A side trek from Manang on the Annapurna Circuit to Tilicho Lake (about 4,919 m), a glacier-fed lake below Tilicho Peak, via Khangsar, Shree Kharka and Tilicho Base Camp.
- Days
- 10 days
- Maximum altitude
- 4,919 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Manangश्री खर्क
Shree Kharka
A small lodge stop in high pasture west of Manang, on the trail to Tilicho Base Camp and Tilicho Lake.
- Altitude
- 4,070 m*
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Manang, Gandaki
- Permit
- Permit required
Why go
Shree Kharka is a small group of lodges at about 4,050-4,070 m on the north side of the Khangsar Khola valley, west of Manang. It is the usual first overnight stop on the side trek from Manang to Tilicho Lake, reached via the village of Khangsar in about 4-5 hours.
From Shree Kharka the trail continues west for about 3-4 hours to Tilicho Base Camp, crossing a section of steep scree and landslide terrain where trekkers should keep moving and not stop. On the way back, a signposted trail just past Shree Kharka leads via Old Khangsar to Yak Kharka, so trekkers can rejoin the Annapurna Circuit towards Thorong La without returning to Manang.
History and culture
Like other places called kharka, Shree Kharka began as a seasonal grazing ground used by herders from Khangsar and nearby villages. Lodges were built as trekking to Tilicho Lake grew. Khangsar, below it, is an old stone village with a small monastery, and the Tare Gompa above the trail is visited by some groups. The area is Tibetan Buddhist; prayer flags and cairns mark the route.
Things to do in Shree Kharka
Visit Khangsar
Walk through the old stone village of Khangsar on the way up, one of the less-visited villages of upper Manang.
Plan the Tilicho side trip
Ask lodge staff about the state of the landslide section to Tilicho Base Camp and leave early to cross it before the wind and rockfall pick up.
Weather and the best time to visit Shree Kharka
Weather in Shree Kharka
Forecast for 4,070 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- September to November is the main season, with the clearest skies in October and November.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is cold, with snow possible in the villages and frequent closure of the high passes.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is the second season, with milder days; early spring can still bring snow higher up.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August brings rain and landslides on the road below Chame, although upper Manang lies in a drier rain shadow.
Where to stay
TeahousesLodges
Two or three basic lodges.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Reached only on foot from Manang via Khangsar.
Nearest hub: Manang
- trekFrom Manang via Khangsar, about 4-5 hours, staying on the northern trail.
- trekFrom Tilicho Base Camp, about 3 hours back along the landslide section.
Permits and fees
Permit required
Inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so an ACAP permit is required.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): Required throughout the conservation area; checked at trail checkpoints.
- TIMS card: Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
- Guide rule: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against National Trust for Nature Conservation (ACAP).
On the trail
On the Tilicho Lake trek, Annapurna Circuit (Tilicho side trip).
- Previous stop:
- Manang via Khangsar
- Next stop:
- Tilicho Base Camp, or Yak Kharka via Old Khangsar on the way back
- A typical day:
- From Manang, about 4-5 hours and roughly 550 m of height gain on a trail above the Khangsar Khola.
Practical tips
- At about 4,050 m altitude illness is possible, especially if you came up quickly from Manang. This is general information, not medical advice.
- The trail to Tilicho Base Camp crosses unstable scree; do not linger there and avoid it in rain.
- Mobile signal is weak or absent.
- Bring cash; there is nowhere to withdraw money.
Treks through Shree Kharka
Questions about Shree Kharka
How long from Manang to Shree Kharka?
About 4-5 hours via Khangsar.
How high is Shree Kharka?
About 4,050-4,070 m.
Can I go from Shree Kharka to Yak Kharka?
Yes, a trail via Old Khangsar reaches Yak Kharka in about 4-5 hours, rejoining the Annapurna Circuit.
More in Manang
All of Manang
Valley or region · 4,150 m
Nar Phu Valley
A restricted high valley north of the Annapurna Circuit, with two old Tibetan Buddhist villages, Nar and Phu, reached through a narrow gorge from Koto.
Lake · 4,919 m
Tilicho Lake
A glacial lake at about 4,920 m beneath the ice walls of Tilicho Peak, reached on a demanding side trip from Manang.
Trek stop · 2,670 m
Chame
The district headquarters of Manang, a road-head town in fir and pine forest where most Annapurna Circuit trekkers spend a night.
Trek stop · 1,900 m
Dharapani (Manang)
A Marsyangdi valley village where the Manaslu Circuit joins the Annapurna Circuit road.
Trek stop · 2,600 m
Koto
A small village in pine and fir forest on the Annapurna Circuit, just below Chame, and the start of the trail into the Nar Phu valley.
Trek stop · 3,660 m
Ngawal
A stone village high on the north side of the Manang valley, on the upper Annapurna Circuit route and at the foot of the Kang La from Nar.
Trek stop · 3,300 m
Pisang
Twin villages in the upper Marsyangdi, where the old stone houses of Upper Pisang look across to Annapurna II.
Trek stop · 4,540 m
Thorong Phedi
The lodges at the foot of the Thorong La, where Annapurna Circuit trekkers sleep before the pre-dawn climb to the pass.
Nearby
Town or village · 3,519 m
Manang
A high stone village in the upper Marsyangdi valley below Annapurna III and Gangapurna, where Circuit trekkers stop to acclimatise.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Annapurna Circuit, Wikivoyage, Tilicho Lake, Wikipedia, Shri Kharka, OpenStreetMap