Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake - 16 Days

Free Airport Pickup

We provide free airport to hotel transfers on arrival and vice-versa on departure. Discovery World Trekking representative will be present at the Tribhuvan International Airport, holding a pamphlet with your name. As a welcome gesture, they will present you with a Marigold Garland or Khada and take you to your hotel on private transport. We provide this service so our clients do not feel alone in a new country.

Trek Briefing

We conduct an online trek briefing before you arrive in Nepal to provide essential information about the trek. Additionally, we will hold a brief in-person meeting in Kathmandu before starting the trip. During this meeting, we will check your luggage to ensure you have all the necessary clothing, gear, and equipment. If you missed the online briefing, this session will also serve as an opportunity to cover all important details about your journey.

Trek Start

Before starting Annapurna Circuit Trek, you will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport before 3 pm, one day earlier, for last-minute preparations. You will return to your hotel for the night. On the trip departure day, early in the morning, we will board you on a local bus for approximately 8-9 hours to reach Jagat Village - the starting point of our Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake trek. Local transportation (Kathmandu to Besisahar, then to Jagat, Muktinath to Tatopani) is included in the package. A private jeep is available for an extra cost.

Accommodation

The 16-day trek includes fourteen nights of lodge-to-lodge stay at the best accommodations available in trekking regions and one night in a Pokhara hotel. We provide eight nights in rooms with an attached bathroom at Dharapani, Chame, Pisang, Manang (2N), Muktinath, Tatopani, and Ghorepani. You will spend six nights in standard rooms at Jagat, Siri Kharka (2N), Tilicho Base Camp, Yak Kharka, and Thorong Phedi during the trek (Twin Sharing room). The package includes a one-night hotel stay in Pokhara in a room with an attached bathroom, TV, 24-hour hot water, power, and laundry facility.

You may require two nights' hotel stay in Kathmandu before and after the trek, but the package does not include this. Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels for all budgets and tastes. Hot showers are available at an extra cost in trekking regions.

Meals

Annapurna with Tilicho Lake Trek takes place at high elevations near the world's highest peaks. Hence, you will need nutritious food. We ensure you will get nutritious and hygienic food throughout the journey. However, the meal options are limited compared to cities. We will provide you with 16 breakfasts, 15 lunches, and 14 dinners during the trek. All meals in the trek regions are on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch, and dinner / main course).

We select lodges that offer fresh, hygienic, tasty, and nutritious food. Menu items include traditional, Asian, and Western cuisine, but as we go up, the menu gets shorter. We urge you to try famous Nepali foods, mainly Dal (lentils), Bhat (rice), Tarkari (curry), Momo (dumplings), and Chow Mein (noodles).

We highly recommend fresh vegetables and plenty of liquids like green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and garlic soup (must) at high altitudes. Though plenty of non-veg items will be available at trek regions, we do not recommend them for quality concerns. We also encourage you to avoid dairy items, alcoholic drinks, caffeinated items, and hot chocolates.

All personal bills (alcoholic drinks, hot (tea, coffee), and cold drinks) in tea houses/lodges or cafes, except standard meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner with seasonal fruits) are excluded from the package. Lunch and dinner in Pokhara are not included in the package.

Luggage

The package includes a 9 kg luggage weight limit for each trekker. We will assign one porter for two trekkers, and the porters will not carry more than 18kg of luggage. You might need to bring a backpack for your essentials. We recommend you store your extra luggage in your hotel or at the Discovery World Trekking store (for free).

Typical Day

A typical day at Annapurna Circuit Trek starts early morning with a hot cup of tea/coffee. After breakfast, we set off on the day's walk around 7 to 8 am, depending on the duration and nature of the walk. After trekking for three to four hours, we will stop for lunch, followed by an hour of rest, and then continue to our destination. The afternoon walk is generally shorter (about two to three hours). Once you reach the overnight lodge/tea house/tent, you can snack on the extra dietary food.

