Nar Phu Valley Trek is an exotic journey along the north face of Annapurna, to explore the fascinating valley of Nar Phu. The highlights of the trek include exotic views of high snow-peaks, ancient villages of medieval Tibetan culture, the famous Tashi Lakhang Monastery, and exploring high alpine valleys. The trek starts from Jagat, which lies along Annapurna Circuit trail, and then leaves the main circuit trail from Koto to follow the less traveled trails to Nar Phu valley. Trekkers get to explore the remote mountain valley trails in the north of Manang and pass the Kang La pass (5315m) with breathtaking panoramic views of the Annapurna massif. Kang La pass connects Nar to Manang and Bhotia villages in the Neyshang valley.
The trek heads to the west of Nar Phu Valley Trek to reach the highest elevation in the Annapurna Circuit trail, Thorong La Pass at 5416 m. Then the trekkers descend to lower Mustang following the trails leading to holy Muktinath before heading to Jomsom. The trek finally concludes at Jomsom following flights to Pokhara and then to Kathmandu. The trek to this secluded mountain valley offers an interesting understanding of medieval Tibetan culture in the region. Any trekker exploring this part of the world will cherish the natural, cultural, and historical heritage.
Venture into a remote part of Nepal that few travelers get to see
Stay in ancient villages that have seen little change over the centuries
Experience a part of the Tibetan plateau that extends down into Nepal
Enjoy great views of Annapurna II, Himlung Himal, Gangapurna, Manaslu and Tilicho Peak
We leave Kathmandu early and drive first to Besisahar. After lunch, change to a four-wheel drive vehicle for the rugged journey to Koto. The road can be almost as challenging for passengers as for drivers, but it is incredibly scenic! It travels along the old Annapurna Circuit trek route, through amazing gorges and past stunning waterfalls.
Arrive in Koto in time for dinner.
MEALS:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Start our trek early, as there is a lot of distance to cover. Cross the river and enter the Nar & Phu valleys. Towns on the nearby Annapurna Circuit are relatively well developed, but this is not the case in these valleys. Todays trekking route passes through beautiful woods, past small cave shelters and pilgrims resting places. Emerging from a narrow canyon, the trail passes under a wide waterfall, from which point the woods become thinner and the vistas wider. The last stretch into Meta involves climbing a steep hill, from which there are amazing views of some of the giant snowy peaks in the area.
MEALS:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Trekking out of Meta, some of the unique, colorful Tibetan Buddhist chortens that Nar and Phu are famous for begin to appear in sight. The trail meanders along the ridge with a good view of the magnificent Nar Phedi monastery, where you will stay in a few days time. After another ninety minutes hiking through scenic canyons and gorges, youll reach a monolith that guards the steep trail up to Phu. From Meta, you can get your first view of the three villages in the area as well as the old dzong (Tibetan-style fortress) and the remains of two ruined forts, impressively situated atop the flatlands before the village. Just before crossing the bridge into Phu, a line of wonderful chortens color the landscape. After a rest and refreshments, take a short walk up to the famous Tashi Lhakhang Gompa to pay respects to Lama Karma Sonam Rinpoche who came to Nepal with the Dalai Lama in 1959.
MEALS:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Due to the high altitude, its good to spend an acclimatization day in Phu. Explore the tiny alleyways of the town or hike up to Himlung Himal base camp. Phu itself is an interesting village, and a day is well spent sitting with the villagers as they spin their yak and sheep wool, pound mustard seeds into a paste for oil, or go about their other daily chores. For an extra challenge, the hike up to Himlung Himal base camp takes you through a glacial valley. The 7,125 m. peak was recently opened for climbing. On the trail up you will see herds of blue sheep skillfully clambering up the steep cliffs. The return trip takes about four to five hours.
MEALS:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Retrace the route back down towards Meta, but turn off at the Nar Phedi monastery, which will be your accommodation for the night. In fact, the monastery is all that Nar Phedi consists of! The rooms are neat and clean and the nuns are extremely welcoming. Join them in the kitchen and watch them prepare dinner on a modest fireplace. At 5 pm they usually do a puja (blessing), which you are welcome to witness. There is a small donation box in the monastery where you can leave a contribution for the maintenance of this beautiful and friendly place.
MEALS:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is a very gentle day. Climb out of Nar Phedi and follow a winding path up a hill towards Nar. Pass a line of wonderfully painted, bamboo-topped chortens on the way into the ancient village. Arrive in the town around lunch time. Even though Nar is not far from the main Annapurna trail, it is rarely visited by trekkers and is about as picturesque as it gets. Nar is bit more social and lively than Phu, and during the day you may find the village square teeming with chatting women with their back-strap looms weaving wool fabric for rugs and blankets. With a few new teahouses built on the outskirts of Nar, you can stay in a comfortable lodge with an extensive menu.
