Trip Highlights 

• First Discoverd by H. W Tilman in 1950, and open in 2002 for trekkers.
• Cross the adventurous Kanh La Pass with an altitude of 5,306 meters.
• Delightful view of roaring rivers and waterfalls on the way.
• Chance to explore Tibetan-influenced lifestyles and everyday activities of local peoples.
• Exotic village of Nar and Phu valley with amazing trans-Himalayan topography.
• Discover ancient Tibetan culture and lifestyle.

About The Trip 

Nar Phu Valley is one of the hidden gens behind Annapurna Circuit Trek with naturally and culturally rich. This valley is located inside the area of Annapurna Conservation Area, lies northwest of Manang, and about 250 km from Kathmandu. The village of Nar and  Phu is opened for outsiders in 2002. For tourists, you will need a special trekking permit issued by Nepal Immigration through a registered trekking company as this is a restricted area. 

During the trek, you will pass through ancient Gumbas, narrow canyons, the unique ethnic cultures of Tibetan inhabitants, and their day-to-day lifestyle. Furthermore, you will be glorified to pass through Phu (5,050m), Nar (5,400m), and Kang La Pass (5,400m). So, trekking to such an exotic and hidden valley will definitely make your trekking memorable.

Overview 

Ever thought about being in the lonely setting, menacing terrain, and trial that goes back and forth along pointy granite outcrops? Then, Nar Phu Valley Trek is the best destination for you, with the unbeatable natural beauty and spectacular wilderness to the far north of the Annapurna region.

Nar Phu valley trek is an amazing trek with the beautiful, wild, and unexplored area north to Annapurna, leading towards Nar and Phu's exotic and untouched valley. This trek will also experience the typical ancient village, grazing pastures for mountain animals, and spectacular cliffsides trials leading to the high trekking pastures.

Wheezing you to the close on the summit of Kang La Pass (5,400m) with prayer flags thronging a chortens. As you are at the highest point of this trek, try to catch your breath and enjoy the mesmerizing views of the surroundings. The flawless valley, gorges, and ravens add more adventurous beauty. A strenuous climb will be as fascinating as passing through the beautiful settlements of Manang and Ngawal. Serene pastures and religious temple-like Muktinath, Tashi, and Braga monasteries will reflect the lifestyle and culture of the local people with a common Tibetan influence. With features apparent to those eager to traverse, trek to Nar Phu valley offers more than one can behold.

Nar Phu Valley trek offers you lifetime memories full of adventure and wonderful experiences with the beautiful landscapes, majestic Himalayan peaks, along with typical Tibetan cultures.  Trek to Narphu Valley with us to spend your holidays with lifelong memories exploring the most amazing parts of Nepal.

Nar Phu Valley Trek Route

Our Journey starts from the Jagat, where we trace the route of Annapurna Circuit Trail, branching off to reach Narphu Valley passing the Koto. Nar Phu valley to the north of Manang and Kang La pass gives a breathtaking panorama of the Annapurna Ranges. The Kang La Pass is associated with managing some villages in the Neyshang Valley. We reach these high open lands with grazing settlements, remote ancient villages sleeping under the mighty snow-capped mountains. We can find many high peaks with passes, rural villages,  canyons, lush forests, gompas, and monasteries on our way towards the destination. These are the natural habitat of beautiful animals like yaks, Snow leopards, and blue sheep. You will encounter this wildlife in these regions. On moving forward, we get to experience the true medieval Tibetan culture, which remained undisturbed found in-between scenic Alpine vegetation and beautiful Himalayan peaks. We head back towards the Annapurna Circuit route, retracing our steps shortly afterward, spending enough time with these colorful, diverse traditional villages with a rural lifestyle, and trekking through the dry and desert-like Plateau to reach Muktinath and Jomsom routes. We move to the west, reaching Thorong La pass followed by the lower Mustang. We stop by Jomsom, planning to fly Pokhara on next day and drive back to Kathmandu the other day.

