Nar Phu Trekking

After breakfast, the day is free for trek preparation and personal arrangements. Alternatively, you may choose to join an optional sightseeing tour of the Kathmandu Valley, known for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Popular places to visit include the sacred Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), and the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. You may also explore museums, monasteries, historic palaces, and traditional gardens. This sightseeing tour is optional, allowing you to visit places of your interest and pay locally for any services or entry fees.

At the time set by your guide, who will accompany you throughout the trip, you will depart from the hotel for a scenic drive toward Chamje via Besisahar. The journey begins along a busy road through the Himalayan foothills and lush green valleys, passing through Dumre town. From Dumre, you leave the main Kathmandu–Pokhara highway and continue toward Besisahar, the administrative headquarters of Lamjung District.

From Besisahar, the drive follows a newly constructed dirt road along the Marsyangdi River, passing through Khudi, Bhulbhule, and Ngadi. Along the way, you will see terraced rice fields, traditional villages, and beautiful river landscapes. The road gradually climbs uphill, passing Jagat village before reaching Chamje. Chamje is a small farming village with several lodges, inhabited mainly by people of Manang, who are of Tibetan origin. Overnight stay in Chamje.

After spending the first night in a local lodge with warm and homely hospitality, the day begins with a walk back toward the Marsyangdi River. After crossing the river, the trail enters alpine woodlands and gradually opens to impressive mountain views. Along the way, you can enjoy clear sights of Annapurna and Lamjung Himal, with the Manaslu range visible in the distance.

The walk continues on a wide and well-defined trail to the pleasant village of Tal Besi, where you take a short break. From there, you proceed with a few more hours of walking to reach Dharapani village for an overnight stay. Dharapani lies at the junction point of the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit trekking routes, making it an important and lively stop along the trail.

From Dharapani onward, the climate becomes noticeably cooler as you enter the alpine zone. The trail follows a wide, winding path through peaceful rhododendron and pine forests, passing small traditional villages such as Bagarchhap and Danaque. As the route climbs higher, you reach Timang village, which offers excellent views of snow-capped Himalayan peaks to the north.

From Timang onward, the landscape and lifestyle reflect strong Buddhist traditions and culture. After walking for about another hour, you arrive at Koto, located near Chame, the main town and district headquarters of the Manang region.

At Koto, there is time for a short walk to Chame, the last major town before heading toward Jomsom. Overnight stay in the area.

From this point onward, the experience changes noticeably as the trail leaves the main trekking route and enters one of the least-traveled areas of the Annapurna region. The walk heads north toward remote terrain, passing through a dramatic gorge situated between Pisang Peak and Kang Guru Himal.

The trail follows the Nar Phu Khola upstream, moving deeper into a rugged and isolated landscape. Along the way, you will pass scattered farm huts and seasonal animal shelters used by local herders. The day’s walk ends at Meta (also known as Methang), where you stop for an overnight stay.

From here, you continue the journey in a truly isolated setting, enjoying fresh and clean mountain air as the trail leads north toward the Phu area through untouched wilderness. This remote region offers a strong possibility of spotting wildlife such as blue sheep, snow leopards, and other high-altitude mountain species, especially in the quieter sections of the trail.

The walk follows the Phu Khola upstream, passing several shepherds’ camps and grazing areas used during the seasonal movement of livestock. After a scenic and rewarding walk through this rugged landscape, you arrive at Kyang for an overnight stay.

In the morning, the trek continues by following the Phu Khola upstream toward the final destination for the day. As you move higher, the valley gradually opens into a wide and exposed landscape, offering impressive views of the surrounding mountains. The trail passes through open grazing areas and high-altitude pasturelands used by local herders. After a scenic and steady walk, you arrive at Phu Village, the main highlight of this journey, where you stay overnight.

Phu is an excellent place to spend a rest day for proper acclimatization while exploring a medieval-style village deeply influenced by Tibetan culture and Buddhist traditions. Daily life here reflects centuries-old customs, making the visit both culturally rich and meaningful.

You may take an optional short hike around this peaceful Himalayan settlement, often described as a small Shangri-La, to enjoy its unique setting and surroundings. During the day, you can visit important monasteries such as Tashi Lhakhang and Samdu Choling, which house ancient statues, murals, and religious artifacts. If time and energy permit, a walk to the Kyauchyu Waterfall adds a refreshing natural highlight to the day.

After a memorable stay in Phu, the trek begins retracing the route for a few hours, heading downstream along the Phu Khola. The trail passes through Kyang and Upper Cheyako before reaching Cheyako, a small village located between Phu and Nar. This section offers scenic views of the valley, grazing lands, and local settlements along the river, making for an enjoyable and relaxed walk.

