Duration: 12 Days
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The Nar Phu Valley trek is one of the most remote and secluded trekking trails in the Annapurna region that provides you with an authentic Himalayan wilderness experience. The valley is situated between famous trekking regions Manaslu and Annapurna, showering trekkers with spectacular views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, Lamjung, Tilicho, and several other peaks. A real hidden treasure that not many have reached, the Nar Phu valley trek offers you a rare opportunity to explore the unexplored valleys and trails. Taking you through remote villages, narrow canyons, lush forests, rugged trails, ancient gompas, and monasteries, the trek is a rare mixture of nature with antique Tibetan Buddhist culture. You can get a deep insight into the ancient Tibetan culture and lifestyle during this trek as you traverse through isolated villages. Open for exploration only since 2002, the Nar Phu valley trek is a restricted trekking area presenting an exceptional voyage to some pristine wild villages of Nar and Phu. With very few amount of trekkers compared to other trekking destinations in Nepal, the villages in the area have managed to stay untouched and unspoiled by modernization.
After exploring Kathmandu city and visiting some renowned UNESCO world heritage sites, the trek starts with a drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar. From Besisahar the road takes a turn towards Koto. Koto is the official starting point of the trek from where the hike on foot starts. You'll then pass through villages like; Meta, Phu, Nar Phedi, and Nar before crossing the high pass Kang La. After crossing the Kang La pass, which is the highest point of your trek at an elevation of 5240 m, you'll head to Ngawal. From Nagawal, the trek continues through village Pisang until you finally reach Besisahar and drive back to Kathmandu. An ideal wilderness for adventure-seekers, leading to some of the remotest ancient valleys of the country, the Nar Phu valley trek is a must-try.
Travellers should be comfortable with somewhat-demanding activities.
Narayan Baniya (nature pathfinder) and Sumir Gyawali (yoga teacher) guide me in this adventure. Actually they manage perfectly my short time and all the noisy burocratic thinks like documents or Covid control. They makes me feel safely and had care of me since the moment I reserved .. now I’m at home and still feel the power of their experience, friendship and good nature. They makes me “enter” in the Nepali lifestyle, from metropolitan Kathmandu until the top of the mountain were the vibes are soo deep. Their good vibes are compatible with all, Sumir had a clinical yogi eye and Narayan the calm you need to arrive over the clouds.. it was like a day dreaming and I never forget this experience out of time. Thank you Antonio
A great & well organised experience. I highly recommend Himalayan recreation to anyone planning to trek to the Annapurna Basecamp. Everything from start to finish was all taken care of, taking away all of the stress of organisation so that I could focus on enjoying the trek. Ashok was very responsive on whatsapp at all times and was able to adapt the tour when circumstances changed. For example, when my flight to Pokhara was cancelled, Ashok arranged for a friendly driver to take me all the way there by private car instead (I did have to wait 1.5 hours for the driver, but traffic in Kathmandu is difficult). My guide Santosh and porter Bal were very friendly and accommodating and were good company during the trek. They have the English skills required to answer the majority of questions, particularly relating to the trek. Overall, a very good experience. The trek itself is very beautiful. It has everything, including rural villages with rice terraces, bamboo forests, and epic mountains. The accommodation is basic but everything you need for a trek (much better than camping). The weather forecast is inaccurate - I enjoyed decent weather despite the forecast being constant rain/thunder. I found the difficulty to be much easier than others state, and could have completed the trek in 5-6 days. Almost anyone with a decent level of fitness would be able to complete this trek (adjusting the duration to accommodate).
The Annupurna Poon Hill Trip is a lovely trek through the lower elevations of the Annupurna range of the Himalayas. Starting from Pokhara, a 90 minute drive in a taxi drops us off at the beginning of the trek and then goes up from there. My guide, Raj, was absolutely awesome and provided a lot of great information about the area during our trek over the several days that this trek takes place. The second day of the climb takes us to the small town of Ghorepani, and then an early climb the next morning to Poon Hill. I went on this trip in the 2nd year of the virus. According to my guide, the number of travelers was still way down from pre-pandemic years. So, in one way, it is a great time to travel since you will have most of the trails to yourself. The tea houses are also pretty empty. The negative side to this is that there are limited menu items and several places didn't have WiFi. There are a few recommendations I would make about this trip. The first is the ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara. I took the bus and regretted it about halfway there. While the distance is only 200 km, it took about 8 hours on the bus. If I were to do this again, I would have opted for a 30 minute flight. It costs more, but is so worth it. Second, make sure you bring toilet paper with you on the trek. The tea houses I stayed in during my trek didn't have any. So, bringing a roll of your own is a huge help. And speaking of bathrooms, most of the toilets along the route are not the western style sit-down toilets. Rather they are the hole in the grounds. So, make sure to use the bathroom before leaving the tea house since the next western-style toilet isn't until the next guest house, which could be a half day hike away. Finally, if you have time after the trek, spend an extra day in Pokhara. It is much more interesting than Kathmandu. Otherwise, the trek was wonderful and the folks at Himalayan Recreation did a great job in staying in touch, picking me up at the airport when I arrived in Nepal, and provided excellent service all the way through.
This trip was the first we took with those guys. It was very nice, guide was interesting and gave us a lot information about Bhaktapur and Nepal itself. After they arranged few more trips for us. First was Chitwan national park and jeep safari. After Pokhara and paragliding. And then return to Kathmandu. It was very helpful to have someone local there who can arrange flights, pick ups, all the activities and return wherever needed. We didn't have more time, but all the time we had, they managed to organize for us, without stressing or worrying. I truly recommend them, because they are very responsible and helpful for any situation. I firstly met them in Kathmandu for our first trip and they helped us with all the others.
This is your arrival day in Nepal. Our team representative will be there at the Tribhuvan International airport to welcome and greet you during your arrival time. After the meet and greet, you'll then be escorted to the hotel in Kathmandu. Once you arrive at the hotel, you'll have to complete the check-in procedures, and thereafter, you're free to rest for the rest of the day.
Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
Things to look out for:
Meet and greet at the airport
Today you'll be exploring the city of Kathmandu. You'll be visiting some famous UNESCO world heritage sites in Kathmandu, including Kathmandu Durbar Square, which holds ancient history and showcases the beautiful Nepali arts and architecture. Also, visit Pashupatinath Temple, which is the oldest and biggest Hindu shrine in the country. After Kathmandu durbar square and Pashupatinath temple, you'll also be visiting Swayambhunath stupa, popularly known as Monkey temple. In the evening, you'll have a short briefing session with your guide at the hotel. Your guide will explain everything regarding the trek to you in this session. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
A sacred Hindu treasure, Pashupatinath temple.
Stroll and explore Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Visit the famous stupa Swayambhunath.
Keep in mind:
This is a sightseeing day where you can explore the heritage sites and famous landmarks around the Kathmandu valley. After your city exploration, in the evening during the briefing session, you can freely ask about anything your guide.
Today, you'll leave Kathmandu early in the morning as it is going to be a long day of the drive to Koto. You'll first arrive at Besisahar. From Besisahar the rugged off-road route starts which can be challenging at times. All along the trail, you'll be able to witness some amazing views of landscapes, gorges, and stunning waterfalls. After the drive of almost 7-8 hours, you'll finally arrive at Koto. Overnight stay at Koto.
Off-road rugged trails along the way.
Scenic views of landscapes and waterfalls.
If it's your first time travelling on the off-road trails, then the trail today might come off as scary to you, but although challenging, it is an adventure of its own.
The walk today starts on a trail alongside Soti Khola. This is the first walking day of your trek and you'll be heading toward Meta from Koto. Passing through pine forests, rivers, and suspension bridges, you'll first arrive at Dharmashala. From Dharmashala, you'll walk on a forested trail for a while. You can get some stunning views of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal on the way. After walking for around 7 hours, you'll arrive at Meta where you'll be spending the night. Overnight stay at Meta.
Pine forests, rivers, and suspension bridges are on the way.
Scenic views of Annapurna and Lamjung Himal.
You'll continue your trek alongside the river today, as you move toward Phu from Meta. The hike begins with a descent and then ascends from the riverbed to the Phu Valley's entrance. After around 6-7 hours of walkthrough jungle, riverside, and diverse landscape you'll make it to Phu, which is regarded as the secret valley of the region. After resting for a while, you can take a short walk up to the famous Tashi Lhakhang Gompa in the Phu village. Overnight stay at Phu village.
The beautifully stunning Phu village.
Tashi Lhakang Gompa at Phu village.
This is the first acclimatization day of your trek. As the village is situated at an elevation of 4080 m, it is very important to let your body get acclimatized to the elevation. Today, you can visit one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in the village and stroll around as you witness the traditional lifestyle of the villagers. For a further adventure, you can also hike up to Himlung Himal base camp which takes you through a glacial valley.
Rest and free time.
Exploration of the Phu village.
Traditional lifestyle and culture of ethnic groups.
Today, you'll retrace the route back down towards Meta from Phu village. You will return to Phu gate and continue your journey to Narrow village, Nar Phedi. Along the trail, you'll pass through several stunning gorges and waterfalls. You can also get a spectacular view of Mount Pisang on the way. Compared to previous days, the walk today is short and more relaxed. Overnight stay at Nar Phedi.
Stunning gorges and waterfalls on the way.
Spectacular view of Pisang Himal.
Today you'll head toward Nar village. It is a slow and relaxed walk today as you start the trek with a climb out of Nar Phedi and follow a spiral path up a hill towards Nar. As you move closer to the village, the view will get more and more picturesque. After just a walk of around 3-4 hours, you'll arrive at Nar village. You can spend the rest of the day exploring the village. Overnight stay at Nar village.
Picturesque view on the way.
Exploration around the Nar village.
