In the Annapurna range of the Central Nepal Himalaya lays Tilicho Tal (lake), at 4,919m one of the highest of its size in the world. Stretching about 2.5mi / 4km long and about 0.6mi / 1km wide, it lies at the foot of the 23,400' / 7,134m summit of the same name, north of the Grande Barrier a 10km / 6mi long wall of rock, ice and snow. This is a splendid summer trek, as rewarding as it is challenging. The Tilicho lake trek is among the finest serious Nepal treks best experienced in the Monsoon.
Tilicho Lake trekking begins with a spectacular flight from Kathmandu/Pokhara up the Marsyangdi valley to the airstrip at Hongde, in Manang district. We soon leave the lodges on the main trail to head up toward Tilicho Tal. These high Himalayan reaches are the habitat of the Himalayan tahr (mountain goat) and the snow leopard, among other mammals. From our camp by the shores of the lake, we climb up to the Mesokanto La (pass, 16,730' / 5,100m) where we are rewarded with the first views of the Kali Gandaki valley. We descend to stay at the charming Thakali village of Marpha. Here on we follow the Kali Gandaki upstream to Kagbeni, and up a side valley to the shrine at Muktinath, sacred to Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims alike. The trip ends in Jomsom with an early morning flight to Pokhara.
