If you are searching for a technical peak climbing experience in Nepal, the Tilicho Peak Expedition is the best option for you. Located in the Annapurna Region of Nepal, north of Manang, it stands at an incredible altitude of 7,134 meters.
Your expedition journey starts with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Chame. From here, you will follow the famous Annapurna Circuit trail. The route passes through Pisang, Manang, and Khangsar before arriving at Tilicho Base Camp. En route enjoy the spectacular view of the mountain village, traditional stone houses, unique culture, and the Marshyangdi River.
Along the trekking route, there are plenty of beautiful teahouses where you will stay after a day of trekking. Here you will get the opportunity to meet locals, interact with them and understand their culture, tradition, and Himalayan lifestyle.
From Tilicho Base Camp(4,150 m), your climbing journey starts. From here, our expedition team will conduct acclimatization and climbing rotations before guiding you safely to the summit of Tilicho Peak.
The ascent follows the northwest shoulder, a route first ascended in 1978 by French climber Emmanuel Schmutz. Navigating through the steep snow, ice slopes, and mixed rock sections, we move from Base Camp to Camp I(5800 m), Camp II(6200 m) and the summit.
From the summit of Tilicho Peak, enjoy breathtaking views along the snow-covered northeast ridge, with the Kali Gandaki Valley to the west, the Marshyangdi Valley to the east, and the hidden kingdom of Mustang stretching to the north. The mountain views include Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and the surrounding Himalayan peaks.
Then, returning safely to Chame, you will take a drive and get back to Kathmandu and conclude your journey. Upon completion, after arriving in Kathmandu, we will provide a Department of Tourism (DoT) climbing certificate. This official Tilicho Peak summit certificate supports applying for future expeditions like Mount Everest.
Our Tilicho Peak climbing package starts at USD XXX. We also offer discounts for groups. Additionally, group joining is available; please contact our tour operator for available dates that match your schedule.
Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and begin our scenic drive to Chame. We drive through the Prithvi Highway from Kathmandu to Muglin enjoying the views of the Trishuli River and lush green hills. From Mugling, we continue toward Besisahar and then follow the Marsyangdi River Valley on the road to Chame. Today's drive will be around 9 to 10 hours. Be prepared for the long drive. Bring snacks and water bottles, and wear comfortable clothes. Our vehicle will stop in the middle of driving for lunch and a short break.
After breakfast in Chame, we started our hike toward Pisang, following the Marsyangdi River through gorgeous mountain scenery. The trail began with a suspension bridge crossing and continued through quiet pine and spruce woodlands.
We walked through the small town of Talekhu, and the trail gradually climbed through the forest. As we proceed, the valley gets more dramatic, with huge cliffs and harsh mountain vistas lining the trail.
After a couple of hours' walk, we arrive at Bhratang (2,850 m), a little village famed for its vast apple orchards. Here we break for lunch and enjoy the serene surroundings before heading toward Pisang.
The trail from Bhratang climbs steadily, passing the spectacular rock face of Swarga Dwari (Gateway to Heaven). Next, we head toward Dhikur Pokhari, where the valley opens up and offers amazing views of the surrounding mountains.
The scenery changes a lot as we reach Pisang. The lush forests go away, and the environment becomes drier and more rocky, typical of the higher Manang Valley.
Eventually we arrive in Upper Pisang (3,250 m), where we check into a small teahouse and enjoy a well-deserved break. If time and weather allow, we will tour the settlement and admire the surrounding Himalayan landscape.
After breakfast, we start our journey from Upper Pisang (3300 m) to Manang (3540 m) along the beautiful upper trail, passing Ghyaru and Ngawal. This is one of the most rewarding sections of the Annapurna Circuit, with amazing mountain views, traditional communities, Buddhist culture and dramatic changes in the scenery.
The first section is Upper Pisang to Ghyaru (3,670 m). The trail zigzags rapidly up the mountainside through pine forests in a succession of hard switchbacks. The climb is tough, but Ghyaru is very much worth the effort. The town has panoramic views of Annapurna II, Annapurna IV and neighboring Himalayan ranges.
From Ghyaru we take a more pleasant high-altitude contour track to Ngawal (3,660 m). The trail climbs up the slope with wonderful views over the Marsyangdi valley. We pass traditional Tibetan-style stone dwellings and enjoy the quiet environment of the high mountain communities on the route.
From Ngawal, the trail descends gently to Braga (Bragha) at 3,470 m. As we enter the upper Manang Valley, the scenery becomes drier and rougher. Braga is an old village with traditional stone buildings and the spectacular Braga Monastery, one of the main cultural sites along the Annapurna Circuit. If there's time, we can stop for a little while and look around the monastery.
From Braga, we continue with a reasonably simple 2 km trek toward Manang (3540m). The trail traverses the valley level and leads us to Manang, the main hiking hub of the area. Stunning Himalayan peaks surround Manang, and it is a good area to stop and acclimatize before venturing into the higher reaches of the Annapurna Circuit.
