Nar Phu Valley Trek Overview
The Nar Phu Valley Trek located in the northern part of the Annapurna region, Nepal, leads us on a fascinating adventure around the Tibetan plateau through exotic, rugged terrains where the villages seem to stop in time, straight out of a folk tale, reflecting authentic Tibetan culture. Being out of bounds to trekkers until 2003, the Nar Phu Valley still tends to hold its charisma and rawness, remaining unchanged, as special permits are required to enter this valley.
The twin 2 valleys of Nar and Phu stand out being one of the major highlights of this trek complemented by suspension bridges, narrow canyons, old Buddhist monasteries, and remote villages in high rock formations that take us to two legendary passes, Thorong La Pass and Kang La Pass exceeding the height of 5000 meters while covering the latter half of the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
At every step, along the Nar Phu Valley Trek route, we'll be greeted by Tibetan locals with red cheeks, gracefully smiling, providing warmth on our long hiking day. The yak pastures and blue sheep grazing on the terraced fields, the Buddhist gompas surrounded by colorful prayer flags, mani walls, and chortens. Against the backdrop of breathtaking mountains such as Annapurna I, Manaslu, and Tilicho Peak, along with over 20 other peaks, lies a heavenly vicinity that transports us to an ancient era far away from the modern world.
Passing by several diverse settlements of Koto, Meta, Phu, Nar, and Ngawal, this Nar Phu Trek leads us to Manang Valley, and after crossing the Thorong La Pass (5,146 m), rejoining the Annapurna Circuit route at the holy pilgrimage site of the renowned "Muktinath Temple." This temple has a significant belief attached to it, as many say that taking a shower here at the 108 taps washes away all our sins.
Reaching Jomsom, the colorful rock formation in the shades of orange and red shows a unique insight into this Nar Phu Valley trekking, reminding us that the journey is not over yet, as we'll spend one more day here, a perfect place to stroll around within the district of Mustang.
The final day for the Nar Phu Trek is something so mesmerizing, as we'll take a breathtaking flight to Pokhara, where the stunning snowcapped peaks surround us throughout the 25-minute flight, which slowly changes into a lush greenery scene, providing a flashback to our incredible journey. This trek concludes right after we reach Kathmandu.
For those who want to feel the lively experience of the culture and tradition of Tibetan locals by navigating through the off-beaten path, rocky terrains, with a little bit of a touch of adventure. This 17-day Nar Phu Valley trek is perfect for you, where serenity and stunning, unblemished views accompany you every step!
Nar Phu Trek Highlights
- Feel a sense of accomplishment by crossing two daring high passes, Thorong La Pass and Kang La Pass, in one single trip
- Get a lively experience of Tibetan culture and tradition
- Befriend several mountains such as Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Nilgiri, and not to forget Tilicho Peak
- Walk along the Marshyangdi River and cross thrilling long suspension bridges
- Come across the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the world's deepest gorge
- Reach the Himlung Himal Base camp- 4900 m
- Witness Himalayan yaks and blue sheep grazing beautifully on the terraced fields
- A spiritual visit to an ancient gompa, such as Tashi Lamang Gompa, surrounded by mani walls, chortens, and prayer flags
- A day at the popular tourist hub, Pokhara, with boating in the silver sparkling lake- Phewa Lake
- Spend a day strolling around Jomsom, a popular valley of Mustang
- Pilgrimage visit to Muktinath, a Hindu temple
Why Nar Phu Valley Trekking is a must-do adventure in Nepal?
Being located in one of the isolated sections of Nepal within the Annapurna region, the twin valley of Nar and Phu is a hidden treasure that is surrounded by diverse landscapes and rich, untouched Tibetan culture, with a limited footprint from the adventure seekers, as special permits are essential to enter this valley - hence, not everyone can get access here easily. It would be seriously no debate to consider Nar Phu as the top listed off betaen adventure in Nepal, which visits several Tibetan villages, through the rugged terrains and Tibetan plateau highlands like Mars - totally out of this world. While it might sound like an exaggeration, here are the top 5 reasons to trek the Nar and Phu valley, which make you believe that heaven does exist here in the land of the Himalayas:
Experience the off-beaten adventure and wilderness
Even though the Nar Phu Trekking Trail is considered one of the emerging treasures among the thrill seekers who love to explore the wonders of pristine landscapes, as compared to other expeditions like Annapurna Base Camp and Langtang Trek, Nar Phu valley is a newly opened route, just initiated in 2003 AD. Touching both the iconic regions of Manaslu and Annapurna, it is the less-traveled and less-frequented trail, due to its remote route and unfacilitated trailhead, where the ancient villages and the pathways, alleys, and locals preserving their culture are still in the ancient era.
While many famous treks in Nepal are being rapidly spoiled by the modern infrastructure and equipped with luxury city alike aminities, Nar and Phu valley remains the same from century to century, falling under the restricted remote area of Nepal. Imagine just settling at the local tea houses, where Tibetan locals call their home, and being savoured with the ancient culture of untamed original Tibetans, offering a feel of tranquility far away from the crowd modern world, well, this is Nar Phu Valley Trek for you!
Immerse yourselves in the local hamlets, and gaze at animal herding process, agricultural farming activities, thangka painting woolings and wake up with the sound of cows and yaks, and end the night with the chirping sound of the himalayan birds and induldging the local foods, made out of love - by opting one of the most precious hidden gem of Nar Phu.
