| Trip code | |
| Package name | Annapurna Circuit with Nar Phu Valley Trek |
| Duration | 16 |
| Max. elevation | 5416 m |
| Level | Difficult |
| Transportation | Private Vehicle |
| Accomodation | Included |
| Starts at | Kathmandu |
| Ends at | Kathmandu |
| Trip route | |
| Cost | USD 0 per person |
Combining the Annapurna Circuit with the remote Nar Phu Valley creates an ultimate Himalayan expedition, blending famous high-altitude trails with a restricted, medieval Tibetan world.
Nar Phu Valley Trek is a remarkable 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, it 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.
You leave the standard Annapurna route at Koto and head north directly into the isolated Nar Phu Valley. This restricted corridor leads you step by step through the high altitude villages of Meta, Phu, and Nar. The itinerary requires you to cross two major high-altitude mountain passes. First, you tackle the rugged Kang La Pass at approximately 5,320 meters. A few days later, you conquer the iconic Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters.
You will experience untouched medieval Tibetan villages and ancient Buddhist sanctuaries like the Tashi Lhakhang gompa. The path cuts through dramatic rock canyons before safely rejoining the main circuit at Ngawal and the active town of Manang.
The final leg of the trek descends past the sacred Muktinath Temple toward the windy outpost of Jomsom. From there, you travel back to the lakeside city of Pokhara.
All in all, we wouldn’t advise Annapurna Nar Phu Valley trek to those who are keen on a remote environment. The accommodation on this trek is basic and simple. Teahouses are not as well-facilitated as in the other trekking trails of the Annapurna region. Likewise, it is difficult to have internet access daily as well.
So if you are looking for something remote yet want to be in touch with the world besides the place you are in, we would advise you to try Tilicho Lake, Manaslu Circuit Trek or Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Majestic Trails Nepal is a top choice for the Nar Phu Valley trek due to our 5-star reputation across various platforms like TripAdvisor and social media, and for safety, experienced local guides, and excellent personalized service. Our Nar Phu Valley Trek (often combined with the Annapurna Circuit (Thorong La Pass)) is highly rated for seamless logistics, with clients highlighting expert handling of altitude, professional guides, and tailored itineraries.
For those looking for a safe, reliable, and deeply local experience in the remote Nar Phu Valley, Majestic Trails Nepal is an emerging top-tier operator in Nepal.
A Majestic Trails Nepal representative will welcome you at the airport and transfer you directly to your hotel. There are no scheduled activities today, giving you time to rest and recover from your flight.
Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu Valley
Spend the day exploring Kathmandu Valley's famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple.
In the evening, meet with the Majestic Trails Nepal team at your hotel to review the Annapurna Circuit and Nar Phu Valley route. Your guide will go over the ACT with Nar-Phu itinerary and distribute your trekking gear, including a down jacket, sleeping bag, duffel bag, and route map.
Following breakfast, our group departs Kathmandu for an overland journey along the Trishuli River. The drive follows the paved highway through the transit junctions of Mugling and Dumre before reaching Besisahar, the administrative hub of Lamjung district. The tarmac ends at Besisahar, where you switch into a sturdy four-wheel-drive jeep to take on the rough, unpaved tracks carved into the Marsyangdi River gorge.
The off-road trail climbs beside canyon walls, leading past the tumbling cascades of Syange waterfall and the stone hamlets of Jagat and Chamje. You enter the Manang district at Tal (1,700 m), an unusual settlement set on a wide fluvial terrace that was once an ancient alpine lakebed. From Tal, the track follows the canyon to Dharapani. Historically an important stop along the Trans-Himalayan salt trade, this stone-paved village sits at the confluence of the Marsyangdi River and the Dudh Khola, where it also serves as the junction linking the Annapurna and Manaslu circuits
Begin your trek alongside a guide from Majestic Trails Nepal, following the Marsyangdi River through forests of pine, hemlock, and fir. You soon arrive at Bagarchhap (2,160 m), where flat-roofed stone homes and mani prayer wheels mark your entry into Tibetan Buddhist settlements. Continuing past the apple orchards of Danakyu, tackle a steep stone staircase through oak and rhododendron forest up to Timang (2,750 m). This scenic ridge opens up to striking views of Mount Manaslu (8,163 m), Ngadi Chuli (Peak 29), and Annapurna II.
From Timang, the trail levels out toward the quiet farming village of Thanchok, where locals cultivate terraced fields of buckwheat and potatoes. A gradual descent brings you to Koto (2,600 m), located right at the confluence of the Marsyangdi River and the rugged Nar Khola gorge. As the official gateway to the Nar Phu Valley, Koto hosts the police and immigration checkpoint where your guide registers your Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and ACAP documents before you head into the wild valley tomorrow.
Leave the Annapurna Circuit behind as your guide clears permits at the Koto police checkpost to enter the restricted Nar Phu Valley. The path cuts into the sheer granite canyon of the Nar Khola, leading through forests of pine and bamboo, over suspension bridges, and past cascades that spray directly across the trail. Along this ancient Tibetan salt trade route, you will pass Hulaki Odar (Postman Cave), a wide rock shelter historically used by high-altitude caravans to protect yaks from sudden storms.
Beyond the rest stop of Dharmasala, the canyon widens and the greenery yields to sparse alpine scrub. A sustained switchback climb lifts you past the treeline onto the high, windswept plateau of Meta (3,560 m). This ancient seasonal settlement introduces you to the dry Tibetan landscape, offering panoramic views of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal.
