Nar Phu Valley Trek is a lesser known, beautiful trail north of Annapurna. This region remains untouched by modern civilization and mass tourism. Often referred to as the ‘’hidden valley trek’, Nar and Phu valley offer a spiritual trekking experience with numerous villages of Tibetan heritage and undisturbed religious sites. People here herd yaks, trade with lower regions and harvest indigenous medicinal herbs for livelihood. Our 19-day-long Nar Phu Valley Trek starts with a sightseeing tour of some of Kathmandu’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Then, we drive to Jagat, a quintessential teahouse village in the Annapurna circuit.
We follow the Annapurna circuit trek trail till Koto and branch off from there to Nar Phu Valley on a rugged, enthralling trail. We have set aside day 8 and day 10 for acclimatization which is crucial to adjust your body to high altitude. Apart from the valley of Nar and Phu, crossing Kang La Pass (5,315 m) is another major highlight of the trek. The pass rewards us with spectacular views of Annapurna II (7937m), Tilicho Peak (7134m) and Gangapurna (7455m). The Kang La pass connects Nar valley with Manang district and three other ethnic Bhotia villages of Neyshang valley. A huge stretch of high snow-peaks, grazing settlements, and ancient villages make Nar and Phu valley the gem of Annapurna.
We gradually climb down from the Kang La pass to Thorong La pass and ultimately to Jomsom via lower Mustang. We fly from Jomsom to Pokhara and finally head back to Kathmandu the next day. Nar Phu Valley Trek is ideal for those who have a special interest in remote communities and their age-old ways of life. If you are looking for a short, easy and fun-filled trek in the Annapurna region, Adventure Club Trek also offers Annapurna Circuit Trek Short-14 Days and Annapurna Circuit Trek-21 Days.
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), you will be welcomed by a representative from Adventure Club Trek. After sorting out your custom formalities (visa and so on), you will be then transferred to your respective hotel in Adventure Club Trek’s private vehicle and give you some time to freshen up. After this, you will attend an orientation about your trek led by the trekking leader over a welcome dinner.
Today, we go on a sightseeing tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city. We start the program after breakfast, first visiting the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath. Though non-Hindus are not allowed inside the main premises of the temple we are allowed to visit the cremation site and surrounding areas. We then head to Boudhanath, considered one of the largest stupas in Asia due to the massive mandala that surrounds the main dome. The smell of Himalayan incense and locals doing kora(making clockwise rounds of the stupa) gives you a little insight into Buddhist culture. Our next stop is Swayambhunath also known as the Monkey Temple, located on top of a hill. The stupa is similar to Boudhanath, but here the stupa is surrounded by many temples and shrines. Some of the temples date back to the medieval Lichchhavi period. Our final stop is Kathmandu Durbar square which is a fine example of Newari architecture. The premises of the Durbar square house many temples and royal palaces, however, most of the temples and buildings were destroyed by the 2015 earthquake and are being renovated.
It is a long drive to Jagat, so we start early in the morning. After breakfast, we board a bus to Besisahar. The countryside sceneries rich with lush green forest, rivers and mountain vistas is quite pleasant. Upon reaching Besisahar we board another vehicle that will take us to Jagat. It is a bumpy ride on the dusty, rough roads.
Put on your trekking boots as today marks the start of our actual trek. After a filling breakfast, we get going to Dharapani. The trail starts with a descent towards the Marsyangdi River followed by a walk through a dense forest. We continue on the trail towards Chamje with fantastic views of the Annapurna Range. We cross a suspension bridge after Chamje heading towards Sattale(7 storeyed). The next village en route is Tal(Lake) where we arrive after a towards the grassy riverbanks Marsyangdi River. The trail goes constantly up and down and eventually takes on a steep forested path towards Karte. We pass by a few small waterfalls and streams and cross a suspension bridge to get to Dharapani.
Our destination for the day is Koto. First, we trek towards Bagarchhap, walking through pine and fir forests. While at Bagrachhap, we explore the local monastery. After an hour’s trek, we arrive at Danaque followed by a steep climb towards Timing with marvelous views of Mt. Manaslu and Peak 29. Again, the trail passes through the pine forest towards Latmarang and along the way we catch a glimpse of Annapurna II. A short walk from Latamarang will take us to Koto.
After leaving the village of Koto, we will enter the restricted area, so our permit will be checked. After passing through the check post we continue on our trek to Meta. The path to Meta starts with a trek along the Soti Khola banks which continues through lush pine forest. Along the way, we pass by many small streams and have to cross a number of suspension bridges and the village of Dharmasala. As we near Meta, we have to overcome a steep climb through another forest. Magnificent views of the Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal keep us enthralled.
Today’s trail starts with a descend to Jhuman followed by a gradual climb towards Khyang. Here we can see the ruins of the Khampa settlements (Khampa are refugees from Tibet) and also spectacular views of Annapurna II, Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak, and Gyaji Kang among others. The path is rocky from here onwards. We cross the Phu Khola to reach Phu Gaon. Overnight in Phu Gaon.
Acclimatization plays a key role in a successful trek. Today is set aside to adjust to thinning air at high altitudes. Few activities are planned for the day to blend better with the changing condition. Firstly, we go around the village to better understand the culture and the daily lives of the locals. This village is diverse in culture as people of different ethnic groups live here including Gurung, Ghale, and Lama. Further, we explore Tashi Lhakhang Monastery, the last monastery built by Karmapa Rinpoche. It is also one of the 108 world’s great Buddhist Monasteries. Besides all the cultural diversities, another attraction of this village is the breathtaking views of the Himlung Himal.
