Go off of the main traditional route of the Apple Pie Trail of Annapurna to a rugged, rough route and less explored Shangri-La of Nar Phu Valley to the north.
The Nar Phu Valley Trek, an off the beaten track located in the north of Annapurna Circuit Trek part one in Annapurna, is a deeply captivating route that offers a perfect blend of a Himalayan lifestyle, culture, and adventure. The journey goes through the rugged and remote trail, walking through Tibetan-like small villages, staying in local family-run teahouses, witnessing the traditional Tibetan way of living undamaged by modernism. The journey takes you through great landscapes, lush green forests, and valleys. The trek offers a thrilling experience of crossing rivers and walking over thrilling suspension bridges, viewing the white giant peak.
The isolated Nar Phu Valley, which makes it peaceful and secluded away from traditional Annapurna hikers, is a perfect escape from crowds. Along the way, you will encounter centuries-old Buddhist monasteries, prayers engraved on mani walls, and monuments. Colorful prayer flags strung on passes, flapping in the wind, ease our restless and ever-wandering minds. And chances of spotting endangered wildlife, including blue sheep, snow leopard, wild yak, all while exploring a region rich in culture and history, which reward you from Nar Phu Valley Trek.
| Day | Destination and activities | Altitude / Elevation | Distance | Time |
| 1 | Drive from Kathmandu to Jagat | 1300 m | 210 KM | 6 to 7 Hours |
| 2 | Trek to Dharapni from Jagat | 1860 m | Approx. 15KM | 6 to 7 Hours |
| 3 | Trek to Koto from Dharapani | 2610 m | Approx 12 KM | 5 to 6 Hours |
| 4 | Trek to Meta from Koto | 3560 m | Approx. 16 KM | 7 Hours Walk |
| 5 | Trek to Phu Village | 4250 m | Approx. 14 KM | 7 Hours Walk. |
| 6 | Explore around Phu Village | 4250 m | ||
| 7 | Trek to Nar Phedi | 3500 m | Approx. 14 KM | 5 to 6 Hours |
| 8 | Trek to Nar Village | 4110 m | Approx. 4 KM | 2 to 3 Hours |
| 9 | Trek to Koto | 2610 m | Approx. 19 KM | 6 to 7 Hours |
| 10 | Drive to Besishar - Kathmandu | 1300 m | Approx. 235KM | 7 Hours |
Our standard Nar Phu Valley Trek itinerary is 9 Nights 10 days, crafted by Wilderness Excursion, that starts and ends in Kathmandu. If you do not find this itinerary specific that fits your needs, you can easily contact us for your perfect custom-made tour plan.
Check our published date for Nar Phu Valley Trek Departure! If it doesn’t match, we are happy to customize your tour perfectly to suit your interests and needs. Contact us to create a unique travel experience for you!
Nar Phu Valley; the know is hidden valley lies in the remote Manang district of Nepal, within the Annapurna region, just off the main Annapurna Circuit trekking route. This region is close to the border with Tibet, has a rich Himalayan culture, is a restricted area, which has helped preserve its original wilderness, ancient villages, and traditional lifestyle.
Typically, Nar Phu Valley Trek needs 12 to 14 days and requires additional 3 to 4 days if you would like to add some beautiful side trips such as Tilicho Lake, Thorong La Pass, explore around Maang Valley etc. And choosing the trek starting point also determines length or itinerary of Nar Phu Valley Trekking in Annapurna.
Renowned for its difficulty, the Nar Phu Valley Trek is a challenging adventure that culminates in crossing the formidable Kang La Pass at 5,322 meters (17,460 ft). Due to the extreme altitude and rugged terrain, this trek is recommended only for experienced and physically fit hikers.
As per state law, Nar Phu Valley falls in a controlled area bordering Tibet. Like in other restricted areas, the Nar Phu Valley Trek requires a licensed guide. So all the foreigners trekking in the region must be accompanied by a registered guide and arrange your trek through a certified Nepalese Trekking Agency.
