The Nar Phu Valley is Nepal's most authentically remote major trekking destination — a restricted area branching off the Annapurna Circuit at Koto village, leading into two ancient Tibetan villages (Nar and Phu) that have been inhabited for over 1,000 years and see fewer than 500 international trekkers per year. The valley opens briefly each season with strict permit limits. Here is how to plan it for 2025.
What Makes Nar Phu Different
Most trekkers in Nepal walk trails that thousands of others walked last season. Nar Phu is genuinely different. The valley sits north of the main Himalayan range in the rain shadow — the climate, culture, and landscape are Tibetan rather than Nepali. Stone houses, ancient gompas carved into cliff faces, and a way of life essentially unchanged since the 15th century. The access restriction (by permit) means the infrastructure has not been developed for mass tourism. This is not a feature — it is a deliberately preserved state.
Permits Required (2025)
Nar Phu requires two permits beyond the standard Annapurna ACAP and TIMS:
- Restricted Area Permit (RAP): USD 100 per person per week (September–November) or USD 75 per week (December–August). Minimum 7 days required.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000 (USD 23)
- TIMS Card: NPR 2,000 (USD 15)
The RAP must be arranged through a registered trekking company — no individual applications are accepted. A minimum group of two trekkers is required by regulation. We arrange everything — contact us at least 21 days before departure.
Standard 10-Day Itinerary
The standard Nar Phu Valley route takes 10 days from Kathmandu and connects back to the Annapurna Circuit at Ngawal, making it possible to combine with the full circuit for a 20+ day mega-itinerary.
- Day 1: Kathmandu to Besisahar by road (6–7 hours)
- Day 2: Besisahar to Dharapani/Koto by jeep (5–6 hours); RAP checked at Koto
- Day 3: Koto to Meta (3,560m) — 8–9 hours; enter the restricted valley; views of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal
- Day 4: Meta to Phu Gaon (4,050m) — 8–9 hours through the ancient villages of Chyakku and Kyang; Phu village at the head of the valley
- Day 5: Phu Gaon rest day — explore cave monasteries, interact with local Khampa community, acclimatise
- Day 6: Phu to Nar Phedi (3,490m) — return east and cross to the Nar valley
- Day 7: Nar Phedi to Nar Gaun (4,100m) — 2–3 hours to the compact stone village of Nar
- Day 8: Nar to Kangla Phedi (4,300m) — acclimatise for the high pass tomorrow
- Day 9: Kangla La Pass (5,322m) to Ngawal (3,660m) on the Annapurna Circuit — 8–9 hours; rejoin the main circuit
- Day 10: Ngawal to Pisang, bus to Besisahar and Kathmandu
What You Will See
Nar Phu's defining experiences: the walled village of Phu at 4,050m with its three-storey stone houses and active gompa (the gompa at Tashi Lhakhang has 14th-century wall paintings); the cliff-face cave dwellings above the valley floor (some accessible, some visible only from below); the Khampa community's daily yak herding life at 4,000m; the Kangla La crossing (5,322m) with views back into the valley and forward to the Annapurna Circuit below.
Cost Summary (2025)
- Restricted Area Permit: USD 100–200 per person depending on length of stay and season
- ACAP + TIMS: USD 38
- Guide (mandatory, specialist): USD 30–40/day
- Accommodation (basic tea houses and homestays): USD 6–15/night
- Food: USD 15–25/day
- Guided all-inclusive package: Approximately USD 1,800–2,200 per person for 10 days
Interested in the Nar Phu Valley? Contact us to discuss a custom itinerary — this is a specialised route that we run as a fully private guided experience.