Setting out from the high terrace of Meta Valley, follow the contours of the Phu Khola into an arid, trans-Himalayan gorge. The path initially descends before settling into an undulating climb beneath the glaciated peaks of Pokhar Kang, Amotsang Himal, and Kang Guru (6,981 m). Along the barren trail, pass through the seasonal desert settlements of Chyakhu and Kyang. Here, the crumbling stone masonry of ruined dzongs (fortresses) highlights the valley's history as a mid-twentieth-century stronghold for Khampa guerrilla fighters.
Continuing past carved mani walls and ancient chortens, cross a suspension bridge suspended over the canyon depths. A brief, steep climb leads to the whitewashed entrance gate (kani) of Phu Gaon, an ancient settlement of stone houses stacked directly into the hillside. Later in the afternoon, visit Tashi Lhakhang Gompa, an active monastery steeped in Karma Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist tradition for more than 300 years.
Descend along the banks of the Phu Khola, retracing your path through the arid gorge past seasonal ruins and desert terraces
The topographical highlight of the day occurs at Mahendra Pul. Here, you cross a steel suspension bridge suspended directly over an 80-meter-deep, incredibly narrow rock canyon where the river violently channels through the limestone. Following a steep physical push beyond the bridge, the trail arrives at Nar Phedi.
Instead of a standard teahouse, tonight offers a rare cultural immersion. You will lodge directly within the Nar Phedi Monastery, an active sanctuary managed entirely by a resident order of Buddhist nuns. During the late afternoon, you are welcome to sit in the main gompa to observe their evening puja (prayers). The nuns also prepare a traditional, home-cooked communal dinner for the visiting trekkers.
If you wish, you can offer a small donation to light traditional butter lamps in the main prayer hall, adding a profound spiritual dimension to the physical journey.
Depart the monastic sanctuary of Nar Phedi on a short but steep winding climb out of the river gorge. The trail ascends switchbacks decorated with fluttering prayer flags and carved stone chortens, passing through the ancient ruins of Yughat. Passing under a traditional painted entrance archway (kani), you enter the wide alpine bowl of Nar Village, a medieval settlement terraced dramatically into the mountainside.
Nar is livelier and more compact than Phu, centered around active community gompas and centuries of Tibetan Buddhist heritage. Because today’s hike takes only two to three hours, you have the full afternoon to explore the traditional stone alleyways, watch villagers tend their high-altitude barley terraces, and properly rest ahead of tomorrow's demanding crossing of Kang La Pass.
Set out before dawn around 4:00 AM with headlamps, following the Temden Khola through the high grazing pastures of Jhombu Kharka. As the gradient steepens above 4,800 meters, the trail crosses frozen moraine and loose scree where steady, rhythmic pacing is essential. Cresting the prayer flags at Kang La Pass (5,320 m) opens up an expansive panorama across the Annapurna Massif, showcasing Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak above the Manang basin.
The descent off the pass drops steeply over loose scree slopes, where trekking poles provide vital stability, before leveling out into open alpine meadows. Descending roughly 1,660 vertical meters into the upper Marsyangdi valley brings you directly into the historic settlement of Ngawal. Here, the trail reconnects with the Annapurna Circuit high route, welcoming you with traditional stone architecture, a hilltop gompa, and well-equipped teahouses for the night.
Descend from Ngawal toward the broad, arid valley floor of Manang on a short walk that serves as active recovery after crossing Kang La Pass. The path winds through juniper scrub and pine woods beneath the ice faces of Annapurna III (7,555 m) and Gangapurna (7,455 m). Along the trail, pass Sher Gompa and the Gompa of Godzo before reaching Braga (Braka), an ancient settlement of stone houses stacked against sheer limestone cliffs. Here, visit Braga Gompa, a 900-year-old Kagyu monastery noted for its historic murals and statues, with the steep side trail leading up to the eleventh-century Milarepa's Cave on the bluffs above.
A gentle walk across the Ghatte Khola brings you into Manang (3,540 m), the primary trekking hub of the Annapurna Circuit. With its fresh bakeries, teahouses, and Himalayan Rescue Association altitude clinic, the village provides the ideal setting to rest, acclimatize, and recharge before you begin the push toward Thorong La.
Nar Phu Valley Trek is a remote trek that takes you to the secluded and alluring regions located in the north of Annapurna. Nar and Phu are two different remote villages known for preserving their exotic beauty and traditional cultures. The villages are heavily influenced by Buddhist culture; the trek route is adorned with Buddhist monuments. The trek route is strewn with prayer flags, chortens, Gumbas, Mani walls, and many more shrines that reflect the cultural influence in these villages.
The trail is a restricted trekking area in Nepal, the cultural and natural beauty of the valley is intact. Being a new trekking destination, it is a seldom-traveled route with a unique combination of high peaks and passes. This intriguing area offers a picture of glaciers, remote villages, narrow canyons, lovely forests, amazing rock formations, yaks, Gompas, and unique Himalayan cultures. Overall, the trek promises wilderness and the company of majestic mountain views along with stunning landscapes.
Although trekking to Nar Phu has not been long since its opening, voyagers have deeply fallen in love with the place. The trail entails passing through high pinnacles, mountain passes, and remote villages. Some of the notable villages on this journey are Manang, Nar, Phu, Meta, Koto, and a few others. Likewise, the trail includes passing through exquisite verdant forests and vast pasture lands.
Trekkers will be fascinated by the remote Tibetan towns with overlapping stone houses. Along with that, old Buddhist religious communities and a terrific view of the Annapurna Range are significant attractions of the journey. It is a unique journey that lets visitors experience far-off villages with awesome cultural backgrounds.