Nar-Phu Valley Trek for 18 Days

Tour Info

trip code

EN-026

Starting Point/ End Point

Kathmandu

Accommodations

Lodge/ Tea House

Max Altitude

5416 m(Thorung La Pass)

Duration

20 days

country

Nepal

Trip grade

Extreme

Activities

Trekking

Best Season

February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December

Overview

The Nar Phu Valley Trek takes you into a quiet area of the Annapurna region that was opened to trekkers in 2003. It is still less visited, as the valley has kept much of its original way of life. The people here follow old Tibetan traditions, and this can be seen in their daily routines, clothing, and religious practices. As you walk through the valley, you notice stone houses, prayer flags, monasteries, and long mani walls that show how closely the community is linked to Buddhism. The landscape also changes gently as you move towards the higher altitude. As you move forward, you can see mountains, including the Annapurna range, which add a backdrop to the valley. Because the area is remote and culturally sensitive, the Nepal Government has listed Nar Phu as a restricted region for tourism, and trekkers must visit with a licensed Nepali guide. This helps protect the environment and supports the local communities. The Nar Phu Valley Trek offers a calm and steady experience for you, if you want to learn about traditional mountain life while enjoying the quiet Himalayan surroundings.

Details

Nar Phu Valley is a special place to visit, as it still holds natural beauty and is not crowded. The valley is remote, so you walk through mountains and villages that most travelers do not see. Along the way, you notice animals and plants that grow only in this high Himalayan region. Because the area is less developed, local villages rely on traditional farming and trade, you can get insight into how communities adapt to harsh mountain environments. 

The local people here live with old traditions, and you can observe how they farm, take care of their homes, and manage life in the mountains. The valley also has wide open spaces, rivers, cliffs, and mountains that create beautiful views, making it a great place for photos. You get different experiences, as Nar Phu Valley offers a mix of culture, nature, and adventure in a quiet and peaceful setting.

Highlights

  • Experience one of the most secluded trekking regions in Nepal, offering natural beauty and landscapes.

  • Observe small villages with kind people and simple daily life.

  • Feel the Tibetan Buddhist culture through monasteries, prayer flags, and calm spiritual places.

  • Cross two high passes, Kang La and Thorong La, with amazing mountain views.

  • Visit the holy Muktinath Temple, an important religious place.

  • Spot rare wildlife such as the blue sheep, Himalayan Thar, and even the elusive snow leopard.

  • Enjoy stunning views of Annapurna II, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, and other Himalayan giants throughout the trek.

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and Pre-Trek Preparations

After landing at Tribhuvan International Airport, you have to complete customs and collect your luggage. Our company representative welcomes you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel. You can rest for a while to recover from the long flight. Later, you join a briefing session with our guides, who will explain the trek, accommodations, meals, and important tips. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances, where you meet fellow trekkers and make new friends.

  • Max Elevation: 1,350 meters (Kathmandu)

  • Travel Distance: 6 to 8 kilometers

  • Travel Hours: 20 to 30 minutes

  • Accommodation: 3 star Hotel

  • Meal: Dinner

Day 2: A full day guided tour in Kathmandu

After breakfast, the sightseeing tour will begin with a professional guide and a private vehicle. During the day, you visit some of Kathmandu’s most famous heritage sites. The guide provides information about each place and its history.

A. Swayambhunath Stupa:

Swayambhunath is also called the Monkey Temple, and sits on a hill overlooking Kathmandu. You see a large stupa, and many monkeys around. From here, you can enjoy peaceful views of the city and watch Buddhist rituals and spinning prayer wheels.

B. Pashupatinath Temple:

This is a sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located by the Bagmati River. You can admire the beautiful pagoda-style architecture with golden tops and four main entrances. Here, you can also pray, perform rituals, and experience festivals.

C. Bhaktapur Durbar Square:

Bhaktapur Durbar Square was the royal palace of old kings and is filled with temples, palaces, and statues. You explore key attractions like the 55-Window Palace, Nyatapole Temple, Golden Lion’s Gate, and Vatsala Temple. Walking around, you notice the traditional Newari architecture and get a glimpse of local culture.