You can use your free time before dinner to explore nearby places. After dinner, you can indulge in friendly conversations and discuss the experience of that day. The expedition leader/guide will brief you about the next day's plan. After this briefing, you can enjoy onboard games like Monopoly, cards, or watch mountaineering documentaries. Most foreigners learn common Nepali words from our crew or read books before going to bed.

Electricity and Water

Throughout the Annapurna Trek with Tilicho Lake trek regions, you will get electricity for a camera or mobile phone recharge at an extra cost. Similarly, you can buy packed mineral water from local lodges or en route shops or fill your water bottle with boiled water at an extra cost. Discovery World Trekking can provide you with pills to make water drinkable. You should not drink water from the rivers, taps, or wells in trekking regions because the water may not be drinkable.

Communication

During the Annapurna with Tilicho Lake Trek, you can use internet service on lodges for an extra charge. However, at high altitudes, we will use a phone to communicate. The Discovery World Trekking office will remain in contact with all trek groups at least once via team leader for safety. You can easily buy a local sim card in Kathmandu for better connectivity. However, mobile signals at high altitudes may not be strong enough. Wi-Fi is available in trek lodges for an extra cost.

Tipping

Nepali culture accepts tipping. Tipping is at the trekker’s discretion and should reflect the quality of service provided. We encourage you to pay tips as a group at the end of the trek.

Trek End

You will return to Kathmandu from Pokhara at the end of the trek. This package covers tourist bus transport from Pokhara to Kathmandu. However, you can fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu at an additional cost. Later in the evening, we will organize a farewell dinner in Kathmandu.

Feedback

After the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake, we will organize a farewell dinner in Kathmandu. After dinner, we will present you with a company t-shirt and a trek achievement certificate. It is also a great time for you to provide us with your feedback.

Useful Info

Please note that the above itinerary is a general guideline. In rare cases, due to circumstances beyond our control, such as adverse weather, calamities, or landslides, we might need to modify the itinerary. In such a case, your trek leader will decide on the best alternative after consulting all team members. Similarly, we encourage you to add two extra days, so that even in case of trek delays, you will not miss your international flight back home.

Trip Extension

If you have extra days, after completing the Annapurna Trek with Tilicho Lake, you have many options. We can arrange Kathmandu Valley or Nagarkot sightseeing tours. Similarly, you can go on a Chitwan jungle safari trip, paragliding, rafting, canyoning, or another trek.

Departure

After the trek, on the day of your flight back to your home country, we will pick you up and take you to Tribhuvan International Airport in a private vehicle. We hope you enjoyed your stay in Nepal and will be back for more adventures.

Trek season

The weather is decisive for the Annapurna with the Tilicho Lake trek. Trekking is possible throughout the year, but some seasons are better. Spring and autumn seasons with clear skies, pleasant temperatures, and no rain or clouds allow spectacular views. Discovery World Trekking organizes Annapurna Trek with Tilicho Lake throughout the year.

The trek is challenging in winter due to cold temperatures and snowfalls in high altitudes. Similarly, Nepal experiences monsoons during summer, so the trails can be slippery. However, some trekkers are attracted to challenges and enjoy their Annapurna Circuit Trip in summer and winter. The exact temperature and weather conditions change from place to place, but here is a brief description of the weather in high elevations in the Annapurna Trekking regions.

March to May (Spring): Spring is a perfect time for Annapurna Trek with Tilicho Lake as the temperature is mild, the rainfall is low, and the skies are clear that allow great views. Thousands of people trek in the Annapurna region during this time. The mean daily temperature in the high elevation ranges from 8°C to 0°C. Lower regions are even warmer, making it comfortable for the trek.

June to August (Summer): June to August is a summer season in Nepal, but summer coincides with the monsoon (rainy season). The temperature is quite high and very favorable, but still, the trails will be wet and slippery.

Monsoon begins at the end of June and lasts till the second week of August. At high elevations, the temperature ranges from 10°C to 23°C during the day, but nights are cooler at 5 to 10°C. Even in this season, the mornings are generally cloud-free, but clouds appear in the afternoon and retreat at night. Because of the rain, various plants bloom, and the whole environment in the trekking region looks green and lovely.

