Trip Details

  • Destination: Nepal
  • Trip Difficulty: Strenuous
  • Trip Style: Trekking
  • Transport: Public Vehicle, Tourist Bus & Flight
  • Food: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Pokhara Hotel & Teahouse
  • Group Size: 16
  • Max Elevation: Thorong La (5416m)

Highlights

  • Explore Nar Phu Village.
  • Monasteries built by Karmapa Rinpoche.
  • Explore 108 world’s great Buddhist Tashi Lakhang monastery.
  • Visit the forts of Khampa settlement.
  • Hike through dense Rhododendron forest.
  • Peaceful walk by Pine forest.
  • Spectacular views of Mountain ranges.
  • Experience Tibetan culture and tradition
  • Meet local Gurung people.
  • A side trip to Milarepa cave of Braga. 
  • Pass through Buddhist monuments.
  • Excursion to Praken Gompa and Chongar ViewPoint from Manang,
  • A magnificent trip to Ice Lake, high glacial Gangapurna Lake.

Description

Nar Phu Valley Trek lies in the remote area of the Manang District. There is only limited access to the valley. This is one of the biggest reasons why this region has preserved its centuries-old customs and traditions. The trekking trails are also fresh making the trek a delight for anyone looking to be amazed by the wilderness of nature. 

You will need a special permit to access the Nar Phu Valley trekking trail. During this trek by Mount Mania, you will also cross the Thorong La Pass, which lies at staggering heights. The pass is a major attraction to Nar Phu Valley Trek. The hiking during the Nar Valley Trek might turn out to be strenuous as you walk through the grueling trail in this region.

Naar Lies at the elevation of 3,730metere\ 45045 feet. It is also known as Chuprong, which translates to “the place of blue sheep”. The inhabitants are Tibetans. They traveled to Nar Phu Valley around the 8th century (Shang Sung Kingdom). The inhabitants are mostly herders and traders from Tibet.

Nar Phu valley trek offers a wild journey to the unexplored parts of northern Annapurna. The Nar Phuk Valley trek follows a rugged trail to an exotic valley of Nar Phu. Only a few travelers have set foot on Nar Phu Valley trek making it one of the most thrilling treks to be a part of. 

They consist of two village settlements. Nar and Phu house settlements to 300 and 100 permanent residents respectively. Nar Phu valley Trek begins from Jagat. The trail follows the trekking routes of Annapurna Circuit. 

The trail branches off from Koto. The Nar Phu Valley Trek follows the beaten trail to Nar Phu Valley. The Nar Phu valley passes through Kang La pass (5900 meters\19470 ft). The route provides a majestic panorama view of Annapurna 8,091 meters (26,545 ft). During the Nar Phu Valley trek by Mount Mania, you will come across dense forests, canyons, rivers, gompas, valleys and great mountains.

17 Days Nar Phu Valley Trek Itinerary

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You will enjoy your breakfast at your Hotel. The trekking guide will escort you from your Hotel to the vehicle. Your journey begins early in the morning. You will drive along to Pokhara from Kathmandu. You will witness hills and rivers along the way. Your journey will continue to Dumre after your arrival in Pokhara (1400m\4593ft). 

You will arrive at Pokhara after 6 hours drive from Kathmandu. You will follow the narrow path by the Marsyangdi River. The road will take you to Besisahar and ultimately to Bhulbhule (860m\2821ft). You will stay for the night at a teahouse in Bhulbhule.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 860m

You will enjoy breakfast first thing in the morning. You will trek for 5-6 hours to Chamje (1430m\4692ft). The trek today is easy. The trails are flat most of the part in the trek. You will continue to walk steep paths the trail goes flat for the first part. It continues on a steep path over the riverbed. After some time. You will descend to Jagat (stone village) 1300m\4265ft. You will continue your trek in the Marsyangdi valley. You will spend the night at Chamje.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 1430m

The trek starts after you have your breakfast in the morning. The trek starts by descending to the river. You then cross a suspension bridge. The trail follows a steep climb to Sattale (1550m\5085ft). You will witness huge boulders covering the river. You continue your trek with a climb to the top of the hill. The path is meandering. On top of the hill, you will get to witness the level plain of Tal.