On arrival, we check into our teahouse and have time to rest or tour the village.
After breakfast, we go on an acclimatization hike from Manang to Gangapurna Lake. The hike takes approximately 2 hours round trip. During the hike, it offers spectacular views of Gangapurna, Annapurna III, Annapurna IV, and the surrounding peaks. The lake is situated at an altitude of around 3,900 m. After enjoying the scenery and taking photographs, we return to Manang.
After breakfast, we leave Manang and head toward Khangsar and Tilicho Lake. We cross the Thorong Khola and follow an easy mountain track. The trail passes by old mani walls, small communities, and stunning canyon vistas. Upon reaching Khangsar Village, we continue past the traditional stone buildings. The trail soon begins to climb more steeply as we enter the rugged alpine environment. We walk past a small monastery before slowly ascending to Shree Kharka. Upon our arrival, we settle into a cozy teahouse and enjoy magnificent views of Gangapurna and the Annapurna range.
After breakfast, we leave Shree Kharka and begin our walk to Tilicho Base Camp. The trail leads us through beautiful high-altitude meadows. We then ascend through a narrow, exposed area with steep scree and slopes prone to landslides, moving slowly and carefully across loose rocks and gravel. Along the way, we are rewarded with magnificent views of Khangsar Khang and other nearby peaks. After the final uphill stretch, we reach Tilicho Base Camp at an elevation of 4,150 meters. We settle into a simple teahouse, take a rest, and enjoy some hot tea.
We start with a period of rest, followed by equipment checks, ice and snow training, and a traditional puja ceremony at Tilicho Base Camp. Next, we make rotations through Camp I and Camp II to acclimatize our bodies to the increasing altitude in preparation for the summit push. During the climb, we use fixed ropes on steep sections of snow and ice.
After acclimatization, we begin our ascent towards Tilicho Peak, which stands at 7,134 meters. The route features challenging steep slopes of 55–60 degrees and technical sections. We pass through Camp III, located at approximately 6,600 meters, before reaching the summit.
Once we celebrate our successful summit, we descend to a safer lower camp and continue our journey back.
We are now heading back to Khangsar. After breakfast, we leave Tilicho Base Camp. We descend through rugged alpine landscapes and cross the landslide section carefully. The trail gradually becomes easier as we lose altitude. We continue through mountain scenery and traditional settlements before reaching Khangsar Village. Upon arrival, we check into a teahouse and enjoy a well-earned rest.
After breakfast we leave Khangsar and head back to Manang. We pass through traditional stone house and main settlement of the upper Marsyangdi Valley.
We pass through Braga enjoy the Himalayan scenery and retrace our step to Pisang.
After breakfast we follow the Marsyangdi River. We pass through several small settlements and traditional villages. We pass through forests and follow the well-established trail toward Chame.
Our private vehicle will drive us from Chame back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we transfer to your hotel and conclude our Tilicho Peak adventure.
Collaborate with our specialists to create a unique itinerary.
Difficulty grading: D+ (Difficile Plus), according to the French Alpine grading system.
Tilicho Peak is recognized as a remote climb of intermediate difficulty. Climbing this technical peak requires expertise in mountaineering skills and physical fitness. Here are the key technical challenges:
Although Tilicho Peak climbing is difficult, it is manageable when climbers plan and prepare in advance. Here are some important tips to help you prepare for the expedition:
The best window for the summit of Tilicho Peak is during Spring( March to May) Spring( (September to November). In spring, the longer sunlight hours, warmer temperatures, breathtaking mountain views, and easier steps in ice and snow make for ideal climbing conditions.
In autumn, the sharp views, high visibility, moderate daytime temperatures, and easy navigation make Tilicho Peak climbing more favorable. Also, Dashain and Tihar are celebrated during this season, which gives an opportunity to experience rich Nepalese culture.
The required permits for Tilicho Peak are:
High Route Adventure will process the permit for you once you book the package with us. For processing, you need to send us a scanned passport, a medical fitness certificate and proof of medical and rescue insurance.
On this Tilicho Peak expedition, High Route Adventure will arrange the accommodation for you. The accommodation is divided into two stages:
It is mandatory to have travel insurance for Tilicho Peak Climbing. You need to provide proof of insurance to obtain a climbing permit. While purchasing the insurance policy, make sure it covers:
During an emergency situation, helicopter evacuation will be provided in cooperation with your insurance company. The helicopter evacuation depends upon the weather, the climber’s location, and the accessibility of the area. Our expedition leader will cooperate with local authority, rescue operators to arrange evacuation plans as quickly as possible.
While packing for the Tilicho Peak Climbing make sure to pack for both trekking and climbing. If you need to rent climbing gear, various equipment options are available in Thamel, Kathmandu. Let’s see what to pack for this expedition:
