Nar Phu Valley Trekking-18 Days

After your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative from Trekking Planner Nepal will be waiting for you at the arrival section with the company play card, which will help with identification. Upon meeting, the representative will escort you to the private vehicle and keep all the baggage inside the trunk. Afterward, the driver will escort you towards Thamel, your hotel location. The drive from the airport to the hotel will take about 20 minutes, depending on the traffic conditions. Thamel is the tourist hotspot of Kathmandu, where almost all the tourists visiting Kathmandu reside. It is a vibrant place where you can find restaurants, clubs, pubs, gear shops, handicrafts, artifacts, ATMs, and money exchange all in one place.

The representative will help you check in at the hotel when you reach Thamel. After check-in, head into your room and rest; the hotel staff will bring the baggage to you. Later in the afternoon, you will have a short meeting with the company owner, where you will discuss the trek and how you are going to carry out the trek. The company will provide information about all the necessary gear for the trek. All your questions and queries for the trek are discussed during the meeting, so feel free to clarify any doubts. After the meeting, you can roam around Thamel or head to your hotel.

Later in the evening, a representative will escort you to an authentic Nepalese restaurant for the welcome dinner. You can see Nepalese cultural dance and music during the dinner and enjoy great food. Similarly, if you have any other unanswered doubts regarding the trek, the representative will clear them. After the welcome dinner, you will be escorted back to the hotel for the overnight stay in Kathmandu.

You will wake up early and have breakfast at the hotel. Typically, breakfast time will be from 6-10 a.m. but can vary depending on the hotel. After breakfast, you will prepare for the sightseeing tour of Kathmandu. As the preparation is completed, a vehicle and your tour guide will pick you up from the hotel lobby and drive you toward these prominent locations. All of the places you visit are UNESCO World Heritage sites. So, there is a sure ticket price for foreigners to enter these world heritage sites. Similarly, visitors are advised to respect the local culture and follow the rules while visiting these cultural sites. First of all, you will start the tour from Swayambhunath stupa, which is located on the western side of the city. The Stupa is situated on a hilltop, showing Kathmandu's view. Likewise, the Swayambhunath stupa is a blend of both Hinduism and Buddhism that showcases various stupas, temples, and many others. The popular attractions of Swayambhunath are as follows:

• Harati Temple: Two-story pagoda-style temple with two metal lions and Nepalese flags at the entrance.
• Anantapur Temple: The temple was established by Pratap Malla and is dedicated to his queen.
• Statue of Dipankar Buddha: A single piece of stone that dates back to the 7th century.
• Vajra: It is a depiction of a lightning bolt, which symbolizes hardness and power.
• Amideva Buddha Park has three giant golden Buddha statues and a beautiful garden.

After Swayambhunath, visitors will move towards Kathmandu Durbar Square, located in the city's central part. The Kathmandu Durbar Square is also known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square or Basantapur Durbar Square. The square has several temples, arts, and architecture to explore, making it one of the most popular destinations in Kathmandu. Some of the attractions are as follows:

• Shiva Parvati Temple is the first temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and goddess Parvati.
• Jagannath Temple: It is a temple dedicated to Jagannath, the eighth incarnation of Lord Shiva.
• Hanuman Dhoka Palace: The palace has a statue of Hanuman in front and a rich collection of art and architecture.
• Taleju Temple: One of the tallest temples of the Durbar Square.
• Kumari Ghar Palace: It is the home of the goddess Kumari, also known as the living goddess. According to traditional standards, Kumari is selected from the Shakya family and kept as a Kumari until her first period. She gives a glimpse for about 20-30 seconds every Day from the third floor.
• Kaal Bhairav Statue: The Kaal Bhairav is a black stone sculpture and supposedly the incarnation of Lord Shiva.
• Nasal Chowk: The coronation platform.

