Trip Overview

Nar Phu Valley Trek is one of the best treks in the Annapurna region and those who want to explore a hidden valley, isolated Buddhist Tibetan culture, and trek off the beaten crossing through high pass Kang La pass should visit this trek.

Hidden by swirls of mountain mist ahead of us, from Kang La pass at 5130m the magnificent panorama view of Annapurna massif appears remote and forbidding. Our destination is the Nar Phu valley, above the tree line on the upper limits of cultivation, in the very north of Manang district. It takes five hours to reach the pass that links Nar with Manang and three other Bhotia villages in the Nyershang down the valley.

Nowadays, Nar Phu has about 300 inhabitants who depend on livestock, unlike most Bhotia people, whose trading patterns changed drastically after the Nepali Government closed its borders with Tibet, the people of Nar and Phu valley were least affected by this change. The tortuous path leading from the valley into Tibet had never made them dependent on the salt trade, and till today yak herding is the basis of their livelihood. The Nepal government’s recent decision to open up Nar and Phu to tourists has evoked little enthusiasm among the villagers, whose pastoral lifestyle continues. Apart from the odd researcher and climbing expeditions permitted to climb Him lung, Ratnachuli, and Gachikang, few foreigners have visited the area and tourism infrastructure is almost non-existent. Since Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) recently extended its network to include Nar and Phu Valley, it is preparing a suitable tourism development plan at the request of the government for an undiscovered valley.

We start this trek after driving almost half a day from Kathmandu to Besishar. From here we follow the Popular Annapurna Circuit route until Koto and then we take off the beaten route until we get to Nar Phu. After visiting this area we trek via Kang La pass and Ngawal to Manang, a beautiful village on the Annapurna trail, and continue trek to beautiful Ice Lake. An extensional trip is available for those who want to have an extended trek could go via Throngla Pass (5416m), and end our trek at Jomsom/Marpha where we catch our sharing jeep or flight to Pokhara and later to KTM; doing this extension you need 4 days extra. Trekkers carry only day packs and walk at their own pace.

Average hiking per day will be 6-7 hrs.