nar phu valley trek

Nar Phu Valley is one of the newly opened trek, it takes you to the remote but alluring region of Nepal. You will enjoy the delightful sights of quaint Tibetan villages, astounding rock formations, high altitude grazing settlements, narrow canyons, deep forests and majestic snow clad mountains during your trek. You will observe that the landscape of Nar Phu Valley is similar to that of Tibet.
The trail follows a rugged path as you explore the villages of Nar and Phu, cross the Kang La Pass, take on the less traveled route to Tilicho Lake and the Meso Kanta Pass (5089m) which links the Manang and Kali Ghandaki valley. This traversing of the pass provides you a more challenging and interesting alternative to the popular Thorong La pass on the Annapurna Circuit.
ITINERARY
Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu International Airport, More Than Mountain staffs meet and transfer to Hotel on BB basis.
Day 02: Full day Sightseeing in Kathmandu.
Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar (823m.) takes about six hours. You drive along the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway to Dumre and then follow the narrow and paved road by the Marshyangdi River to Beshisahar, the district headquarters of Lamjung district. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 04: Trek from Beshishahar to Bahundanda (1305m.) takes about six hours. The first part of the trail passes through flat level along the bank of the Marshyangdi river. You can enjoy the sceneries and the local culture of Gurung community. After lunch the trail goes steeply upwards to Bahundanda takes about 2 hours. At this point, you can see the area surrounded by eye-catching scenarios with snow -capped mountains. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 05: Trek from Bahundanda to Chamje (1410m.) takes about six hours. A steep trail descends for early half an hour and then follows flat path through rice terraces before crossing a stream at the bottom of a small waterfalls. It then climbs again and traverses the hillside high above the river before reaching the village of Lali Gaon. Ahead the Marshyangdi valley forms a steep V-shape and you follow the winding mountain path down through Syange (1100m.) where there is a beautiful waterfall above it and along the river for some distance. The trail then climbs steeply and the path is cut into the sheer cliff-face some 200-300m above the riverbed.. Now the trail begins to observe small ups and downs to Chamje through the forests. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 06: Trek from Chamje (1410m.) to Dharapani (1960m.) takes about six hours. The first part of the trail descends to the river and after crossing a suspension bridge, you begin a climb to Sattale (1550m.) on a path so steep that it seems one slip would send you hurtling down into the valley. You continue on an undulating path above the river. Climbing the zigzag path to the top of the hill, we see the level, plain of Tal (1700m.) before us. You descend to a grassy riverbank that leads to Tal with its hotels and teahouses. Here you can enjoy the exhilarating waterfalls .Beyond Tal, the valley narrows and the path becomes high and winding and in several areas hewn from the rock itself. Beyond the small village of Karte (1900m.), there is a bit more cliff-walking before the path drops again to the river. You cross a suspension bridge and climb the short distance to the stone Mani marking the entrance to Dharapani (1960m.), and our camp for the night. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 07: Trek from Dharapani to Koto takes about five hours. You trek gradual ascent path and cross a stream to reach Koto. The mountain views you can enjoy are of Annapurna II, Manaslu range and beautiful views of forests on the way add another dimension to your trek. Koto is a small village mainly inhabited by Gurung and others. Their life style is mainly influenced by Buddhist Tibetans. Stay overnight in camp.
Day 08: Trek from Koto to Dharmasala takes about six hours. You cross the river leading to the Nar Phu valleys and hike up through beautiful woods above the Phu Khola. The route takes you through some beautiful woods and past several small caves, and a pilgrims’ Dharmasala. After you emerge out of a narrow canyon, the trail actually passes under a wide waterfall just before the Dharmasala, from where the woods become thinner and the vistas wider. Stay overnight in camp.
Day 09: Trek from Dharmasala to Kayang takes about six and half hours. A steep climb up the valley along a small, scenic river brings you finally to high pastures on a 3,200m plateau. You pass by e scenic kharka of Meta, 3560m, a non permanent winter settlement of Nar, where you are likely to share the trail with a few yaks! This morning is one of the loveliest walks in the Himalayas. Stay overnight in camp.
Day 10: Trek from Kayang to Phu village. Dropping steeply down to the river, you trek for a while along the river bank and past the “submarine” rock, passing some small possible campsites along the way. You start to see some of the unique, colorful chortens for which Nar and Phu are famous. You have to walk carefully across a small glacial stream before reaching a larger one with a bridge only half covered with large slabs of slate. Another hour and a half of trekking through scenic canyon and gorges, you reach the Phu gate. This ancient gate provides you with you first view of the three villages of Phu, as well as an old “dzong” and the remains of the two forts, all now in ruins, but impressively situated atop the flatlands before Phu. Stay overnight in camp.