  • Max Elevation: 1,450 meters (Swayambhunath Stupa, highest point in the Kathmandu sightseeing tour)

  • Travel Distance: 25 to 30 kilometers (total driving between sites)

  • Travel Hours: 6 to 7 hours

  • Accommodation: 3 star Hotel

  • Meal: Breakfast

Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Dharapani (1960m)

You begin a drive to Dharapani, covering a distance of 215 km in approximately 9 to 10 hours, after an early breakfast in Kathmandu. Along the way, you pass through the districts of Chitwan, Tanahu, Lamjung, and Manang, enjoying views of rivers, and small hillside villages. The roads wind along riverbanks and through green forests, and as you go higher, the scenery changes to cliffs, waterfalls, and farmland. You notice Tibetan-style villages as you approach the Manang region. By late afternoon, you reach Dharapani, a village surrounded by natural beauty, where you rest and prepare for the trekking ahead.

  • Max Elevation: 1,960 meters (Dharapani, highest point along the drive)

  • Travel Distance:  215 kilometers

  • Travel Hours:  9 to 10 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 04: Trek from Dharapani to Koto (2610m/8563fts)

Drive toward Koto, the gateway to the Nar Phu Valley, covering approximately 120 km in 6 to 7 hours. The journey begins through Besisahar, where you stop for lunch. The road follows the Trishuli River, passing green terraced fields, small villages, and mountains like Ganesh and Manaslu. After leaving the main Prithvi Highway, you continue by four-wheel jeep past Jagat. From here, the road becomes rocky and bumpy, following the old Annapurna Circuit trail, giving you an adventurous start to the mountains.

  • Max Elevation: 2,610 meters (Koto, highest point along the drive)

  • Travel Distance: 120 kilometers

  • Travel Hours: 5 to 6 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 05: Trek from Koto to Meta (3560m/11680 fts)

You trek from Koto to Meta, and after about 30 minutes, you reach Bagarchap (2,160m), a village that was destroyed by an avalanche a few years ago. From there, you continue through Danaque and Temang, enjoying breathtaking views of Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, and Annapurna I and II. The trail then moves gradually into the higher, drier areas of the Manang Valley, passing Thanchowk before reaching Koto, a small Gurung village with Tibetan Buddhist culture.

  • Max Elevation: 3,560 meters (Meta, highest point between Koto and Meta)

  • Travel Distance: 11 to 12 kilometers

  • Travel Hours: 6 to 7 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 06: Trek from Meta to Phu Gaon (4250m/13944ft)

By covering about 12 km you reach Phu Gaon from Meta, following beautiful views of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Along the way, you cross a suspension bridge at Chyaku and pass through Kyang, enjoy the sights of Pisang Peak and Annapurna II. Walking along the Phu Khola, you might spot the rare blue sheep. Entering Phu village through its wooden gate, you experience traditional Tibetan culture. You can also visit Tashi Lhakhang Monastery there, where you get breathtaking views of surrounding Himalayan peaks, including Himlung Himal.

  • Max Elevation: 4,250 meters (Phu Gaon, highest point between Meta and Phu Gaon)

  • Travel Distance: 12 kilometers

  • Travel Hours: 6 to 7 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 07: Acclimatization in Phu Village

You can rest and spend the acclimatization day in Phu to help your body adjust to the high altitude. After exploring the small Phu Valley, you walk through narrow lanes and visit beautiful monasteries. You can watch the locals as they carry out daily chores like spinning sheep and yak wool or making mustard oil, and even try helping them. For a more active option, hike up to Himlung Himal Base Camp at 7,125 m, enjoy the glacial valley and spot sheep climbing the cliffs.

  • Max Elevation: 4,500 meters (Himlung Himal Base Camp, highest point reached during acclimatization hike)

  • Travel Distance: 6 kilometers

  • Travel Hours:  3 to 4 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 08: Trek from Phu Gaon to Nar (4110m/13485 fts)

You have to cover around 10 Km to reach Nar from Phu Gaon, passing the Nar Phedi Monastery and villages like Kyang and Upper Chyako. The trail gradually climbs toward the largest villages in the Nar Phu Valley. At noon, you can also join in daily rituals, enjoy the holy atmosphere, and even make a small donation to support the monastery while learning from the monks.

