Tilicho Lake

Tilicho Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world, sitting at about 4,919 m in a glacial cirque high above the Annapurna Circuit. It is a goal in itself for trekkers — a long, high side trip rewarded by a vast turquoise (and often frozen) lake beneath the snows of the Tilicho massif.

Overview

Tilicho lies in Manang district, fed by glaciers spilling off the northern flanks of the Annapurnas. At about 4,919 m it ranks among the highest large lakes on Earth, and for much of the year its surface is part-frozen. The setting is severe and spectacular: bare scree slopes, hanging glaciers and a deep-blue or icy expanse with no permanent settlement in sight. It is the high-altitude jewel of the Annapurna region, and reaching it has become one of the most sought-after side trips for trekkers on the circuit, who break away from the main trail specifically to stand at its shore.

How to get there and visit

Tilicho is reached only on foot. Trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit trek branch off at Manang, walk via Khangsar to Tilicho Base Camp, then make a strenuous early-morning hike up to the lake and back before descending and rejoining the main trail toward the Thorong La. The dedicated Tilicho Lake trek builds this excursion into a focused itinerary with proper acclimatisation. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit and a trekkers' information card are required, both arranged in Kathmandu or Pokhara, and a guide is strongly advised given the exposed terrain. Spend extra nights around Manang before attempting the lake: at this altitude the air holds little oxygen, and rushing up greatly raises the risk of altitude sickness.

Things to do

• Hike to the lakeshore — the long climb from Tilicho Base Camp is the main event; allow a full day and an early start.
• Photograph the lake and peaks — Tilicho Peak and the surrounding glaciers ring the water.
• Acclimatise and explore Manang — the side valley around Manang offers shorter walks before the big push.
• Continue the circuit — link the visit with the Thorong La pass crossing for the full Annapurna loop.

For another high lake reached on foot, see Gosaikunda in the Langtang region.

The day hike from Tilicho Base Camp to the lake and back is the crux of the whole excursion. It begins before dawn so that you cross the exposed slopes before the afternoon wind and any snowmelt loosens the scree, and it gains and loses significant height in a single push. Carry plenty of water, snacks, sun protection and warm layers, since conditions at the lake can swing from sunny to bitterly cold within minutes. Most trekkers do not camp at the lake itself; instead they return to Tilicho Base Camp or Khangsar the same day, then continue the circuit. The reward for the effort is a stretch of high Himalaya almost no road traveller ever sees.

Fast facts

Fact	Detail
Elevation	About 4,919 m
Size	About 4 sq km (often part-frozen)
Region	Manang, Annapurna region, Gandaki Province
Best season	October to November and April to May

Tilicho is the high point — literally — of any tour of the best lakes in Nepal. Plan it as part of the Annapurna Circuit trek and read up on altitude before you go.