Nar Phu Valley Trek

Your Nar Phu Valley Trek begins on this day with an early morning drive from Kathmandu. You will leave the capital city just as it starts to wake up and follow the scenic Prithvi Highway. The initial drive is smooth on a well-paved road.

It winds alongside the Trishuli River, passing traditional villages, terraced farms, and bustling bazaars. You will get your first glimpse of Nepal’s diverse countryside and culture. After driving for some time, you will reach the gateway to the Annapurna region, Besisahar. It is a lively town from where you will begin your drive deeper into the mountains. 

The trail also becomes narrower, rugged, and more adventurous. You will drive alongside the Marsyangdi River through the lower Manang Valley. Along the way, you will pass by beautiful villages like Bhulbhule, Ngadi, Jagat, Chamje, Tal, Dharapani, and Timang.

From Dharapani, the road gradually climbs towards Koto. The village of Koto is the official entrance point to the restricted Nar Phu Valley. It sits amidst pine forests, and there is your first checkpoint. Upon entering Koto, you will check into your teahouse. You will spend the night in the beautiful mountain village.

Today you will start your trek to the twin Nar and Phu Valley. After breakfast at Koto, your guide will register the permits at the police checkpoint. You will leave the Annapurna Circuit Trek trail behind and enter the remote and restricted areas of the Annapurna region.

You will cross a suspension bridge over the Marsyangdi River and start trekking on a quiet path. The Nar Phu Valley Trekking route goes through dense forests of rhododendron, pine, and fir. Similarly, it goes alongside the Nar Khola. The lush forest atmosphere is cool and peaceful, and you may hear the echoes of birdsong. 

As you ascend to higher altitude, you will cross wooden bridges over streams, pass by small waterfalls, and moss-covered rocks. Trekking deeper, the forest gradually changes into rock walls and a narrow gorge carved by the Nar Khola.

Your sense of adventure starts to heighten as you cross several suspension bridges and walk on the trail where the cliff rises vertically. These showcase the valley’s raw geological beauty. Then, you will come across a small seasonal settlement of Dharmasala. The valley widens from here, and the landscape becomes more open alpine. At a distance, you will get your first glimpse of the snow-capped peaks. Finally, you will ascend to Meta, one of the first permanent settlements in the Nar Phu Valley. You will stay here for the night.

You will wake up in the fresh morning air of Meta. Today’s trek will take you deeper into the isolated valley. You will have breakfast in Meta and then start following the high trail along the hillside above the Nar Khola. The Nar Phu Valley Trekking trail takes you through the alpine landscapes, wide valleys, and rugged cliffs.

Unlike yesterday, you will not see dense forests; you will mostly trek across the trans-Himalayan terrain. The trail gradually ascends, passing by yak pastures and traditional shelters used by seasonal herders. In the alpine setting, there are very few trees blocking views, and you can see the surrounding mountains. 

Trekking along the winding alpine terrain, colorful rock formations become clearly visible. You will also cross several suspension bridges and streams. After trekking for some time, you will reach Junam Goth. It is a small grazing area, and the trail becomes narrow. There are massive cliffs surrounding the trail, and ancient chortens and mani walls start to appear.

These spiritual landmarks are also a signal that you are approaching Phu. You will pass by several stone marks and colorful prayer flags. Then you will reach Phu Village, built into a rocky hillside. There are packed stone houses with flat roofs and narrow alleyways. Phu Village is the highest permanent settlement on the trek and is an important stop for acclimatization. Thus, you will stay here for the next two nights.

Today, you will take an acclimatization day at Phu Village. It is crucial to take a rest day to allow your body to adapt to the growing altitude. It minimizes the risk of altitude sickness. Although it is a rest day, you have to stay active and follow the mountaineering principle of “climb high, sleep low.” 

You can explore around the Phu Village after breakfast. It is isolated from the outside world and feels untouched by mass tourism. You can also hike to the Tashi Lhakhang Monastery at an altitude of 4,110 m. It sits on a hill overlooking the village. The centuries-old monastery is believed to be blessed by the Tibetan Buddhist master, Karmapa Rinpoche. Hence, the monastery is an important spiritual site for the locals. The monastery features meditation halls, murals, and prayer wheels. You can gain insight into the Buddhist practices or observe the monks performing daily rituals. 

You can also hike to the nearby ridges or viewpoints above Phu Village. The acclimatization day not only helps one adjust to the altitude but also allows one to experience the region’s culture and spirituality. You will spend the night at Phu Village.

On day 5, you will resume the Nar Phu Valley Trek. You will start descending through narrow stone lanes. The trail follows the Phu Khola and winds through wide alpine valleys. The raw beauty of the trans-Himalayan terrain is one of the major highlights of today’s trek. Along the way, you will get to witness eroded cliffs and glacial streams.

You will also come across several chortens and mani walls that reflect the rich Tibetan culture of the valley. Moving forward, you will cross rocky hillsides and suspension bridges that overlook deep river gorges. 

