It’s important to understand various things about Nar Phu Trek before planning it. Things such as accommodation, meals, trek difficulty, trek permits, transportation, trek guide on restricted areas, and more are must you should know.

Here, we’ve detailed everything you need to know about this trek before planning and booking with us. Let’s begin!

Meals and Accommodation

Nar Phu Valley Trek is a non-commercial trek. Thus, keep your expectations low if you’re expecting pizza and burgers to eat while on the trek. However, you’ll get pancakes, porridge, fries, and the best Dal Bhat with Yak meat.

We recommend you eat Dal Bhat once a day during the trek. You’ll get fresh vegetables, potatoes, and spinach along with cooked rice and lentil soup. At Nar and Phu Village, you can have dried Yak meat with vegetable soup.

Noodle soup with omelet, Tibetan bread, spaghetti, and chapati curry are other go-to meals on this trek.

Masala Tea, black tea with ginger, and milk tea are best during breakfast and between breaks during the day.

Accommodations are best during the Nar Phu Valley Trek. Every tea house on this trek route provides twin-sharing rooms without attached bathrooms. However, you’ll get attached bathrooms at places like Dharapani, Koto, and Ngawal.

You’ll get clean rooms with warm blankets and pillows. We recommend you bring a sleeping bag for extra warmth.

Transportation during the trek

Upon your arrival in Nepal, you’ll get a private vehicle transfer from the airport to the hotel.

To start the trek, you’ll drive to Besisahar and Dharapani. For this, you’ll get a private car drive to Besisahar from Kathmandu. And a shared jeep ride from Besisahar to Dharapani. Likewise, you’ve to return to Kathmandu from Ngawal. So, you’ll get a shared jeep transport from Ngawal to Besisahar. From Besisahar, you’ll get a private car ride to Kathmandu.

During your farewell, you’ll get an airport transfer on a private vehicle.

Wi-Fi and Hot Shower during the trek

Almost all settlements in Nar Phu Valley Trek Route have wifi access. Thus, while on this trek, you’ll never run out of internet and get connected with your loved ones. You’ve to pay Rs. 300-500 for wifi use.

Hot shower is also available at almost every tea house on this trek. It costs Rs. 500-600 for you. We don’t recommend taking hot showers in higher regions like Naar and Phu.

Nar Phu Valley Trek Permit

You’ll need to get two trek permits for the Nar Phu Trek. One is the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). Another one is a Restricted Area Permit.

Nar and Phu are two hidden villages in the Annapurna region that are in a restricted region. Hence, trekkers must get a restricted area permit from the Department of Immigration. This permit is only available upon booking this trek with trekking agencies like us, which makes it clear that Nar Phu Trek is not doable solo.

In total, the Nar Phu Valley Trek Permit costs USD 30 + USD 75/USD 100.

To learn more about the permits, read our blog here.

Acclimatization on the trek

While on Nar Phu Valley Trek with Kang La Pass, you’ll stop for a day at Naar village for acclimatization. The primary purpose of resting at Naar village is to get ample rest and adapt to the altitude.

Kang La Pass is over 5,320 meters. Crossing this altitude is not an easy task. Hence, with proper rest and acclimatization, you’ll cross this pass and trek to Ngawal comfortably.

During the acclimatization day, you’ll explore the Naar village, the farmlands, and monasteries. Also, you can take a good hot shower at a tea house and sunbathe for the rest of the day.

Altitude sickness during the trek

The risk of getting altitude sickness during Nar Phu Trek is negligible and here’s why.

You’ll start this trek (walking) from Dharapani, which sits at 1,600 meters. You’ll trek to Koto from Dharapani which sits at 2600 meters. Likewise, you’ll trek to Meta, Phu, Naar Phedi, and Naar Villages. During these walks, you’ll gradually gain altitude. Hence, with gradual altitude gain, you’ll be safe from altitude sickness.

Moreover, you’ll stop at Naar village for a day for acclimatization. With proper rest, you’ll easily trek to Kang La and Ngawal.

However, you’ll get altitude sickness if you don’t follow what your trek guide says. Exposing your body parts to cold, not rehydrating enough, and fast-paced walking can cause altitude sickness. Hence, we recommend you follow your trekking guide’s advice properly.

Trekking guides and porters

Nar Phu Trek is only doable with a licensed trekking guide from a registered trekking agency in Nepal. Hence, you’ll trek with an experienced trekking guide from us upon booking this trek.

For this trek, we’ll provide you with a trekking guide who’s been to Nar Phu Valley and Kang La Pass several times.

We’ll provide you with trek porters to carry your backpack throughout the trek. With trek porters carrying your backpack, it’ll be easy for you to trek.

Our trek guides and porters possess travel insurance and are paid as per industry standards.

International Travel Insurance

We strongly demand you purchase international travel insurance if you’re planning Nar Phu Valley Trek in 2025 with us.

Nar Phu Valley is a restricted area. Hence, getting a helicopter here for rescue and evacuation costs more than USD 10,000. Also, without travel insurance, getting a helicopter for rescue is almost impossible.

If you get altitude sickness or injuries and require helicopter evacuation, you must have travel insurance. Your travel insurance compensates for the helicopter evacuation fee. Moreover, you’ll need hospitalization in Kathmandu after getting rescued. Hence, travel insurance also covers every expense during and after rescue.

Furthermore, travel insurance compensates for loss and damage to your stuff like a camera and trek gear.

With travel insurance in hand, you’ll feel utmost safe throughout the trek. And there’s nothing greater than trekking carefree and enjoying the trek.

Trek difficulty and physical fitness

Trekking to Nar Phu Valley with Kang La Pass is not difficult if you’ve decent physical fitness. And if you can walk 17-18 km per day.

Most sections on this trek are straightforward, even the route to Kang La Pass from Naar Village. Two sections, the ascend to Meta and Naar from Naar Phedi are steep. However, these are just a one-hour-long walk.

The route from Meta to Phu is beautiful, easy, and easy to walk. Also, the return to Naar Phedi is an easy walk.

Having said this, you must have a decent physical fitness. As you walk for 8 hours each day, you must be able to endure the long walks. Moreover, crossing Kang La to Ngawal takes 11-12 hours, the longest on the trek.

We recommend you train cardio exercises for a few months before joining this trek. Swimming, running, and cycling are best for cardio. Also, multiple hikes before joining this trek are a plus.

Best time for Nar Phu Valley Trek

If you’re planning for Nar Phu Trek with Kang La Pass, March, April, and May are absolute months for this trek. The crystal clear weather, warm temperature, occasional snowfall, and wholesome adventure in Spring make it an absolute trek. Moreover, during the Spring months, very few trekkers trek to Nar Phu Valley.

Autumn months, September to November are the busiest in this trek. Apart from trekkers, in these months, many climbers trek to Phu for Himlung Expedition. After completing the expedition, they trek to Naar and Kang La. Hence, almost every tea house is filled with trekkers and climbers.

The weather particularly in November becomes one of the best in a year. With clear weather and no snow at Kang La, the sightseeing and adventure becomes wholesome. Moreover, the Autumn days are rain-free days which are best for all-day long walks.

Temperature

The temperature at Nar Phu Valley during Spring remains warmer than in Autumn. The daytime temperature at Naar and Phu Villages during March, April, and May averages around 7-8˚C. However, the nighttime temperature falls below freezing, close to -14˚C.

The temperature starts decreasing as Autumn progresses, from September to November. The daytime temperature averages close to 1-2˚C. Likewise, the nighttime temperature averages to -15˚C.

With proper trek gear, a warm-down jacket, and a proper sleeping bag, you’ll remain warm and cozy throughout the trek.