Nar Phu Valley
Nar Phu, Annapurna
Eleven days in a restricted valley that only opened in 2002 — walled Tibetan villages, meditation caves, and the Kang La at 5,320 m. You will meet more yaks than trekkers.
- Duration
- 11days
- Max altitude
- 5,320m
- Difficulty
Challenging
- Best seasons
Spring — March to May
Autumn — September to December
From · 3–5 people
€1,050
Day by day
The route
Day 01
Kathmandu → Besisahar → Dharapani
A long but beautiful drive following the Trishuli and then the Marsyangdi, as busy towns give way to terraced hills and waterfalls. Dharapani is the gateway to the Annapurna region and a permit checkpoint.
- Altitude
- 1,860m
- Driving
- 8–9 hrs· 230 km
Scenic highway, river valleys, then hill roads
Day 02
Dharapani → Koto
Along the Marsyangdi through forest and traditional villages, over suspension bridges and past prayer wheels as the mountains close in. Koto is the official checkpoint for the restricted Nar–Phu region, and you are registered at the police post here.
- Altitude
- 2,600m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 14 km
Forest trails, stone steps, suspension bridges
Day 03
Koto → Meta
One of the most remote and striking days of the trek — dense pine forest, roaring waterfalls, high suspension bridges, and then out into the dry, Tibetan-influenced country at Meta. This is where you leave the Annapurna trail and the crowds behind.
- Altitude
- 3,560m
- On foot
- 7–8 hrs· 16 km
Steep ascents, forest, suspension bridges, narrow trails
Day 04
Meta → Phu
High cliffs, open alpine ground and old Tibetan-style settlements, past Kyang — a seasonal grazing place with the remains of stone structures. Barren country, with Kang Guru and Annapurna II above it.
- Altitude
- 4,220m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 15 km
Rocky trails, steep ascents, narrow gorges, plateau terrain
Day 05
Acclimatisation day in Phu
A day in Phu — the ancient Tashi Lhakhang Monastery, and time with people living about as remotely as anyone in Nepal. A short hike to the viewpoint above the village helps with acclimatisation and gives the valley, the glaciers and the peaks beyond.
- Altitude
- 4,220m
- On foot
- 2–5 hrs (optional)
Rest day with optional short hikes
Day 06
Phu → Nar Phedi
Back toward Kyang, then southeast along open ridges and over suspension bridges, following the Phu Khola down a quiet valley. The night is spent in the monastery at Nar Phedi.
- Altitude
- 3,600m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 14 km
Steep descents, rocky switchbacks, river crossings
Day 07
Nar Phedi → Nar
A short, steady climb through grazing land and high meadow, with Pisang Peak and the Kang La ridge ahead. Nar is less visited than Phu — compact stone houses under huge cliffs, prayer flags, mani walls and chortens. The afternoon is free.
- Altitude
- 4,000m
- On foot
- 2–3 hrs· 5 km
Gradual ascent, open meadows, stone paths
Day 08
Nar → Kang La → Ngawal
The big day. A long, steady climb through windswept alpine ground to the Kang La at 5,320 m — the final stretch can be icy or snowy depending on season — for Annapurna II, Gangapurna and the Marsyangdi valley below. The descent to Ngawal is steep and needs sure footing, and puts you back on the Annapurna Circuit.
- Altitude
- 3,760m
- On foot
- 7–8 hrs· 19 km
High pass crossing, rocky and exposed, long descent
Day 09
Ngawal → Pisang
A short, scenic descent through juniper forest and stone villages with Annapurna II and IV ahead, by way of Upper Pisang and its monastery.
- Altitude
- 3,300m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs· 8 km
Gradual descent, wide forested paths
Day 10
Pisang → Chame
A steady descent through pine forest, apple orchards and riverside trail, past Bratang and Dikur Pokhari. Chame has hot showers and bakeries — a comfortable end to the walking.
- Altitude
- 2,700m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 14 km
Forest paths, jeep track, riverside trail
Day 11
Chame → Pokhara
An early start for the rough road down to Besisahar, then a smoother drive to Pokhara — mountain valleys giving way to green hills and finally the lake. An evening by Phewa Lake to finish.
- Altitude
- 822m
- Driving
- 8–10 hrs· 150 km
Long drive, rough road then highway
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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
ACAP · Restricted Area Permit — a licensed guide is required by law — 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.
Nar and Phu are two walled villages in a side valley off the Annapurna Circuit, closed to outsiders until 2002 and still holding a Tibetan culture that has changed very little. The walking is remote and dry and high, and the way out is over the Kang La at 5,320 m.
Eleven days, restricted-area permits, and a licensed guide required by law. It is the quietest serious trek in this catalogue — the itinerary’s own summary of the traffic is that you will meet more yaks than trekkers.
Questions
Before you go
What makes the Nar–Phu Valley trek unique?
It is one of Nepal's most remote and culturally preserved routes, and it only opened to outsiders in 2002.
Do I need a special permit?
Yes. It is a restricted area, so you need both an ACAP and a Restricted Area Permit, and a guide is mandatory.
Will I see yaks on this trek?
Yes — Kyang, on the way to Phu, is a seasonal yak grazing settlement. Herds of yak and blue sheep are common, and in winter there are sometimes snow leopard tracks.
Is it crowded?
Not at all. You will meet more yaks than trekkers.
What is surprising about this trek?
For somewhere so remote, the Buddhist art, meditation caves and centuries-old gompas rival major Tibetan sites. It is a trek through time as much as terrain.
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.