Nar Phu Trekking

Hidden by swirls of mountain mist ahead of us, from Kangla pass at 5200m the magnificent panorama view of Annapurna massif appears remote and forbidding. Our sturdy mountain ponies every few steps, their steaming sweat-soaked bodies heaving. Behind us Hongde airport, which we left behind early in the morning, is a tiny speck. 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 reaching the pass that links Nar with Manang and three other Bhotia village in the Nyershang down valley.

Nowadays, Nar Phu the population about 300 inhabitants who depend on livestock, unlike most Bhotia people, whose trading patterns changed drastically after the Nepali Government closed 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.

Besides the Kangla linking Nar to the Nyeshang valley , the most direct route from Kathmandu to Nar and Phu is along the Marshyangdi River. Travellers trek through the Himalayan foothills and round the eastern end of the Annapurna before they arrive at Qupar, a police check post half and hour before Chame, Manang's district headquarters. From here a long and steep trail winds up to Nar and Phu whose villagers, laden with goods purchased in Chame and even lower down in Besishhar, the end of the roadhead leading to Manang, often camp at Dharmashala, a rudimentary wooden hut built by the people from the two villages.

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 has 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 undiscovered valley

Fact of The Trek
Trip Duration : 24 Days
Maximum Altitude : 5200 m.
Trip Grade : Moderate
Best Season : Spring :- Mar – Apr – May, Autumn :- Oct – Nov – Dec

Itinerary In Detail

Day 1
Arrival Kathmandu, transfer hotel.

Day 2
Kathmandu free day, hotel

Day 3
Bus drive to Besisahar, camp

Day 4
Trek to Jagat, camp

Day 5
Trek to Lamachour, camp

Day 6
Trek to Karte, camp

Day 7
Trek to Koto, camp

Day 8
Trek to Chhacha, camp

Day 9
Trek to Meta, camp

Day 10
Trek to Junum, camp

Day 11
Trek to Phu, camp

Day 12
Rest day at Phu, camp

Day 13
Hike around Phu valley, camp

Day 14
Trek to Yak Kharka, camp

Day 15
Trek to Panggi Pass, camp

Day 16
Trek to Above Nar, camp

Day 17
Trek to Youingar, camp

Day 18
Trek to Kangla Pass, camp

Day 19
Trek to Manang, camp

Day 20
Trek to Khangsar Khola, camp

Day 21
Trek to Tilicho Lake, camp

Day 22
Trek to Mesokanto Pass, camp

Day 23
Trek to Jomsom, camp

Day 24
Fly to Pokhara and drive to Kathmandu, transfer to hotel