Do you want to explore the hidden gem in the Annapurna region? Well then, our Nar Phu Valley trek is just what you are looking for! The journey offers a unique and off-the-beaten-path experience in the Himalayas. You'll hike through the restricted trekking area and get a glimpse of the unspoiled nature
The Nar Phu Valley Trek is an exceptional journey in the Annapurna region that traverses through two notable remote villages. This trekking route is a new trekking trail and also off the beaten path. Not many are familiar with the journey; therefore, the journey offers a truly adventurous spirit. The trekking route boasts the rugged and exotic cultural and natural beauty of the valley. A journey to Nar Phu Valley is unlike any other trekking journey in Nepal. It is a wonderful journey that lets travelers find beauty in remoteness.
The Annapurna Circuit with Nar Phu Valley Trek is a 17-day journey that joins Nepal's most varied classic circuit with one of its last restricted valleys. You walk into Nar and Phu, medieval Tibetan villages sealed off from tourism until 2002, cross the 5,320-meter Kang La Pass into the Manang Valley, and then continue over Thorong La at 5,416 meters to Muktinath. Two high passes, one restricted kingdom, and the classic circuit in a single trip. Index Adventure runs it as a fully guided package at USD 1,850 per person, with the Nar Phu Restricted Area Permit, Jomsom to Pokhara flight, and expedition gear included.
Fewer than a few hundred trekkers enter Nar Phu in a year. Compare that with the thousands who walk the main circuit each October, and you understand what this route buys you: stone villages where yak caravans still move goods, thousand-year-old gompas, canyon trails carved into cliffs, and days where the only footprints on the pass are your own. Then, when you rejoin the circuit at Ngawal, you finish with the greatest hits: Manang, Thorong La, and the sacred temples of Muktinath.
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Detail |
Information |
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Trek duration |
17 days (Kathmandu to Kathmandu) |
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Trekking days |
12 days on foot |
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Trip grade |
Strenuous |
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Maximum altitude |
Thorong La Pass, 5,416 m / 17,769 ft |
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Second pass |
Kang La, 5,320 m / 17,454 ft |
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Region status |
Restricted area (special permit required) |
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Best seasons |
March to May, September to November |
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Group size |
1 to 16 (licensed guide mandatory) |
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Accommodation |
Teahouses and simple lodges; 3-star hotels in cities |
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Price |
USD 1,850 per person (regular USD 1,950) |
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Permits |
RAP + ACAP, both arranged by us |
This route is really two journeys stitched together at the Kang La Pass. The first is Nar Phu: a restricted valley north of the main circuit where Tibetan Buddhist culture survives in something close to its original form. Phu Gaon, founded by Tibetan migrants roughly 200 years ago and layered on a far older settlement, is a fortress village of stacked stone houses above a desert gorge. Nar, a day's walk away, sits in a high bowl of barley fields and chortens at 4,110 meters. Between and around them: narrow canyons on the Nar Khola, suspension bridges, ancient monasteries including the historic Tashi Lhakhang Gompa, and trails shared with yak trains rather than trekking crowds.
The second journey begins when you cross Kang La and drop into Ngawal on the upper Annapurna Circuit. From there the route runs the classic high circuit: Manang and its glacier lake, the slow climb through Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi, the pre-dawn crossing of Thorong La at 5,416 meters, and the descent to Muktinath, one of the most sacred sites in the Himalaya for Hindus and Buddhists alike. You finish through the Kali Gandaki to Jomsom and fly out over the deepest gorge on earth.
The valley opened to foreigners only in 2002, and lodges replaced mandatory camping around 2010, which is why the culture you walk through remains so intact. It is also why the accommodation is simpler and the trail quieter than anywhere on the main circuit. If you want remote and real, this is the trek. If you want bakeries and WiFi every night, the Annapurna Circuit Trek or the Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake Trek will suit you better, and we say that honestly.
Three honest reasons, because this is not the cheapest package on the market and you deserve to know what the price buys.
First, the itinerary is built for safety at a level most operators do not match. You get two full acclimatization days inside the restricted valley (Phu and Nar) before attempting Kang La, and a third rest day in Manang before Thorong La. Guides carry a comprehensive medical kit with an oximeter and check the group's oxygen levels at altitude. In Manang, we visit the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic, where doctors brief trekkers on altitude sickness every season.
Second, the package is genuinely complete. The Jomsom to Pokhara flight is included, not an upsell. Expedition gear is provided if you need it: a sleeping bag and down jacket rated to minus 15 degrees Celsius, crampons for icy pass conditions, a duffel bag, and water purification tablets. Three-star hotels in Kathmandu and a standard hotel in Pokhara are included with breakfast, along with a farewell dinner, an achievement certificate, and free luggage storage at our office.
Third, the record. Index Adventure holds a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2025 award with 392 reviews, and we are affiliated with the Nepal government, the Nepal Tourism Board, NMA, TAAN, and KEEP. Our guides are government-licensed locals who have crossed Kang La and Thorong La in every season, operating from Thamel, Kathmandu, since 2017.
Our representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers you to your hotel in Thamel. In the evening we hold the trek briefing: route, gear check, and the permit paperwork for the restricted area, which needs your passport and photos. Overnight at a 3-star hotel.
An early drive to Besisahar, then a local jeep up the Marsyangdi valley to Jagat, from where you walk across a suspension bridge, up through oak forest, past the gorge at Chyamje, and through Karte village to Dharapani. Around six hours of combined travel and walking, ending inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. Overnight in a teahouse.
Today's hike is challenging, as it includes hiking up and down two hills through apple orchards and Manangi villages. A day of ups and downs through apple orchards and Manangi villages, with Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, Himlung, and Annapurna II filling the skyline. Koto is the junction village; tomorrow you leave the main circuit here and enter the restricted valley, so your guide registers the permits at the checkpoint. Around six hours. Overnight in a teahouse.
The gate day. You cross the Marsyangdi, pass the police checkpoint, and follow the Nar Khola into a canyon that swallows the trail: dense pine and rhododendron forest, cliffside paths, waterfalls, and not a single lodge until Meta, so we carry a packed lunch from Koto. Meta sits on a wide plateau where the trees finally give way to high desert, with Annapurna II behind you. Around seven hours. Overnight in a basic teahouse.
Up the Phu Khola through a near-desert gorge, past painted chortens and the eroded rock towers that guard the valley, with views of Pokharkang and Amotsang Himal. The final approach passes through the old gate of Phupigyal Kwe, and then Phu appears: a stacked stone fortress village on a hill, founded by Tibetan migrants roughly two centuries ago. The ascent is gradual by design; this is serious altitude now. Around seven hours. Overnight in a teahouse.
A full day at 4,250 meters, and one of the cultural highlights of the entire trek. Walk the village lanes; watch barley and yak-wool life continue as it has for generations; and visit the ancient monastery above the village, including Tashi Lhakhang Gompa, associated with the famed Buddhist teacher Karmapa lineage. Talk with locals, drink butter tea, and let your blood adapt. Overnight in a teahouse.
Back down the valley and across the dramatic bridge over the Nar Khola gorge, then up the side valley toward Nar, passing a line of ancient chortens that announces the village long before you reach it. There are no lodges on the way, so we carry a packed lunch again. Nar is larger and livelier than Phu, a bowl of stone houses, barley fields, and four gompas at the foot of Pisang Peak's north face. Around seven hours. Overnight in a teahouse.
The second built-in rest day, and it matters: tomorrow is the biggest climbing day of the trek. A short two-hour acclimatization walk above the village banks more altitude, with views of Pisang Peak, Kang Guru, and the wall of peaks you will cross tomorrow. The rest of the day is yours among the chortens and prayer wheels. Overnight in a teahouse.
We need to depart Ngwal by 4 a.m. to finish today's tough trek; we have a long day ahead of us. The wild crossing, climbing steadily by head torch up moraine and scree to the prayer flags of Kang La. The reward at the top is one of the great viewpoints of the Annapurna region: Annapurna II, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, and the Marsyangdi Valley a vertical mile below. The descent is steep and loose at first, then eases into the beautiful high village of Ngawal on the upper circuit trail. You have left the restricted valley and rejoined the classic route. Around eight hours. Overnight in a teahouse.
