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 (5,322m) and Mesokanto La (5,200m). 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

Day 1: Kathmandu.
Welcome, transfer and installation at the hotel.

Day 2: Kathmandu.
Free day and preparation of administrative formalities.

Day 3: 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.

Day 4: 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, elevation gain: 850 meters, elevation loss: 450 meters, night in lodge at 1,310 meters.

Day 5: 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, elevation gain: 900 meters, elevation loss: 300 meters, night in lodge at 1,930 meters.

Day 6: 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, elevation gain 1,000 meters, elevation loss: 620 meters, night in lodge at 2,640 meters.

Day 7: 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, elevation gain: 1,300 meters, elevation loss: 300 meters, night in lodge at 3,500 meters.

Day 8: Meta - Phu Gaun.
You visit the village of Phu and its monastery Tashi La Kang.
About 7 hours of walking, elevation gain: 400 meters, elevation loss: 300 meters, night in lodge at 4,080 meters.

Day 9: 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, elevation gain: 200 meters, elevation loss: 600 meters, night under tent at 3,490 meters.

Day 10: 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, elevation gain: 750 meters, night in lodge at 4,246 meters.

Day 11: 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, elevation gain: 400 meters, night under tent at 4,634 meters.

Day 12: Kangla Phedi - Kangla Pass - Ngwal.
Very early start and climb sometimes steep and difficult to reach the Kang La (5,310m). 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, elevation gain: 900 meters, elevation loss: 2,000 meters, night in lodge at 3,640 meters.

Day 13: 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, elevation gain: 100 meters, elevation loss: 50 meters, night in lodge at 3,500 meters.

Day 14: 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, elevation gain: 500 meters, night in lodge at 4,000 meters.

Day 15: 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 (8,163m), Annapurna I (8,091m), Tarkekang (7,202m) and Kangsarkang (7,485m). The descent is made in a steep scree on which you can feel the sensations of skiing.
About 4 hours of walking, elevation gain: 800 meters, elevation loss: 550 meters, night in lodge at 4,100 meters.

Day 16: Tilicho Base Camp - Tilicho lake.
In a colorful landscape, dressed in crystalline rocks and glaciers, you climb to the promontory (5,024m) of Tilicho Tal (tal=lake). Then a small descent takes you to camp on the lake (4,921m) 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 (7,134m).
About 3 hours and a half of walking, elevation gain: 850 meters, elevation loss: 100 meters, night under tent at 4,921 meters.

Day 17: Tilicho lake - Yak Kharka.
Very early departure for a long day that will make you pass 3 passes at more than 5,000 meters of altitude to avoid porters a cold night. After a steep climb to the 1^st pass, Eastern La (5,379m), you cross a large plateau to the north end of the lake or you cross the 2^nd pass, Northern La (5,273m), easier.
About 8 hours of walking, elevation gain: 600 meters, elevation loss: 1,450 meters, night under tent at 4,000 meters.

Day 18: 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, elevation gain: 1,350 meters, night in lodge at 2,700 meters.

Day 19: Jomsom - Pokhara.
Flight to Pokhara according to climatic and operational hazards.
About 25 minutes flight, overnight at the hotel in Pokhara.

Day 20: 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 20 kg, you will have to hire an additional porter if your luggage exceeds 10 kg).
• Insurance for the whole Nepalese team.

Number of participants	Price per person
1	1950€
2	1540€
3 à 5	1423€
6 à 9	1306€
10 à 15	1072€

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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