With the visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square, visitors head to another location on the sightseeing tour, Pashupatinath Temple. The Pashupatinath temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Nepal and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Pashupatinath temple lies on the banks of the Bagmati River, and it is of immense importance to Hindus as well as Nepalese. However, only Hindus are allowed to enter the main temple, and non-Hindu are strictly prohibited from entering. Although this is the case, there are several things that non-Hindus can explore in and around Pashupatinath temple. Some of the popular attractions of Pashupatinath temple are as follows:

• Mukhalinga: It is a sacred stone representing Lord Shiva's face.
• Bachhareshwari Temple: It is a temple situated between two ghats.
• Guhyeshwari Temple shrines the goddess Sati's yoni, representing divine feminine energy and spirituality.
• Gorakhnath Temple: The temple is dedicated to Guru Gorakhnath, a respected Hindu figure.

Lastly, after visiting Pashupatinath temple, visitors will go to Boudhanath, which is the last UNESCO World Heritage Site today. Boudhanath is a religious place, especially for those who follow Tibetan Buddhism. The Stupa consists of a white dome filled with prayer wheels and flags. The popular attractions of Boudhanath are as follows:

• Ajima Temple: It is also known as the protector of Stupa.
• Historical Pond and Ghyoilisang Peace Park: It is in the northwest part of Boudhanath stupa.
• Guru Lhakhang Monastery: It houses the three-story statue of Guru Rinpoche.
• Jhamchen Lhakhang Monastery: It houses a 32-foot-high statue of Maitreya Buddha.
• Samtenling Monastery: It is the oldest monastery of Boudhanath.
• Dilyak Yebam Monastery is also known as Dhapsang Monastery of the Thousand Buddhas.

Besides these UNESCO World Heritage sites, there are other popular attractions of interest for visitors staying in Kathmandu. Some of the options that visitors can choose from are:

• Patan Durbar Square
• Nagarkot View Point
• Bhaktapur Durbar Square and
• Chandragiri Temple and Cable Car.

After visiting Boudhanath Stupa, you can have lunch at a restaurant of interest. You can have delicious Tibetan cuisine at Boudhanath and return to Thamel in a private vehicle. After returning to Thamel, you can wander around the streets. Similarly, in the evening, you have to pack your bags and prepare for the trek on the following Day. If you need anything for the trek, you can buy it in Thamel. Later, have dinner and rest. Spend overnight in Kathmandu.

Today, you will wake up early in the morning and refresh. The hotel will also prepare a packed breakfast if you have to wake up early. However, you can enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel if you have time. After breakfast, wait in the hotel lobby, where a private vehicle will pick you up and transfer you to the bus station for the drive towards Dharapani. The bus leaves from Kathmandu's Nayabuspark (New Bus Park) area and heads towards Besisahar along the Prithivi Highway. The bus leaves as early as 6. a.m., but there are other options to reach Besisahar, that is, by minibus or minivan. Reaching Besisahar from Kathmandu will take about six hours, depending on the road and traffic conditions. So, during this long drive, you will have lunch at a suitable location along the driving route.

We will reach Besisahar because that is the last location where the bus or minivan will leave you. So, from Besisahar, you, along with your guide and trekking crew, will take a shared jeep to reach Dharapani. The jeep ride takes on through a narrow off-road section. Still, it passes along remote villages of Nepal while observing waterfalls, rivers, and forest areas. Reaching Dharapani from Besisahar will take about three hours, depending on the road and traffic conditions, as you will face a bumpy road ahead. After reaching Dharapani, your guide will escort you to your accommodation option. Reaching the accommodation option, you will rest and have dinner. After dinner, the guide will brief you about the following Day's activities. You can relax further and stay overnight in Dharapani.

Today, as you wake up in Dharapani, you will have breakfast at your accommodation. After breakfast, pack your bags and get your gear ready because your official trekking in the Narphu Valley begins.

So, with all the preparation, begin your trekking journey and head to Koto, your destination for today. Your walk in this section is relatively easy, with flat roads all accumulating for a good trekking day. As you progress along Dharapani, you will have to make a quick stop at the check post located in Dharapani to show your paperwork and permit, especially the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit. Your guide will help you with the logistics for a hassle-free experience. Once all the permits are complete, you will go to the Nar Phu Valley trekking trail. After passing the check post, you will take on the gradual ascent and ultimately reach the entrance of Danakyu village. The entrance is decorated with murals and prayer wheels, providing an aesthetic approach to the trekking route.