September to November (Autumn): Autumn (September, October, and November) attracts travelers to Annapurna Circuit with the Tilicho Lake trek. Moderate temperatures, mild wind, clear skies, and low precipitation make autumn a wonderful trekking season. The monsoon will be over by early September, and the weather ranges from mild to warm days. Daytime temperatures, at high altitudes, can reach up to 20°C. The nights are cooler with temperatures around 5°C.

During this season, the greens that grew during the monsoon fade to golden/amber, providing a spectacular contrast against the crystal blue skies. The fields are full of ripening grains, the environment is clean, and the lowlands are lush. Moreover, the two biggest Hindu festivals - Dashain and Tihar - also fall during this season.

December to February (Winter): Winter (December - February) Annapurna with Tilicho Lake treks are moderately popular. During this time, high altitudes at Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake can get as cold as -10°C.

The coldest time is from late December through early February. After late February, the temperature gradually rises to -5°C. Despite being cold, the skies during this season are usually clear. Mountain views are at their best, and the trails are the least busy. New trekkers might find the path challenging, but experienced trekkers can enjoy their trek to the fullest.

Visa

Citizens from most countries get an on-arrival visa at Tribhuvan International Airport or in specific government offices along Indian or Tibetan borders. You can find more information about visas at www.immigration.gov.np.

For visa application, you will need a passport valid for at least six months, one passport-size photo, and a visa fee. The current visa fee is US$50 (to be paid in cash) for a 30-day stay. Children under the age of 10 will get a free visa. Indian citizens do not need a visa. Chinese citizens and citizens of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) get a free visa.

On-arrival visas might not be available for citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan. If you are a citizen of these countries, contact your local Nepalese embassy.

Travel Insurance

Annapurna with Tilicho Lake Trek is a challenging journey with potential high altitude sickness and other unforeseen events such as injury, illness, flood, landslide, or sudden climate changes. Travel insurance is compulsory for booking the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake. All trekkers must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to Discovery World Trekking. Your policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation, including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at high altitudes.

We can recommend insurance companies to help you based on our clients' experiences, but we do not sell insurance policies.

We request all trekkers to send their detailed insurance policy once they book for trekking. In emergencies, we will use the insurance policy and informational documents that you sent us for a quick and effective rescue operation, transfer for emergency medical help, etc. Please ensure that your insurance covers mountain rescue service at the highest trek elevation in addition to health expenses.

Currency Exchange

Nepali Rupees (NPR/Rs) is the local currency. (1 USD = Approx Rs.130 NPR). You can exchange most foreign currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and all over Thamel.

Money exchanges display their currency exchange rates visibly. We advise you to bring cash (major currencies) to avoid lengthy processes and high bank commission rates. You can also withdraw Nepali Rupees from ATMs in Kathmandu and Thamel. Most of the ATMs are open round the clock. If you use a foreign card, you can withdraw up to Rs. 35,000 for Rs. 500 as a processing fee. Banks and financial institutions impose a service fee of about four percent or more for their money exchange service.

Extra Personal Expenses

Meals and accommodations in Kathmandu are up to our clients themselves. Kathmandu offers all kinds of hotels/lodges for different price ranges to cater to individual tastes. All our valuable clients will have to bring personal spending money to cover meals and accommodations in Kathmandu, lunch and dinner in Pokhara, visa fees, travel insurance policy purchase, beverages, snacks for the trek, hot (tea, coffee), cold drinks, tips for crew members, souvenirs, etc. We recommend you bring cash (major currencies) and exchange them for Nepalese Rupees. Trekking regions accept only Nepali Rupees.

Trek Difficulty

Annapurna Trek with Tilicho Lake hike is a challenging trek. The hiking generally lasts for 4 to 7 hrs a day, with regular breaks to soak in the stunning mountain views. Trek routes on Annapurna involve long climbs, steep descents, and straightforward roads. Past hiking experience would be an added advantage, but no technical experience and skills are necessary.