A short, lovely day on the circuit's high route through pine forest and the old villages of Braga, with its cliffside monastery, arriving in Manang by lunch. Manang is the capital of the high valley: bakeries, gear shops, and monasteries beneath the north face of Gangapurna. Around four hours. Overnight in a guesthouse.
A third strategic rest day before the second pass. The short option is Gangapurna Lake below the glacier, twenty minutes away. The strong option is the Ice Lake (Kicho Tal) at 4,600 meters, a seven to ten hour round trip with a panorama across the whole Annapurna wall; we generally recommend it for fit trekkers because the altitude banked pays off at Thorong La. We also drop into the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic for the altitude briefing. Overnight in a guesthouse.
The path begins in Manang village, crosses a creek, climbs to Tenki village above Manang, and then proceeds to ascend out of the Marshyangdi Valley, turning northwest up Jarsang Khola's valley. This valley is followed northward by the trail, which passes across a few pastures and a juniper tree scrub as it slowly gains altitude. The path continues to travel near Ghunsa, a small village with flat mud roofs just below the trailhead. The route then winds through meadows grazed by horses and yaks.
The trek route goes through an ancient old mani wall in a pleasant meadow after crossing a small river via a wooden bridge before arriving at Yak Kharka, another small village. The trick to avoiding altitude issues is a gradual ascent.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included with your overnight stay at the guesthouse.
A short day to the foot of the pass. Some groups push on to High Camp at nearly 5,000 meters; we deliberately do not. Sleeping lower at Phedi means better rest and a safer night, and our experience and client feedback over the years back it up. Early dinner, early night. Three to four hours. Overnight in a teahouse.
The second great crossing, and the highest point of the trek. A pre-dawn start puts you on the pass before the wind; the climb is steep early, then long and steady over rocky ridges to the prayer-flag summit at 5,416 meters, with the Tibetan Plateau on one side and the Kali Gandaki and Dhaulagiri on the other. Having already crossed Kang La, your body knows this altitude, and it shows. Then the long descent to Muktinath, sacred to Hindus as one of the eight Svayam Vyakta Kshetras and to Buddhists as a place of the eternal flame. Seven to eight hours. Overnight in a teahouse.
Morning at the Muktinath temples, then a descending walk through the wind-carved upper Kali Gandaki, through Tibetan-influenced villages to Jomsom, the headquarters of Mustang. Around five hours, with the afternoon wind of the gorge at your back. Overnight in a guesthouse.
The early-morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara threads the gorge between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, twenty spectacular minutes included in your package. From Pokhara, a tourist bus or vehicle returns you to Kathmandu in six to seven hours. Farewell dinner with the team in the evening. Overnight at your hotel.
Around 3 hours before the scheduled flight, an Index Adventure representative will take you to the airport for your onward journey. With a heartfelt congratulations and certificate in hand.
A porter is strongly worth considering on this route: the trekking days are long, the passes are high, and carrying only a daypack changes the experience. Ask us to add one when you book. For personal spending, budget USD 20 to 30 per day in rupees; carry roughly NPR 25,000 to 30,000 in cash, because there are no ATMs between Besisahar and Jomsom.
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Season |
Departure window |
Availability |
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Autumn 2026 |
September to November |
Booking now |
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Spring 2027 |
March to May |
Booking now |
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Autumn 2027 |
September to November |
Booking now |
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Private departures |
On request |
Year-round in season |
Note: The RAP costs more in autumn (USD 100 versus 75 per week), which is already reflected in our pricing. Spring departures catch the rhododendron bloom in the lower forests; autumn brings the sharpest skies over both passes.
This is the section most trekking sites get wrong, so here it is with current accuracy.
Nar Phu is one of Nepal's officially restricted areas, and entering it requires the Restricted Area Permit (RAP): USD 100 per person for the first week between September and November, USD 75 per person per week from December to August, with extra days charged at roughly USD 15 per day in peak season. You also need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) at NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals. TIMS is not required for restricted areas, whatever older websites tell you.