Similarly, walking in the section provides an opportunity to see the lush green hilly region with vibrant villages and cascading waterfalls. You will then take the narrow stone-stepped staircase at the hill's edge to the town of Timing. You can then have lunch at a suitable place in Timing and continue towards Koto. It will take 3 hours of trek to reach the lunch place and another two and a half or three hours to reach Koto.

From the lunch place about 45 minutes ahead, you will reach Syarkyu, another vibrant settlement in the region. From Syarkyu (2,705 meters), you will progress through the forested area, cross a small wooden staircase followed by a suspension bridge, and continue to the forest area to reach Koto. Koto (2600 meters) is the entry gate to Nar Phu Valley, a prominent village on the Annapurna Circuit trekking trail. So, reaching Koto, settle in an accommodation and rest. Your trekking journey will be complete for the Day; to celebrate that, have a fulfilling dinner. After dinner, with a short briefing for the following Day's Day trek, rest further and stay overnight in Koto.

Start your Day with refreshments and a fulfilling breakfast at Koto. After breakfast, prepare to leave Koto behind and continue towards Meta for your next section of Nar Phu Valley Trekking.

You will continue along the trekking trail with the view of Annapurna II and head towards Koto. At first, you will start on a gentle downhill trek and pass through the suspension bridge built above the Marsyangdi River. Then, the walk is flat, following the Marsyangdi River edge. The trail gradually becomes narrower as you move along, so you must walk along the route crafted on the cliff side of the mountain. Then, the trail continues through the forested area, giving a vibrant atmosphere for the trek.

Then, you will cross the river again through a stable wooden bridge and continue on the trekking trail on the other side of the river. You will now have to face an inclined trail that lies ahead. Finishing the inclined trail may be challenging, so rest in between. After completing the inclination, you will reach Che Che, the lunch place today. After lunch, continue on the trail and head towards Meta, which will probably take another 3-4 hours. You will continue on the forest area while passing numerous waterfalls and suspension bridges and observing beautiful scenery. You will also come across a hot spring in this section of the walk to ultimately reach Koto.

Upon reaching Meta, settle into an accommodation option and have dinner. After dinner, attend the briefing for tomorrow and rest. Spend overnight in Meta.

As you wake up in Meta, refresh and have a fulfilling breakfast. After breakfast, set out on the trek and leave Meta behind. Today, you will walk up to Phu Gaon from Meta.

Starting the journey, you will bid Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal goodbye and head ahead. You will see the diverse trail between Nar and Phu village from a junction. Then you will ascent towards Phu village, where the track is gentle and filled with beautiful high valley scenery. As you trek forward, cross the suspension bridge and come across a flat trail surrounded by hills and valleys. After a short walk, you will reach Chayku, a suitable lunch place today. The settlement of Chayku is attached underground, which is the prominent highlight of the place. Then, with a delicious lunch, continue the trek and head towards Phu Gaon.

You will reach Kyang, which is the village after Chayku. From Kang, continue on the flat and off-beaten trail. Although Kyang is possibly the lunch place in normal seasons, in extreme seasons like monsoon and winter, the people of Kyang (3,840 meters) migrate down to avoid harsh climatic conditions, so depending upon the season of visit, Kyang may be closed. Moving past Kyang, you will walk along the cliffside, so be careful with the steps. Then, with a relatively more leisurely walk, you will reach the most difficult part of the trek: a downhill slope followed by an uphill hike. After that, you will get a minuscule gateway that marks the entrance to the Phu Valley. Further walking, you will reach the Phu Gaon, deeply rooted in Tibetan Heritage. Phu Goan used to be a trading port for Nepal and Tibet.

Upon reaching Phu Goan, settle in an accommodation option and have dinner. After dinner, attend the briefing for tomorrow and rest. Spend overnight in Phu Goan.

Today is the acclimatization day in Phu Gaon. So, you will spend an additional day here adapting your body to low oxygen levels before heading on a trek to a higher altitude. For the acclimatization, you will hike to Himlung Base Camp, which is located at an altitude of 7126 meters. Himlung base camp is a suitable destination for acclimatization and excursion. Trekkers will hike at that altitude and spend time adapting their bodies to a lower oxygen level before coming down. The hike will allow trekkers to help for the following days when elevation gain is confirmed.

