Annapurna Circuit Trek with Nar Phu Valley - 17 Days

The first day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Nar Phu Valley 17 Days starts with your arrival in Kathmandu. Our representative will pick you up at Tribhuvan International Airport and then escort you to your respective hotel. 

Located at an altitude of 1345 meters, Kathmandu opens its doors to the Himalayas. It houses some of the oldest sites, including Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath Stupa, or the Monkey Temple. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and offer interesting lessons in the rich history of this nation, as well as Hindu and Buddhist practices, offering beautiful evenings to prepare for the trek with a briefing to meet your guide and review your schedule.

The scenic drive today from Kathmandu to Chamje is a point where urban landscapes change into serene rural Nepal. It takes about 8-9 hours for the drive, during which one can behold the terracing fields, waterfalls, and roaring Trishuli and Marsyangdi Rivers. The road winds through valleys, and small towns here and there offer stops for refreshments.

Chamje is a lovely village nestled in green hills and a soft-sounding river. This marks the beginning of the trek part of your adventure. Overnight stay at a lodge at Chamje.

On the third day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Nar Phu Valley, the journey starts with steep climbs into dense forests with some waterfalls as you ascend to Dharapani. It then proceeds with part of the trail hugging the banks of the Marsyangdi River, providing some of the most stunning sights of terraced farmland and tiny settlements. 

You will then pass through places such as Tal, where the valley opens up into a real gorge. While on this route, a few suspension bridges give a bit of adventure to the journey, with the sounds of flowing rivers along one’s steps. 

Dharapani, the beautiful village between the Annapurna, has always been one of the important stages of the Annapurna Circuit. The village, with its traditional stone houses and the local Buddhist influence, manifests through mani walls and prayer wheels.

The journey from Dharapani to Koto continues further into the Annapurna region, with great views of Lamjung Himal and Annapurna II. The trail winds up easier through pine, fir, and rhododendron forests. It crosses Bagarchhap, a typical Tibetan village characterized by stupas and a Buddhist monastery. Another destination on the itinerary is Timang with its exciting views, looking southward above its rooftops onto the Himalayas.

There’s a change in the ambience as you get closer to Koto. Koto offers an excellent base for trekkers drawn towards those concealed valleys behind. You will stay at a tea house overnight at Koto.

Leaving Koto, the trail enters the restricted Nar Phu Valley, crossing a suspension bridge over the Marsyangdi River. You will follow a rugged trail along the Nar Khola through dense pine forests and narrow gorges. This part is characterized by high altitudes and steep climbs, rocky and somewhat difficult to trek. On the way, ancient Buddhist chortens, carved mani walls, and traditional wooden bridges give glory to the place and give you a sense of history and spirituality.

At the same time, the trail now takes you through barren and rugged high-altitude lands as you reach Meta Village. You can view the Kang Guru and Annapurna ranges from here. Overnight stay at Meta Village.

This trek from Meta to Phu Gaon will be a most beautiful journey into the hidden valley of Nepal. You will follow along with Phu Khola on the trail as you hike along between narrow ridges and sheer cliffs with stunning views of the deep valley below. This section has plenty of suspension bridges, prayer wheels, and stupas, Tibetan style that depict rich Buddhist culture. 

Sitting at the head of the valley is Phu Gaon, a charming village set against the bare hills. Here you can have a taste of the kind of life lived in the Tibetan-influenced culture within the local community. Overnight, you will stay at Phu Gaon.

On the seventh day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Nar Phu Valley, the trail stretches towards Nar Phedi Monastery. The pathway, although surrounded by dramatic gorges and rugged cliffs, is capable of showing glimpses of blue sheep and high-altitude fauna. Nar Phedi Monastery is an isolated monastery offering trekkers a simple but spiritual ambience of Tibetan Buddhism. 

An evening at Nar Phedi gives one the exceptional experience of actually participating in or just observing some of the traditional Buddhist rituals, including the evening puja (prayer ceremony). The kitchen of the monastery is where meals prepared over a traditional wood fire will give that homely feeling to your stay.

Today, our journey starts early, and the main challenge of the day comes with a long, uphill trek to the ridge of the Kang La Pass. It is not a gentle ascent, and it pushes the traveller to the limits. However, it rewards with a fantastic view of the Annapurna massif, Gangapurna, and finally, over the bright waters of Tilicho Peak. This place, with its fluttering prayer flags, defines the high point of the day, both spiritually and physically, for those brave enough to push through. 