The big change: on March 22, 2026, Nepal's Department of Immigration removed the minimum-two-trekkers requirement for restricted areas. Solo travelers can now obtain the Nar Phu RAP. What has not changed is the guide rule: you must trek with a licensed guide through a registered agency, with no independent trekking permitted, and the permit itself can only be issued through a registered agency. Checkpoints at Koto and inside the valley verify papers.
When you book with Index Adventure, both permits and every piece of paperwork are handled by us and included in the price. Bring your passport (valid six months beyond travel), a copy, and passport photos. For the broader Annapurna permit picture, see the Annapurna Circuit permit guide.
This is a strenuous trek, and we grade it that way deliberately. The numbers tell the story: twelve walking days, two passes above 5,300 meters, eight nights sleeping above 3,500 meters, daily gains of 600 to 700 meters, and walking days of five to eight hours on rugged, sometimes exposed trail. The Kang La crossing is an eight-hour day starting at 4 a.m.; the Thorong La crossing is comparable. Between them, the Nar Phu section has stretches with no lodges at all, which is why packed lunches and self-sufficiency are part of the plan.
What makes it achievable is the structure: three rest days placed exactly where the body needs them, gradual daily gains, and the fact that crossing Kang La first makes Thorong La feel noticeably easier, the reverse of how most circuit trekkers experience it. You do not need mountaineering skills. You do need genuine fitness: train for two to three months with hill walking under a loaded pack and be comfortable with consecutive long days. Prior high-altitude experience helps but is not mandatory for fit, well-prepared trekkers. Read how difficult the Annapurna Circuit is as your baseline, then add two grades for the Nar Phu section, and follow the plan in how to prepare for the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Kang La, at 5,320 meters (17,454 feet), is the pass that connects the Nar valley to the upper Annapurna Circuit at Ngawal, and it is the emotional summit of the Nar Phu section even though Thorong La is technically higher. The climb from Nar gains over 1,200 meters on moraine and scree; the summit panorama takes in Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, and, on clear mornings, the ranges rolling toward Tibet. Unlike Thorong La, you will likely have it to yourselves. The descent to Ngawal is steep and loose in its upper third, where trekking poles and the crampons we carry in shoulder seasons earn their place. In deep winter the pass closes with snow, which is why our departures hold to the two main seasons.
Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the prime windows, with October the single best month: stable weather, sharp skies over both passes, and warm walking days. Spring adds blooming rhododendron to the forested canyon between Koto and Meta and warmer nights in the high villages.
Nar Phu holds one genuine secret the main circuit does not: the valley sits in the Himalayan rain shadow, so even in monsoon (June to August) it receives relatively little rain, and experienced trekkers use those months for maximum solitude. The trade-offs are real: cloud cover on the approach through the canyon, a slippery trail lower down, and less reliable mountain views, so we recommend monsoon only for flexible, experienced trekkers. Winter (December to February) closes Kang La with snow and is not recommended. The month-by-month picture is the best time for the Annapurna Circuit and the weather and temperature guide.
The altitude profile of this trek is serious: you sleep at 4,250 meters in Phu, cross 5,320 meters at Kang La, and cross 5,416 meters at Thorong La, with eight consecutive nights above 3,500 meters. Our safety architecture around that profile: two acclimatization days inside the valley (Phu and Nar) before the first pass, a third rest day in Manang before the second, daily gains held to 600 to 700 meters, guides trained in AMS recognition carrying a full medical kit and oximeter, nightly oxygen checks at altitude, and the standing rule that worsening symptoms mean descent, no exceptions, no summit worth a life. In Manang, the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic offers a professional altitude briefing we build into the rest day.
Know the early signs yourself: headache, nausea, appetite loss, and broken sleep. Report them early; caught early, altitude sickness is managed by rest or descent, and hidden, it becomes dangerous. Comprehensive insurance covering helicopter evacuation above 5,416 meters is mandatory, and the remoteness of Nar Phu makes it non-negotiable: there are no roads in the restricted valley, and evacuation means a helicopter. The deeper medical picture is in the altitude sickness guide, and for a sober look at risk on the wider circuit, see how many people have died on the Annapurna Circuit.
