The Nar Phu valley trekking

Description

The Nar Phu valley and Tilicho lake trekking in the Annapurna region is ideal for hikers who have time and inclination to venture into some of the most remote areas of Nepal, beyond usual hiking routes.

Nar and Phu are two beautiful little villages located in the one that is also called Hidden valley. This less frequented trail of the Mesokundo pass offers a more stimulating and exciting alternative to the famous Thorung La pass on the classic Annapurna tour trekking. The Nar Phu valley and Tilicho lake provide an opportunity to explore Nepal's wild and unknown areas.

The trek also requires crossing the difficult passes of Kang La (5322m) and Mesokanto La (5200m). The path then joins the beautiful village of Manang before reaching the turquoise Tilicho lake, the highest lake in the world. The trek ends then in the city of Jomsom.

You can also follow me on other itineraries in this beautiful Annapurna region:

• the Mardi Himal trek,
• the Dhaulagiri balcony and Mardi Himal base camp,
• and some trekking in the neighboring Mustang.

Program

D1: Kathmandu.
Welcome, transfer and installation at the hotel.

D2: Kathmandu.
Free day and preparation of administrative formalities.

D3: Kathmandu - Ngadi.
Early departure for Besishahar and Ngadi (Gurung village) where the trek starts. The road is long but very beautiful, surrounded by green hills and rice terraces.
About 7 hours drive, night in lodge.

D4: Ngadi - Jagat.
Beginning of the trek with a steep climb to the magnificent Bahundanda lookout, then a descent to Syange through rice fields and forests. You cross the large suspension bridge of Syaje and many small villages. End of the stage in Jagat, village built along a ridge.
About 6 hours of walking, positive altitude difference: 850 meters, negative altitude difference: 450 meters, night in lodge at 1310 meters.

D5: Jagat - Dharapani.
You walk in the heart of the Marsyandi gorges: the path is easy with alternating large climbs and small descents. The trail leading to Tal is wide and comfortable. This small village is wedged under huge cliffs for thousands of years.
About 6 hours of walking, D+: 900m, D-: 300m, night in lodge at 1930m.

D6: Dharapani - Koto.
The valley becomes very deep. The day begins with a steep climb from Danagyu to Timang. The Annapurna II appears above the path and you can admire it, as well as the Manaslu in Koto.
About 5 hours of walking, D+: 1000m, D-: 620m, night in lodge at 2640m.

D7: Koto - Meta.
You enter the Nar Phu valley and go up to Meta through the forest (bamboos, anemones) and the deep wild gorges of the Nar Khola (khola=river) that you cross several times. You discover the high valleys of Nar and Phu, recently opened to tourism.
About 6 hours of walking, D +: 1300m, D-: 300m, night in lodge at 3500m.

D8: Meta - Phu Gaun.
You visit the village of Phu and its monastery Tashi La Kang.
About 7 hours of walking, D +: 400m, D-: 300m, night in lodge at 4080m.

D9: Phu Gaun - Mahendrapul.
You go down the same road to reach the confluence of Phu Khola and Labse Khola. Camp by the river.
About 6 hours of walking, D+: 200m, D-: 600m, night under tent at 3490m.

D10: Mahendrapul - Nar.
Today you enjoy exceptional views on Pisang Peak and Kang Guru. Big mani walls and a large prayer wheel mark the entrance to the villages. Then a long climb takes you to the village of Nar and its alignment of stone chortens.
About 4 hours of walking, D+: 750m, night in lodge at 4246m.

D11: Nar - Kangla Phedi.
You climb, without difficulty, through the pastures of yaks, to the base camp of Kang La, the pass you will cross the next day. Lunch and overnight in tent at base camp. Afternoon is spent resting to ensure good acclimatization for the future.
About 3 hours of walking, D+: 400m, night under tent at 4634m.

D12: Kangla Phedi - Kangla Pass - Ngwal.
Very early start and climb sometimes steep and difficult to reach the Kang La (5310m). We pass near a small lake before arriving at the pass. The view on Kang Guru is breathtaking. The pass offers a magnificent panorama of all the summits of the Annapurna massif. A long descent takes you to the village of Ngawal.
About 8 hours of walking, D+: 900m, D-: 2000m, night in lodge at 3640m.

