Nar Phu Valley Trekking

Transportation
Public Bus/Private vehicle
Accomodation
Hotel/Tea Houses
Maximum Altitude
4,250 m
Best season
Autumn and Spring

Overview

The stunning short trek known as the Nar Phu Valley trek is through the isolated valley that divides the culturally and environmentally rich Manang region’s villages of Nar and Phu. With an authentic atmosphere that is no longer common on many treks in Nepal, the journey is a true hidden beauty. There aren’t many other travellers on this side of the Himalayas, which is great for peace-loving trekkers.

The trail to Nar Phu, which is located not far from the Annapurna Circuit, travels past remote villages with villagers who resemble Tibetans, forests, little valleys, Buddhist Gumbas, and amazing mountains. Nestled between the famed trekking destinations of Manaslu and Annapurna, the Nar and Phu are two distinct yet close valleys inhabited mainly by the Khampas of Tibet.

The traditions and architecture of Nar Phu combine to create a highly distinctive culture that makes visiting the Tibetan Plateau area an unforgettable experience. Another perk is the gorgeous landscape and the warm climate of Nar and Phu. The trek is referred to as a first-hand glimpse into the little Tibetan that comes with the unique Himalayan aromas of peaks. Exploring the unspoiled Himalayan beauty and way of life will undoubtedly impact how you view the world and people.

Only recently, in 2003, was Nar Phu Valley officially made accessible to trekkers as a tea house and homestay model grew. So, a specific trekking permit and a certified guide are required for the trek in the lonely Valley of Nar Phu. To acquire a Nar Phu Valley Trekking Permit, trekkers must apply through a recognised trekking firm, such as ours. You will be also assisted by a professional guide with a government-certified trekking license through our agency. The tea houses and homestays are quite modern, neat, and clean when compared with the accommodations on other treks.

Highlights

Discover massive mountain ranges such as Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu.
Discover the hard lifestyle of the highland Khamapas and witness the profound shift in customs and culture.
Spend the overnight with the monks at Nar Phedi Monastery.
Explore the lonely Nepalese Himalayas, which are close to the Tibet border.
Might get the opportunity to encounter the endangered snow leopard.
The ideal journey to get away from the crowd of trekkers as the trail is an Off the Beaten Trail.

Day 1 :

Drive from Kathmandu (1,400m) to Besisahar (760m).

This is 1st day of the Nar Phu Valley Trek and it will begin with a nice breakfast in the morning. You will travel for approximately 6 to 7 hours by jeep along a beautiful route to reach Besishahar. You will see some very beautiful scenery along the way, including rivers, villages, lush hills, and snow-capped mountains. The drive along the riverbed roads of Marshyangdi and watching the clear crystal water of the river is just relaxing and heartwarming. You can also see Manaslu Peak behind the hills passing by through the jeep. The roads leading up to Besishahar are likely to be smooth in the black tops. Along the way are lots of excellent places to stop for lunch and coffee. The route heads in the direction of Pokhara, which we travel along until we finally make a stop at Besisahar. At Besisahar, you will have the rest of the evening for yourself to either rest or explore the Besisahar on your own. You can stroll around the local market and try local snacks with gentle interactions with locals. You will be checked into the guesthouse at Besisahar where you will have warm Nepalese thali for dinner and head for the bed for a sleep.

Day 2 :

Drive from Besisahar (760m) to Koto (2,600m).

Besisahar to Koto is yet another 6-hour ride on a private jeep. But you warned the road is not smoothing as the day before. The road is rocky and steep uphills with some thrilling offroad which will lead you to beautiful Manang. You can feel the strong cold winds indicating you are near your destination of the Koto. Tal, along the route, awaits you with a stunning waterfall. You'll cross a river while driving to get to Dharapani. After that, you'll go through a verdant pine forest with a clear view of Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Annapurna. To last, you will arrive at Koto, a stunning Gurung village. Koto is Nar Phu Valley's gateway as you see numerous charming towns and terraced farms, surrounded by mountains like Manaslu and Ganesh. Here, in the beautiful village, you will rest for the day and spend the lovely night under the bright sky and below the stunning peak of Annapurna II.

Day 3 :

Trek from Koto (2,600m) to Meta (3,560).