The trekking path after Tal is high and winding. The paths are hewn from the rock. You will come across a small village of Karte (1900m\6233ft). You will walk on an upwards on a cliff. The climb is short. You will descend to the river. You will cross another suspension bridge before arriving at Dharapani (1920m\6299ft) after 5-6 hours of walk. You stay for the night at a teahouse in Chamje.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 1920m

You need to register your area permit at the Police Check Post. After the authorization, you will enjoy a short breakfast. Your trek begins through a narrow field. As you pass through the trail, the Marsyangdi River then veers to the left. You will have a clear view of Annapurna II from ahead. Soon, you will arrive at Bagarchhap(2115m\6938ft). Bagarchhap is a Bhote village. You can see prayer flags fluttering in the wind.

The trek continues through forests of pine and oak. You will soon pass through Danaque (2210m\7250ft). The trail will follow a small wooden bridge. You will ascend on a steep path to Timang village which lies at the bottom of Lamjung Himal(6,983 m / 22 910 ft). The trail will follow flat terrains until Koto. You will walk a total of 7-8 hours until you arrive at Koto. You spend the night in a Tea house at Koto (2,610m/8,563ft).

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 2610m

You will have your breakfast in the morning after which you will prepare mentally for the trek. The trail will take you to wonderful pine forests. You can see streams and bridges on your hike to Dharmasala. You will enjoy lunch at Dharmasala. Your trek will continue the through forests.

After you have walked past the forest, you will have to walk a steep ascend to Meta village. You will also come across the Tibetan Plateau 4,500 meters (14,800 ft) along the way. You will enjoy a splendid view of Annapurna II 7,937 m (26,040 ft) and Lamjung Himal (6 983 m / 22 910 ft). The trek costs around 7-8 hours of walk throughout the day. You stay for the night at Meta (3,560m/11,680ft).

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 3560m

You will prepare for 4 hours of a trek to Kyang(2117m\6945ft). You will start the trek early in the morning after breakfast. Most of the time trek, you will spend on reversing up and down. You will cross suspension bridges along the way. You can also see the remnants of Khampa settlement during your trek. You will arrive at the ruined fort after 4 hours of hike. After walking for 7-8 hours on rocky trails, you will finally reach Phu village (4,250m/13,944ft), where you will spend your night. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 4250m

You will spend the day resting and exploring phu Gaon. Your body needs to acclimatize with the altitude. You will explore the Hidden Valley. You will experience natural diversity, culture and religious practices of the ethnic groups. You can witness traditions of Lama, Gurung, and Ghale. You will get the insight on agriculture, animal breeding and seasonal migrations of the residents.

You will also spend your day exploring Lhakhang Monastery. Lhakhang Monastery is the oldest Buddhist Monastery. It is one of the 108 world’s great Buddhist Monasteries. Lhakhang Monastery is the last monastery constructed by Karmapa Rinpoche. You will get to see amazing views of Himlung Himal(7126m\23379ft) from the monastery. After exploration, you will head back to your teahouse for the overnight stay. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 4250m

You will enjoy your morning breakfast. You will leave the teahouse. The trail leads to Mahendra Pul. You will walk for 4 hours through many streams and suspension bridges. You will pass the suspension bridge 80 meters over the Gorge of Lapche River. You will have your lunch in Mahendra Pul.

From Mahendra Pul, you will start your ascent as you pass through Buddhist Stupas. You will reach Nar village after 2 hours. You will enjoy views of Pisang Peak 6,091 m (19,984 ft) from here. The entire day you hike for 6-7 hours. You will arrive at a tea house in Nar. You will stay for the night in Nar (4,110m/13,484ft).

