Nar Phu Trek – 13 Days

Trip Information

Optional Add-ons

Upgrade Accommodation in Kathmandu

Ambition Himalaya will accommodate you in a double room of a very reputable three-star tourist hotel in Kathmandu. They are pleasant with a welcoming atmosphere, along with the utilities essential for a comfortable night.

However, if you are willing to spend a little extra, you can also upgrade your Kathmandu accommodation to a private single room or choose from more lavish four or five-star hotels that will catch your fancy.

These upscale hotels are known for their serene locality and excellent hospitality services to their guests. From in-house restaurants, spa and sauna facilities, and gyms to sophisticated decor, spacious bedding, luxurious marble bathrooms, and attentive staff available around the clock, you will find everything you wish for.

Please let us know what your desire is while registering for our Nar Phu trek, and we will arrange the preferred accommodation for you before you are in Kathmandu.

Add Extra Days in Kathmandu or During Trekking

If you like to stay a few more extra days in Kathmandu before or after your 13 days Nar Phu trek, then we can certainly arrange all the necessary logistics for you, from accommodation and meals to any tours and trips you wish to participate in.

Kathmandu brims with numerous options of touring and trekking opportunities, such as a two-day Kathmandu Valley tour, a short mountain flight, or a Heli excursion over Mount Everest, to name a few.

Likewise, you can also add one or two days in any village along the trek, such as Nar Village or Phu Village. You can also choose to travel from Besisahr to Pokhara if you wish.

Just inform us, and we will customize your Nar Phu trek itinerary and organize the activities that you like to indulge in. Please note that this might add a few extra expenses to your total trip cost.

Upgrade your Transportation with a Private Jeep

To give you a thrill of your life from the very beginning of our Nar Phu trek, we have chosen to organize your travel from Kathmandu to Jagat in a local bus.

It will be refreshing, but at times quite lengthy, somewhat tiring, and fearful as well. So, if you like to have the comfort and flexibility in your travel along with the short bumpy ride, then we can also arrange a private jeep transport for you between Kathmandu and Jagat.

Adding a private jeep ride, however, will incur a small surcharge, but you will have more connection to nature en route with small stops wherever you desire.

Does the Nar Phu trek take place in a restricted region?

The Nar Phu trek has been open for hiking adventure only since 2003, but it still permits limited access to Western tourism. It is because the valley is designated as restricted by the Nepal government, so a quite costly special permit is required for the trek.

The Nar Phu shares an open border with Tibet, which itself has practiced limited accessibility to Western tourists. Also, the Nar Phu region is a natural home for endangered wildlife such as the Blue Sheep.

So as not to disturb the natural ecosystem and retain its primitive charm and tradition, the Nar Phu trek is still categorized as a restricted adventure.

Best time for Nar Phu Trek

If you are planning your Nar Phu trek, then we suggest you the changing season of spring (March-May) for this adventure. Little rain, clear, cloudless days, mild heat of around 8 degrees Celsius, and the exploding colors of the sea of flowers will make this time simply phenomenal.

The autumn time, occurring from September-November, envelops the Nar Phu Valley wth 20 degrees Celsius heat. The clearings in the forest often open up the chance to see blue sheep en route.

The Nar Phu trek is also safeguarded from the June-August monsoon rains by the massive barrier of the Himalayas. However, the lower part below Nar Phu is prone to landslides.

The winter (December-February), however, blankets the Nar Phu valley in extreme low temperatures and deep snow, often making the Kang La Pass almost inaccessible. There is also quite a lower chance of a warm night in the shelter, as locals often descend to lower villages for protection.

What is the difficulty level of the 13 days Nar Phu trek?

Our 13 days Nar Phu trek is designated as a category three upper moderate trek, which matches the difficulty and challenges of the Everest Base Camp trek or the Annapurna Circuit trek.

The highest altitude that this trek will lead you to is 5306 m of the Kang La Pass. The day you will face its challenge will be quite long and exhausting that involves a 1200 m ascent and a descent of around 1700 m.

However, the pass is not technical and is neither harder nor longer compared to the more popular Nepali passes like Thorong La or Larkya La.

As for the walking trails throughout the Nar Phu trek, they are usually in good condition, but at times, they can be a hillside path carved into the cliff.

Another factor that you have to be aware of is the limited accommodations in Nar and Phu, where you will get comfort little to none. Plus, you will also have to look out for the harsher climate, like that in Tibet.

Therefore, the Nar Phu trek will require all its guests to be reasonably fit and healthy

Is our Nar Phu Trek Itinerary suitable for beginners?

If you are an absolute beginner with no hiking experience on your resume whatsoever, then we suggest you not to involve in the Nar Phu trek itinerary.

The adventure has numerous challenges that can be harder for the new hikers to digest, such as high altitude, remote locations, rugged terrain, and the potential for altitude sickness.

However, if you are still intrigued and determined to get on the Nar Phu trek, then you should be prepared to exert yourself physically and mentally. You should also be ready to give up your usual comfort for a few days.

Also, train yourself extensively and try on some easier trekking trails of Poon Hill or the Langtang trek.