Finally, your trekking journey begins on the 3rd day of the Nar Phu Valley Trek. Today you will be trekking from Koto to Meta after having morning breakfast at the guesthouse where you stayed for the night. You pass through a checkpoint on the day to enter the restricted region. The trek leads you over rugged terrain, alongside the Soti Khola River, and through pine forests. Along the route, you could come across cliffs and caves. After a delightful lunch with the beautiful scenery of a waterfall near Dharmasala village, and then continue your journey to Meta, where you will spend the night. Don't push yourself too hard on the trek on the first day. Today, the trek will be around 5 hours. Since you will be in Meta, you will have officially made your arrival in the Tibetan Plateau. The landscape is filled with views of Lamjung Himal and Annapurna II.

Day 4 :

Trek from Meta (3,560) to Phu Gaon (4,150m).

The journey begins today with a few ups and downs as well as suspension bridges over massive waterways. On the walk, we could be fortunate enough to spot the magnificent Blue Sheep. Firstly on the day, you will be trekking along a portion of the trail that switches back and forth through suspension bridges and ascends to a narrow pass to reach Kyang. Here, you will have your lunch, most probably Nepalese Momo, chowmein, or Nepalese thali. After that, you'll travel up a rugged trail that leads to Phu Village. You will eventually arrive in the distinctive Hidden Valley of Phu as you continue your lovely trek step by step. At Phu Village, Tashi Lakhang Monastery is a great place to explore with beautiful views of Himlung Himal and other peaks surrounding it at an altitude of 4080m. You will have your Nepales Thali in the guest house at Phu Village and spend a night there after a tiring 7 hours of walking at the end of the day.

Day 5 :

Exploring Phu Gaon (4,150m) & Acclimatizing.

Phu Gaon will be a resting place for the day as you will have acclimatization at the Phu village. You will let your exhausted body heal and relax from the long trekking or exploring around Phu Village. A portion of the stunning Nar Phu Valley, Phu village is renowned for its stunning views of grazing land, rivers, and cliffs. Karmapa Rinpoche, a Tibetan traveller in Nepal, constructed the historic Lakhang Monastery in Phu village. From Phu village, the walk to Phu viewpoint takes roughly three hours. The viewpoint provides a breathtaking view of Phu village, the Valley, and the Himalayan range, situated at the top of Phu village. When you watch the people going about their everyday lives, participating in tasks like crushing mustard seeds into an oil mix or weaving wool from sheep and yaks, you will be thrilled to have experienced the authentic Himalayan way of life.

Day 6 :

Trek from Phu Gaon (4,150m) to Nar (4,110m).

A part of the Nar Phu Valley trekking is completed as you have explored the Phu Village and its mountainous lifestyle beneath beautiful mountains Annapurna, Lamjung and Himlung. Now you will be onto your next prime destination of the trek, to explore the Nar valley. For the day, you will start walking straight to the Nar Phedi monastery. Your trekking route leaves Phu village and heads uphill towards the largest community in the Nar Phu Valley, passing through Kyang and Upper Chyako villages on route. You are going to cross numerous streams on suspension bridges on your way down to Mahendra Pul. Once you cross the 80-meter-long Mahendra Pul, you will come onto the Satte Gompa, Gyalbu Kumbu, and Nar Phedi Monastery. They are vibrantly beautiful traditional monasteries surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Your rest for the day will be in The Nar Phedi monastery with the monks of the monastery. They are very warm welcoming and friendly. In the fresh aroma of smoky shelters, your evening will be alive with Manangi and Tibetan melodies, accompanied by that special Tibetan laughter with Tibetan monks.

Day 7 :

Acclimatize and Explore Nar Valley (4,110m).

This is yet another good day for acclimatization and rest for the body to relax or have a short walk or hike around. Today your day will start with a great morning breakfast at the Nar Phedi amongst monks. You will get a great experience of having ritual and respect of monks towards their daily breakfast routine. Here, on the 7th day, you can explore the Nar Valley, which is full of Tibetan Monasteries radiating spiritual happiness. From Nar Phedi, the trail winds up in Nar village. In addition to offering breathtaking views of Pisang and other mountain peaks, this region is home to countless gorgeous monasteries. Throughout the short uphill trek this day, you will pass through rows of shrines with bamboo houses decorated artistically followed by majestic views of Pisang. The empty landscapes and yak pastures won't leave your sight.

