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Photo: Benmerdmann · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Api Himal and Naupata

Far Western Himalaya

For travellers ready to go far west, Api Himal combines a serious trek with community hosted beginnings in Naupata.

Duration
10days
Max altitude
4,200m
Difficulty

Strenuous

Best seasons

April to May

October to November

[PRICE TBC]

What to expect

Before you go

Ideal stay
10 days or more
Best time
April to May, October to November
How to get there
Travel through Dhangadhi and continue by long road stages toward Darchula and the trailhead.
Best for
Experienced trekkers who accept remoteness and flexibility.
Combine with
Shuklaphanta or a dedicated far west programme.
Travel well
Verify permits, guide rules, communications and evacuation planning for every departure.

What’s included

  • Licensed female guide

    Experienced and licensed, with all salary, meals and accommodation covered.

  • All meals on trek

    Full board — breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two servings of tea, coffee or another hot drink each day.

  • Accommodation

    High-rated teahouse stays throughout the trek.

  • Transport

    All transportation related to the trek.

  • Permits and taxes

    All necessary government and local permits, paperwork and taxes.

  • Trekking essentials

    Trekking poles, microspikes or crampons, and seasonal fruit on the trail.

What’s not included

  • Travel insurance

    Strongly recommended for high-altitude treks, and required for helicopter evacuation cover.

  • Personal expenses

    Wi-Fi, laundry, battery charging, bottled or hot water, hot showers.

  • Alcoholic and personal drinks

  • Tips for your guide

You can add

  • A porter

    Hired from the region you are walking through, so the work and the money stay in the villages on your route — and you walk with a lighter pack and someone who knows the ground.

    [PRICE TBC]

Permits

Api Nampa Conservation Area — arranged for you. Restricted areas require a licensed guide by law.

Safety

Our altitude protocol

Altitude is the thing most people worry about, so here is exactly what we do about it. This is our operating protocol, not medical advice.

  • A guide trained in mountain safety and first aid

    Licensed, and trained specifically for the conditions on these routes.

  • Daily health monitoring

    We record your SpO2 and heart rate each day with a pulse oximeter, alongside an AMS assessment, and keep it in a wellness log you can see.

  • A first aid kit on every trek

    Essential emergency supplies, including altitude sickness medication.

  • Pre-trek safety briefing

    Altitude awareness, pacing, weather and emergency procedures — before you start walking, not on the trail.

  • Emergency coordination

    With local health posts, rescue services and helicopter evacuation. The evacuation itself is covered by your travel insurance.

Api Himal offers forest, high valleys and an expedition feeling that is increasingly rare. It demands time, capable logistics and a local team. Naupata can ground the journey in the people and culture of Darchula.

What to experience

  • Remote Himalayan trekking
  • Naupata community stay
  • Far western culture
  • Small supported groups

Not sure this is the right trek?

Book a free call with someone who has walked it. We will tell you honestly if another route suits you better — that happens often, and it is the whole point of talking first.