, clearing any obstacles on the way. We, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours can proudly say that our guides (climbing, assistant, trekking guide) are highly qualified for the role. They are fully trained, experienced and licensed. They have undergone through a whole lot of training to make themselves useful in various situations and to make your journey a smooth and pleasant one.

Our guide knows the local areas, the cultures, the traditions and the lifestyles much more than anyone do. Some of the things he tells you, might even be hard to find in the travel guide books. Depending upon the situations and weather conditions, the daily plans might change slightly which when happens, he will inform you beforehand. You should always be flexibly ready to accommodate to your guides’ instructions. Let him know if you have any health problems as well since he will act accordingly to the situation. Depending upon the group size, we will also provide you assistant guides and extra Sherpas if needed.

Our porters are always fully equipped with the gears they need and as per the company policy, they are always insured and completely looked after. They are our backbone. We allow maximum weight of 25/30 kg to be carried by one porter. They are the strongest in our group with less communication skills. We also closely work with IPPG {International Porter Protection Group} and follow their ethics and guidelines.

Your safety

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours puts your safety as the top priority. We provide you our own comprehensive first aid medical kit bag along with the professional team of guides and porters. We are always in communication with our field team members to keep track of your safety and concerns. Your entire journey will be monitored by us and we make sure you enjoy your journey in full scale. We are available 24/7 for your health and safety checks during Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking.

Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking cost?

The cost of the Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking varies from $1200-$2400 depending upon the number of days you choose to trek. The longer the trek, more expensive it will become. Similarly, the price will differ with the accommodation choices and group sizes also. Normally, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers a comprehensive package which is inclusive of all the cost and expenses for the entire journey from the moment you land in Nepal till the moment you fly back home. However, you could also choose to buy only service-based package from us when we will be providing you only the supporting field staffs plus trekking permits and you have to arrange the rest by yourselves.

How is the Accommodation during the Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking?

In Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking, we will provide you the teahouses and tented camping accommodations. A teahouse is typically a mountain lodge which is a combination of a lodge or a guest house and a restaurant or a café with basic furniture and interiors suitable for the social hangout. Many teahouses even have some attached bathrooms and the central heating furnace. Most of the teahouses provide the European toilets these days while Asian style of toilets are available in every teahouses. Hot showers are available but on extra cost. The same goes with the hot drinking water since they use the gas or solar to boil the water. Sleeping blankets are usually provided but we recommend you to carry your own sleeping bags for the hygienic purpose {can be arranged on request}. At the same time, it’s better to carry your own toiletries including the towels.

During the camping days, you will be sleeping in the camps set up by our field Sherpa staffs. There will be separate kitchen and dining tents. Your meals will be freshly cooked and you will be served day and nights by our Sherpas. Our staffs will carry the sleeping bags, pillows and mattresses for you to sleep in the tents. Undoubtedly, you will have a perfect camping trek experience with Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.

What are the permits that I need for Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking?

For Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking, you will need to make two permits: ACAP permit (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) and TIMS Card (Trekkers' Information Management System).

How does this tipping system in Nepal works and do I have to tip?

Tipping is not compulsory for Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking however tipping is all about showing your gratitude and appreciation. We care about our staffs in the fields so we expect you to look after them in return for them looking after you throughout your journey. They are your closest friend in the remotest parts and also your protector whenever anything seems to happen to you. So tipping is highly expected and we’ve made it mandatory too. The amount of gratuities can be determined by yourselves. Normally, a guide expects around $5 or more per day per person while a porter expects $4 or more per day per person.

Can I charge my phones, batteries or other electronic devices in Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking?

You can easily charge your electronic devices during Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking {with few exception days} but by paying small amount or fees for charging. Don’t forget to buy a plug adapter or socket fittings before you leave Kathmandu.

Is there WiFi and mobile signal on the Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking?

Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking route has good mobile network coverage these days {with few exception days}, thanks to the Nepalese telecommunication companies called Ncell and NTC. You can buy one of these Sim cards from any local phone shops in Kathmandu. It is wiser to buy a sim card with around 4 GB data in Kathmandu and use the mobile data in the trek to avoid paying extra by buying WiFi on the trek.

WiFi is available on most of the teahouses in Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking route and cost some charges. However, the signal varies from place to place and please don’t expect to receive the fast data coverage in the trek.

When is the best time to trek to Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass?

Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking can be done throughout the year. However in average, Spring {March, April and May} and Autumn {September, October and November} are the best times or seasons to trek in Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass. Spring and Autumn are known as the Peak season or Busy season in Nepal. It’s because the temperature is moderate during these seasons and the best panoramic mountain views are guaranteed while during other Summer {June, July and August} and Winter {December, January and February} season, the clear weather is not guaranteed. But if you are an explorer, a photographer and a peace lover, less busy season can also be the right time to do Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking. The problem is the weather is harsh cold in winter and there’s snow everywhere while the summer has rainfalls and clouds obscuring the mountains and the views are not so great most of the time. Some of the villages in Annapurna circuit though is not affected by rain.

Do I have to worry about the altitude sickness in Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking?

The itinerary of our Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking is perfectly designed by Nature Lovers Treks and Tours and has separated enough time in the places to let the body acclimatize well in high altitudes. As long as you follow the guide, you should be fine. Altitude sickness in fact can affect anyone regardless of the age or the fitness level, so it is very important to walk slowly and gradually as you go higher. Learn more in details about Altitude Sickness to prepare yourselves for the upcoming Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking.

Do I need to be healthy and physically fit for Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking?

When it comes to trekking in the mountains, health and fitness of a person plays a vital role. If you are a healthy person without any serious medical problems, Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking is for you but if you have any sorts of medical issues, please consult to your doctor before coming to Nepal for the trek. We will be gaining the high altitude of 5300 m above the sea level which is not a joke. People normally start to have breathing problems above 3000 meters from the sea level, if they have pre-existing health conditions.

Now when it comes to the fitness level required, Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking demands high physical fitness. The trekking includes daily walks of about 4-8 hours and involves many ascents and descents including crossing of the high pass which means you need lots of practices before you start the trekking journey. You will be traversing through the forests, high passes and high hills. If you do not have the previous trekking experience, that’s fine but obviously if you have previous experiences, it will be lot easier. For those not having previous trekking experiences, please exercise regularly for at least two months prior to your trekking departure. Go for the morning walks, do some jogging as you get time, participate in some cycling activities, etc. This way, you will be good to go for trekking to Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass.

What kind of food items or meals can I eat on Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking?

Only breakfast is included in Kathmandu and Pokhara while full board meals or full meals are included during the trek. Tea and coffee will also be provided during the entire trip. During the trek, you will have your breakfast and dinner in the same teahouse / tented camps where you spend the night while the lunch will be served en route towards the next destination of the day. There are a varieties of choices to choose from; Nepalese, Tibetan, Indian, Continental, etc. during teahouse days. Except in camping days, when freshly cooked meals will be served and usually the foods are basic and with few choices but they will certainly be healthy and nutritious. Our Sherpas will make sure that you eat enough food for the trekking journey.

Do I need a travel insurance for Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking?

Travel insurance is a must when you trek to Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass. Therefore before you come to Nepal, please make sure you have your insurance documents with you since our insurance companies cannot insure foreign nationals. Because of the reason that they cover all the expenses, if you face some unfortunate happenings and you have to be rescued or medically assisted during the trip or if your belongings are lost or stolen. We strongly advise you to take out an insurance which covers any medical risks up to 5300 meter as well as the medical evacuation from the mountains.

What gears and equipment do I need to pack for Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass Trekking?

Choosing the right gear and equipment is important as well for the successful trek to Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass. Pack the right gears and equipment but remember, packing as light as possible is the best way to go when trekking to Tilicho Lake Mesokanta La Pass. You should read this What to take for travel to get all the details on what you need to pack or carry.