MEALS:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is a long day, so get up before sunrise and head towards the Kang La pass, which leads back onto the popular Annapurna Circuit. It is not a difficult pass, but it can be a long day as the effects of altitude will be felt. Once on top of the pass you can enjoy an amazing view over Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak. The trail down starts off steep, but if you enjoy scree running you can have some fun! Stop for lunch on a plateau overlooking the peak, then continue towards Ngawal. Ngawal, on the upper Pisang route of the Annapurna Circuit, is certainly very different from the ancient villages just visited. The lodges are big, the menus much more comprehensive and there will be Wifi and phone signals in most lodges.
MEALS:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The weather gets much hotter and the scenery greener as you descend more than 2000m from the pass. Set off early for the last few hours of trekking to reach Pisang. The trail is wide and comfortable, and passes a beautiful lake just outside Pisang. Stop for a quick snack in the village, then take a four-wheel drive back to Besisahar. There, stay in a comfortable hotel.
MEALS:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The drive back to Kathmandu takes around five hours. Enjoy a hot shower and the luxuries of the city once again! Spend the afternoon shopping for souvenirs in Thamel, or just relaxing.
MEALS:reakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Includes
- Airport pickup and drop in a private vehicle
- Guesthouse accommodation during the trek
- All necessary trekking permits: Annapurna Conservation Area and Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) fee.
- Special permit for Nar Phu Trek
- An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed trek leader
- Staff costs including salary, insurance, equipment, food and accommodation
- All government and local taxes
- First aid medical kit
- Trekking maps
- Transportation from Kathmandu to Koto and Passing to kathmandu
- Sleeping bags and Down jackets for the trek (should be refunded after trek)
Excludes
- Bar bills,beverage bill, laundry and other personal expenses
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Tips for guide, porter and driver
- Hotel in Kathmandu
- Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 10 kg of luggage, a cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
- Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu (and also in the case of early return from the mountain than the scheduled itinerary)
- Optional trips and sightseeing if extended
Here's a few answers to most common Questions asked by the customers.
This trip is suitable for average people who are moderately fit, thus no previous experience is required. Some physical fitness programs such as running, swimming, hiking is recommended before you embark on your journey. The best preparation for this trek is bushwalking involving relatively steep ascents and descents. If you can manage a couple of valley floor to ridgeline ascents per comfortable and able to enjoy the trek to the fullest. They are physically strong, sharp-witted, and have an incredibly positive attitude towards a life that we would consider extremely tough. There is something about a trek in the Himalaya that draws you back time and time again. For keen walkers, it is a paradise and even avowed non-walkers find that one foot just seems to follow the other, drawn by the appeal of what lies beyond.
Yes, our airport representative will be there to greet you at the airport. S/he will be displaying Mount Adventure Holidays signboard outside the airport terminal. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in our tourist vehicle.
YES, you can obtain the visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days can be obtained by paying USD 30 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days can be obtained by paying USD 50 and 125 respectively. Please bring 2 copies of passport size photos.)
Please bring a copy of your travel insurance, a copy of your passport, and 3 photos (passport size) with you for your trip to Nepal. You would need photos for permits.
We use standard rooms at three-star hotels in Kathmandu with breakfast included. Along the trekking routes, tea houses/lodges generally provide basic clean facilities with a mattress and a quilt or blanket. We can also offer you Ace the Himalaya sleeping bags if needed (to be returned after the trip) but it is a good idea to always have your own sleeping equipment. The lodges in trekking routes usually provide single and double rooms, or occasionally a dormitory-style. At times when possible, dining will be around a bonfire. In tea houses, food will be prepared in the kitchen, which you should not enter without permission. The toilet in teahouses provides essential and basic facilities and is always outside the room.
Most of the tea houses do have western-style flushing toilets however in higher elevation you could find the squat toilets made of either a ceramic basin on the ground or few planks precariously positioned over a hole in the ground which is always outside of the room.
In most cases, you can use the toilet provided by the tea houses/lodges on the trail but normally in case of emergency, you just do toilet along the trail wherever you find privacy.
During the trek, we will try our best but normally the lodges have twin sharing and dormitory styled rooms instead of a single room. The lodges will provide a private room for one person when the room is free and additional cost is not required. In Kathmandu, USD 45 Per Room per Night would be added as a single supplement fee. The single supplements are always guaranteed in Kathmandu but not in the mountain especially during the peak time.
Most teahouses (lodges) in Annapurna trails cook a delicious range of mostly vegetarian fare. Pasta, tuna bakes, noodles, potatoes, eggs, Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), bread, soup, fresh vegetables (variety depends on the season), and even some desserts like apple pies, pancakes, and some interesting attempts at custard. You will find a lot of garlic on the menu because it assists with acclimatization – eat some every day. In many villages, you may find some meat items on the menu. You can always get hot chocolate, tea, and hot lemon drinks, as well as soft drinks, and treats like chocolate and crisps. Each day dinner and breakfast will be at a lodge you’ll stay at while for the lunch you would be stopping by on the way where you can order your meals as per your choice. Guide will help you to stop by at the best possible places to eat.
