Nar Phu Valley and Annapurna Circuit Trek

Welcome to the Himalayas! You will arrive in Kathmandu. We will greet you and transfer you to the hotel.

Today is a free and rest day in Kathmandu, so you can explore the city and get familiar with your surroundings. There are a variety of shops and interesting places to hang out and enjoy the time.

On the second day, we will visit Kathmandu Valley as we have a free day. First we visit the Pashupatinath temple where we take Aarti Darshan, a Hindu ceremony, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva situated along the Bagmati River. After that, we shall proceed to the famous Buddhist Temples; Boudha nath and Swaymbunath.

Additionally, we’ll explore Kathmandu Durbar Square and Narayanhiti Palace, central sites offering insights into Nepal’s rich history and culture.

The journey from Kathmandu to Jagat takes travelers along the Trisuli River, offering views of white water rafting and opportunities for coffee and lunch stops. Transitioning towards Pokhara, the route leads through Besisahar to Manang with winding roads. The trek officially starts from Jagat to Dharapani, a challenging day with steep climbs and rugged trails, though alternative routes are available.

Despite the difficulty, the scenery of waterfalls, rivers, and terraced fields compensates, with lunch featuring Tibetan bread. Pine forests and glimpses of Annapurna II mark the trek to Koto, where overnight stays occur, promising tired legs acclimatization for the journey ahead.

Today, we journey into a restricted area, passing through a checkpoint. Our path winds through pine forests alongside the Soti Khola, crossing rugged terrain with glimpses of caves and canyons.

After a few hours of walk, we will reach Dharmasala Village, where we will make our stop for a lunch. It is the final destination before reaching Meta for the night. The journey offers stunning vistas of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal as we hike up to Meta Village, where we stay overnight at a hotel.

On the fifth day of the Phu Village and Annapurna Circuit Trek, we will hike directly to Phu Village from Meta Village. Today, we will indulge a day full of cultural delights as we journey along the trail, passing by stunning Buddhist chortens, offering picturesque views of breathtaking gorges, canyons, and the remnants of Tibetan-style forts.

As we pass through the settlements including Nar Phedhi, Chyaaku and Kyang, we will move along with Naar Khola. Passing across a suspension bridge, we reach Phu from where we can enter the Tashi Lhakhang monastery for our additional exploration.

We stay an extra day in Phu to get used to the altitude before trekking higher over the Kang La Pass soon. To acclimatize, we stay active by hiking to Himlung Himal Base Camp and a glacier valley. Alternatively, we can explore the village of Phu itself, with its yaks and yak herders. We will spend another night in Phu before moving on.

This is the seventh day of the Nar Phu and Annapurna Circuit Trek. Today, we returned to Nar Village following the same trail we followed before to reach Phu Village.

We will retrace the settlements including Kyang alongside the Naar Khola and make our stop tonight either in Chyaku or Nar. Along the way, we will cross a bridge spanning an incredible 80-meter deep gorge. This evening, we join the Buddhist Lamas for their prayers and dinner, immersing ourselves in monastery life.

Today will be one of the challenging day as we will be reaching Ngawal passing one of the high altitude passes, Kangla Pass at 5,306 meters.

Despite a tough day, the breathtaking scenery at Kang La Pass compensates for our tired legs. From Kang La Pass summit, we will have the magnificent Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak. From Kang la Pass, we will directly hike towards Ngawal following the steep descent through the grassy landscapes.  Upon reaching Ngawal, we rejoice about our night at a tea house.

Today, we will be on the shorter trekking time and less steep trails, as our bodies find relief. We will pass throuh some Buddhist Monasteries, where we are uplifted by the rich Buddhist heritage. Departing from Ngawal, we descend, passing Sher Gompa, surrounding settlements, and even Milarepa’s cave.

One of the renowned persons in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism was Milarepa, who was a reverent yogi, spiritual leader and teacher born around 1052. On our way, we see Braga Gompa which is close to 900 years old and the Gompa of Godzo which we eventually cross down to Ghatte Khola from where we proceed to Manang where we will stay overnight at a tea house.

Today is another brief day amidst the breathtaking Tibetan-like scenery. We will reach Yak Kharka from Manang. Though the trail features steep sections, the shops in Manang offer excitement, with artifacts also available along the way. However, be mindful not to purchase too much as Thorong La Pass lies ahead.

We will pass through several settlements like Ghusang and Ghyangchyang village before reaching Yak Kharka.

Today is the eleventh day of our Nar Phu and Annapurna Circuit Trek and we will continue our trek through the steep landscape, noting a landslide area to navigate today. So, it is very crucial to follow our guide’s advice closely.

With a short trek ahead, we will spend the afternoon hiking to High Camp in readiness for tomorrow’s high-altitude pass crossing. Alternatively, we will take in the breathtaking views of Annapurna II, III, IV, Pisang Peak, Chulu, and Tilcho. We’ll be setting off early to cross the Thorong La Pass, so we must pack our belongings tonight.

After breakfast, we will set out to tackle the Thorong La Pass before reaching Muktinath. Though it might start foggy, the weather will improve as the sun comes up. The pass stands over 5,400m high and takes a challenging 9 hours to traverse its 15km route.

This day marks one of the most thrilling parts of the trek. Muktinath, the Hindu pilgrimage town, awaits at day’s end with several cultural values and norms. We will participate in religious rituals in the temple if possible and also visit other attractions like eternal flames. Tonight, we will stay at a tea house.

Today, we will reach Jomsom from Muktinath. Early in the morning, we can visit the Muktinath temple, known for its 108 water spouts and prepare for a trek to Jomsom.

Later, we’ll start our trek to Jomsom, one of the windiest towns in Nepal. If you want more time in Muktinath or want to explore Kagbeni village, you can take a jeep from Muktinath to Jomsom or Kagbeni (then it’s a 2-3 hour walk from Kagbeni to Jomsom). In Jomsom, there are plenty of shops, bars, and hotels to unwind in.

On the fourteenth day of the Nar Phu and Annapurna Circuit Trek, we will onboard a flight to Pokhara early in the morning. It takes around 30 minutes to reach Pokhara Airport from Jomsom, after which we will shift to our hotel.

In Pokhara, we will tour several places of interest including Phewa Lake, Begnas Lake, Davis Falls, International Mountain Museum, Peace Pagoda etc. In the evening, we are advised to go and visit some nearby bars and lounges to understand how Pokhara people live.

Today, we will explore the remaining attractions in Pokhara and then board on a flight to Kathmandu. After wrapping up the Nar Phu and Annapurna Circuit Trek, we will escort you to Tribhuvan International Airport, from where you will fly back to your home country.