Annapurna Circuit with Nar Phu Valley Trek

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.

Today serves as a mandatory physiological rest day to synchronize your body with the dropping oxygen levels. Because ascending directly toward Thorong La Pass without pausing dramatically elevates the risk of acute mountain sickness, the expedition halts in Manang.

We operate on the fundamental alpine rule to climb high and sleep low. You can choose a moderate hike to Gangapurna Lake (3,800m), a striking turquoise basin formed by glacial meltwater, or push slightly higher to the Chongkor Viewpoint (3,900m). Both vantage points deliver unobstructed, panoramic vistas of the Gangapurna Glacier, Annapurna III, and Tilicho Peak. For trekkers possessing exceptional stamina, the rigorous ascent to Ice Lake (4,600m) provides the ultimate physiological preparation.

During the afternoon, the group will return to the village center. Manang functions as a vibrant commercial hub where you can sample fresh pastries at local bakeries or simply rest. Later, we will visit the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) clinic. Every afternoon, international volunteer doctors conduct a comprehensive briefing on high altitude safety, which provides vital medical context before our final push upward.

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.

Today features a short, gradual ascent along the Jarsang Khola valley toward Thorong Phedi, the primary base camp at the foot of Thorong La Pass.

The trail winds across open alpine terrain past the seasonal settlement of Ledar before descending to cross a suspension bridge over the glacial river. On the opposite side, the path climbs steadily and crosses an exposed scree area where maintaining a deliberate, single-file pace is essential.

While some trekkers push higher to High Camp at 4,925 meters, we advise spending the night at Thorong Phedi. Sleeping at 4,450 meters provides better oxygen levels and lowers the risk of altitude sickness, helping you rest properly before tomorrow's climb.

To avoid the severe afternoon winds, your group will depart Thorong Phedi well before dawn. The initial climb is incredibly steep, requiring a slow and steady pace through the freezing mountain air. As you get closer to the peak, the path becomes rougher and demands careful navigation across loose rocky ridges.

Reaching the prayer flags at the summit of Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters delivers an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. From this high vantage point, you will experience a stunning 360 degree panorama. Looking north, the dry landscape of the Tibetan plateau unfolds. When you look back, you can see massive Annapurna peaks and the deep canyon of the Kali Gandaki gorge.

Following a brief summit celebration, you face a massive 1,600 meter descent into the Mustang district. The trail drops sharply over loose gravel before finally leveling out at Muktinath. Sitting at 3,800 meters, this sacred mountain oasis is home to ethnic Tibetans and serves as a major pilgrimage site containing historic temples revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. You will rest here for the night in a comfortable local teahouse, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided.

You will board a four-wheel-drive vehicle and trace the riverbed through what is geographically celebrated as the deepest gorge on Earth, flanked by the 8,000-meter giants of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I.

The drive cuts south past Jomsom into Marpha, an iconic Thakali village renowned for its whitewashed stone alleys, traditional flat roofs, and apple orchards. As the elevation drops, the arid, windswept terrain of Mustang gives way to lush greenery and tumbling waterfalls near Kalopani, Ghasa, and Dana.

After passing the riverside settlements of Tatopani and Beni, the dirt track joins the paved highway leading into Pokhara. Arriving at the lakeside city, you will check into your hotel near Phewa Lake to relax and celebrate the successful completion of the mountain circuit.

After breakfast, we depart Pokhara for the return journey to the capital. The 200 kilometer drive follows the scenic Prithvi Highway alongside the Trisuli River, taking approximately six to eight hours. Upon arriving in Kathmandu, you will transfer directly to your hotel to relax and enjoy your final evening in Nepal.

Approximately three hours prior to your scheduled international flight, a company representative will transfer you from your hotel directly to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey.