Nar Phu Valley Trek
Eighteen days into one of the last restricted valleys of the Annapurna region — medieval villages, a high pass, and Tibetan Buddhist life lived much as it was centuries ago.
A valley that time forgot, walked at the pace it deserves.
Tucked behind the Annapurnas and only opened to travellers in 2003, the Nar Phu valley is a pocket of old Tibet inside Nepal. Stone-and-timber villages cling to cliffs, prayer flags snap over high pastures, and the trail sees a fraction of the foot traffic of the famous circuits.
We cross the Kang La pass at 5,416 metres, spend unhurried days in Nar and Phu themselves — not just passing through — and acclimatise the way the body actually needs to. Nights are in tea houses and homestays; meals are what the valley grows. A local guide who knows these families walks with you the whole way.
This is a journey for people who'd rather earn their solitude than queue for a view. It asks for time and a willingness to go slow. It gives back something most travel never touches.
How the eighteen days unfold.
Days 1–2Kathmandu & the drive to Koto+
Settle into Kathmandu, sort permits, and meet your guide over dinner. The next morning we drive west along the Marsyangdi to Koto, where the Nar Phu trail leaves the main Annapurna circuit behind.
Days 3–5Into the gorge — Koto to Phu+
A steep, dramatic climb through a forested gorge, past waterfalls and the first chortens. We reach Phu, a fortress-like village of around forty houses, and spend a full day there — exploring Tashi Lhakhang monastery and simply being present in a place few outsiders see.
Days 6–8Phu to Nar via Mahendra Pul+
We traverse to Nar, crossing the high suspension bridge at Mahendra Pul and climbing past a cluster of monasteries. Nar is greener, gentler — terraced barley fields and a warm welcome. An acclimatisation day here sets us up for the pass.
Days 9–11Kang La pass — 5,416 m+
An early, cold start for the Kang La. The reward at the top: a full panorama of Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak. We descend to Ngawal and rejoin the wider world at Manang, where the apple pie is, frankly, excellent.
Days 12–16Manang to Tilicho & back to road+
An optional side trip toward Tilicho Lake — one of the highest lakes in the world — before the long, scenic descent back toward the roadhead. The landscape softens by the day, from high desert to forest to terraced farmland.
Days 17–18Return to Kathmandu+
Drive back to Kathmandu for a hot shower, a final dinner together, and a day to wander the old city before flights home — or onward to wherever the next journey takes you.
What's included
- All restricted-area permits & TIMS
- Licensed local guide & porter support
- Tea-house & homestay accommodation
- All ground transport to and from the trail
- Meals on trek & daily breakfast in the city
Not included
- International flights to Kathmandu
- Travel & high-altitude insurance
- Nepal entry visa
- Lunches & dinners in Kathmandu
- Tips for guide and porters
Let's find the right window for this one.
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