On the first day of the Nar Phu trek, you will depart from Kathmandu to Besisahar. From there, you will take a local bus to reach Besisahar and then transfer to a jeep or mini-bus to get to Dharapani. After leaving Besisahar, we will continue our drive through paddy fields and cross Jagat, a Tibetan-style village, before arriving in Dharapani.

Similarly, it takes around 6 hours, and the terrain is mostly paved and well-maintained. However, the onward journey from Besisahar to Dharapani involves off-road driving, and the journey typically takes around 4 hours.

We will embark on a gentle ascent to Koto, a picturesque village located in the Manang district of Nepal. Koto is primarily populated by the Gurung and Manangi ethnic communities, each with its unique customs, language, and architectural characteristics. At Koto, we will leave the Annapurna Circuit trail and enter the restricted valley.

Our campsite for the night will be by the Nar River, which flows through the valley. It takes around 5 hours of trekking, covering an elevation gain of 1150 meters.

On your trekking journey, you’ll come across the Nar River, which is crossed by numerous footbridges. The trail that follows is quite narrow and, at times, replaced by wooden logs over sheer drops. Navigating further, the river splits into two and tackles a steep incline. Here you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the Kang Guru, which stands tall at an impressive 6981 meters.

As you progress, you’ll notice that Junipers gradually replace first along the way. Soon you’ll arrive at Meta, the wintering village of Nar residents. This village has a rich history as it served as a base for Khampa warriors fighting against Chinese occupation. Take a moment to appreciate the significance of this place and soak up its cultural heritage.

Finally, as you reach the end of your trek, you’ll see the beautiful view of Lamjung and Annapurna II. This trek includes five hours of upward trekking, with an elevation gain of 570 meters.

The route along the river leads you to a wintering village called Kyang, which is a popular spot for the Phu residents during the winter season. While trekking, you will start to get an enchanting view of the Annapurna II and IV, as well as Kang Guru. The trek to Kyang typically takes around four hours, and you will ascend approximately 320 meters along the way.

Continuing on your trek, you’ll notice that the landscape begins to transform into a much drier and arid terrain, resembling the vast Tibetan plateau. The path gradually descends into a stream gorge, where you’ll navigate several crossings via footbridges.

Following the trail, you’ll notice that it’s made of rock-cut stairs that zigzag up the rocky terrain, leading you to a stone gate and three small chortens. These chortens mark the entrance to Phu’s territory and symbolize Buddha’s presence, making them important religious monuments in Buddhism.

Overall, you can expect to be trekking for about 5 hours and ascending approximately 410 meters along the way.

Phu is a small but beautiful village located in the Nar Phu Valley. Despite being only 8km away from Tibet, it takes a two-day walk to reach Phu from there. The village itself is at an altitude of approximately 4,080 meters, making it a perfect destination for adventurous travelers who enjoy the high altitude.

Additionally, the Nar Phu Valley is situated in the farthest reaches of the Manang District, accessible solely with the acquisition of a special permit. The inhabitants of these valleys mostly sustain themselves through yak herding and engage in the trade of meat, wool, and hides with lower-altitude villages in the Manang region.

One of the main attractions in Phu is the Tashi Gompa monastery, which is perched on a cliff overlooking the village. From there, you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

If you have more time, you can also take an excursion towards the yak herders’ camps at 4500m.

On the seventh day of your trek, you will be moving from Phu to Kyang. The trek will last for around four hours, during which you will be descending a total of 410m.

After a long and challenging ascent, you will reach a magnificent 30-meter prayer wall. The wall is with a plethora of Tibetan inscriptions and Buddha images engraved on the stones. Exploring this beautiful site, you will notice that Nar appears to be clinging to the steep edge of a bowl.

The gray stone houses in Nar are entangled with each other and log ladders connect them. The entire area is adorned with colorful prayer flags that flutter gently in the wind, creating a serene and calming atmosphere.

Interestingly, the name “Nar” means “the site of the blue sheep” (or Bharal), which is a type of wild sheep that is native to this region. To reach this incredible location, you will need to trek for about 5 hours, ascending 480 meters and descending 220 meters.

On this day, you will be trekking from Nar to Kang La Phedi. It is also known as Jhombu Kharka, the bottom of Kang La Pass. This short-stage trek is designed to help you prepare for the challenging task of crossing the pass. The trek will take approximately 3 hours and involve an ascent of 200m.

To reach the pass at an altitude of 5310m, you need to undertake a challenging ascent that takes around 4 hours. The climb can be quite demanding at times, and it is essential to maintain focus and stay committed.

From this trial, you will get beautiful views of the Annapurna range and Gangapurna peak. Similarly, the descent commences with a fairly steep section that requires utmost attention and careful maneuvering.

As you descend the mountain, you’ll come across the beautiful Bhotia village of Ngawal. Overall, the trek takes around 8 hours and involves an elevation gain of 960m and a descent of 1660m.

The route from Ngawal to Manang offers a relatively easy trek. However, to prepare for the coming challenges of the following days, it is crucial to take sufficient rest at Manang. The trek is expected to take approximately three hours, with an ascent of 70 meters and a descent of 420 meters.

Upon ascending to Tangi and leaving the Marsangdi Valley, we will enter the Jarsang Khola Valley where the vegetation becomes increasingly sparse. After passing the Yak Kharkha pastures, we will reach Leda in an hour, and then continue for another 3 hours through a desolate landscape. The total trek spans six hours, with an elevation gain of 1295 meters and a descent of 145 meters.

We will begin our journey early in the morning to begin the long ascent towards Thorong La, situated at an altitude of 5310m. Upon reaching the pass, you will be able to witness the magnificent view of the “great barrier”.

The descent from the pass is quite challenging and will take us to Muktinath. Muktinath is a sacred site for both Hindus and Buddhists, and it is home to several temples.

From there, the slope becomes less steep and we will make our way towards the beautiful village of Jharkot, known for its monastery. This trek will take approximately 8 to 12 hours and will involve an ascent of 980m and a descent of 1850m.

On this day, we plan to visit Jharkot before heading down to Kagbeni. Kagbeni is a scenic village with Tibetan architecture and serves as the gateway to Mustang.

After exploring Kagbeni, we will follow the Kali Gandaki River to reach Jomsom. We will also take a detour to the off-the-beaten-track village of Lupra. The trek will take approximately 6 hours and involve a descent of 800m.

We will take an early morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara and then a local bus to Kathmandu. However, if you prefer, we can arrange a flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu upon request.