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 4110m

The next day will be the second scheduled acclimatization day for the trek. You will spend the entire day exploring Nar village. You can experience the local culture and lifestyle. You start preparing for the next day. After preparation, you will enjoy a meal at the tea house. You spend the night in Nar.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 4110m

Make sure that you eat an adequate amount of food for breakfast as the hike today will be long. You will start your journey to Kangla pass (5900 meters\19470 ft). From Kang la pass you can witness the Annapurna massif 8,091 meters (26,545 ft). You will continue to walk 6-7 hours to Ngwal (3560m\11679ft) from there. Upon your arrival, you will check in a tea house. You will enjoy a decent meal and enjoy your night. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 3560m

You will enjoy Breakfast in the Teahouse. You will leave early for the trek. The trail leads towards the Manang Valley (3,540m/11,614ft). You can view remote valleys and Tilicho Peak (7145m\23441ft) You can enjoy spectacular mountains ranges like Mt. Annapurna II7,937 m (26,040 ft), Mt. Annapurna IV7,525 m (24,688 ft), Mt. Annapurna III 7,555 metres (24,787 ft) , Mt. Gangapurna 7,455m (24,457ft), Pisang Peak6,091 m (19,984 ft), Tilicho Peak ‎7,134m (23,406ft), Chulu East(6584m\21601ft).

Your trail passes through the beautiful Manang Valley. You can witness cultivated fields below craggy mountains. The trail follows to Braga village. You will come across splendid monastery, Large chortens, and mani walls along the way. You will continue on a steep climb until Manang. The trek from Ngwal to Manang is 4-5 hours long.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 3540m

You’ll enjoy an elegant breakfast in Manang village. At the start of the trek, the trail crosses a stream. You will climb up a trail to take a village. This village named Tenk lies above Manang. The trek will continue to leave the Marshyangdi Valley. The trail keeps leading northwest. You will follow the trail till Jarsang Khola.

From Jarsang Khola, you will walk past a few pastures, juniper trees. The trail is mostly steep as you head towards Ghunsa village. You will hike through meadows where horses and yaks graze. You will come across small rivers along the trail. The trail ahead leads to an ancient old Mani wall in a pleasant meadow. You will reach Yak Kharka after hiking for 3-4 hours. You stay for the night at Yak Kharka (4,110m/13,484ft). 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 4110m

The next day your trek will continue to Thorong Phedi today. After a pleasant lunch, you start your journey to Thorong Phedi. Thorong Phedi is a small settlement. The housing in Thorong Phedi caters the needs of trekkers and climbers. It is also used as a base camp by tired trekkers.

Some trekkers hike straight to Hike camp. But we don’t advise you to push yourself in the expedition. You’ll arrive at Thorong Phedi (4,600m/15,092ft) after 3-4 hours worth of walk. You will sleep overnight at Thorong Phedi. It is safe to sleep in lower altitude. Sleeping at higher altitude like High camp is always risky as the threat of altitude sickness always looms over. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 4600m

You have your breakfast early in the morning. You will start your trek early on the morning. You will cross the Thorong La (5,416m/17764ft). The trail will start to be steeper. The trail is been in use for hundreds of years. The trail is well-maintained. You will continue the steady climb for 4 hours as you pass chorten and prayer flags of the pass. The views are majestic from here. You can also view Kali Gandaki valley below.

Brown and purple, almost alien hills spread across Mustang. You will start a steady descent to Muktinath. The hike might put a slight strain on your knees. However, you will get excellent views of Mt.Dhaulagiri 8,167 meters (26,795 ft). Gradually the trail leads to grassy slopes. The hike becomes much easier. You will walk along the Jhong Khola Valley to Muktinath(3850m\12631ft). The trek is 7-8 hours of an agonizing hike to Muktinath and its shrines. You sleep at a Teahouse.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 3850m

You visit the famous temple of Muktinath (3850m\12631ft) in the morning. You will enjoy a pleasant breakfast at the teahouse. You will start your descent down the dramatic Kali Gandaki Gorge. You will pass through the arid geographical and climatic zone as Tibet. You will walk through villages like Jharkot and Khingar villages. The villages are full of typical Tibetan architecture. The walk ahead is steep down to Kagbeni.

