Trek stop · 3,560 m
Meta
A winter settlement on a high open shelf in the Nar Phu valley, usually the first overnight stop after Koto.
Manangनार-फू उपत्यका
Nar Phu Valley
A restricted high valley north of the Annapurna Circuit, with two old Tibetan Buddhist villages, Nar and Phu, reached through a narrow gorge from Koto.
- Altitude
- 4,150 m*
- Best months
- Apr-May, Sep-Nov
- Type
- Valley or region
- District
- Manang, Gandaki
- Permit
- Restricted-area permit
Why go
The Nar Phu valley is a side valley of the upper Marsyangdi in Manang district, running north towards the Tibetan border from the Annapurna Circuit. It is part of the wider Manang area and is entered at Koto, just below Chame, through a deep, forested gorge that opens into a dry, rocky landscape similar to Upper Mustang. The two main villages, Nar at about 4,150 m and Phu at about 4,050 m, sit above 4,000 m among barren cliffs, yak pastures and peaks such as Himlung, Kang Guru and Pisang Peak.
The valley was opened to foreign trekkers only in 2002 and remains a restricted area, so visitor numbers are low and the villages have kept much of their traditional character: stone and mud houses with flat roofs, prayer flags, mani walls and gompas of the Nyingma school. Phu stands like a fortress on a hill above its river, with Tashi Lhakhang and Yul gompa nearby, while Nar is a compact village with several monasteries and long rows of prayer wheels.
A typical trip takes about 7-9 days from Koto, spending time in both villages to acclimatise before crossing the Kang La (about 5,320 m) and descending to Ngawal on the main Annapurna Circuit, often continuing to Manang and over the Thorong La.
Places in Nar Phu Valley
Trek stop · 4,080 m
Phu
A high stone village near the head of the Nar Phu valley, reached through a fortress-like gateway above the Phu Khola.
History and culture
The people of Nar and Phu are of Tibetan origin and speak a Tibetic language. Villagers say their ancestors came from Tibet around a thousand years ago, while official accounts place their arrival in the 17th or 18th century. Before adopting Buddhism they followed Bon, and local oral history recalls old customs, including sacrifice, that were later abandoned. Village life combines yak herding, barley farming and seasonal trade, and many families now spend winters lower down the valley.
Today the valley falls within Narpa Bhumi Rural Municipality. Festivals and monastery rituals follow the Tibetan calendar, and visitors should expect a conservative, close-knit community where respect for religious sites is important.
Things to do in Nar Phu Valley
Explore Phu village
Spend a rest day in Phu, visiting the hilltop gompa and the old village perched above the river.
Nar village and monasteries
Visit Nar's gompas and prayer-wheel walls; ask before entering and photographing.
Cross Kang La
Climb from Nar to the 5,320 m Kang La and descend to Ngawal on the Annapurna Circuit; a long, high day needing good acclimatisation.
Weather and the best time to visit Nar Phu Valley
Weather in Nar Phu Valley
Forecast for 4,150 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Apr-May, Sep-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Good month: Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- September to November is the main season, with stable weather and the Kang La usually passable.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is extremely cold with snow on the Kang La; many villagers move to lower ground and facilities close.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- April and May are good once snow clears from the pass; early spring can still be snowbound.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August is drier than the south because of the rain shadow, but the access road and gorge can be hit by landslides.
Where to stay
TeahousesHomestaysCamping
Basic lodges and homestays operate in Meta, Phu, Nar and other stops in season; some groups camp with porters and a cook.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Travel to Besisahar by road, continue up the Marsyangdi to Koto near Chame by jeep or on foot, and trek into the valley from there.
Nearest hub: Pokhara
- roadPokhara or Kathmandu to Besisahar, about 4-8 hours depending on the start point.
- jeepBesisahar to Koto, roughly 6-9 hours by jeep on a rough mountain road, often split over two days.
- trekKoto to Meta, Phu and Nar, then over Kang La to Ngawal, usually 7-9 days in total.
Permits and fees
Restricted-area permit
Nar Phu is a restricted area. A Restricted Area Permit and an ACAP permit are required, trekkers must be in a group of at least two with a licensed guide, and permits are arranged through a registered trekking agency.