Set expectations correctly and you will love this trek; set them wrong and the first night in Meta will surprise you. Inside the Nar Phu valley, teahouses are basic: simple twin rooms, shared squat toilets, no showers in some villages, and dining rooms warmed by a single stove. This is not a defect; it is the deal. The valley's isolation is precisely what preserved the culture you came to see. Facilities improve sharply once you rejoin the circuit at Ngawal, and Manang feels like a resort by comparison.
Food inside the valley is simple and local: dal bhat above all; thukpa and Tibetan bread; potatoes grown in the villages; and yak in several forms, dried, curried, and in momos, which is a genuine specialty of the region. Vegetarian eating is easy and, above 4,000 meters, wise. On the two lodge-less walking days (Koto to Meta, Phu to Nar), we carry packed lunches. Drink three to four liters a day, use the purification tablets we provide, and skip alcohol until you are over both passes. Menus widen again from Manang onward; the full trail food picture is in food and drinks on the Annapurna Circuit.
One night deserves special mention: many Nar Phu itineraries, including ours when conditions align, offer the chance to sleep at the Nar Phedi monastery, where the nuns host trekkers and dinner is cooked in the monastery kitchen. It is regularly the night people remember most.
Treat the restricted valley as offline. Mobile signal (NTC and Ncell) is patchy to absent from Meta through Nar; WiFi is rare and unreliable; and electricity for charging is limited, solar in places, and paid. Signals and services return at Ngawal and improve through Manang. Download offline maps before Koto, carry a power bank, buy a local SIM in Kathmandu for the sections that do connect, and tell people at home to expect silence for four to five days. Full details in the WiFi, network, and electricity guide.
From the trailhead at Dharapani to Muktinath, the walking route covers roughly 110 to 120 kilometers (68 to 75 miles) across twelve trekking days, detouring off the classic line at Koto, through the Nar Phu valley, over Kang La to Ngawal, and rejoining the circuit to Thorong La. The route map and elevation chart on this page show the full profile: two great climbs to above 5,300 meters with the deep valley of Manang between them.
The valley's people are of Tibetan origin, and their world is organized around Buddhism in a way few accessible places still are. Phu's monasteries include the historic Tashi Lhakhang Gompa; Nar keeps four gompas around its barley fields; chortens and mani walls mark every approach, and prayer flags run the ridgelines. Walk clockwise around all religious monuments, ask before photographing people or inside gompas, dress modestly in the villages, and accept butter tea when offered; small courtesies open real doors here. Yak herding, barley farming, and wool work remain the economy, and the trade route to Tibet shaped everything from the architecture to the dialects, which are closer to Tibetan than to Nepali. This cultural intactness is the true luxury of the trek, and it exists because the permit system keeps numbers low.
If Nar Phu appeals but this exact route does not fit, four doors are worth opening. The standalone Nar Phu Valley Trekking route visits the restricted valley without continuing over Thorong La, a shorter commitment with the same cultural core. The Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake Trek swaps the restricted valley for the highest great lake of the region for USD 1,085. The Manaslu with Annapurna Circuit Trek is the bigger sibling, joining two circuits and two restricted-area cultures in three weeks. And the Classic Annapurna Circuit Trek remains the benchmark walk without restricted permits. For deciding between regions, the comparison of Manaslu versus the Annapurna Circuit covers which wilderness suits which trekker.
The full Nepal packing system applies, with three Nar Phu specifics on top: warmth for village nights that drop far below freezing, self-sufficiency for the lodge-less days, and pass-day gear for two crossings. The core: layered clothing from wicking base layers to a serious down jacket; a waterproof shell; broken-in ankle-support boots; liner plus insulated gloves; a warm hat, sun hat, buff, and category 3 or 4 sunglasses; trekking poles; a headlamp with spares; two liters of water capacity; personal first aid and medications; and NPR 25,000 to 30,000 in cash. We provide the big-ticket items free: a minus-15-rated sleeping bag and down jacket, crampons when conditions require them, purification tablets, and a duffel. The complete item-by-item checklist is in the Annapurna Circuit packing list.
Index Adventure carries 392 TripAdvisor reviews and a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2025 award, with trekkers consistently highlighting altitude handling, guide professionalism, and logistics that simply worked. On this route in particular, the feedback pattern is the two rest days in the restricted valley: trekkers arrive at Kang La strong, and the pass becomes a highlight rather than an ordeal.
