The Annapurna Circuit Trek consistently ranks among the world’s most famous treks. You will have an easy walk to begin with, before the path connects Kaligandaki to the Marsyangdi River valley. The incredibly adventurous Thorung La pass, located at a height of 5416 m, is a special highlight of the Annapurna Circuit trek.
Enroute the trek, we will see a variety of sceneries and zones that range from subtropical to alpine terrains. We will also encounter diverse ecosystems, different cultures and varying landscapes ranging from lush paddy fields and oak forests to rough mountain terrain. And finally, we get to trek the Kaligandaki gorge, the deepest gorge in the world!
The Annapurna Circuit trek offers an extraordinary panorama of Annapurna (8,097 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu, Machhapuchhre and Tukuche together with many other stunning peaks in the background. The trek is extremely beautiful, with numerous orchid forests surrounding the trail, and rhododendrons covering entire hills in their typical red hue in the spring. The Tilicho Lake trek takes the trail through Manang to the highest altitude lake in the world – Tilicho Lake at 4919 m Passing through lush subtropical countryside, over moraine, through alpine forests, along arid cliffs, and over the Thorong La pass, this trek is quite challenging but steeped in Hindu myth and surrounded by mountains. Tilicho, Nilgiri, Khangsar and Muktinath are some of the peaks on show around the lake – sometimes even being reflected in the cold, clear turquoise waters. And of course views of the Annapurna accompany the visitor throughout the whole trek.
Overview
The lake was formed by the glacial melt off the northern slopes of the Annapurna, and is of historical and religious significance as it is thought to be mentioned in the Hindu religious book, the Ramayana. In contrast there are Buddhist villages to be crossed to reach the lake, taking their culture and religion from nearby Tibet. After visiting the lake and Tilicho Base Camp, the trail leads out of the Marsyangdi Valley, through yak pastures and over the Thorong La Pass (5,416m). Crossing the pass is challenging, and is done at around 3 am before the afternoon winds make it more difficult. The views, however, are magnificent of Mt Gundang, Syagang, Thorong Peak and Mt Khatungkan. Once across the pass there are more interesting villages: Muktinath, with its Hindu temple, water spouts and eternal flame; Kagbeni with its monastery, strange human-like clay effigies, and Jomsom, a busy market town, and transportation hub of Mustang, with its airport, bus and jeep stands.