Things to Know before Trekking to Nar Phu Valley
by Jayaram Thapaliya · Updated February 28, 2023
Nar Phu Valley trek is hidden gem in Annapurna Region. Though it is an adventure trek and features views the same as Annapurna Circuit Trek, it is an underrated trail in Nepal. The Nar Phu Trekking is absolutely best in terms of Annapurna mountains views.
In this post, you’ll learn what things you should know before Nar Phu Valley Trek in a complete way. Upon visiting Nar Phu Valley, they will not get only MAGICAL mountain views but also ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture too. Nonetheless, diverse flora and fauna, explore the Himlung Base Camp, Nar Village, Phu Village, and Kang La Pass are the main attractions of this trekking. Before going on this adventurous Nar Phu Valley, trekkers should know the following things mainly.
1. Trekking Permit
Since trekking to Nar Phu is a restricted area journey, you should have permits(ACAP Permits, TIMS Permit, and Restricted Area Permit) to enter this trail. Below is the list of permits you need to get before going on trekking to this zone.
There are 3 types of trekking permits are needed to visit Nar Phu.
A). Annapurna Conservation Area Permit(ACAP)
Since Nar Phu Valley treks lie in Annapurna Region, the ACAP permit is needed and costs 30 USD.
B). Nar & Phu Valley Restricted Area (NRA) Permit
Since the Nar Phu is restricted for international tourists, Nar and Phu Valley Restricted Area (in short NRA) Permit is compulsory.
NRA permits cost USD 90 per week per person from Sep to November) and USD 50 per week per person from Dec to August.
C). TIMS Permit
Trekkers information management systems Permit is required for the purpose of Nar Phu exploration.
2.When to Trek
We can’t do the Nar Phu trek throughout the year because it is a high altitude trek with very high MOUNTAIN PASSES. Since we should cross Kang La, wintertime is almost a dangerous, and rare chance to pass.
If you want to grab the best time to explore Nar Phu Valley, March to May and September to November are the best season. Apart from that, you can even visit Nar Phu during the rainy season( June to August). So all in all, besides the winter season, you can visit Nar Phu.
3. Accommodation, Meals, and Drinking Water during trek
Likewise, the Annapurna Circuit Trek, the Nar Phu Valley trek is also a teahouse trek. But tea houses are more basic than Annapurna Circuit. Moreover at Nar Phedi, accommodation is in a local monastery.
Most teahouses have electricity and some of them have solar panels in NarPhu village areas and for the food, you can order food from the menu. You can easily get boiled water throughout the trek, as every shopkeeper and guesthouse has a thermos of hot water.
4. Nar Phu Trek Difficulty and Training
Trekking to Nar Phu might be very hard for beginner trekkers. Not only for beginners, but it is also challenging for those who have some trekking experience. So what makes Nar Phu trek difficult? They are:
- You should walk more hours with steep ascents at higher altitudes.
- Lack of flexibility in the itinerary that must be covered each day.
- Kang La pass is considered as one of the difficult passes due to narrow and rocky trails.
5. Recommended Trekking Agency for Nar Phu Valley Trek
You’ll find numerous trekking agencies that offer the NAR PHU TREKKING PACKAGE on the internet. And all of them are offering Guided Package for Nar Phu Trek. Among the list of TREKING AGENCY, the Base Camp Hike is one of the trusted local company. Because we have very satisfied clients who had done trekking with us. We have local guides of Nar Phu who know that trail very well and we’ve reasonable price for Nar Phu Trek.
Conclusion
These all things mentioned above all things you should know before departing to Nar Phu Trek. However, if you have questions regarding adventure Nar Phu Trek, please contact us.