Day 8 :

Hike From Nar (4,110m) to Ngawal (3,650m).

Today's journey is quite far away. That means you'll leave the guest house before dawn to trek across the Temdenzon Khola, through yak pastures, while taking in breathtaking views of Pisang Peak's west face. After a significant amount of trekking, you will eventually arrive at Kang La Pass, which stands at 5240 metres, the highest elevation of the journey. The breathtaking mountains of Tilicho Peak, Gangapurna, and Annapurna II are seen from the top of Kang La Pass. From here, the trail descends, giving us a pleasant view of Ngawal and a unique collection of Buddhist prayer flags and shrines. The last trekking day of the journey will be continuous and a bit challenging for the whole day as you will be walking up and downhill for almost 10 hours. You will be very tired that day, so you are in for a nice early sleep after Nepali Dal Bhat in the guesthouse at Ngawal.

Day 9 :

Drive to Beshisahar-Kathmandu/Pokhara.

The whole trekking experience has ended and now it's all drive back to Kathmandu. You will be picked up at Ngawal early in the morning by a private jeep to drive you back to Kathmandu. You stop for the lunch will be in Besisahar. You can relax in Besisahar and enjoy nice last moments on the trek with a nice warm Nepalese Thali for lunch. You can also go back to great pictures taken throughout the journey and select some of them for your social media posts and stories. After having lunch, at Besisahar it’s yet another 6-hour ride back to Kathmandu. You'll drive back in a jeep with views of villages, small riverbed settlements, Marsayangdi and Trishuli rivers flowing in strong currents, and incredible landscapes to finally end your whole trek in the bustling nightlife of Kathmandu.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Can I extend my Nar Phu trek into another trek while being on the journey?

Yes, of course, the Nar Phu Valley lies on the route to Tilicho and Thorong La Pass. During the trip, if you wish to extend the Nar Phu Valley trek into the Tilicho Lake trek or towards the Thorong La Pass, it is in possibility but some extra permits will be required.

Is the internet accessible in the route and tea houses of Nar Phu Valley?

As the route is recently accessible to trekkers, internet accessibility on the route can be a bit upsetting but NTC networks are available in some parts of the route. Tea houses and guest houses do offer wifi and internet services for the trekkers as they are there to stay for the night.

Is it safe to be in Nar Phu trek on your own or without trekking groups?

Yes, of course, it is safe to be on the Nar Phu trek on your own but it is not permissible to go on the trek without the guide. The trek is a bit lonely trail but it is completely safe and the roads are well paved. But a certified guide and at least two trekking persons are a must for any trekker to be on this trail. You are obliged to follow these to get the permit for the trek.

What gear might be required to carry along while doing the Nar Phu Valley trek?

The Nar Phu Valley trek is not that difficult to trek that requires extensive mountaineering gear and pieces of equipment. It is a normal journey to lower heights of the mountains so basic trekking equipment and gear might be sufficient. Like warm pair of innerwear, trousers, jackets, and shirts along with a water bottle, a few medications, a trekking stick, and a light trekking backpack are a few essentials for the trek.

Is the paperwork process for a permit to Nar Phu Valley complicated or time-consuming?

No, the permit for the Nar Phu trek is not as complicated as you think. Our agency will complete all the necessary paperwork for the permit till your arrival in Kathmandu. You must notify our agency with your trekking dates and days information. We will accordingly manage all kinds of paperwork required for the Nar Phu Valley trek. You will be ready to be on the trek as you land at the airport.

What is the luggage limit for the trek to Nar Phu Valley?

Normally, the luggage limit is 10-12 kg per trekker if you decide to carry a porter with you on the journey. If you carrying the luggage yourself, you are advised to carry a minimal trekking bag with the above-mentioned essentials. The bag you will carry will usually be around 6-7 kg which is the right amount to carry for pleasant walking on such treks.

Will ATM cards be accessible on the route to the Nar Phu Valley?

No, the Nar Phu Valley trek is mostly isolated in the Himalayas, so finding an ATM on the route is mostly rare. Kathmandu, Besisahar and Pokhara might be the last places you would easily find ATMs throughout the Nar Phu journey.

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Overview

Highlights

Itinerary

Cost

The Cost Includes

The Cost Excludes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Destination

Activities

Resources

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Overview

Highlights

Itinerary

Cost

The Cost Includes

The Cost Excludes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

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