D13: Ngwal - Manang.
Cool day between the two passes. Very nice walk on a path in balcony. You cross the villages of Julu, Munji and Braga.
About 3 hours of walking, D+: 100m, D-: 50m, night in lodge at 3500m.

D14: Manang - Shree Kharka.
Tha day hike is easy walking up the Marsyangdi to the village of Khangsar towards Tilicho. You then leave the classic Annapurna trail to follow a little steeper trail to Teregompa.
About 4 hours of walking, D+: 500m, night in lodge at 4000m.

D15: Shree Kharka - Tilicho base camp.
You climb to Tilicho base camp. The climb is a bit steep at first and then regular. The view is beautiful on the valley of Khangsar, Manaslu (8163m), Annapurna I (8091m), Tarkekang (7202m) and Kangsarkang (7485m). The descent is made in a steep scree on which you can feel the sensations of skiing.
About 4 hours of walking, D+ 800m, D-: 550m, night in lodge at 4100m.

D16: Tilicho Base Camp - Tilicho lake.
In a colorful landscape, dressed in crystalline rocks and glaciers, you climb to the promontory (5024m) of Tilicho Tal (tal=lake). Then a small descent takes you to camp on the lake (4921m) at the foot of the Great Barrier. You can admire the turquoise water of Tilicho lake which is nevertheless frozen most of the year and the Tilicho Peak (7134m).
About 3 hours and a half of walking, D+: 850m, D-: 100m, night under tent at 4921m.

D17: Tilicho lake - Yak Kharka.
Very early departure for a long day that will make you pass 3 passes at more than 5000 meters of altitude to avoid porters a cold night. After a steep climb to the 1^st pass, Eastern La (5379m), you cross a large plateau to the north end of the lake or you cross the 2^nd pass, Northern La (5273m), easier.
About 8 hours of walking, D+: 600m, D-: 1450m, night under tent at 4000m.

D18: Yak Kharka - Jomsom.
3 short hours of descent to reach Kaligandaki up to Jomsom via Thinigaun. View of the Nilgiri North Massif.
About 4 hours of walking, D+: 1350m, night in lodge at 2700m.

D19: Jomsom - Pokhara.
Flight to Pokhara according to climatic and operational hazards.
About 25 minutes flight, overnight at the hotel in Pokhara.

D20: Pokhara - Kathmandu.
About 7 hours drive by tourist bus.

The price includes

• Supervision by the experienced guide.
• Airport / hotel / airport transfers.
• Kathmandu / Ngadi trip in private bus from 6 persons, else in local bus.
• Jomsom / Pokhara flight for you and for the guide.
• Hotel in Pokhara including breakfast.
• Pokhara / Kathmandu trip in private bus.
• Jomsom / Kathmandu trip by bus for the porters.
• 16 trekking days with full board accomodation in lodge, every meal with tea or coffee and on the 20^th day, lunch during the trip Pokhara / Kathmandu is included (except drinks).
• License for conservation of Annapurnas (ACAP).
• TIMS card (Trekking Information Management Service).
• Special permit for Nar Phu area.
• On assistant guide from 4 persons.
• 1 porter for 2 participants (in accordance with the regulations of the Union of Nepalese Porters, a porter carrying a maximum of 20kg, you will have to hire an additional porter if your luggage exceeds 10kg).
• Insurance for the whole Nepalese team.

The price does not include

• Meals in Kathmandu.
• Hotel in Kathmandu.
• Meals in Pokhara.
• International flight.
• Personal equipment (sleeping bag, hiking poles, water bottle, backpack, sunglasses, sunscreen).
• Personal insurance (mandatory: check that your insurance covers you in case of accident, ie all medical expenses, the cost of a helicopter evacuation and repatriation to return home).
• Drinks.
• Single room extra in Pokhara and lodges.
• Entry visa to Nepal (check that your passport is valid for another 6 months after your return date).
• Transport for the visits in Kathmandu.
• Fees in the city (museum, monument, monastery).
• Hir water in lodges.
• Batteries reloading in lodges.
• International bank transfer fees.
• Costs caused by exceptional events (road cut, landslide, general strike, bad weather, snow) that can not be expected.
• Tips.
• Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Any trip interrupted or abridged, any change of program at the request of the participants (accident, illness, mountain sickness, early return, trek abbreviated) can not give rise to any refund.

Accommodation

• Lodge and tent during the trekking.

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