Trekkers who can hike reasonably for 5 to 6 hours a day can complete the Annapurna Trek with Tilicho Lake. Please remember that trekking at higher altitudes is more physically demanding than trekking at lower altitudes. Exercising and jogging regularly for a couple of weeks before the trip enhances your stamina, and the fitter you are, the more enjoyable your trekking experience will be. To join the Annapurna circuit trek with Tilicho Lake, you must be healthy with normal physical fitness and a good dose of positive attitude, self-confidence, and determination.

Trek safety

Discovery World Trekking conducts Annapurna with Tilicho Lake treks, according to Nepal Tourism Board Guidelines paying attention to safety. In addition to geographical safety, Discovery World Trekking ensures trekkers' safety in the following ways.

• Our guides are Intensive Wilderness First Aid trained
• Trek leaders and guides have years of trekking experience
• We use high-quality sanitizers, masks & gloves
• We recheck food & accommodation for hygiene

Annapurna Trekking with Tilicho Lake includes one day's rest in Manang for acclimatization to avoid altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is preventable but can be fatal if you ignore the symptoms. We have designed our itinerary for slow and steady ascending so that your body can adapt to the new altitude. All our trekking leaders (guides) have completed extensive first aid training, and we urge you to inform your guide of the first signs of the symptoms. Our crew carries oximeters to monitor your oxygen level to detect early signs of altitude sickness.

Your trek leader or guide will also suggest precautions. The best way is to take your time and drink plenty of water every day. The only cure for acute altitude sickness is to descend immediately. Your group leader has the ultimate authority to stop your ascent based on team members' conditions.

DWT team

Our trained, well-experienced, and government-licensed guides/Sherpas will accompany you throughout your trek. Porters will be carrying your luggage, but they will carry no more than 18 kg combined weight. For every two trekkers, we assign one porter. If you require, we can arrange more porters too.

Our crew members are local people born and raised in high Himalayan regions who can easily endure high altitudes. All our staff members are valuable to us. So, in addition to salary, we also cover their insurance, clothing, food, lodging, and equipment costs. Discovery World Trekking believes that only a happy person can make others happy. Hence, we try hard to keep our staff happy.

Our team members have:

• Intensive Wilderness First Aid Training
• Government-authorized Trekking Guide Training Certificate
• Fluency in speaking English and another major language
• Conservation and Biodiversity Training
• Rock Climbing Experience

Trek Booking

Discovery World Trekking is a Nepal government-registered and bonded Trek and Tour operator. We are members of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Therefore, you can book treks/trips/expeditions with Discovery World Trekking with 100% confidence.

We require 10% as a trek booking advance. After booking a trip, send us other necessary documents, such as a passport copy, passport-size photos, travel insurance policy, and flight details, within a week of booking the trip.

You can pay through bank transfer, Western Union, or online directly from our website. You can pay the remaining trek cost in cash, through a bank transfer, or credit card, after arriving in Nepal. We will also forward payment details in your email.

You can book the Annapurna Circuit with the Tilicho Lake trek here.

Last-minute Booking

It is best to book trips in advance, but for those unable to do so, Discovery World Trekking provides a last-minute booking facility. Last-minute booking requires you to pay 100% of the trip cost 24 hours before the trip departure date. Though Discovery World Trekking tries its best to conduct trips as scheduled, there is a small chance of delay due to circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes the weather might not be good enough, or the lodges in trekking regions might not be vacant. For more information, contact Paul at 977- 9840055491 or info@discoveryworldtrekking.com.

Group Private Treks

We organize private group treks. Group discounts are available based on your team size. The bigger your team is, the more discount you will get. We do not add anyone to your trek group. We can handle all group sizes. Your group will consist of a group leader, a porter for every two trekkers, and an assistant guide for a group of 12 or more.

Responsible Travel

As an eco-tour company, we understand that our actions may cause detrimental effects on the environment in the trekking regions. So, we try hard to limit such effects and remind you not to litter carelessly. Furthermore, Discovery World Trekking works with the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) to organize eco-friendly trips that benefit the locals and trekkers.

Notes

Please note that Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake trek has a fixed departure date from Kathmandu. However, if the dates do not suit you, let us know, and we can adjust the dates for you.