Altitude Sickness/Acute Mountain Sickness and Acclimatization

Altitude sickness, aka AMS, is not an exclusive condition that will impact you only at extreme altitudes. In fact, the very earlier signs of AMS will start to appear as soon as you are over 2500 m.

Our Nar Phu Valley trek is no doubt not an extreme but a high altitude trek where your average elevation will occur between 3000 to 4000 m. The elevation will also keep on increasing as the days progress, ultimately culminating at over 5000 m.

Plus, the air in Nar and Phu is drier and less humid like in Tibet, contributing to AMS. However, there is no need to panic as our Nar Phu trek itinerary has taken a more relaxed approach with a very steady and slower increase in altitude.

To prevent the occurrence of AMS, we suggest you stick to the instructions our guide gives you. Don’t ascend too quickly and rest if you begin to feel altitude.

Hydration is essential along with adequate rest. Take Diamox starting from Kathmandu so your acclimatization can be rapid. Stay alert for any signs of headache, loss of appetite, dizziness, lack of sleep, irritation, and extreme fatigue.

Essential preparation and training for the Nar Phu Trek

The Nar Phu trek can be even more adventurous and wondrous if you prepare yourself thoroughly. Since the journey is long and steep, it is very essential for you to be extraordinarily fit and healthy.

So we suggest you start working out in the gym or at your home. You can start with daily walks and stair climbing to get used to the elevation. You can also add squats, cycling, running, pull-ups, push-ups, and swimming to enhance your endurance.

When you are in Nepal, first go on trekking to Langtang, Poon Hill, or similar easy trekking journeys into the mountains. Also set realistic expectations about the Nar Phu trek with online visual information.

Alternate Approach and Possible Extension to Nar Phu Trek Itinerary

If you are serious about hiking and also a seasoned backpacker, then you may also think about taking a short yet challenging detour towards the highest alpine lake in the world, Tilicho.

From Nagawal, you can stop at Manang and then make your way up to Khangsar to see Lake Tilicho. You can also consider hiking the entire Annapurna circuit, which includes the added challenge of the overpowering Thorong La Pass, the highest trekking mountain pass on the planet.

Since Thorong La Pass will often be crowded, you can instead go for the staggering challenge of less-frequented Mesokanto Pass (5300 m), which is more technical.

Your route to this pass will cross Dharmasala over the pass and join the Muktinath Jomsom route.

Sleeping, Meals, and Transportation

Ambition Himalaya has arranged a double occupancy room in a medium three-star hotel in Kathmandu, including a bed and breakfast offer. On the trek to Nar and Phu, your overnight stays will be in mountain lodges.

Please understand that these lodges will be a bit simpler than those found on the Annapurna Circuit. Generally, the tourist infrastructure in Nar and Phu is not as commercialized, and some of them have been built only recently.

Therefore, bringing your own sleeping bag will be the best idea to keep yourself warm in the lodges.

When it comes to meals, lunch and dinner in Kathmandu will be up to you, as there are way too many options available. On the trek, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with seasonal fruits after dinner, will be at your table at the lodges.

Dal vat, momos, potatoes, egg dishes, noodles, and curry are some of the common food items that you will find in the lodges.

In terms of transportation, private airport transfers will be conducted in a four-wheel vehicle provided by Ambition Himalaya. When the journey begins, a local bus will take you from Kathmandu to Besisahar, and then a shared jeep will transport you to Jagat.

Similarly, at the end of the trip, a shared jeep will take you from Chame to Besisahar, where a local bus will bring you back to Kathmandu.

We also offer accommodation and transport upgrade options for an additional fee.

Travel Insurance

Your first priority for the Nar Phu trek is getting the right kind of travel insurance for the journey. The remote atmosphere of the Nar and Phu villages is pristine, but they are also difficult to access by road.

In the event of any unfortunate incidents, the only way for the rescue would be by helicopter, which will be very expensive if you have to do it on your own.

So, the Nepalese government has mandated travel insurance wth te hiking and altitude coverage with helicopter transport up to 5500 m elevation for the Nar Phu trek.

Remember, if you fail to present the proper travel insurance document, the restricted permit will not be issued to you. Additionally, consider adding the medical and accidental coverage along with financial protection against theft, loss of baggage and gear, or any unexpected extra stays.

Rules and Compulsory Permits for the Nar Phu Trek

The Nar Phu trek occurs in the restricted section of the Annapurna, which means you can simply enter the area. You must be a part of an organized trek with a registered company like ours.

We will then apply for a special permit, which requires at least two people and a local certified guide. This permit will be given to us by the Kathmandu Immigration office, which will be active for a week.

Once crossing this time limit, an extension can be made on the permit by adding a minimal cost. The price for the Special permit for the Nar Phu trek depends on the season of your trek:

• Autumn Trek cost: USD 100 per trekker
• Spring, Summer, and Winter Trek cost: USD 75 per trekker
• Added extension cost: USD 15 per day per hiker

The other permits issued by the tourism office in Kathmandu that are also essential for the Nar Phu Trek include:

• TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) at NPR 2000 per hiker
• ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) at NPR 3000 per hiker

Our 13 days Nar Phu trek total cost already includes the permit fees.