So, start the acclimatization day with breakfast and prepare for the hike. You will see the glacier moraine of the Himlung Himal, and the atmosphere will be chilly. It will take you 4-5 hours to reach the Base Camp from Phu Goan. From the base camp, you will see a panoramic view of snow-capped mountains, including Nandadevi, Rajramba, Api Himal, and Kappa Chuli Peak. You will spend approximately an hour at the base camp and head towards Phu Goan.

It will take two hours to return. Once reaching Phu Goan, have lunch. Then you can spend the rest of your time exploring the Phu village. You will also get a chance to interact with the locals and learn more about their traditions, culture, and customs, giving you an idea of their lifestyle. With quality time in Phu village, settle in your accommodation option and wait for dinner. Then, attend the briefing for tomorrow and rest for the night. Spend overnight in Phu Goan.

As you wake up in Phu Gaon, refresh and have a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, pack your bag and be ready to leave the village behind. Today, you will walk from Phu Gaon to Nar, so continuing on the same road behind you, you will return to Chyaku for lunch.
After lunch, you will recall your steps towards the Nar village. You will reach the junction ahead of Meta and diverge towards the beautiful town of Nar Phedi. After taking the diversion towards Nar Phedi, you will continue downhill briefly. Then, you will cross the suspension bridge. After crossing the suspension bridge, you will take a short hike and continue on the rugged trail. You will reach the beautiful settlement of Nar Phedi. There is a monastery in Nar Phedi where many trekkers can take a night's rest, which is the Nar Phedi Monastery. The monastery is a reasonable accommodation option for many trekkers; others may head towards Nar rather than stay in Nar Phedi.

You will reach Nar village from Gompa in about 4 hours, depending on the pace. So, leaving the Gompa behind, you must take the uphill walk. So, walk slowly and adjust your body to lower oxygen levels. You can see the Gompa at the base and the mountains up close as you reach the hill. Likewise, continuing the trekking route, you will still need to follow the uphill walk. After finishing the second uphill climb, you can see an iron gate portraying a flat trekking trail ahead. Inside the trekking trail, you can see several colorful mani stones with encrypted mantras. As you progress, you can see the beautiful village of Nar in the distance. Then, enter from the Nar village gate to finally reach the destination for today.

Upon reaching the Nar village, settle in an accommodation option and rest. Later in the evening, have dinner and attend the short briefing session for tomorrow. Then, rest and stay overnight in Nar village.

Today, as you wake up, refresh yourself, and have a fulfilling breakfast, you will spend another day in Nar village to acclimate. So, this will be your second acclimatization day in the Nar Phu Valley Trek. On this acclimatization day, you will explore the nearby places and understand more about the village. Nar is also known as the place of Blue Sheep and is one of the lesser-known trekking regions of Nepal. However, the culturally unique ethnic Tibetan communities of Nar village are sure to captivate you for life. Likewise, you can also immerse yourself in an authentic Himalayan village lifestyle and witness people engaging in traditional practices such as farming, herding yaks, and weaving.

At the end of the acclimatization and exploration day in Nar village, you will continue to your accommodation option. There, you can have dinner and rest. After dinner, your guide will brief you on the activities you will do on the following Day. After that, you will relax and spend overnight in Nar Village.

Today, you will wake up early and have breakfast. After breakfast, you will pack your bag and leave Nar village behind. Today is the hardest section of the trek because you will cross the Kang La Pass and head to Ngwal for an overnight stay. Crossing the Kang La Pass is physically challenging, but after the pass, trekkers are connected with the Annapurna Circuit trek, which is an adventure in itself.

So, starting the trek in the section, you will begin with an ascent through yak meadows along the Temdenzon Khola's lateral moraine. The route is off-beaten, with rock mountains upfront; however, a rough portrayal of layers of rocky, barren hills and snow-capped mountains is sure to encourage anyone to move further. You will go uphill along the glacier fields and continue to walk on the uneven path to reach the summit of Kang La Pass and head down. The summit of the Kang La Pass consists of prayer flags and a sign that says Kang La Pass. Then, you will head down to the summit, which is a steep downhill in a rocky field, so be careful with your steps.