What should be on your packing list for trekking in case you are going on an adventurous trekking tour to Nepal? Nepal boasts one of the most magnificent scenic views, spectacular mountains, and diverse cultures, making it a dream global trekking destination. Before trekking in Nepal, one needs to be well prepared because of the different terrains, weather conditions, and altitudes. In order to get the best out of your trekking visit, this ultimate packing guide of trekking in Nepal will cover all that is essential: a list of items you could carry with you, clothes, supporting trekking gear, hygiene, documents, etc.
Preparing to go trekking in Nepal can be very overwhelming, but with the right gear and equipment, you should be in a position to withstand anything that the path presents to you. This list is designed for popular treks, including Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, and Langtang Valley, among others. The list can be adjusted depending on the trek's difficulty and season. This latest and updated travel checklist helps you pack smart and trek with confidence.
In the trekking, there are thousands of trekkers using costly fashion equipment, and they use outdoor fashion, but we advise you to be ready with hiking equipment that is comfy and sturdy.
Absolutely, you can extend your Annapurna Circuit with the Tilicho Lake Package itinerary at no additional cost. In order to maintain the top-notch safety of our clients, we have specially crafted a 15-day Annapurna+ Tilicho Lake Itinerary.
Yes, valid travel insurance is essential for trekking in Nepal, even though it is not mandatory. We advise that you check your travel insurance thoroughly, even small font information, before traveling to Nepal from your Homeland. It should cover High-altitude over 5000 m, heli rescue, unexpected delays or cancellations, and many more.
During your rest day at Manang, Ice Lake (Kicho Tal, 7 - 10 hours in total) is generally recommended over Gangapurna Lake and Chongkor Viewpoint.
Gangapurna Lake is closer (10-20 minutes), easier, and offers views of the surrounding mountains, making it best suited for those who want to rest and explore the Manang Valley. The Ice Lake provides a more thrilling, rewarding experience with its stunning panoramic views of the Himalayas and a clear view of Manang village.
To trek to the Annapurna Region, you will need two entry permits: Annapurna Conservation Area Permits & TIMS cards. However, we don't need a TIMS card per the new authorization.
But if you wish to join or extend your trip to the Nar and Phu valley, you need to have a special permit. Please inform us earlier so we can arrange it accordingly.
The highest point is Thorong La Pass. The altitude of this mountain pass is 5416m (17,769 feet), and it lies between the villages of Manang and Muktinath. To conquer this pass, we start our hike before sunrise as the weather in the morning is pleasant and we can easily cross the pass before 10 AM.
According to our client feedback and our experience, Thorong Phedi is much safer than High Camp. Some of the travelers and trek agencies may take their clients to High Camp, which is nearly 5000m high. We strongly recommend not hiking after Thorong Phedi on the same day. Follow our well-maintained itinerary and the guidelines from your trekking leaders.
The only benefit of sleeping at High Camp is that you have a better chance of starting your hike to Thorong La Pass.
All the lodges have electricity, and you can charge your electronic devices there. However, keep in mind that charging is very limited and may not even work sometimes due to technical difficulties. The lodges usually charge a fee for the charging stations, and the price may vary to place.
Starting from Dharapani and ending at Muktinath, the Annapurna Circuit Trek covers approximately 75 - 80 kilometers (47 - 50 miles) according to our package. For this, we will pass by the different notable villages like Chame, Pisang, Yak Kharka, and High Mountain Pass Thorong La before culminating at Muktinath.
Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal is generally considered moderately difficult. That said, even if you have no previous trekking experience in the Himalayas, you are welcome to trek. However, the difficulty varies based on individual fitness, age, experience, walking pace, and the specific itinerary chosen.
While it's achievable for many, even novice trekkers, without proper preparation, certain sections and altitude changes can be challenging.
The best time to book the Annapurna Circuit Trek is during the peak trekking seasons, which are March-April-May and from September-October-November. During these months, the weather is generally clear and dry, and the scenery of the Himalayan ridges is magnificent.
We don’t recommend Annapurna Circuit Trekking during the winter season (January to Feb) and the summer season (July to August).