  • Max Elevation: 4,110 meters (Nar, highest point between Phu Gaon and Nar)

  • Travel Distance: 9 to 10 kilometers

  • Travel Hours:  5 to 6 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 09: Acclimatization Day

This is the second scheduled acclimatization/rest day for this trek, to help your body adjust to the high altitude. Explore the Nar Valley, walking around the village and visiting local monasteries. You can also take a short hike nearby to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. This day is for you to relax, soak in the culture, and prepare for the upcoming higher passes.

  • Max Elevation: 4,200 meters (highest point reached during short acclimatization hikes in Nar Valley)

  • Travel Distance: 4 to 5 kilometers

  • Travel Hours: 2 to 3 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 10: Trek from Nar to Kang La Pass (5306m/17408 fts) to Ngwal (3660m)

By continuing trek from Nar to Kang La Pass, you have to cover around 15 Km to reach there. You start early, walking before sunrise, and climb along the Temdenzon Khola lateral moraine, passing yak pastures. After around 2 hours, you reach Kang La Pass, where you can observe stunning views of Annapurna II, Tilicho Peak, and Gangapurna. From the pass, the trail descends to Ngwal for the night. Here, lodges are bigger, with more food options, WiFi, and phone signals, unlike the smaller villages you visited earlier.

  • Max Elevation: 5,306 meters (Kang La Pass, highest point between Nar and Ngwal)

  • Travel Distance: 15 kilometers

  • Travel Hours: 8 to 9 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 11: Trek from Ngwal to Manang (3519m)

You leave Ngawal today and slowly move toward Manang, passing the remote village of Paugha. The trail then continues through Mungli before joining the main Annapurna Circuit route. After a short lunch break, you trek uphill to Braga, a charming Tibetan-style village, and can visit the local Gompa with statues and manuscripts. From Braga, it’s about an hour to reach Manang. The total trekking distance for the day is 10 km, which takes you around 4 to 5 hours. Along the way, you can enjoy stunning views of Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak, with colorful chortens and prayer flags marking Ngawal’s entrance.

  • Max Elevation: 3,519 meters (highest point between Ngwal and Manang)

  • Travel Distance: 10 kilometers 

  • Travel Hours: 4 to 5 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 12: Trek from Manang to Letdar (4210m)

After having breakfast in Manang, you start walking to Letdar, it takes you about 4 to 5 hours to cover around 12 km. The trail goes gently uphill through open valleys with views of Annapurna and Gangapurna. You pass small villages, prayer flags, and yak pastures along the way and reach Letdar. Letdar is a small settlement where herders bring yaks and sheep to graze during summer.

  • Max Elevation: 4,210 meters (Letdar, highest point between Manang and Letdar)

  • Travel Distance: 12 kilometers 

  • Travel Hours: 4 to 5 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 13: Trek from Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4600m)

You can have breakfast in Yak Kharka, start walking towards Thorong Phedi, the last stop before Thorong La Pass. You have to cover around 6 Km in around 3 to 4 hours. By walking through flat fields with mountain views and then gradually climb to Churi Ledar, a small area good for acclimatization. From there, the trail continues on a smooth route, crosses a suspension bridge, and climbs rocky sections to reach Thorong Phedi. You can rest at the teahouses and prepare for the next day’s early climb.

  • Max Elevation: 4,600 meters (Thorong Phedi, highest point between Yak Kharka and Thorong Phedi)

  • Travel Distance: 6 kilometers

  • Travel Hours: 3 to 4 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 14: Trek from Thorong Phedi via Thorong La to Muktinath (3800m)

To reach Muktinath from Thorong Phedi via Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters, you have to trek around 7 to 8 hours to cover about 20 Km. You climb gradually to the pass and then descend along a rocky trail toward Charabu village. After crossing a suspension bridge and following the stone path, you reach Muktinath. Here, you can rest at your lodge, explore the temple area, and have dinner.

