Nar Phu Valley Trek

Following an early morning breakfast, we embark on a scenic 6-7 hour (190 Km) drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar. As we travel in a private Jeep along the Trishuli River, we soak in picturesque views of terraced fields, traditional villages, and majestic peaks such as Ganesh and Manaslu. We veer off the highway to Pokhara and head north towards Besisahar, passing through paddy fields before reaching Jagat, a charming Tibetan-style village, and further to Dharapani and overnight at Tea House Lodge.

The journey into Nar Phu Valley takes approximately four to five hours, passing through enchanting pine and fir forests, traditional villages, and various monasteries before arriving at Bargarchhap. From Bargarchhap, you'll be treated to breathtaking vistas of Annapurna II, Manaslu, and other peaks. Continuing on through pine forests, the path leads to Koto, a charming Gurung village.

Upon registering our restricted area permits at the Koto police check post, we proceed on the scenic route along the banks of Soti Khola. As we trek for about five hours, we cross several suspension bridges and cascading waterfalls, passing through beautiful pine forests until we reach Dharamshala. As we move forward from Dharamshala, the forest thins out, and the panoramic views become more expansive. After trekking for about one and a half hours, we ascend steeply through the forest to reach Meta village on the Tibetan Plateau. The views of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal are stunning from this point

As you trek along the trail, you will encounter several ups and downs, and after crossing a suspension bridge, you will arrive at Chyaku. As you continue your ascent, you will be rewarded with stunning views of Annapurna, eventually arriving at Kyang, which offers breathtaking views of Pisang Peak and Annapurna II. The trail then follows the Phu Khola river, passing by rocky terrain and campsites before reaching the Phu gate, the entry point to Phu Village. Nar and Phu's villages are renowned for their unique culture, religious practices, and rare blue sheep. During our visit to Phu Village, we will explore the Tashi Lhakhang Monastery and take in the stunning views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks, including Himlung Himal.

Leaving Phu Gaon, our journey continues towards Nar village, where we will cross two high passes: Phu Pass (5,050m) and Nar Pass (5,400m). Along the way, we will traverse multiple suspension bridges over streams, including the famous Mahendra Pul, and enjoy breathtaking views of Pisang Peaks and other stunning landscapes.

We'll spend a day acclimatizing in Nar, which provides a great opportunity to rest and explore the village's culture, traditions, and people. Nar has numerous chortens and monasteries, and it may surprise you to learn that at least one child from every family in Nar studies Buddhism.

After leaving Nar, we'll hike up the lateral moraine of Temdenzon Khola and enjoy breathtaking views of the west ridge of Pisang Peak as we pass through yak pastures. Our next destination is Jhombu Kharka, also called Kang La Phedi, which is located at the bottom of Kang La pass. We'll gradually ascend to Kang La Pass from Kang La Phedi, which may be steep but not too challenging. It should take us around 2 hours to cross the pass. The view from Kang La Pass is stunning, featuring Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak. After that, we'll continue our trek for approximately three hours until we reach Ngawal Village, where we'll spend the night.

Leaving Ngwal, we trek alongside the Marsyangdi River toward Manang. The route takes us through dense forests and traditional villages, including Braga and Paugh, while offering breathtaking vistas of the Annapurna and Tilicho ranges. Once we reach Mungli, we rejoin the main Annapurna trail and continue on to our final destination of the day, Manang.

Starting from Manang, we will cross a stream and head towards Tenki village. Then, we will leave the Marshyangdi Valley and travel northwest to the Jar Sang Khola Valley. While ascending gradually, we will pass through some pastures and juniper trees before reaching a small village called Gunsan. The houses in Gunsan are characterized by flat mud roofs, and the villagers typically raise yaks and horses. You might spot these animals grazing in the nearby pastures. Following a river crossing on a wooden bridge, we will trek through spectacular valleys until we reach an open and peaceful meadow called Yak Kharka.

Today's destination is Thorong Phedi, situated at the foot of Thorong La Pass. We will leave Yak Kharka and climb up to a ridge before descending and crossing the Marsyangdi river on a wooden bridge. Continuing on the mountain path, we will follow a narrow trail across a slope until we finally reach Thorong Phedi.

Today's itinerary will take us across Thorong La Pass, which is one of the highest passes in the world and the highest point of this trek. The climb to the pass is steep and challenging due to the high altitude and icy air, but the breathtaking views of the majestic Himalayan peaks extending northwards into Tibet and the Annapurna range in the south make it all worthwhile. After enjoying the stunning vistas from the top, we will begin our descent toward Muktinath. The descent is pretty steep and will take around 3 to 4 hours. Muktinath holds great significance for both Hindus and Buddhists. In Tibetan, it is known as "Chumig Gyatsa," which translates to "Hundred Waters." The temple premises at Muktinath feature 108 water spouts and an eternal flame, making it a holy place for both religions.

Our journey today takes us downhill towards Ekle Bhatti Village before reaching Jharkot and Khingar villages. These settlements boast several stunning monasteries that you may want to visit. As we continue, we will trek alongside the Kali Gandaki river, passing by Kagbeni and Jomsom, until we finally arrive at Marpha village, also known as the apple capital. The trail will offer us magnificent views of the Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri mountain ranges throughout the journey.

We will take a local bus or Jeep from Jomsom to Tatopani, where we will experience a bumpy ride passing through some of the world's deepest gorges. The landscape will change from arid high-elevation terrain to lowlands with lush jungles and farmlands, providing breathtaking views of the Kali Gandaki River. The river separates Annapurna, the tenth-highest peak in the world, from Dhaulagiri, the seventh-highest. Once we arrive in Tatopani, we can unwind in the natural hot springs, which are renowned for their healing properties and provide a relaxing soak for our tired muscles

At dawn, we depart from Tatopani and embark on a seven-hour journey to Pokhara, passing through Beni Bazaar either by bus or jeep. Pokhara is renowned as the tourist hub of Nepal, offering a plethora of activities to indulge in. With an array of options available, you can enjoy the many luxuries that this city has to offer.

Today, we will depart early for Kathmandu via a tourist bus. The 200-kilometer route follows the banks of the Marsyangdi River and then the Trishuli River, providing mesmerizing views of the landscape, traditional villages, and terraced farms. After a final climb, we will arrive in Kathmandu, where our trek initially began.