This brings you down to Ngawal, which lies on a plateau above the Marsyangdi River. Ngawal is improved compared to the previous hike, which features some tea houses to stay overnight.

On the ninth day, you will hike from Ngawal to Manang. You will catch a trail through the Annapurna Circuit, passing by pine forests, beautiful fields, and old monasteries. Along the way, you will come across Braga, where the famous Braga Gompa lies. The monastery dates back over 500 years and features beautiful Buddhist artifacts. Scenic views surrounding this journey include those of Annapurna III, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak. 

Manang is a bustling centre for travellers because it sits on top of one ridge that overlooks the Gangapurna Glacier. You will stay overnight at Manang.

Today is the acclimatization day in Manang to prepare you for the altitude. You will spend this day on local sightseeing, such as hiking to the Ice Lake or Chongkor viewpoint which has views of the Annapurna range. These hikes are not only rewarding to the eyes but also help the body get accustomed to the decreasing oxygen levels in the environment. You could visit other local attractions like Braga Gompa, or take a short walk to Gangapurna Lake, which is fed by a glacier.

The trail starts from Manang, which stretches towards Yak Kharka. The ascent becomes gradual and continues to climb slowly along alpine pastures and juniper woodlands, finally opening up into rugged country, which holds no great deal of vegetation. At the same time, snow-capped peaks start coming into view. You will then cross a settlement of Gunsang, where the Buddhist prayer flags catch your mind. 

Yak Kharka is a small settlement known only for basic but warm accommodations. It offers those lands within open valleys and mountains standing tall above to create that serene isolation surrounding trekkers visiting this region.

The trek from Thorong Phedi will be a trek of gradual ascents along rugged paths. You can see beautiful mountains, such as Chulu West and Thorong Peak, while going uphill. The trail crosses over suspension bridges, rocky trails, and yak pasturelands, making this stretch of the trek very unique.

Thorong Phedi is just a few tea houses standing in a narrow valley, the base for the Thorong La pass. The whole scene is drawn out as there are high cliffs all around and great snow-covered peaks overhead. Overnight stay at Thorong Phedi after a long hike.

You will wake up early in the morning to face the hardest trek. Thorong La Pass is at the end of the line making it a steep and challenging journey. As you push higher uphill through the rugged terrain, you will be blessed with incredible views of the Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri, and the Tibetan plateau. Climbing the top of Thorong La, the pass truly becomes a victory as it offers great views which are worth climbing for and thus achievement. 

After exploring Thorong La Pass, you will make a descent to Muktinath, a holy place by Hindus and Buddhists for pilgrimage. The Muktinath Temple, exquisitely adorned with eternal flames and 108 water spouts, is the pride of this land. Overnight stay at Muktinath.

On the fourteenth day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Nar Phu Valley, you will travel from Muktinath to Jomsom. The trail goes through the Kali Gandaki Valley, one of the deepest gorges in the world. Then it descends towards Kagbeni, which is famous for its medieval charm and Tibetan-influenced architecture. Kagbeni is full of narrow alleys, ancient monasteries, and views of Nilgiri, making it adventurously inviting for trekkers.

From Kagbeni, the trail winds through the dry Mustang-like region down to Jomsom, which is an administrative center with sophisticated facilities, including an airport, cafes, and restaurants. You’ll also get to see stunning scenery enclosing the great peaks of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri.

Today, after completing the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Nar Phu Valley, we will drive back to Pokhara. A short flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, with great views of the soaring Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, takes about 20 minutes. On arrival at Pokhara, you stand before the appealing state of Phewa Lake, reflecting Annapurna peaks.

Besides that, you may roam around other attractions in Pokhara, namely, World Peace Pagoda, Davis Falls, and Gupteshwor Cave. Then, after sightseeing, you will be taken to your hotel for overnight stay in Pokhara.

Travel time from Pokhara to Kathmandu is approximately 6-7 hours, with views of terraced farmland, green hills, and rural villages. You will travel along the Prithvi Highway, enjoying the views of rivers, waterfalls, and mountain panoramas. You will also be able to make a break at roadside restaurants, enjoying Nepali snacks and tea.

Going back to Kathmandu is the end of the trek and gives you the opportunity to see the vibrant Thamel. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Today, you will bid farewell to Mountain Treks Nepal and fly back to your country. Our representative will escort you to Tribhuvan International Airport, from where you will board a flight to your home country.