- Restricted Area Permit (Nar Phu): Issued by the Department of Immigration through a registered agency; check current fees and validity.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): Also required, as the valley is inside the conservation area.
- Group and guide: Minimum of two trekkers with a licensed guide; check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration, Nepal.
On the trail
On the Nar Phu valley trek, Nar Phu and Annapurna Circuit.
- Previous stop:
- Koto
- Next stop:
- Ngawal via Kang La
- A typical day:
- Days typically involve 5-7 hours of walking and 400-800 m of height gain through gorge and high pastures; the Kang La day climbs about 1,150 m from Nar before a long descent.
Practical tips
- Nar and Phu are above 4,000 m and the Kang La is about 5,320 m. Spend nights in both villages to acclimatise and descend if altitude symptoms worsen. This is general information, not medical advice.
- Mobile signal is very limited or absent; carry a satellite communicator or rely on your agency's arrangements.
- There are no ATMs; bring all the cash you need.
- Walk clockwise around chortens and mani walls, and ask permission before photographing people, homes or gompa interiors.
- Electricity and charging are limited, often solar; bring power banks.
Treks through Nar Phu Valley
A teahouse journey around the Annapurna massif, from the green Marsyangdi valley through Manang and over the Thorong La (5,416 m) to Muktinath and the dry Kali Gandaki valley.
- Days
- 11 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,416 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
A restricted-area teahouse trek around Manaslu (8,163 m), up the Budhi Gandaki gorge through Gurung and Nubri villages, over the Larkya La (about 5,106 m) and down to Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit.
- Days
- 12 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,106 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
A restricted-area trek from Koto on the Annapurna Circuit into the high Tibetan Buddhist villages of Phu and Nar, crossing the Kang La (about 5,320 m) to Ngawal and Manang.
- Days
- 12 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,320 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Questions about Nar Phu Valley
Do I need a special permit for Nar Phu?
Yes, a Restricted Area Permit plus an ACAP permit, arranged through a registered agency; you need at least two trekkers and a licensed guide.
Where does the Nar Phu trek start?
At Koto, just below Chame in the Marsyangdi valley, reached by jeep from Besisahar.
How long is the Nar Phu valley trek?
About 7-9 days from Koto to Ngawal over the Kang La, longer if combined with the Annapurna Circuit.
How high is the Nar Phu valley?
Nar is about 4,150 m and Phu about 4,050 m; the Kang La pass is about 5,320 m, so altitude sickness is a real risk.
More in Manang
All of Manang
Lake · 4,919 m
Tilicho Lake
A glacial lake at about 4,920 m beneath the ice walls of Tilicho Peak, reached on a demanding side trip from Manang.
Trek stop · 2,670 m
Chame
The district headquarters of Manang, a road-head town in fir and pine forest where most Annapurna Circuit trekkers spend a night.
Trek stop · 1,900 m
Dharapani (Manang)
A Marsyangdi valley village where the Manaslu Circuit joins the Annapurna Circuit road.
Trek stop · 2,600 m
Koto
A small village in pine and fir forest on the Annapurna Circuit, just below Chame, and the start of the trail into the Nar Phu valley.
Trek stop · 3,660 m
Ngawal
A stone village high on the north side of the Manang valley, on the upper Annapurna Circuit route and at the foot of the Kang La from Nar.
Trek stop · 3,300 m
Pisang
Twin villages in the upper Marsyangdi, where the old stone houses of Upper Pisang look across to Annapurna II.
Trek stop · 4,070 m
Shree Kharka
A small lodge stop in high pasture west of Manang, on the trail to Tilicho Base Camp and Tilicho Lake.
Trek stop · 4,540 m
Thorong Phedi
The lodges at the foot of the Thorong La, where Annapurna Circuit trekkers sleep before the pre-dawn climb to the pass.
Nearby
Town or village · 3,519 m
Manang
A high stone village in the upper Marsyangdi valley below Annapurna III and Gangapurna, where Circuit trekkers stop to acclimatise.
National park or conservation area
Annapurna Region
Nepal's largest protected area, from Gurung hill villages and rhododendron forest to the dry valleys behind the Annapurna range.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Nar Phu, Wikipedia, Annapurna Circuit, Wikivoyage, Department of Immigration, Nepal