Day 11: Excursion around Phu valley. You can have interaction with locals and explore up the wide valley systems above you. You might walk up the valley to the summer grazing settlement or Kharka at Ngoru, a three hour’s walk past the gompa. Phu itself is an incredibly interesting village and you can observe the villagers spinning their yak and sheep wool and chat. Stay overnight in camp.
Day 12: Trek from Phu valley to Junam. You get back through Phu gate, descend to the river and retrace your step back to Junam Kharka which is a lovely spot for camping. Stay overnight in camp.
Day 13: Trek from Junam to Nar. This day you trek down the old bridge spanning a deep, contoured and narrow gorge and all the way back up again. The scenery is stunning. Below you sit Gyalbu Kumbu, built in 1650, and Satte Gompa, both empty. You finally reach the Nar gates at the top of the hill, and pass by yet another line of wonderfully painted, bamboo topped chortens and a large tiered chorten before turning the corner and being rewarded with sublime views of Nar, the undulating patterns of the surrounding barley and mustard fields, four old colorful and traditional Gompas and the snow peaks looming overhead. Stay overnight in camp.
Day 14: Explore Nar village. Nar is bit more social and lively than Phu. Stay overnight in camp.
Day 15: Trek from Nar village to Ngwal after crossing Kang La pass. The Kang La is not a diffucult pass, but it could be a long day if there is snow on the pass. The Kang La, at 5240m, is an absolutely spectacular pass looking over Annapurna II, Gangapurna, Tilicho peak, the peaks surrounding Tilicho and the airport at Hongde. The trail down is steep and gradual down towards the end.
Ngawal, on the upper Pisang route of the Annapurna circuit (off the main Annapurna circuit), can be reached in as little as two hours from the pass, but the walk down is so nice that you will take it easy and enjoy the views. Just before Ngawal is an unusual grouping of chortens and prayer flags, and marks a meditation cave far up in the hills. Ngawal is a wonderful, old village of cobbled streets, prayer wheels and beautiful architecture, obviously a hub of religious activity in previous times. Stay overnight in camp.
Day 16: Trek from Ngwal to Manang takes about three hours. This day you walk through the leveled path along the bank of Marshyangdi river to reach Manang. On the way you pass pine forests, villages such as Braga and farming terraces. You can enjoy the views of Annapurna range, Tilicho Mountain and beautiful landscapes. Manang is a small town. Stay overnight in lodge.
Day17: Trek from Manang to Yak Kharka (4350m.) takes about three and half hours. Now the trail ascends gently all the way to Yak Kharka passing through the Gunsang (3960m.) village. En route, you can see panoramic views all the day. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 18: Trek from Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4420m.) takes about 3 and half hours. Leaving Yak Kharka, you climb gradually to a ridge before descending to the headwaters of the Marshyangdi and crossing via a covered wooden bridge. After a short ascent up the mountain path on the right bank, you follow a narrow trail across an unstable spree slope and then descend to Thorung Phedi. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 19: Trek from Thorong Phedi to Muktinath (3850m.) via Thorong La (5416m.) Pass and it takes about seven hours. You start early today for your crossing of Thorung La [5416m]. The trail becomes steep immediately on leaving camp but as this trail has been used by local people for hundreds of years the path is well defined. The gradient then eases and after around 4 hours of steady climbing you reaches the chorten and prayer flags of the pass. The descent to Muktinath is a knee pounding 1600m but it’s compensated for with excellent views of Dhaulagiri. Eventually the moraines give way to grassy slopes before a pleasant walk along the Jhong Khola Valley to Muktinath and its shrines and temple. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 20: Trek from Muktinath to Kagbeni (2895 m.) takes about four hours. You now begin the trek descent down the dramatic Kali Gandaki Gorge, initially through arid country in the same geographical and climatic zone as Tibet. After passing through Jharkot and Khingar villages with typical Tibetan architecture, we follow path steeply down to Kagbeni, a primitive village famous for Tibetan architectures. People living there follow the Tibetan life style and culture. There is situated a monastery said to belong to 15th Century. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 21: Trek from Kagbeni to Jomsom (2713m.) takes about three hours. Your trail passes through the bank of Kali Gandaki passing through the Eklebhatti. The trail is windy after late morning. The river flows through broader course. Jomsom is the headquarters of Mustang and it is split into two towns and between these two towns passes through Kali Gandaki river. There is access of internet and banking facilities. From Jomsom, you can enjoy the magnificent views of Nilgiri and Tilicho peak. Here you stay overnight at lodge.
Day 22: Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara takes about 35 minutes. The flights are available during the morning time. The strong breeze blows during and after and frequent change of the weather prevents the flight being landed and taken off in the afternoon. Stay overnight at hotel in Pokhara.
Day 23: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel on BB basis.
Day 24: Free day in Kathmandu.
Day 25: International departure…..