There are very few steep ascent sections today, so it is physically less demanding. The scenery is also gorgeous. If you are lucky, you may catch sightings of blue sheep grazing on pastures or Himalayan griffon vultures flying in the sky. Trekking for several hours, you will reach the junction where the trail to Nar separates from the route back to Meta.

You will make a short descent to Nar Phedi. It is a peaceful river settlement and home to the centuries-old Nar Phedi Monastery. You will rest here for the night. In the evening, you can visit the monastery or explore around the settlement.

Today will be one of the shortest trek days on the 9 Days Nar Phu Valley Trek. You will leave Nar Phedi and start ascending along a rocky zigzag above the river. As you ascend to a higher elevation, the alpine valley opens up. The landscape reveals cliffs and deep gorges.

You can see Mount Annapurna and Damodar Himal start to dominate the skyline. Below, you can see the wide views of the narrow valley. Then, you will cross a long suspension bridge over the Nar Khola. The trail from here is carved into the mountainside, and the landscape changes into the unique Himalayan landscape. 

You will get to enjoy the beautiful scenery of windswept hills, weathered rock formations, and rugged landscapes that resemble the Tibetan Plateau. The vegetation is sparse as the terrain is mostly barren. The trail is also quiet and peaceful, perfect for solitude-seeking trekkers. As you get close to Nar, you will start to see mani walls, prayer wheels, colorful flags, and whitewashed chortens.

There is a strong influence of Tibetan Buddhism. You will continue climbing until you reach the Nar Village. Compared to Phu Village, Nar is larger and more open. You can see well-preserved traditional architecture and a way of life. Nar Village will be your overnight stop for the day.

Day 7 is the most exciting and challenging days on the Nar Phu Valley Trek itinerary. You will leave Nar Village early, before dawn. With the help of the headlamp, you will leave the quiet Nar Village in the dark. You will navigate the narrow trail with careful footing, breathing the crisp mountain air. The path is rocky, and the temperature is cold. You will carefully and steadily climb through alpine meadows and barren hillsides. The trekking trail to the upper slopes of Kang La Pass is steeper and physically challenging. It requires good endurance and determination. The thin air and cold morning weather also add to the challenge. 

When the dawn breaks, the first ray of sunlight colors the surrounding peaks in the shades of gold and orange. Finally, when you reach the summit of the Kang La Pass, decorated with colorful prayer flags, spectacular mountain views open up before you. The sweeping view of Annapurna II, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, Chulu East, Lamjung Himal, and other peaks surrounds the valley. You can celebrate the achievement and take photographs before starting your descent. 

The descent trail of the Nar Phu Valley Trek from the top of the Kang La Pass is comparatively less demanding than ascending. However, you have to descend steeply on loose scree and rocky terrain. It may put strain on your knees, so trekking poles are very helpful. The altitude begins to grow lower, so breathing becomes easier. As you descend, the landscape and scenery also change. The arid, desert-like landscape gives way to alpine grasslands and green pastures. You will continue descending for a few hours and join the main Annapurna Circuit trail near Ngawal. After trekking for some time, you will reach Ngawal, where you will rest overnight.

After the challenging Kang La Pass yesterday, you will make your descent through the Manang Valley. You will rejoin the main Annapurna Circuit Trekking trail and head towards Chame. The trail from Ngawal descends through open hillsides through green forests of pine, fir, and juniper.

Along the way, you can enjoy sweeping views of Mount Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Gangapurna, Pisang Peak, and Tilicho Peak. Following the trail, you will reach the Lower Pisang. You can see traditional stone houses, prayer wheels, and fields at the settlement. 

You will continue trekking, following the Marsyangdi River. There are several suspension bridges and small settlements along the way. You will descend through pine forests and pass by the Bhratang village with beautiful apple orchards.

You may stop at the village and try fresh apples, homemade apple pie, or local apple juice. From Bhratang, you will enter the forest sections of the Annapurna Circuit. The descending trail leads to Chame, the administrative headquarters of Manang District. Arriving at Chame marks the end of the trek. 

There are comfortable teahouses, cafes, and bakeries in the town. You will rest after the long descent at the village. Additionally, there are also natural hot springs just outside Chame. You can visit the springs and relax your tired muscles after days of trekking.

Today is the final day of the 9 Days Nar Phu Valley Trek. You will board your vehicle and start driving alongside the Marsyangdi River. The rugged road takes you through mountain villages, dense pine forests, and steep river gorges. It descends and once again passes by the villages of Dharapani, Tal, Chamje, Jagat, Ngadi, and Bhulbhule. You can also see the alpine scenery change into lower, lush hills. Meanwhile, the mountain views gradually disappear behind the ridgelines. 

Upon reaching Besisahar, you will start to drive on the Prithvi Highway. You will drive back to Kathmandu the same way. Along the way, you will once again get to see the familiar villages, terrace farms, roadside towns, and bazaars. As you get closer to Kathmandu, the peaceful rural landscape gives way to a vibrant city atmosphere. The Nar Phu Valley Trek concludes upon reaching the capital city. Thank you for choosing to explore the hidden valleys with Outbound Treks!