YES, the food is very safe during the trekking and we recommend you to eat the vegetarian and local food. Please follow the suggestion of our guide on the trek.
No problem at all because mostly, the lodges serve the vegetarian meals. We always recommend our clients to eat vegetarian meals to avoid food poisoning, eating heavy meals and non- vegetarian meals at the high altitude is not really safe for the stomach.
Bottled water is easily available at the lodges and teahouses, which you can buy at the cost of USD 1 at lower elevations to USD 3 to higher elevation per liter.
If you are planning to drink normal water all the way during the trek, purifying water with any sort of purification tablets or drops is a must. You can bring your own purifier or can purchase it in Kathmandu.
It depends on your spending habits. Generally, in Kathmandu and during the trek you can allocate USD 10 to USD 15 for lunch and a dinner. USD 10 to USD 15 per person a day will be enough to buy bottles of water, chocolates, pay for the hot shower, and a few drinks during the trekking.
Cancellation notice is required, a minimum of 20 days prior to trip departure. If the reason is valid the Trip shall then be termed as canceled and the cancellation charge of 30% of the trip amount would be deducted from the advance paid.
Our trekking season extends from mid- September to May. From early September, the monsoonal rains decrease. By the end of September to December, the weather is usually stable with mild to warm days, cold nights. February, March, April, May, June, October, November, December is the best time to do this trek.
One of the most unpredictable elements of the mountain is the weather. If you’re not properly prepared for the twists, turns, and volatility of the conditions that can occur in this breathtaking region, you might find yourself in an uncomfortable and unpleasant situation. Here are some weather basics to help ensure that you come to the Himalayas as well equipped and prepared to face anything. Generally speaking, the nights are much cooler than the daytime. Many first-time trekkers are surprised to learn about the incredible range that may occur in a given day. During the day, the thermometer could reach temps as high as 25 degrees C (77 Degrees F), only to dip down as low as -5 degrees C (23 Degrees F) in less than 24 hours. While there’s no way to know exactly what each day in the mountains will bring, the weather and temperature ranges tend to be somewhat predictable based on the month and season.
It totally depends on the level of your sickness. Once you are sick at a higher altitude you need to rest at a lower altitude and it at least needs 3 days to a week for the recovery. If you are on private or solo trips you can discuss and decide with a guide depending on your health status. If you were in-group then this option would be limited so please make sure you discuss with a guide and catch up the group later on.
Whilst on the trek, our porter will take care of your luggage. All you need to carry is your small day bag for your personal belongings like camera, water bottle, sun cream, etc.
The hotel in Kathmandu does provide free storage services. So you can leave all your items that are not required for the trekking at your hotel.
A holiday should never be about making it to the final point quickly. Along your trek, we can add days at your request with additional costs to cover guides, porters, accommodation, and food. Please consult with your guide and he will update our office in Kathmandu and we can make the arrangements accordingly.
If you are in the private or solo trip it would be possible as your itinerary is very flexible whereas if you were in-group then this option would be limited so please make sure you discuss with your group and guide and your guide will update us accordingly.
This is a difficult thing to gauge. We have seen everything from USD 20 to USD 1000 per person for guides and porters. Tipping is not required, but a small gesture of thanks to your guides and local porters. The level of the tip should reflect the level of satisfaction from and personal involvement with your guide. However, we recommend you to spend a minimum of 10% of your total trip cost for tipping the entire local staff, the ratio of tipping guide and porter will be given to you at the pre-trip meeting in Kathmandu before starting the trek.
YES, all our trips are guaranteed to run. We never cancel the trip due to not having enough participants; we can arrange the trip for one person as well as a private trip at very minimal additional cost. Please inquire about this during the time of booking.

Day pack (25–35 liters)Pack cover
Sleeping bag comfortable to 0°F (dependent upon season, weather forecast and personal preference) optional
Waterproof hiking boots
Camp shoes (down booties or running shoes)
LED headlamp with extra batteries
Trekking poles, Trekking Clothing
Wicking, quick-dry boxers or briefs (3)
Wicking, quick-dry sports bra (for women)
Heavyweight long underwear bottoms
Mid-weight long underwear, bottom.
Mid-weight long underwear to
Wool or synthetic T-shirts (2)
Mid-weight fleece or soft-shell jacket (2)
Convertible hiking pants
Fleece pants or insulated pants
Lightweight waterproof/breathable rain jacket
Lightweight waterproof/breathable rain pants
Mid-weight fleece gloves or wool gloves, Liner gloves
Mid-weight fleece/wool winter hat, Sun hat
Mid-weight wool or synthetic socks (3 pairs)
Liner socks (optional),Sunglasses
Sun lotion 35 to 50, Water Bottle
Slippers, Towels, Raincoat
Personal medicine kits