Nar Phu Trek Blog
Are you planning the Nar Phu Valley Trek in 2024 and struggling to find an authentic in-depth guide based on first-hand experience? If you’re this person, you’ve just clicked on the right blog. This blog, Nar Phu Trek Blog, is solely based on my first-hand experience of trekking here on April 10, 2024. I guided a client for 10 days, from Dharapani to Nar Phu Valley, Kang La Pass, and Ngawal.
Oh! Here’s my introduction. I’m a co-founder, travel writer, and trek leader at NepTrek. This is my Instagram profile where I share my travel contents, photos, and videos. Check it out 😉
What to expect on this blog?
- Major highlights of the trek such as mountains, landscape, people, and culture.
- Nar Phu Trek Itinerary
- Solo Trekking and Restricted Area Trek Permits
- Places to stay during the trek
- Trek preparations
- Reaching out to trekking agencies like NepTrek, my company!
Without further due, let’s start the blog!
Nar Phu Valley Trek Solo: Is it doable?
It’s a hard NO. You can’t trek here solo. Nar Phu Valley is a Nepal government-restricted area. Hence, any trekker who wants to trek here must purchase a restricted area permit via registered trekking agencies. Free Individual Trekkers can’t obtain restricted area permits.
Also, if you plan this trek with the trekking agency, you must be two people in a group. This permit is not available for the individual trekker who reaches out to trekking agencies. However, agencies like NepTrek find other groups joining trekkers to get a restricted area permit for you.
Nar Phu Trek Itinerary: How I planned it?
If you want to learn in-depth about this trek’s itinerary, read this blog. Here, I’m just sharing the outline itinerary.
Day-1: Drive from Kathmandu to Dharapani via Besisahar (8 hours). Overnight at Hotel Gorkha Inn.
Day-2: Trek to Koto (14 km, 2,620 meters, 7 hours). Overnight at Step In Hotel and Restaurant.
Day-3: Trek to Meta (15 km, 3,560 meters, 7 hours). Overnight at Zambala Hotel.
Day-4: Trek to Phu Gaon (18 km, 4,100 meters, 7 hours). Overnight at Tashi Lodge.
Day-5: Trek to Naar Phedi (17 km, 3,490 meters, 5 hours). Overnight at Nar Phedi Monastery.
Day-6: Trek to Naar village (5 km, 4,200 meters, 3 hours). Overnight at Naar Guest House and Lodge.
Day-7: Acclimatization at Naar. Overnight at Naar Guest House and Lodge.
Day-8: Trek to Ngawal via Kang La Pass (17 km, 5,320 meters, 10 hours).
Day-9: Drive to Besisahar (7 hours). Overnight at Hotel Gangapurna.
Day-10: Drive to Kathmandu (6 hours)
Nar Phu Valley Trek Route: Peaceful off-beat-path
One thing I love about Nar Phu Trek is the route. It’s wide, scenic, well-maintained, safe, and beautiful.
The walking route from Dharapani to Koto is a road where you’ll walk along the off-road jeeps. However, the route to Nar Phu Valley separates from Koto. After crossing the suspension bridge, you’ll enter the restricted area with almost no trekkers.
You’ll walk along the shore of Naar Khola, through serene pine forests, and beautiful gorges.
Past Meta, the trekking route is road-like wide, best for easy walking. Forget about the jeeps, all you’ll meet here are the mules and a few trekkers.
There’s a single walking trail with proper trail markings. There are suspension bridges, campsites, landslide zones, wooden bridges, monasteries, gompas, and chortens. All these add an extra touch to your wholesome walking.
There aren’t many steeper sections on this trek. The climb to Meta from Dharmashala, from Naar Khola to Phu gate, Naar Phedi to Naar, and Kang La top from Kang La Base Camp are the only steep sections.
Overall, you’ll fall in love with the trekking route more than you’ll fall in love with the destinations. It’s that serene. It makes you keep walking even after getting tired from an all-day walk.
Where did we stay during the trek?
Another purpose of writing the Nar Phu Trek Blog is to give you an idea of where I stayed during the trek.
This trek is a complete tea house-based trekking. However, you can also go camping instead of staying at the tea houses.
