Tilman Pass Trek

Why choose Life Himalaya Trekking for the Tilman Pass Trek?

If you decide to travel with Life Himalaya Trekking, it means your travel experience will be literally handcrafted. If you wish for a custom itinerary, then let us assure you, Life Himalaya Trekking excels in this area.

Most of the trips we offer are not only unique and remarkable but also affordable and of high quality for everyone. Each of our trips is led by professional, licensed guides who are locals of the region and have extensive trekking and climbing experience throughout nearly all of Nepal.

We also post lots of photos from our trips, so you know what you will see and discover, ensuring you have a very authentic, real-life journey. You will see what we have seen, you will feel what we have felt.

Thus, there will be no unpleasant logistical surprises as we travel together to carefully selected destinations. We promise all our trips will be innovative and high-quality, where we will assist you in designing your itinerary.

Regarding our Tilman Pass Trek, although the trip may seem long, we believe that you must spend a considerable amount of time to truly discover the region, people, culture, and nature. This is why our Tilman pass trek lasts 21 days.

The logistical services that we offer for our 21 days Tilman Pass trek are as follows:

• Private transfers from the airport to the hotel and back
• Hotel stay in Kathmandu with breakfast
• Accommodation in local lodges during the trek, with meals including breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Tents and necessary supplies
• A licensed English-speaking guide and an experienced porter
• Overland travel by private means
• All essential permits and entry fees
• A medical first-aid kit
• Rescue assistance
• All government taxes
• Necessary gear, including sleeping bags, down jackets, etc.

Best Season for the Tilman Pass Trek

The main visiting season for our Langtang Tilman Pass trek is between September and November, which introduces the cool autumn air in the region.

The clear snowless trail to the Tilman Pass, the melted waters of the Tin Pokhari and Panch Pokhari, the consistent weather, and the lively deep woodlands enlivened with the beautiful wildlife are the characteristics of autumn in Langtang.

March, April, and May in spring are another favorable time for the Tilman Pass trek. However, the initial days of March will still be pretty cold, and some lakes may still remain frozen with scattered snow on the trail to the Pass.

The monsoon from June to August is not often recommended due to persistent heavy rains and treacherous trails, along with cloudy, dark days.

However, Hindu pilgrims go to these lakes between July and August for the Janai Purnima Festival. The winter months from December to February offer an even more desolate trail, with snow covering the route to the pass and all lakes solidly frozen.

21 Days Tilman Pass Trek Difficulty Grade

Tilman Pass trek is a very challenging level III high mountain trip which leads the trekkers to the maximum elevation of 5320 m of the Pass itself, while the highest overnight stop reaches 4850 m at its base camp.

Also, on this trek, we will be far away from civilization, its security, and comfort for several days. The temperatures at the altitudes between 3,000 and 5,000 m often stay cold.

Along with the altitude, the trekking duration each day also tends to be longer, occurring between 6 to 7 hours, with overnight accommodations sometimes on rocky and sometimes on grassy ground, which can be quite energy-draining.

When ascending and descending from the Pass, the route will be glacial, which isn’t technical but does need some light mountaineering gear. The terrain will also be snow-covered, taking you over the moraines and rocky scree. Depending on the snow conditions, progress can get slow and tough.

This means to engage in our 21 days Tilman Pass trek, you need to be in good physical shape, have at least some high-altitude mountaineering experience, and maintain a very optimistic attitude.

Can a newcomer join the Langtang Tilman Pass Trek? Who is it more suitable for?

Please understand that the Tilman Pass trek is not made for total beginners. It is a very tough and challenging high mountain adventure that not only demands excellent physical fitness but also some high-altitude hiking background, basic technical skills to navigate a few tricky sections, and the ability to endure the rugged, desolate terrain of the high elevations.

In addition, the isolation from the world for a few days can also be hard for those who are completely new to trekking. Thus, we advise our Tilman pass trek only to fit individuals with some experience.

If you are a newcomer, then first try out the Langtang Valley trek, Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, and Mardi Himal Trek so you can have some experience before you engage in the Tilman Pass trek.

Physical Preparation for Tilman Pass Trek

The Tilman Pass trek is not particularly technical, but it does require light use of crampons, a jumar, and a harness in a few tricky areas. Therefore, you don’t need an extensive technical training, but you should consider getting some physical training even if you are a seasoned hiker.

We advise you to start a thorough training program well ahead of time to prepare for the Langtang Tilman Pass trek, focusing on building cardiovascular strength.

The best activities include jogging, running, hiking, and cycling. Additionally, you can also consider strength endurance training through exercises like sit-ups, squats, push-ups, weight lifting, or gym workouts.

As your Tilman Pass trek date nears, go on long walks at least once a week. Carry your daypack and aim to walk for 5 to 6 hours, both uphill and downhill.

Also, focus on mental training by spending a few days in remote, isolated terrains. Engage in deep breathing, yoga, and meditation to calm your mind, which will greatly assist you during the Tilman Pass Trek.