Cross the Two Major Thrilling Kang La Pass and Thorong La Pass while trekking Nar Phu Valley
This Nar Phu Valley Trek itinerary also includes crossing over two idyllic passes over 5000 meters, Kang La Pass (5320 meters), and also Thorong La Pass (5143 meters), touching the twin valley of Nar and Phu with the Annapurna Circuit Trek at the same time. Standing at an elevation of 5143 m, Thorung La stands out to be the world's highest walking pass, marking its name on the global list; hence, this trek gives you a sense of accomplishment of acing the two high mountain passes in one single adventure.
The first half of the Nar Phu Trekking, crosses the Kang La Pass and then goes to the Throng La by exploring Manang, Yak Kharka, and Thorung Phedi, showing an insight into six climatic zones gradually. This trek is also a perfect chance for the testament of physical endurance and a great perseverance mindset to overcome challenges, and attain new heights. If you are looking for a perfect adventure to push your limits, then this trek to Nar Phu is astonishingly for you.
Mountain views during the Nar Phu Valley Trek
Touching the highlands of the world's eighth and tenth highest mountains in the world - Manaslu and Annapurna- this trek to Nar Phu Valley offers the best panoramic vista of the Himalayan range with each stride. From the marvelous transition of the lush green valley, villages, rugged terrains, rocky sections, to snowy, frosty peaks, the diverse topography will amusingly surprise you. Throughout the Nar Phu Trek, it rewards you with a 360-degree view of Manaslu (8163 m), Annapurna (8091 m), Khangsar Kang (7386 m), stretching to Gangapurna (7476 m), Himlung (7128 m), and Tilicho at 7136 meters, and their close-up view from the top of the Kang La Ma Pass.
Whereas, while attaining the top of the Thorung La in the latter half of the section, the view gets transformed to a dry Tibetan plateau with the view of the world's deepest Kali Gandaki gorge and Upper Mustang valley, making every step of the trek to Nar Phu one hundred percent noteworthy.
Visit ancient monasteries and Tibetan culture in Nar and Phu
One of the major highlights of this Nar Phu Valley Trekking is the unchanged cultural exploration of the Tibetan settlers, being highly influenced by the Bon religion - the oldest Tibetan Buddhist tradition. While many cultures have been highly influenced by modernization, the locals have been preserving their cultures from generation to generation, and the living proof is the mani walls, chortens, red shrines, gompas, and the colorful Buddhist Tibetan prayer flags dotted here.
The major villages of Nar and Phu demonstrate their culture in the form of stone houses, with distinct meaningful architecture, carved with wooden doors and windows, and while settling down here, you can witness their traditional lifestyle through animal herding and ancient-style agricultural farming. Amongst all, this valley also celebrates the colorful festival of Mani Rimdu, the oldest functioning monastery of Nepal, dating back 500 years. Besides, this Nar and Phu Trek also visits other monasteries, including the Lhogaon Monastery at Dharmsala, and Phu at the Ghompa valley, showcasing a deeper insight into the Tibetan Buddhist historic culture.
While many of us might perceive that this trek to Nar Phu valley is all about highly towering mountains and varied landscapes, the rich, diverse cultural mosaic of Buddhist spirituality, and the untamed lifestyle of locals leave a lifetime mark on your heart forever.
Nar Phu Valley Trek Cost for 2025 and 2026
The Nar Phu Valley Trekking cost starts from USD 1050 and goes up to USD 1250, which highly depends on the number. of the pax your group holds, which means the larger the number of hikers you have in a group, the pricing will be minimized accordingly. The standard price of this Nar Phu Trek is USD 1250, which covers all the requirements for the expedition, from the basic logistics to food, lodgings, and transportation to higher logistic management like permit arrangements, an experienced licensed trekking guide, hence your every essential will be taken care of.
Hence, to simplify, here are the costs of this trek to Nar Phu valley done based on the number of hikers with huge group discounts mainly crafted for the years 2025 and 2026:
| No. of Hikers | Standard Price |
| 1-1 | USD 1250 per person |
| 2-2 | USD 1150 per person |
| 3-3 | USD 1100 per person |
| 4-6 | USD 1050 per person |
What are the requirements to get Nar Phu Trek Permits?
As Nar Phu Valley lies in a restricted area, the government set some rules just two years back in 2023 A.D for foreigners. Without fulfilling certain requirements, this trek is impossible. Here are the 2 main things to consider for the permits. Also, note that permits will be arranged by us without any additional fees before your trip gets started:
- First and foremost, you must have someone in your group to travel with, excluding the guide and porter. In short, 2 pax of trekkers in a group. Solo trek isn't allowed.
- Secondly, for the permits, you must apply through a local registered trekking agency.
Here are the Nar Pu Valley Permit costs, which are charged for the expedition:
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ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): We are covering the Annapurna Circuit by visiting Thorong La Pass, and an ACAP permit is mandatory for this trek. The cost for an ACAP Permit is USD 20 (NRS 3000/- per person).
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Restricted Area Permit: This permit cost is based on the off-season and peak season, which means the price depends on the seasonal basis. If you are hiking from September to November, then the permit cost is $100, and for December to August it is USD 75 (approx. NRS 10,000).
Note: Destination Himalaya Treks and Expedition arranges all your required permits for this trek after your booking confirmation is made.
