Thorong La Pass Trek 10 days Itinerary
The Thorong La Pass Trek is a popular trekking route in the Annapurna region of Nepal. The trek is known for crossing the Thorong La Pass, which is the highest pass in the world at an altitude of 5,416 meters (17,769 feet) ultimate range. Because the Thorong La pass contains a high-altitude climax, it has only half the amount of oxygen available compared to other passes. This means that every step you take feels as if you have just run a marathon since the pass is 5,416 meters above sea level.
The Thorong La Pass trek runs along the border of Nepal’s two most mountainous districts, Manang and Mustang, both of which attract thousands of tourists every year. In fact, many tourists around the world refer to it as the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Thorung La Pass trek is located in the northern part of the Annapurna region. The route offers a stunning view of the white Himalayas, across the remote villages of Manang, the snake-like Marsyangdi River, and the Mustang-Kali Gandaki valley. The region of the Himalayas is home to one of the best trekking routes in the world. Depending on whether motorized transportation is used and where the trek ends, Nepal’s central Annapurna Mountain range has a total distance of 160-230 kilometers (100-145 miles).
The Thorung La pass reaches an altitude of 5,416m, which is the edge of the Tibetan plateau. The Annapurna circuit trek route crosses two river valleys and traverses the Annapurna massif, crossing Thorung La Pass the highest pass on this trail. Almost all trekkers travel counterclockwise as the daily altitude gain is slower.
The itinerary starts, You will pass through the Thorong La pass on your way to Chame, Pisang, and Manang, among other biospheres. A meditation cave and the yogi Milarepa Monastery can be found in the Manang Braga Village. In the mountains of Manang, yogi Milarepa meditated for six years in a cave and attained enlightenment. (More about yogi Milarepa) The biological status of Manang valley ranges from subtropical jungle to high and arid regions. Local festivals resemble Tibetan culture, which has been resisting the Gurung and Lama ethnic groups for centuries. During your trek to the Thorung pass, you can also jump into the Tilicho lake trek and return to Yak Kharka. The Thorong-La pass via Tilicho Lake is the ultimate destination of the circuit trek. Hike and stamp your footprint on one of the highest lakes in the world. It is among the most awe-inspiring destinations in the Annapurna region. The Thorong La pass trekking route follows the popular route around the Annapurna massif; diverging to Tilicho from Manang and proceeding through the Thorong La pass (5,496 m).
Peoples from Manang
There is also a rich diversity of historical Gurung cultural diversity in the Thorong La Pass Trekking area. This is with the different Tribal and Ethnic groups in the Manang Village which are located in the Central Himalayas of Nepal. Local residents in the area are primarily Gurungs, who are of Tibetan origin. The remoteness of the region has led to the continued use of plants as medicine in an area where ethnobotany is sparsely documented.
Manang village
There is one of the biggest festivals in Manang village called Yartung festival which falls in August and the celebration continues for three days at full moon night. If the trekker visits during August, he or she will be lucky to see the festival celebrations during the trek. The first two days are a horse racing competition and at the end of the festival, the day is a big party with village mass, singing and dancing together men and women the whole night singing and dancing.
Thoronglass pass trek starts driving to Chame and trekking to Pisang, Manang, Yak Kharka, Thorung Phedi, Muktinath Jomsom, and flying back to Pokhara, Nepal wilderness trekking team led this trekking with professional and familiar local guides and porters, who did uncountable Thorong La passes during his guiding job.
Thorong La Pass’ difficulty
Thorong La pass is difficult to hike up to the top because you have to get up early to leave at 5 am. Starting early will help you avoid the heavy winds that occur in the late morning before midday at high altitudes. Don’t forget to wear that thick woolly hat, gloves, and down jacket, you have been carrying all the way. Lastly, you trek 600 meters up to the climax of Thorong La Pass. Then, you trek 1,800 meters down to Muktinath village. This is the most challenging part of the trek, especially on the knees. Thorong La pass was reached at 8 am as we continued at a slow pace. It was amazing! At this point, the adrenaline kicks in, helping with all the altitude symptoms. Thorong La Pass – the Annapurna Circuit’s biggest challenge is a tough ten to twelve-hour hike that will take you up to a breathtaking altitude of 5,416 meters.
Our guide knows more history about the area, people, cultures, and festivals, and our guide solves immediately any problems during your trek, like altitude mountain sickness, injury, or need evacuation. He has more knowledge and sees mostly possibilities that other guides are not able to see because of the local guide.
Thorong La Pass deaths rates
Thorong La Pass had no death rates recorded in previous years. However. By the time search and rescue operations ended on 19 October 2014, 400 people had been rescued from Thorong La, the Manang and Mustang areas, and the Tukuche basecamp in Mustang. At least 43 people died as a result of the storms.
The Thorong La Pass Trek is considered to be a challenging trek and requires a good level of physical fitness as you will be trekking at high altitudes for several days. The best time to do this trek is from March to May and from September to November when the weather is clear and stable.
Overall, the Thorong La Pass Trek is a thrilling and unforgettable trekking experience that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural exploration, and adventure.