Wilderness Excursion provides one shared porter between two trekkers, and a porter carries a maximum of 20 to 25 kilograms, so approximately 12 kg of free luggage for each trekker. He will also be carrying some 5 to 7 kg of his own small pack, so the total he carries 30Kg max. A porter cannot just be your porter, but sometimes he can be your friend or companion to uplift your adventure spirit, to learn, and share.
The maximum elevation you reach in the Nar Phu Valley Trek is Kangla Pass at a height of 5320 meters above sea level. Himlung Base Camp is located at an altitude of 4,850 meters, making it a suitable destination for hiking. This is a good preparation for the Kangla Pass, which leads toward the Manang Valley.
Considering the environmental pollution issue, bottled water is banned in most areas of the Annapurna Trekking region and Nar Phu Valley, subject to the same regulation. You can have boiled water (it is paying) from the teahouses. The best alternative is carrying water treatment equipment or a purifier. Carrying a water purifying tablet (you can buy from pharmacies in Kathmandu) is much easier and handy.
To charge your gadgets in Nar Phu Valley Trekking, there is electricity in some areas powered by a mini hydro-electric station and solar power, where electricity is not supplied. Wilderness Excursion suggests you to fully charge your devices where electricity is available. Charging in solar power will cost (NPR 100 to 200 for a full charge).
The mobile network and internet service is limited in Nar Phu Valley. Purchase the NTC (Nepal Telecom) SIM card in Kathmandu or at the airport for data and calls, providing a copy of your passport and photo to register. Network coverage is best in lower altitudes and larger villages like Manang and Muktinath, but it becomes unreliable in Nar Phu. The network comes and goes. While teahouses offer Wi-Fi, it's often costly and very slow, making a personal SIM a better option for communication.
There are no banks or ATMs on the route to Nar Phu Valley and Annapurna Circuit. Credit Card Payment service is very limited or almost none, so please carry extra cash for your personal expenses, like having beverages (Coke, Sprite, juice) or if you donate in monasteries, taking a hot shower, etc. USD 10 to 15 per day, equal to NPR, should be sufficient. Though it depends on you how much you spend.
Begin our very first Nar Phu Valley Trek itinerary in the early morning, as we have a long drive ahead of us. We head out right after breakfast and leave Kathmandu around 7 am in the morning. We see picturesque views of the Nepali countryside, lush greenery, rivers, villages, farms, and mountain vistas en route throughout the drive. After 8-10 hours of drive we reach Jagat via Besishahar. Driving up to Besishahar will most likely be smooth owing to black-topped roads, whereas after Besishahar, the roads get dusty and coarse, but the scenic view from our windowpane is more than compensating for the bumpy ride. Overnight in Jagat.
After breakfast, we leisurely start our trek today. The Nar Phu Valley Trek trail from Jagat descends until it reaches the river and then continues through a lush forest. Further ascent leads to a sharp-edged cliff facing the riverbank. En route, Chyamje comes into the picture amidst the glorious backdrop of the towering Annapurna mountain ranges. After crossing a suspension bridge, we climb steeply towards the slippery and physically challenging path to Sattale. On treading along a succession of rock-strewn trails, we descend to a grassy riverbank that leads to Tal. As we walk away from Tal, the path becomes rugged and winding. Then we approach the steep forested village of Karte. Meandering along the waterfalls and cliffs, we finally reach Dharapani after crossing a suspension bridge. Overnight in the lodge at Dharapani.
We head to Bagarchhap, which takes about one hour, going through pine and fir forests. We can visit the whitewashed monastery in this village. Then we continue our trek to Danaque, which takes about an hour. The Nar Phu Valley Trek trail is steeply ascending up to Timang. We have a good view of Mt. Manaslu and Peak 29 from here. Now the trail continues through pine forests again till Latamarang, which takes about one and a half hours. We break for lunch here and again resume through forests, where we have a short glimpse of Annapurna II. Finally, we arrive in Koto village. Overnight in the lodge at Koto.