Kagbeni is a famous primitive village. Kagbeni is famous for its delightful Tibetan architecture. The monastery at Kagbeni was built in the 15th Century. Kagbeni also serves as the border for Upper Mustang. You will have lunch in Kagbeni. Your 5-6 hours of the hike will follow the flat path along the banks of Kali Gandaki Gorge. You will arrive at Jomsom(2,715m/8,910ft). Jomsom is the district headquarter of Mustang. You stay overnight at Jomsom.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
  • Altitude: 2715m

You will enjoy breakfast at the windy valley of Jomsom. The morning at Jomsom is simply sublime. You will board a flight to Pokhara (1400m\4593ft). The flight will take you through the gorge of the two tall mountains- Annapurna 8,091 meters (26,545 ft) and Dhaulagiri 8,167 meters (26,795 ft). You arrive at Pokhara after 30 mins of flight. You will drive back to your Hotel at Pokhara. You rest and freshen up upon your arrival.

You will explore the beauty of Pokhara later in the evening. You will enjoy leisure time along the bank of Phewa Lake. Phewa lake is the second biggest lake of Nepal. You admire the view of Machhapuchhare 6,993m (22,943ft). You can also go for a boat ride in Fewa Lake. A short hike to the World Peace Pagoda is also optional. You will end the day strolling around the mesmerizing lakeside area. 

  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Altitude: 820m

You will have an early morning breakfast at your hotel in Pokhara. Then, you will check out of the Hotel. You will take a tourist bus to Kathmandu. The drive will be a fantastic experience. You will drive past small towns on the way. You will see rural settlements. The road leads ahead along gushing rivers, terraces, and rural landscapes. You will stop for lunch at Mugling. You will arrive at Kathmandu (1,300m/4,428ft) after 6 hours drive. After arrival, you will check in to your Hotel. The trek leader will invite to a farewell dinner with a cultural show. You can experience Nepalese cuisine and culture dance show.

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Altitude: 1320m

What to Expect

Cost Includes

  • Airport Pickups and Drops 
  • Teahouse accommodation during the trek
  • Three meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) during the trek
  • Tourist bus ticket (Pokhara to Kathmandu)
  • Local bus ticket (Kathmandu to Bhubhule)
  • Hotel accommodation in Pokhara with Breakfast (Twin Sharing)
  • English Speaking Trekking Guide with Insurance, Transportation, Food and Accommodation
  • All Trekking Permits (ACAP, TIMS Card, Nar Phu Special Permit)
  • Daily seasonal fresh fruits after dinner 
  • A first aid kit carried by the guide (Oximeter to measure your oxygen and pulse in high altitude) 
  • All Government and Local taxes

Cost Excludes

  • International Flight Ticket and Nepalese Visa Fee
  • Hotel & Meals in Kathmandu
  • Meals in Pokhara
  • Extra night accommodation in Pokhara in case of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the trek (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
  • Personal expenses (WiFi, Phone calls, Laundry, Bar bills, Battery Recharge, Water, Shower, and Tea / Coffee)
  • Other costs not mentioned in 'Cost Includes' section
  • Travel and Rescue Insurance
  • Tips for Guides, Porters, and Drivers

Useful Information

Best Time for Nar Phu Valley Trek

Undoubtedly, spring (March, April, and May) and autumn (September, October, and November) are the best seasons for the Nar Phu Valley Trek. With pleasant trekking conditions and clear views of mountains, trekkers come to Nar Phu Valley the most in these seasons.

Winter trekking to Nar Phu is also a good idea as long as you are prepared and packed well for the winter season. The same is also true for the summer season. However, the occasional drizzle and some downpour might extend your trekking trip in the summer season.

Nar Phu Valley Trek Difficulty

Nar Phu Valley Trek is a challenging trek. The relatively high number of trekking days, the maximum altitude you will reach during this trek, and the remoteness of this trek makes the Nar Phu Valley Trek a strenuous

Maximum altitude you will reach during this trek is 5900 meters. So, while you are trekking to such a high altitude, you will encounter some pretty strenuous uphill walks. The entire trip is 20 days long with 13 days of trekking. 

So, you will have to prepare for a few months before embarking upon the Nar Phu Valley Trek.