Best Time to Trek Nar Phu Valley

Weather plays an important role while traveling to high altitudes because there is no one behind nature. People can trek throughout the year in Nar Phu, but certainly, there are ups and downs in all seasons. The different season has their own beauty and below is total information about the climatic situation of every quarter of months.

Nar Phu Valley Trek during Spring Season

Spring season in Nar Phu Valley is the best time for trekking and lies in the month from March till May. The weather is very good while you are on the trek. Mesmerizing views of the snow-capped mountain make your trek memorable. You will also witness many colorful rhododendrons, which makes the forest amazing. 

The temperature will also be increasing from mid-march. This is also the best season for mountaineers to conquer the mountains.

Nar Phu Valley Trek during Summer/ Monsoon Season

Summer and Monsoon season in Nar Phu Valley is not so favorable a time for trekking and lies in the month from June to August. This season is the hottest and frequent rainfalls where the vegetation will come to new life in the forest. You will see many wildflowers in the forest and pastures. This season is also best for those who are interested in botany, but you may not see the views of mountains. This time is somehow risky in hilly areas as you may experience slippery trials, leeches, and landslides.

The temperature during these months of the day will be 18 to 30 degrees Celsius during the day and less than 8 degrees Celsius during the morning and night. Mostly in the morning, you may see a clear view, but the sky will be foggy during the day and night.

Nar Phu Valley Trek during Autumn Season

The Autumn season in Nar Phu Valley is another best season to trek and lies in the month from September to November. This season is the peak for trekkers due to good weather conditions. As monsoon season ends, it will clear the dust and got a chance to get fresh air during the trek. This season is best for the traveler to relax naturally and culturally. You will also be able to experience the biggest Hindu festivals called Dashain and Tihar.

During these months of the day, the temperature goes from 10 to 18 degrees Celsius and 5 to 8 during night and morning. The weather will be clear, and you do not feel hot nor cold during the trek.

Nar Phu Valley Trek during Winter Season

The Winter season in Nar Phu Valley is another offseason and lies in the month from December to February. You will experience extremely cold weather with frequent snowfall during the trek. During winter, there may be difficulty crossing the pass as the trial will be covered with snow. Only if you are an adventure seeker, then we will recommend you to trek Nar Phu Valley.

The temperature during this month will be 1 to 6 degrees Celsius during the day and below 0 degrees Celsius during the night. While the sun comes, the day will be somehow warmer with the stunning view of the Himalayas.

Nar Phu Valley Trek Difficulty

Nar Phu valley trek is rated as a moderate to hard trek as you have to cross the high altitude pass. You have to trek around 5 to 6 hours a day along the uphills and downhills on trial.

The difficult part of this trek is Kang La Pass in a narrow trail. The rest of the other day is normal, and you have adequate time to acclimatize. Although you will cross the high passes, there is a low chance of altitude sickness ratio compared to other trekking areas of Nepal.

After the hard climb, another challenging part is walking downhill from the pass. You may experience knee paining and slipping your foot while descending from the vertical slope. 

Permit Cost for Nar Phu Valley Trek

Nar Phu Valley is a restricted area for tourists, so you will need a trekking permit to enter the Nar Phu Valley. There should be a minimum of 2 people to get tickets during the trek, and a government-licensed trekking guide is needed. Below is the cost of the restricted area permit and entry fee for the national park for Nar Phu Valley Trek.

• Annapurna Conservation Area permit costs USD 30 per person
• Restricted Area Permit (September – November) USD 100 per person/per week
• Restricted Area Permit (December – August) USD 75 per person/week.   

To issue the permit card, you will need a copy of your passport, passport size photograph, and original passport with visa stamp. Except for public holidays, it takes about 3-4 hours to get the permit from Sunday to Friday (10:00 am to 5 pm). If you have no idea about this, then your trekking agent will do all the paperwork for you.