Altitude Sickness/AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) and Acclimatization

The altitude and the dry mountain air during the Tilman Pass trek often lead to minor symptoms of AMS during the journey.

However, it can be entirely avoided if you maintain a steady pace, get sufficient sleep each night after hiking, acclimatize properly, and hydrate plenty.

You should also avoid overexerting or pushing yourself too hard and becoming too cold. To offer you plenty of time for acclimatization, we have set aside a few days of rest in Kathmandu, Kyanjin Gompa, and Panch Pokhari.

Before the crossing of the Pass, we have also planned short walks of around 3 to 5 hours, so you get plenty of time to get used to the high environment.

However, even with these precautions, some trekkers may experience AMS symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, body aches, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances.

In such situations, our lead guide will supervise your health and decide whether to pause your trek or guide you to a lower elevation until you feel better. In private travel, our guide will stay with you, while in group travel, our assistant guide will be with you at all times.

Another route for the 21 Days Tilman Pass Trek

Our Tilman Pass trek follows the classic clockwise loop that offers you a more gradual acclimatization as you enter the valley. Thus, this approach is the more preferred route among the hikers.

However, if you wish, you can also select the counterclockwise route for the Tilman Pass trek, which will take you to Panch Pokhari first, then onward to Tilman Pass and Langtang Valley.

This counterclockwise route will begin with a drive to Chautara from Kathmandu. A trek will then begin through the stunning scenery of Sano Okhareni, Kami Kharka, Pauwa Bas, Hille Bhanjyang, Panch Pokhari, and Tin Pokhari.

After successfully crossing the Tilman Pass, you will then get into the Langtang Valley to get to Kathmandu via Syabrubesi. This route also takes 20 days to complete.

Accommodation, Meals, and Transportation

In Kathmandu, you will stay in a three-star hotel in a double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a hot and cold shower, WiFi, and a charging utility. Breakfast will be free, while you will eat lunch and dinner at restaurants on your own.

During the trek, we will accommodate you in pairs in the available local lodges in the villages. Please note that you may have to share the toilet and shower.

Once we trek through the wild base and high camps of the Tilman Pass, we will place you in pairs in high-quality mountaineering tents. You will have individual tents set up for dining, sleeping, and a latrine.

When trekking through the villages, you will take your meals at the lodges en route. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be free.

During tent camp accommodation, you will enjoy comfort and hearty, nourishing meals prepared by our entire team and cooks. You will also get a hot beverage for free, such as tea and coffee.

In terms of your transportation arrangement, we will facilitate you with only private means for all your ground transport during our 21 days Tilman Pass trek.

The service includes your TIA-hotel-TIA, Kathmandu to Syabrubesi and Chautara to Kathmandu transfers, along with a Kathmandu guided tour.

Regarding transportation, we facilitate transfers to and from the airport via private minibus or car. At the beginning and end of your trip, you will experience a comfortable private ride in a jeep, car, or bus, tailored to your group’s size.

Permits Needed for Tilman Pass Trek

For the Tilman Pass trek, we must obtain the following permits:

• Langtang National Park Permit: Most of the Tilman Pass trek traverses the protected landmark of Langtang National Park. Therefore, we need to get the park entrance permit, which costs NPR 3000 for foreign hikers, NPR 1500 for SAARC nationals, NPR 100 for Nepali citizens, and is free for children under 10.
• Trekkers’ Information Management System Card: The TIMS Card is also necessary for the Tilman Pass trek, as it is a remote and particularly challenging journey. The fee for this card is NPR 2000 per hiker for foreign trekkers, NPR 1500 for SAARC nationals, and it is free for Nepali citizens and children under 10.

Please understand that the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) or the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) will provide the TIMS Card only to a government-authorized travel agency like Life Himalaya Trekking.

We will facilitate all the arrangements for obtaining these permits, and we will also pay the cost.

Travel Insurance

Kindly note that travel insurance is mandatory for the Tilman Pass trek as it is a high mountain hiking trip to the remotest corner of the Langtang region.

The trek has several risks, mainly including the AMS, lack of medical services, lack of roads, and sometimes requiring expensive helicopter rescues.

The cost for the emergency rescue by helicopter can be overwhelming. With travel insurance, your costs will be covered, and you will also have guaranteed assistance. This insurance should cover medical treatment, evacuation, and any trip disruptions.

Life Himalaya Trekking will need proof of your insurance to get the TIMS Card. Please also understand that we will not be liable for your personal insurance costs.

For the Langtang Tilman Pass trek, please obtain travel insurance that provides coverage for emergency evacuation up to 6000 meters and medical expenses.

Some insurance policies only extend coverage up to 4000 meters, so please confirm with the insurance company before you buy it. It should also include medical treatment and hospitalization if necessary, along with trip cancellations, delays, and lost items.