In the morning, we register our Nar Phu Valley Trek restricted area permit (RAP) at the Police Check Post. Then we trek through the riverbank of Soti Khola again through wonderful pine forests, streams, and suspension, and reach Dharamsala. We have our packed lunch on the way. We then continue the trek through forests and ascend steeply towards Meta village. Finally, we arrive on the Tibetan Plateau, where we have a very good view of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal. Overnight in Meta.
The hike from Meta to Phu Gaon is a stunning, 5 to 7-hour journey in the remote Annapurna region of Nepal. Covering approximately 14 to 15 km, the Nar Phu Valley Trek itinerary day five climbs gradually from 3,560 m in Meta to roughly 4,080 in Phu, taking hikers through dramatic river gorges and rugged Tibetan-style landscapes. Overnight in a teahouse or homestay.
It is an extra day at Phu. We can go explore around. A unique culture has been preserved here, where people still make a living in traditional ways. Interact with locals and explore the vast valleys that stretch above. Engage with the villagers as they dedicate their day to spinning yak and sheep wool, engaging in conversation, grinding mustard seeds into a paste and oil, and participating in the various activities that characterize daily life in a Tibetan village.
For photographers, the light here is fantastic, and the skies are a deep blue. You might even spot a few blue sheep in the nearby hills. It is also famous for its centuries-old monasteries and forts. As you wander through the villages, you might be invited into someone's home for an authentic Tibetan salted butter tea or maybe a cup of local "rakshi," pronounced Roxy
For more adventure, alternatively, we can hike to Himlung Base Camp as a side trip of Nar Phu Valley Trekking, which lies at an altitude of 4900 meters (16070 ft)
Today, after breakfast, we return to the river through Phu Gate. From there, follow the same route. We trek from Phu to Nar Phedi, a stunning 4 to 5-hour, approximately 13 to 14 km descent through the rugged, canyon landscapes of the Nar Phu Valley Trek. Hikers drop from Phu (4,080m) to the Nar Phedi Monastery (3,490m), traversing suspension bridges over deep gorges and passing highland pastures.
It is a very short day today, the trail steeply ascends passing many Buddhist stupas until Nar Village, which takes about 2 hours. We find several Buddhist Monasteries here to visit, coupled with the glorious vistas of Pisang Peak and other small peaks. Today, we see ancient, colorful, traditional monasteries, with the snow-capped mountains towering above. Eventually, we arrive at Nar Gate, located at the hill's peak. There, the sight of beautifully painted chortens covered with bamboo awaits us. We arrive at Nar Village after 3 hours of hiking.
We retrace to Koto, leaving beautiful Nar Phu Valley behind. Hiking from Nar Village (4200m) to Koto (2600m), we now join the Annapurna Circuit route. The journey involves a challenging, steep descent of roughly 1,500 vertical meters through rugged canyons and dramatic, narrow river gorges. Overnight in a teahouse at Koto.
After breakfast, drive by jeep or bus to Besisahar from Koto, Timang villages, Bagarchhap, and Dharapani. The road to Besisahar is bumpy. The return journey to Kathmandu typically requires approximately 5 to 6 hours from Besisahar. Transfer you to your accommodation with our guide. Now, the trip concludes.
We did Nar Phu trip in July though it is not a really good time to trek but we have off time in July. We found it awesome! The trip takes you from jungle to alpine zone that are all...
We had such an amazing experience on the Nar Phu Valley trek. Could not fault Wilderness Excursion Company or our guide and porter! Every single person involved in our trip was incredibly caring, helpful, welcoming, and accommodating. A truly memorable...
We as a couple did this wonderful camping trek in April/May 2016. Everything was perfectly prepared. Pradip and his crew (guide, cook, porters) were awesome. They did everything to make it comfortable. They always had a plan b if there...