We descend and ascend, pass by many streams and cross a few suspension bridges to finally reach Nar. The day starts with a downhill drop till Mahendra Pul after which we cross an 80 m high suspension bridge over the Lapche River. The trail then climbs up to Nar, passing many stupas and chortens on the way. We can explore many monasteries at Nar and also enjoy the fantastic views of Pisang Peak and other surrounding peaks.
This is another acclimatization day to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness when crossing the Kang La Pass at 5,322m the next day. Today, we go on a short hike around the village and also explore the local culture and tradition. However, make sure not to overwork yourself as you’ll need to be fully rested to overcome the high pass tomorrow.
Today will be a bit challenging as we cross Kang La Pass at 5,322m. The key to avoiding AMS at high altitudes is to walk at a slow but steady pace. We start early in the morning with the target of crossing the Kang La Pass before noon to avoid the strong winds which can make it impossible to overcome the past. From the top of the pass, we can enjoy the spectacular views of the Annapurna Massif. We then head down to Ngawal for a good night’s sleep.
Our destination for the day in Manang. Our trail starts with a descent towards Braga village through a pine forest. While at Braga we also visit the monastery there. The trail then climbs up towards Manang accompanied by the views of Annapurna range and Tilicho Peak.
We ascend from Manang to a village just above called Tenki and follow an uphill trail out of the Marshyangdi Valley towards the Valley Jarsang Khola. The trail then gradually climbs up through pastures and juniper trees. Enroute to Yak Kharka, we pass a small village of Ghunsa followed by pastures where horses and yak graze. We cross a small river via a wooden bridge to finally arrive at Yak Kharka.
Today, we are headed to Thorong Phedi, the last settlement before crossing the Thorong La Pass. This small settlement is also called the base camp of Thorong La Pass. Today’s trek mostly consists of uphill climb beginning with an ascent towards Ledar Village. We climb further up to reach Thorong Phedi enjoying spectacular views of Mt. Syagang, Mt. Gudang, Mt. Katungkulan and Thorung Peak among others along the way.
Today we overcome another high pass but it is going to be much more challenging than the previous one. Our target is to cross the pass before 9- 10 am so we can avoid the strong winds at noon which makes it practically impossible to cross the pass. Hence we start our ascent, which will take about 4 hours at 4 am. We don’t spend a lot of time at the top and make a quick descent towards the holy town of Muktinath. Muktinath is a famous pilgrimage site for both Buddhists and Hindus as it consists of many stupas and temples. The 108 watersports here and the eternal flame, besides the temple itself, are the main attractions here.
Early in the morning we go around and explore the temples and monasteries. Then, we get packing for Jomsom, a town popular for apple and apple products. The trail starts with a descent towards the Kali Gandaki Valley following the Kali Gandaki River on a rocky path with many ups and downs. The views of Tukuche, Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri accompany us throughout the day. Once at Jomsom, you can try out the famous apple brandy.
We board an early morning flight to Pokhara. We reach Pokhara in half an hour at most. After checking into our hotel room, we visit some of the popular places in the City of Lakes including Phewa Lake, Gupteshwor Cave, Davis Fall, and Peace Pagoda among others.
After breakfast in Pokhara, we board a tourist bus that will take us back to the capital city. It will take around 6 hours to reach Kathmandu via Prithivi Highway. Once in Kathmandu, you can enjoy the last days of the trek roaming around the city, buying some souvenirs or you can just opt to rest in your hotel room.
Farewell! Today concludes our 19 days Nar Phu Valley Trek. A representative from Adventure Club Trek will drop you off at the airport according to your flight’s schedule.
Flight Delay in Jomsom
Twin Otter is the primary mode of transport from the airstrip at Jomsom. This service is fairly dependable. Sometimes, flights may be cancelled due to mountain weather conditions or other technical problems. In such case, Adventure Club Trek will organize the alternative available road transportation to ensure you are on schedule for your international flight. The expense of the road transport will be managed from the reimbursement received from the flight ticket after the deduction of cancelation charge. So please note that there will be no refund of the flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, if the alternative road transportation is consolidated.
Note: Your safety is of the utmost concern whilst you are travelling with Adventure Club Trek. We will make every effort possible to follow the original itinerary but we reserve the right to change that itinerary if a segment of it becomes a safety issue. Certain mountain regions are remote, natural disasters can happen, weather conditions can decline and there can be illness or an injury. To avoid dangerous situations we may occasionally have to make changes to the itinerary to ensure everyone’s safety. That having been said, Adventure Club Trek will strive to provide you with the best possible trekking experience and to keep your safety our number one priority. We thank you for your understanding.
Pre-Trip Meeting :
Prior to all our treks and expeditions, we host a Pre-Trip meeting in Kathmandu. The primary purpose of meeting is to provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions about the forthcoming trek and to introduce them to other team members. The meeting covers topics as diverse as personal equipment and acclimatization and usually involves a hike and some skills training. We believe that pre-trip meeting is very important in order to better preparation of the trekking.
Best Time to Trek to Nar Phu Valley:
Best months are September, October & November during the Autumn season and after mid March, April & May during the spring season are consider as the best seasons for doing this trek. Regarding monsoon season at summer time we do not suggest to try this route from June till August. But at autumn months weather is perfect: there is no rain, and it is warm enough.
The quoted costs for the Nar Phu Valley Trek are per person but don't include international flights if you are a single person and want to be in a group you can join our fixed departure schedule if the schedule dates are not suitable for you, please contact us, and we will be happy to customize our trips to suit your needs. If any individuals/group don't want to join our other group, we can comply with your wishes and requirements. We are ground operators Himalayan destinations and can arrange your trip to suit your dates and choices.