Hidden by swirls of
mountain mist ahead of us, from Kangla pass at 5200m
the magnificent panorama view of Annapurna massif appears
remote and forbidding. Our destination is the Nar-Phu
valley, above the tree line on the upper limits of cultivation,
in the very north of Manang district. It takes five
hours reaching the pass that links Nar with Manang and
three other Bhotia villages in the Nyershang down valley.
Nowadays, Nar Phu has
about 300 inhabitants who depend on livestock, unlike
most Bhotia people, whose trading patterns changed drastically
after the Nepali Government closed borders with Tibet,
the people of Nar and Phu valley were least affected
by this change. The tortuous path leading from the valley
into Tibet had never made them dependent on the salt
trade, and till today yak herding is the basis of their
livelihood. The Nepal government's recent decision to
open up Nar and Phu to tourists has evoked little enthusiasm
among the villagers, whose pastoral lifestyle continues.
Apart from the odd researcher and climbing expeditions
permitted to climb Him lung, Ratnachuli and Gachikang,
few foreigners has visited the area and tourism infrastructure
is almost non-existent. Since Annapurna Conservation
Area Project (ACAP) recently extended its network to
include Nar and Phu Valley, it is preparing a suitable
tourism development plan at the request of the government
for undiscovered valley.We start this trek after driving
almost whole day from Kathmandu to Besishar. From here
we follow Pupular Annapurna Circuit route until Koto
and then we take off the beaten trails until we get
Nar Phu. After visiting this area we trek back to manang,
a beautiful village of Annapurna trail and continue
trek to Tilicho route. After trekking about 5 days through
Tilicho Lake and two beautiful but challenging pass
of this region we end our trek at Jomsom where we catch
our flight to Pokhara and later to Kathmanmdu.
Narphu Valley
Trekking Itinerary
Day 01 : Arrival
and transfer to hotel.
Day 02 : Sightseeing around Kathmandu
valley.
Day 03 : Drive to Beshi Sahar (823m).
Day 04 : Trek to Nagdi (930m).
Day 05 : Trek to Jagat (1300m).
Day 06 : Trek to Karte (1850m).
Day 07 : Trek to Koto (2600m).
Day 08 : Trek to Chhacha (3200m).
Day 09 : Trek to Meta (3700m).
Day 10 : Trek to Junum (4000m).
Day 11 : Trek to Phu, camp.
Day 12 : Rest day at Phu, camp.
Day 13 : Hike around Phu valley.
Day 14 : Trek to Yak Kharka.
Day 15 : Trek to Panggi Pass.
Day 16 : Trek to above Nar (4000m).
Day 17 : Trek to Youingar, camp. Incl
Day 18 : Trek to Kangla Pass (5322m).
Day 19 : Trek to Manang (3351m).
Day 20 : Trek to Khangsar Khola (3734m).
Day 21 : Trek to Tilicho Lake (4140m).
Day 22 : Trek to Mesokanto Pass (5099m).
Day 23 : Trek to Jomsom (2710m), camp.
Day 24 : Fly to Pokhara after noon
visiting around Phewa Lake.
Day 25 : Drive bus to Kathmandu. Included:
Day 26 : Free day for shopping or relax.
Day 27 : Final departure, transfer
airport.
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