It is going to be a long tough day today as you'll be crossing the high pass, Kang La Pass. The Kang La pass is not a challenging pass to cross but the time it requires can make it a bit tough. You'll start the walk for Nar village and after a few hours of ascent and descent, you'll make it to the pass. You can witness remarkable views of Pisang peak, Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Tilicho peak from the summit of the pass. After enjoying some time at the top of the pass as you relish the majestic views, you'll start descending to Ngawal through a grassy path. Another 2-3 hours of the walk will lead you to Ngawal. Overnight stay at Ngawal.
Kang la pass at an elevation of 5240 m.
Stunning views of several mountains from the top.
You might find this day to be tough and challenging because of the long walking hours but once you reach the top of the pass it'll be all worth it. So, make sure to enjoy and take in every moment.
This is the final walking day of your trek as you move toward Pisang from Ngawal. As you descend, you'll be able to notice the change in scenery. After a few hours of hiking, you'll arrive at Pisang. From Pisang, you'll now head to Besisahar in a vehicle. Another few hours of drive will soon lead you to Besisahar. Overnight stay at Besisahar.
Today, you'll head back to the city from Besisahar. The drive is smooth and takes you through several small settlements and diverse landscapes. As you enjoy the scenic views, you'll soon arrive at Kathmandu after around 7-8 hours of drive. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you can either choose to stay at the hotel for a rest or go shopping and exploration around the city. In the evening you'll have a farewell dinner with our team. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
You've completed the trek and finally, your departure day has arrived. Our team representative will be there to drive you to the airport and bid you farewell at the time of your departure.
All ground transport in a private vehicle, including airport transfers
Three nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu
3 standard meals a day during the trek
Snacks of seasonal fruits during the trek
Best available twin sharing lodge for accommodation during the trek.
Kathmandu city tours, including tour guide, and private transportation
Kathmandu-Beshishar by bus and Beshishar to Koto by Jeep and Beshishar to Kathmandu by Koto
Himalayan Recreation’s experienced, government licensed, English speaking trekking guide during the Nar Phu trip
Porter services during the Trek (1 porter = 2 trekkers)
All costs of staff which includes food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment’s and medicines.
Duffel bag use while trekking, Trekking map and trip achievement certificate
Required Permit fee and TIMS Fee- Trekkers' Information Management System
First aid medicine kit
Farewell dinner with Cultural show in a fine restaurant on second last day.
Government taxes & office service charge
Meals not specified in the 'Meal Inclusions' in the above itinerary
Personal Travel insurance & Personal trekking equipment or expenses
Alcoholic drinks and beverages
Tips for trekking Guides, Porters (tipping is expected)
Any other expenses that are not mentioned in the 'Price Includes' section.
Best Time to Trek Nar Phu Valley
Weather plays a very important role while determining the trekking destinations. It is essential to research the weather condition of the destination beforehand to avoid any kind of mishaps during the trek. In the case of Nepal, it is possible to trek throughout the year as there are different perks with the distinct beauty of trekking in different seasons. For the Nar Phu valley trek, spring and autumn are the two seasons best to trek as these seasons offer a lot to the visitors.
It is most safe and visually alluring when trekked in the spring and autumn seasons. These are the two most suitable seasons when the weather is usually clear with moderate temperature. You'll be able to enjoy the diverse scenery without much hazard. You can also try trekking in monsoon and winter if you want to experience a different side of nature. But make sure to research a lot and be prepared as it involves a certain level of risk.
Accommodation during Nar Phu Valley Trek
The accommodation facilities during the Nar Phu valley trek are very simple, similar to the food availability. You won't be able to get hotel rooms with in-room showers, western-style flush toilets, a Free WIFI connection, and in-room plugs to charge your stuff. Even the electricity is scarce in the higher elevation and there won't be the availability of Wifi connections as well. The rooms come with general facilities like warm Beds and washrooms, etc.
Food during Nar Phu Valley Trek
The Nar Phu valley trek is one of the remote treks of Nepal which is also listed as a restricted region. Therefore, the food during the trek is very simple with the menu generally including traditional village foods that consist of traditional bread, eggs, potatoes, and soup for breakfast. As for lunch and dinner, the menu includes Dal Bhat (lentil soup, rice, and veggies), fried rice, noodles, etc depending on the lodge and destination. You shouldn't expect the food like in some other trekking destinations of Nepal as the Nar Phu valley is a remote area.
Nar Phu Valley Trek Difficulty
The Nar Phu valley trek falls under moderate to difficult grade trek. As it is one of the remotest areas of Nepal, the trek is also known as adventure trekking which is comparatively harder than moderate level trekking as it involves crossing high passes. The trek includes hiking in rugged trails several hours a day and crossing high passes which may come off as challenging for beginners. Therefore, the trekkers need to be physically healthy and fit with previous trekking or hiking experience. Suitable for trekkers looking for a challenging and stirring trek of more than a week-long in rugged and remote terrain, the Nar Phu valley trek is a perfect choice.
Nar Phu Valley Trek Permit
Nar Phu Valley Trek requires two permits. The first one is the restricted area permit which costs USD 90 per person per week for September to November and USD 75 for December to August. The second required permit is ACAP Permit which costs NPR. 2000 Per person.