Tilicho Lake Trek: Highest Lake in the World Trekking Guide

Tilicho Lake (4,919 m) is one of the highest lakes in the world — and arguably the most beautiful alpine lake in the Himalayas. Sitting in a hanging valley above the Annapurna Circuit trail, Tilicho has become a popular side-trip that turns a standard 14-day Annapurna Circuit into a 17-day epic. The turquoise water, surrounded by 7,000 m peaks and rimmed with glacial ice, is one of those places that has to be seen to be believed.

Here is the honest guide: how to add Tilicho to your Annapurna Circuit, what it costs, how hard the side trip is, and what to pack for the high-altitude crossing.

Where Is Tilicho Lake?

Tilicho Lake sits at 4,919 m in the Annapurna region, in a side valley branching off the main Annapurna Circuit at Manang village. The lake is roughly 4 km long and 1.2 km wide, and is fed by meltwater from the Tilicho and Gangapurna glaciers. Until the 1970s it was considered one of the highest lakes in the world — there are now several higher ones documented in Tibet and the Andes, but Tilicho remains one of the most spectacular.

The lake is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. According to Hindu mythology, Tilicho is the Kak Bhusandi Lake mentioned in the Ramayana, where the sage Kak Bhusandi took the form of a crow to escape the destruction of the world. Hindu pilgrims visit the lake in August to bathe — though at 4,919 m, this is not for the faint-hearted.

The lake sits inside the Annapurna Conservation Area and is managed by ACAP. There are no restrictions beyond the standard ACAP entry permit.

Tilicho Lake Trek Itinerary (3-Day Side Trip from Manang)

The most common way to visit Tilicho is as a side trip from the Annapurna Circuit, branching off at Manang. You can also do a Tilicho-focused trek as a standalone out-and-back from Besisahar — but this is rare.

Day	From → To	Walk Hrs	Altitude (m)
1	Manang → Khangsar → Tilicho Base Camp	6	4,150
2	Tilicho Base Camp → Tilicho Lake (4,919 m) → Shree Kharka	7	4,000
3	Shree Kharka → Yak Kharka (rejoin Annapurna Circuit)	4	4,050

Tilicho Lake Permits and Cost

Item	Cost (USD)
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)	$30
TIMS Card	$10
Tea house full board (per day, side trip)	$25–$30
Tilicho Base Camp lodge	$5 room + food
Total 3-day side trip (added to Annapurna Circuit)	$100–$150

The side trip is relatively cheap because the permits are already covered by your Annapurna Circuit booking. The main extra costs are 3 extra tea-house nights and 3 extra days of food.

Best Time to Visit Tilicho Lake

October–November and April–May are the prime windows. October–November gives the clearest skies — essential because the lake is often clouded over after 10 am. April–May is warmer but afternoon cloud is more common. Avoid December–March — the trail to Tilicho Base Camp is snowbound and the lake itself freezes over. June–September (monsoon) brings landslides and cloud cover.

How Hard Is the Tilicho Lake Side Trip?

Hard. The altitude (4,919 m at the lake) is the main challenge. The walk from Tilicho Base Camp to the lake involves 769 m of altitude gain, much of it on a narrow, exposed trail with loose scree. There is no helicopter rescue from the Tilicho side valley in bad weather — the nearest pad is at Manang. The trail to Tilicho Base Camp is also notorious for landslides, and is sometimes closed for days at a time in poor weather.

You should only attempt Tilicho if you are well acclimatized (at least 3 nights above 3,500 m) and not showing any signs of altitude sickness. If you have a headache, nausea or loss of appetite in Manang, skip Tilicho and continue on the main Annapurna Circuit. For more, see our how to acclimatize properly guide.

Tea Houses on the Tilicho Side Trip

• Tilicho Base Camp (4,150 m) — 2 basic guesthouses (Tilicho Lodge and Himalayan Lodge), shared rooms, no heating, no shower. Booking ahead in peak season is essential — there are only ~20 beds total.
• Shree Kharka (4,000 m) — 1 guesthouse, similar standard, slightly warmer.
• Khangsar (3,730 m) — 2 guesthouses, basic but a good lunch stop on day 1.

Charging for phones costs $3–$5 above Manang. There is no mobile signal at Tilicho Base Camp or at the lake itself. Bring a power bank and tell someone in Manang your plans before you go.

Tilicho Lake via Mesokanto Pass — For Hardcore Trekkers Only

There is an alternative route from Tilicho Lake to Jomsom via the Mesokanto Pass (5,300 m) — but this is a serious mountaineering route requiring full camping gear, an experienced guide, and 2–3 days with no tea houses. The pass is snowy even in peak season and the trail is poorly marked. Only attempt this with a registered agency and full expedition support. For 99% of trekkers, the standard out-and-back from Manang is the right choice.

What to Pack for Tilicho

• 4-season sleeping bag rated to −15 °C — nights at Tilicho Base Camp are extremely cold
• Down jacket — non-negotiable
• Sturdy trekking boots with good ankle support — the trail to the lake has loose scree
• Trekking poles — essential for the descent back to Base Camp
• Wool hat and gloves — wind chill at the lake can drop temperatures to −10 °C even in October
• Sunscreen and sunglasses — UV at 4,919 m is brutal

For full gear guidance, see our ultimate Nepal trekking packing list and our layering guide for cold mountain weather.

Tilicho Lake vs Annapurna Circuit vs Annapurna Base Camp

Tilicho Lake is a side trip on the Annapurna Circuit, not a standalone trek. If you have 14 days: do Annapurna Circuit. If you have 17 days: do Annapurna Circuit + Tilicho. If you have only 7–8 days and want a single-mountain-focus trek: do Annapurna Base Camp instead. For a 4-day easy trek: do Poon Hill.

Tilicho Lake is one of the great mountain moments in Nepal. If you are doing the Annapurna Circuit and you have the extra 3 days and the altitude tolerance, do not skip it. The view of the turquoise water beneath 7,000 m peaks is something you will not forget.