After reaching the base, congratulations—you have completed the Kang La Pass Trek. Then, go on the well-defined trekking route with green vegetation. Most of the section is downhill, giving a more leisurely walking experience. After a short hike, you will reach the beautiful settlement of Ngwal. Steps, Buddhist stupas, chortens, and many Tibetan-style houses mark the entrance of Ngwal.

Upon reaching Ngwal, settle in an accommodation and have dinner. Then, after dinner, attend a small briefing session to learn about the trekking section for tomorrow. Later, rest and spend overnight in Ngwal.

As you wake up in Ngwal, refresh and have a delicious breakfast at the accommodation option. After breakfast, get ready to leave Ngwal and head towards Manang, which will be your destination today. You will leave Ngwal, walk through the settlement, and head uphill to finally bid Ngwal goodbye. Then, you will continue along the flat surface and catch the trekking route to Manang. From there, you will again take an uphill climb where you can see a miniature stupa and a lot of stone encryption at the hilltop.

Then, you will have a view of mountains from the Annapurna range and wander along the trekking trail. You can feel the snow-capped mountains appear closer and closer after walking for some time. Later, you will follow a downhill trail and cross a small river upfront. Progressing on the trail, you will walk the rugged terrain with off-beaten roads and desert landscapes. Similarly, at this point, you can have lunch at any favorable place and continue on the walk. Then, following the same route, you will have the first glimpse of Manang. Ultimately, you will follow the flat route to reach Manang.

Upon reaching Manang, enter the walled city and begin the exploration. You can settle for an accommodation option and rest. Later in the evening, have a fulfilling dinner. Be sure to attend the briefing session and get some sleep. Spend overnight in Manang.

Begin your morning in Manang with a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, prepare to leave Manang and head towards Yak Kharka, today's destination. As you leave Manang, start your journey to Yak Kharka, another beautiful destination in the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
As you pass the settlement of Manang, you will exit through the narrow path of Manang and see Annapurna II, Annapurna V, and Gangapurna. You will also need to show your permits at the ACAP check post. Then, you can continue along the main trekking trail, which points towards the Thorang La. After walking in that direction for about one and a half hours, you will reach a teahouse for a lunch break, probably at Chullu West Hotel in Gungsang. From there, you can see Gangapurna. 

As you progress on the journey, you will cross a beautiful swing bridge from one side of the valley to another. You can see many shrubs and grasses, followed by yaks with beautiful red earrings. Similarly, you can also see many porters and horses carrying supplies to higher destinations on the Annapurna trekking trail. Finally, after some walking, you will arrive at Yak Kharka.
Reach Yak Kharka, settle in an accommodation, and have dinner. After dinner, attend the briefing session and rest. Spend overnight in Yak Kharka.

As you wake up in Yak Kharka, have a delicious breakfast and pack your bags. Today, you will leave Yak Kharka and head towards Thorong Phedi or Thorang High Camp. The Thorang Phedi is the last destination before crossing the Thorang La Pass, the highest altitude location in the Annapurna Circuit Trekking. 

So, as you set off from Yak Kharka, you will hike through flat fields with a view of majestic mountains that overwhelm you during the walk. Then, with an ascend of 150 meters elevation, you will reach Churi Ledar. Ledar is one of the alternative places for acclimatization, providing a stunning view of Annapurna III, Gangapurna, and Chulu Peak.

After Ledar, you will walk on an even path before the path splits. Then, take the path to the left and head towards the suspension bridge. Then, you will take the uphill climb pebbled with small rocks and snow. Similarly, there are chances of landslides as you will gaze along the landslide-prone area to reach Thorong Phedi. Thorong Phedi is a small settlement with fewer teahouses and guesthouses. While most trekkers stay at Thorang Phedi, others will also head towards Thorang High Camp.

Upon reaching the Thorang High Camp, rest and settle in an accommodation option. Then, rest and have dinner. After dinner, attend the briefing session and rest further. Stay overnight in Thorang High Camp.

Today, after breakfast, you will leave Thorang High Camp and head towards Muktinath via Thorang La Pass. Thorang La Pass is at an altitude of 5416 meters, one of the highest passes in the Manaslu Circuit Trek and Annapurna Circuit Trek. It is another challenging spot in the Nar Phu Valley Trekking, so submit the Thorang La Pass cautiously. As you steep along the Thorang La Pass, you will reach the summit, which is the gateway to the Manang and Mustang districts.