Continue walking along the same trail for a while until reaching Mahindra Pul (bridge) near Naar Phedi. From here, trek for a few hours toward Naar, a hidden Himalayan village often described as a remote Shangri-La and the highest settlement in the Manang area.

Along the way, pass through Yughat, notable for its rows of mani walls, chortens, and Buddhist prayer shrines, offering insight into the spiritual traditions of the region. Visiting Naar, like Phu, provides a unique opportunity to experience centuries-old Tibetan-influenced culture, traditional lifestyle, and local hospitality, making this part of the trek a true highlight.

After enjoying your time in Naar, the trek continues as you leave the Nar and Phu region behind, heading toward the high Kang La Pass on the route back to Jomsom via Manang. The trail passes a small hydroelectric project before reaching Kang La Phedi, the base of the pass and the last settlement in this high Manang valley.

Here, you will have an overnight stay and lunch, with a free afternoon to explore the surrounding wilderness, take in the panoramic mountain views, and enjoy the peaceful, remote environment of this rugged Himalayan area.

Start early in the morning to reach the top of Kang La Pass, enjoying stunning views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks along the way. Due to the high altitude, the pace will be slow and steady. The trail crosses a few small icy streams before reaching a steep notch, followed by about an hour’s climb to the top of Kang La Pass at 5,306 meters (17,408 ft), the highest point of this trek.

At the summit, take in spectacular panoramic views of the Himalayan range, including a small glacial pond near a massive rock wall on the western side. The descent follows a gentle moraine path, eventually opening into wide grassy lands. The trek continues to Ngawal village for an overnight stay after a long, scenic, and rewarding day.

In the morning, enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks, including a close look at Annapurna II’s North Face. The trail then leads through pine woodlands up a hill, offering panoramic vistas of the lower Manang Valley framed by towering Himalayan mountains. From here, descend gradually toward the Manang Valley and reach Hongde village, which features a small airstrip, note that flights to and from Pokhara operate only twice a week and are often unpredictable.

Beyond Hongde, the tree line fades into arid, barren landscapes with a cold, dry climate. Despite the harsh conditions, the area receives abundant sunshine during the day, with strong UV exposure due to the high altitude. Continuing along the trail with constant views of snow-capped peaks, you reach Braga, near Manang village. Here, an optional visit to the old Braga Monastery reveals ancient Buddhist artifacts, relics, statues, and stunning wall thangka paintings and frescoes.

From Braga, enjoy a slow and steady walk to Manang village for lunch and an overnight stay. Along the way, take in mesmerizing views of Gangapurna, Annapurna II, Tilicho Peak, and the turquoise waters of Manang Lake nearby. Houses in Pisang and Manang are built in traditional Tibetan style, reflecting the region’s rich Buddhist culture, religion, and centuries-old traditions.

After a refreshing two-night stay in Manang, the trek continues along a gentle, gradual path past the last village of Manang at Tenki. The trail moves into complete wilderness, offering a peaceful and remote trekking experience.

The walk includes a gentle uphill climb to Ghunsang village, where you can enjoy excellent views of Gangapurna, Tilicho, and Chulu West peaks. From Ghunsang, continue slowly to Yak Kharka, a scenic high-altitude pasture, for lunch and an overnight stay surrounded by magnificent mountain vistas.

The slow and steady trek now approaches the main highlight and highest point of this journey: Thorong La Pass. The trail is generally pleasant, though the high altitude requires a careful and measured pace. After crossing a bridge beyond Ledar, a short, steep climb along the river leads to Jarjung. In this area, there is a chance to spot wildlife such as musk deer, Himalayan tahr, mountain goats, or, if lucky, the rare snow leopard.

From Jarjung, the trail continues to Thorong Phedi, the base of Thorong La. After a short rest, the climb resumes along a steep zigzag path for about an hour until reaching High Camp, where you will have lunch and an overnight stay in preparation for the pass crossing.

Today’s trek descends from High Camp to Jomsom (2,715 m/8,907 ft) in about five hours. The trail winds through alpine terrain, yak pastures, and scattered villages, offering stunning mountain views. The steady descent allows relaxed walking while observing local Tibetan-influenced culture. Upon arrival in Jomsom, trekkers can explore the town, a key hub connecting flights and onward journeys, making it a scenic and memorable end to this section of the trek.

Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara (860 m/2,822 ft) in the morning. Upon arrival, enjoy an afternoon free at leisure to relax, explore the lakeside city, or take in views of the surrounding hills and Phewa Lake.

Drive from Pokhara back to Kathmandu, enjoying scenic views along the route. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in and rest.

Transfer from your hotel to the airport for your international departure, concluding the trip.