Nar Phu Valley Trekking

After breakfast, we start our journey with a 6-7 hour drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar, covering about 190 km. The bus follows the Trishuli River, passing by terraced fields, villages, and mountains like Ganesh and Manaslu peaks.

We leave the main highway to Pokhara and head north to Besisahar. Driving through paddy fields, we eventually arrive at Jagat, a village with Tibetan-style buildings.

Following breakfast, we begin our trek on a trail that slowly goes uphill towards Chame. We cross a suspension bridge along the way and then navigate a rocky, steep path to reach Tal Village. There, you can enjoy the impressive waterfalls. We then cross another suspension bridge to reach lower Dharapani, and a bit further is upper Dharapani, where we'll spend the night.

You'll start a journey into Nar Phu Valley, lasting about four to five hours. The path goes through forests of pine and fir, passing monasteries and small villages until reaching Bargarchhap. From there, you'll see beautiful views of Annapurna II, Manaslu, and other tall mountains. Continuing through pine forests, you'll finally reach Koto, a lovely village mostly inhabited by the Gurung community.

After we get our permits checked at the police post in Koto, we follow the path along Soti Khola, surrounded by lovely pine forests. Along the way, we cross several suspension bridges and pass by waterfalls until we reach Dharamshala in about five hours.

Past Dharamshala, the forest thins out, giving us wider views. We hike for about one and a half hours through the forest, climbing steeply to Meta village on the Tibetan Plateau. The views of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal from here are impressive.

The path goes up and down, and after crossing a suspension bridge, you'll reach Chyaku. As you keep going up, you'll see amazing views of Annapurna before getting to Kyang. From Kyang, you'll see great sights of Pisang Peak and Annapurna II. Walking on a rocky trail, you'll pass the Phu Khola, leaving behind interesting rocks and spots where you could camp. Finally, you'll reach the entrance to Phu Village, called Phu gate.

Nar and Phu villages are known for their special blue sheep, rich culture, and religious practices. While in Phu Village, we'll make sure to visit the Tashi Lhakhang Monastery. Phu Village also offers nice views of different Himalayan ranges, like Himlung Himal.

We leave Phu Gaon and head towards Nar village, crossing two high passes - Phu Pass (5,050m) and Nar Pass (5,400m). During the trek, we cross several suspension bridges over streams, like the Mahendra Pul. Along the way, we get to see Pisang Peaks and many other mountains.

We'll spend a day acclimatizing in Nar village. It's an ideal opportunity to take a break and discover the village's charm, including its people, customs, and culture. Nar village boasts several monasteries and Chortens. Interestingly, every family in Nar has at least one child studying Buddhism.

Starting from Nar, we hike up through the lateral moraine of Temdenzon Khola on a pleasant path that passes through yak pastures, offering beautiful views of the west ridge of Pisang Peak. We then continue to Jhombu Kharka, also known as Kang la Phedi, the starting point of Kang La pass.

From Kang La Phedi, we slowly climb up towards Kang La Pass. Though the trail is steep, it's manageable. It should take about 2 hours to cross the pass. Once we reach the top of Kang La Pass, you'll see wonderful views of Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak. After that, we trek for about three more hours to reach Ngawal Village, where we'll spend the night.

We start our journey from Ngwal and walk alongside the Marsyangdi River towards Manang. Along the way, we pass through forests and villages like Braga and Paugh, enjoying the view of Tilicho Peak and the Annapurna ranges. When we reach Mungli, we rejoin the main Annapurna trails and continue walking until we reach Manang, where we'll spend the day.

From Manang, we walk across a stream to get to Tenki village. Then, we move out of Marshyangdi Valley and go northwest to Jar Sang Khola Valley. The path goes up gradually as we pass through a couple of pastures and juniper trees until we reach a small village called Gunsan. The houses in Gunsan have flat mud roofs. The people there raise yaks and horses, so you might see them grazing in the nearby fields. After crossing a small river on a wooden bridge, we keep going through the valleys until we reach a calm and open meadow known as Yak Kharka.

Today, we're making our way to the base of Thorong La pass, called Thorong Phedi. We'll start from Yak Kharka, climb up a ridge, then go down and cross the Marsyangdi river using a wooden bridge. Following the mountain path, we'll walk along a narrow trail on a slope until we reach Thorong Phedi.

Today, we'll conquer Thorong La Pass, which stands as one of the highest passes globally and marks the pinnacle of our trek. Despite the challenging icy air, steep ascent, and high altitude, the breathtaking views from Thorong La Pass make it all worthwhile. As you look ahead, you'll be greeted by a panoramic vista of majestic Himalayan peaks stretching into Tibet. Behind you, the Annapurna ranges unfold. Afterward, we'll descend to Muktinath. The journey down to Muktinath is quite steep and will take approximately 3 to 4 hours.

Muktinath holds great significance for both Hindus and Buddhists. In Tibetan, Buddhists refer to it as "Chumig Gyatsa," which translates to "Hundred Waters." True to its name, the temple grounds of Muktinath feature 108 water sprouts and an eternal flame.

We start our descent by heading to Ekle Bhatti Village, followed by Jharkot and Khingar villages, where you'll find some lovely monasteries to explore. Walking alongside the Kali Gandaki river, we'll pass Kagbeni on our way to Jomsom. The trail offers splendid views of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri throughout the journey.

From Jomsom, we'll hop on a local bus bound for Tatopani. Brace yourself for a bumpy ride as we traverse some of the deepest gorges on the planet. Along the way, you'll witness a dramatic shift in landscapes, from the arid high-altitude terrain to the lush lowlands adorned with jungles and farmlands.

As we journey, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the Kali Gandaki River, which separates Annapurna, the world's 10th highest peak, from Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest. Tatopani is renowned for its natural hot springs, offering a perfect opportunity to soothe your tired muscles with a relaxing dip.

In the early morning, we start a seven-hour journey from Tatopani to Pokhara, using either a bus or a jeep and passing through Beni Bazaar. Pokhara is known as Nepal's top tourist spot, offering lots of fun activities for visitors. Once you're there, you can enjoy all the things this lively city has to offer. With its many attractions, Pokhara is sure to keep you entertained.

Today, we kick off the day bright and early, hopping on a tourist bus bound for Kathmandu. The 200 km journey initially traces the banks of the Marsyangdi River before following the path alongside the Trishuli River. Along the way, you'll be treated to captivating views of the countryside, quaint villages, and terraced farmlands. As the bus makes its final ascent, you'll soon find yourself back in Kathmandu, right where your trek began.

Final Departure