As you reach the summit, head down the steep trailway along the glaciers towards Muktinath. With the descent from Thorang La Pass, you will have a steady descent followed by a zigzag route. The track is filled with loose stone, so be careful when taking your steps. Then, moving along the trek, you will reach the small village of Charabu, which is a potential stop point. From Charabu, you will then continue towards Muktinath. The section has a rocky stone path with a steep descent. Then, you will cross a suspension bridge and follow a path up and down to Muktinath. 

Upon reaching Muktinath, settle in an accommodation and rest. If you have time, explore the temple premises. Then, have dinner, attend the briefing, and rest further. Spend overnight in Muktinath.

As you wake up in Muktinath, explore the temple area. Get bathed in the 108 water spouts and dive into the two kinds. You can also view the Jwala Mai Temple and eternal flame located near the main temple. After spending quality time in Muktinath, have breakfast and head towards Jomsom, which will be your destination for today.

As you leave Muktinath, you will take the route to Kagbeni, and from Kagbeni, you will head to Jomsom, which marks the final stop on the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Most people take a bus or jeep from Muktinath to reach Jomsom, while many simply walk to reach Jomsom. Walking from Muktinath, you will take a long descent to Kali Gandaki River to reach Jomsom. Reaching Jomsom, settle in an accommodation place and have dinner. After dinner, attend the briefing session and rest further. Spend overnight in Jomsom.

Wake up in Jomsom, refresh, and have a fulfilling breakfast at the accommodation place. After breakfast, pack your bags and get ready to take a flight back to Pokhara. You will walk from Jomsom to the airport and board the plane to Pokhara. A direct flight from Jomsom to Pokhara will take about 20-25 minutes, offering an aerial view of the surrounding landscape and snow-capped mountains.

With the scenic flight, you will take a break from the harsh walk and have a leisurely experience. After reaching the Pokhara airport, a representative of Trekking Planner Nepal will pick you up in a private vehicle and take you to the accommodation option. If you arrive early, then you can get the chance to explore the tourist city of Pokhara and its popular attractions. You can have lunch and dinner at a suitable place in Pokhara. You can wander along lakeside Pokhara and view other important landmarks, including Bindabasini Temple, Devi's Fall, Tal Barahi Temple, International Mountain Museum, Phewa Lake, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, Pumdikot and many others. You can also go on the Pokhara City Tour: One Day. 

Later in the evening, celebrate your completion of the trek and enjoy it to the fullest. After dinner, rest and spend overnight in Pokhara.

After breakfast today, prepare to leave Pokhara and head towards Kathmandu. You will reach Kathmandu on a deluxe tourist bus ride. Our representative will take you to the bus station and direct you to the bus seat. Afterward, along the Prithvi Highway, you will drive from Pokhara to the capital city of Nepal. You will leave behind the vibrant Pokhara city and drive along Nepal's more traditional and remote settlements. You will also drive along the Trishuli River while passing various waterfalls, small towns, and hilly landscapes. As you traverse from a busy to a remote area, you will sometimes feel the change of landscape from a remote to a more industrial area to reach Kathmandu ultimately. Depending on traffic and road conditions, you will reach Kathmandu in about a 6-7 hour' drive. Lunch will be along the way to Kathmandu.

Upon reaching Kathmandu, you will be directed towards your hotel. After some rest in the Kathmandu Hotel, you will have a farewell dinner at a restaurant in Thamel. A representative will join you at the farewell dinner to learn about your trekking experience with us. Then, with quality food and time, your dinner with Trekking Planner Nepal ends. Then, you will be escorted back to the hotel for an overnight stay. If you have time, you can also do some last-minute shopping. Spend the night in Kathmandu.

Today is your last day in Nepal, so according to your flight schedule, have breakfast and explore the streets of Thamel. 2 hours before your flight, a representative will pick you up from the hotel and then escort you to a private vehicle that will drive you back to the airport. Upon reaching the airport, the representative will bid you farewell and help you with the luggage. After the last goodbye, we hope to see you again and assist you in the mountain adventure. Until then, best wishes for your future endeavors. May the mountain memories be with you forever.