In Dharapani, we stayed for a night at Hotel Gorkha Inn. It’s the best in Dharapani.
In Koto, we stayed at Step In Hotel and Restaurant. It’s a new cottage-style tea house with a welcoming owner. The meals were good and the hospitality was great.
We stayed at the Zambala Hotel in Meta. The owner Lhakpa Didi was a very sweet person with great hospitality. The rooms were nice and clean. She even allowed us to stay warm in the kitchen.
At Phu, we stayed at the Tashi Hotel, run by Lhakpa’s sister. The tea house was good with great hospitality.
We stayed at Naar Phedi Monastery. The hospitality was good. The meals were okay. The rooms were not good. The blankets were thin, the mattresses were cold, and the room was stinky.
Our accommodation at Naar Village was the best. We stayed for two days in Naar Guest House, run by a fantastic woman and her husband, a Buddhist Lama. Their tea house is new with a neat and clean room.
The blankets, pillows, and bedsheets were very clean. The meals were fantastic. Especially, the Yak meat and Dal Bhat were great. The hospitality was the best.
Nar Phu Valley Trek Difficulty: How difficult is it?
Nar Phu Valley Trek isn’t that difficult if you’ve good physical fitness. Even if you’re a novice trekker, you can complete this trek. Moreover, if you’ve completed several high-altitude trekking in Nepal, trekking to Nar Phu Valley and Kang La Pass will be fun.
The trekking route and the gradual altitude gain with few steep sections make it an easy trek. The walking distance each day on this trek averages 16-17 km. However, most sections en route are straightforward, flat, and easy to walk on.
The most challenging section on this trek I’d say is from Naar Village to Kang La top. The route gets steeper past Kang La Base Camp. And with snow and ice, it becomes difficult to walk with ease.
If you aim for Nar Phu Trek in 2024, you must improve your fitness. Cardio and endurance are must for long day walks.
Kang La Pass from Naar: The ultimate push
We started walking from Naar to Kang La Pass sharp at 4 am. Since my client was walking well, we reached the top at 9 am. It took us five hours with few rest stops. From the top, we were bestowed with the beautiful mountain panorama on all sides.
Most trekker start at 4 am and reach Kang La top at 1 pm. Past mid-day, the weather turns cloudy and trekkers miss the best view from the top.
Hence, if you’re a slow-paced walker, you must start the walk at 3 am from Naar Village. With wind, sun, and sweat, it becomes more difficult to cross Kang La.
Nar Phu Valley Trek Cost- Is it expensive?
Yes. Nar Phu Valley Trek Cost is reasonably higher than the Annapurna Circuit Trek and on par with the Everest Base Camp Trek Cost. It’s because of the restricted area, multi-day expensive logistics on mules, and quality service.
Apart from accommodation and meals, ground transport on private vehicles and shared jeeps is expensive. Moreover, the restricted area permit itself costs more than USD 100. On top, the trek guide and porter’s per day salary on this trek is higher than in other regions trekking.
On average, Nar Phu Trek Cost for you comes around USD 1290 (with two trekkers). However, with more trekkers in the group, the cost decreases by a hundred dollars.
So, if you’re looking for budget trekking, I’d suggest the five days Annapurna Base Camp Trek from Pokhara.
Wifi, Electricity, and Hot Water Shower
You’ll get all of these facilities after paying a certain fee for each. Wifi is available at every place on this trek. You’ll get a hot water shower at every tea house. I even washed my clothes at Naar village during acclimatization day.
Each of these services costs Rs. 300-500. Hence, I’d suggest you carry Nepali cash instead of dollars or euros. The tea houses accept Nepali rupees only.
Have plans for Nar Phu Trek in 2024?
Found my Nar Phu Trek Blog informative? If so, it’s time to book this trek with my comapny 😉
If Nar Phu Valley Trek with Kang La Pass is on your bucket list in 2024, plan it with us. I’ve been to Nar Phu Valley several times, with the latest trek in April 2024. With my experienced guiding team and the most reasonable trek cost, you’ll have a wonderful trek in this trekker’s paradise.
You can write to me at dahalsaroj151@gmail.com or on my official email mailtoneptrek@gmail.com to learn the availability and cost of this trek. I look forward to this wholesome adventure with you.