  • Max Elevation: 5,416 meters (Thorong La Pass, highest point between Thorong Phedi and Muktinath)

  • Travel Distance: 20 kilometers

  • Travel Hours: 7 to 8 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 15: Trek from Muktinath to Jomsom (2700m)

You can visit the temple area, including the 108 water spouts, Jwala Mai Temple, and the eternal flame. Then, start walking toward Jomsom. The trek is about 19 km and takes you around 5 to 6 hours to reach Jomsom. You pass through Kagbeni before reaching Jomsom, the endpoint of this part of the Annapurna Circuit. 

  • Max Elevation: 3,800 meters (Muktinath, highest point between Muktinath and Jomsom)

  • Travel Distance: 18 to 19 kilometers 

  • Travel Hours: 6 to 7 hours

  • Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge

  • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 16: Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara (850m)

You take a 30-minute flight to Pokhara from Jomsom, and flight passes through the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains, offering clear views of the valleys below. On arrival, you will be transferred to a hotel by Fewa Lake. In the evening, you can relax and explore the area, walk along the lake, enjoy the view of Machhapuchhare, take a short boat ride, or hike to the World Peace Pagoda.

  • Max Elevation: 850 meters (Pokhara, highest point during the flight arrival and transfer)

  • Travel Distance: 25 to 30 kilometers (airport to hotel and local exploration)

  • Travel Hours: 30 minutes flight and 30 to 45 minutes transfer

  • Accommodation: Hotel Bar Pipal

  • Meal: Breakfast

Day 17: Fly Or Drive to Kathmandu

Early in the morning, you start the journey back to Kathmandu. You can either drive for about 7 to 8 hours or take a 30-minute flight. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax, organize your photos, or do some last-minute shopping. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner and celebrate the completion of your journey.

  • Max Elevation: 1,400 meters(highest point if driving, Kathmandu city)

  • Travel Distance: 200 to 250 kilometers (depending on route)

  • Travel Hours: 7 to 8 hours by road or 30 minutes by flight

  • Accommodation: Hotel Marriott

  • Meal: Breakfast

Day 18: Final Departure

You can explore the streets of Thamel for a short time, as this is your last day in Nepal and after breakfast, About 2 hours before your flight, a representative picks you up from the hotel and takes you to the airport in a private vehicle. Upon arrival, the representative assists with your luggage, and then, you can check in for your flight. We hope you take home good memories from your trip to Nepal.

What's included

  • Pick up from and drop off to the airport in a private car and taxi vehicle

  • Three Night 3 star hotel in Kathmandu with B/B plan

  • A full day guided tour by private car in world heritage site

  • All accommodations in lodges/tea houses during the treks on a twin/double sharing bed

  • All standard meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek

  • Flight ticket from Jomsom-Pokhara and Pokhara-Kathmandu

  • Transport-private jeep to Dharapani and during trek

  • Necessary paper works, Conservation entry permits, Nar-Phu special permit for 7 days and TIMS permit

  • An experienced professional english speaking Guide

  • Salary, Food, Drinks, Accommodation, Transportation and Insurance for the Guide and Porter

  • Welcome and Farewell dinner in Kathmandu in a typical Nepali restaurant with a cultural dance performance in the evening

  • Medical kit (carried by your trek leader)

  • Rescue operation arrangement in case of emergency conditions (funded by travel insurance)

  • United Nepal Treks N Tours duffel bag, sleeping bag(return), T-shirt and trekking map

  • All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (National Park Permit, TIMS)

  • First Aid Kit (carried by your trek leader)

  • All government taxes and official expenses

  • Guaranteed Departures

  • Lifetime Deposit

  • No Booking Fee

  • Hot drinks

  • Purified drinking water

What's excluded

  • International airfare

  • Nepal entry visa; you can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu

  • Travel insurance (if there is emergency)

  • Lunch and Dinner while you are in Kathmandu and Pokhara

  • Beverage (cold drinks and hard drinks

  • Wifi, Battery charges, hot shower

  • Your personal expenses

  • City sightseeing and entrance fees (See sightseeing and entrance fees)

  • Flight ticket Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu and Pokhara to Jomsom

  • Tips for the guide, porter & driver (Tipping is Expected)

  • Items and transportation are not included and mentioned in itinerary

User Review