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A village in the Nar Phu valley

Annapurna

Nar Phu Valley

A restricted valley branching off the Annapurna Circuit at Koto: gorges, Khampa hamlets, the villages of Phu and Nar, then the Kang La pass to Ngawal.

  • Walking days 8–9 days
  • Highest point 5,320 m
  • Level Demanding
  • Permits 3,000 NPR (≈ €17) + from 75 USD (≈ €67)
  • Start Besisahar
  • Agency and guide mandatory

At a glance

At Koto, on the Annapurna Circuit, you leave the main route through narrow gorges to Meta, then the hamlets of Chyako and Kyang up to Phu (4,070 m) and its Tashi Lhakhang monastery. You head back down to Nar before crossing the Kang La (5,320 m) to Ngawal.

A slice of Tibet a few days from Nepal's busiest trekking route. Afterwards you can carry on to Manang and the Thorong La.

Highlights

  • The villages of Phu and Nar, still very traditional
  • Tashi Lhakhang monastery above Phu
  • The Kang La, facing Annapurna II
  • Links up with the Annapurna Circuit

Drawbacks

  • Special permit and agency mandatory
  • Long day over the Kang La (7 to 10 hrs), starting around 4 am
  • Pass often closed by snow from December to February

In pictures

Nar village

Route

Up via Meta and Kyang to Phu, then Nar and the Kang La to Ngawal; or back to Koto down the same valley.

8 daysof walking
5,320 mhighest point
72 kmD+ 5,360 m D− 4,330 m
KotoStart
Track (jeep)ChyakoKyangKoto — 2,620 mMeta — 3,590 mPhu — 4,070 mNar Phedi — 3,560 mNar — 4,205 mNgawal — 3,655 mTashi Lhakhang — 4,120 mKang La — 5,320 mKoto — Start: Koto · Finish: Koto (same route)Ngawal — Finish: Ngawal (via the Kang La)KotoNgawalTashi Lhakhang 4,120 mKang La 5,320 mMetaPhuNar PhediNarAnnapurna II 7,937ChyakoKyangStart : KotoStartMove to change your finishing pointFinishN
  • Track (jeep)
  • Chosen route
  • Other possible trails
  • Possible start or finish

Drag the “Start” and “Finish” labels to another served point, or tap a point. The “+” buttons add a side trip. Zoom with + and − (or Ctrl + scroll wheel), then drag the map to move around.

How do I use it in a hiking app?

The file contains the route you chose on the map (start, finish, side trips), with altitude, and a marker for each night, pass and viewpoint.

  • Organic Maps or Maps.me (free, offline): download the Nepal map before you leave, then open the GPX file from your phone and choose the app.
  • OsmAnd: menu “My places” → “Tracks” → “Import”.
  • Komoot, Gaia GPS, Wikiloc, Garmin: use the app's or website's “Import a GPX file” feature.

With no signal, your phone's GPS still works: you can see your position on the track. The track is indicative: on the ground, waymarks and advice from the lodges come first.

Itinerary
  1. D 0Koto2,620 m
  2. D 1Meta3,590 m+970 m16 km2,580 m1,600 m
  3. D 2Kyang via Chyako3,875 m+285 m10 km450 m160 m
  4. D 3Phu4,070 m+195 m8 km310 m120 m
  5. D 4Phu via Tashi Lhakhang 4,120 m rest and acclimatisation4,070 m±0 m2 km50 m50 m
  6. D 5Nar Phedi via Kyang3,560 m−510 m17 km280 m800 m
  7. D 6Nar4,205 m+645 m5 km630 m0 m
  8. D 7Nar rest and acclimatisation4,205 m±0 m
  9. D 8Ngawal via Kang La 5,320 m3,655 m−550 m15 km1,060 m1,600 m
Distances and elevation gain estimated from OpenStreetMap and a terrain model.
  • Koto — Jeep from Besisahar to Koto, on the Annapurna Circuit road (just before Chame).
  • Ngawal (via the Kang La) — Steep descent from the Kang La to Ngawal, on the Annapurna Circuit: carry on to Manang and the Thorong La, or head back down by jeep.

Elevation

above 3,000 m: climb slowly2,0003,0004,0005,0006,000D 0 · Koto — 2,620 mKoto 2,620 mD 1 · Meta — 3,590 mD 2 · Kyang — 3,875 mD 3 · Phu — 4,070 mTashi Lhakhang — 4,120 mTashi Lhakhang 4,120 mD 4 · Phu — 4,070 m (rest and acclimatisation)D 5 · Nar Phedi — 3,560 mD 6 · Nar — 4,205 mD 7 · Nar — 4,205 m (rest and acclimatisation)Kang La — 5,320 mKang La 5,320 mD 8 · Ngawal — 3,655 mNgawal 3,655 mD 12345678
Altitude of each night, with the day's passes and viewpoints (red dots). Green dot: rest day.

Permits

The Nar Phu special permit (restricted area, through an agency) and the ACAP permit.

Restricted area

Nar Phu special permit

from 75 USD (≈ €67)

Obtained through a licensed agency: 100 USD (≈ €89) per week from September to November, 75 USD (≈ €67) from December to August, then 15 USD (≈ €13) per day.

Conservation area

ACAP permit (Annapurna)

3,000 NPR (≈ €17)

At the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu (Bhrikutimandap) or Pokhara (Damside), in cash, with your passport and 2 photos. Or online at epermit.ntnc.org.np (card, +2.9%). Bought at the checkpoint, it costs double.

Since 22 March 2026, special permits are issued even to a solo trekker, still with a licensed guide and an approved agency. See Permits.

Guide

Agency and guide mandatory

Restricted area: approved agency and licensed guide mandatory.

At the Kang La, the guide decides whether to cross depending on the snow. See Guide and porter.

A guide for this trek? The Guides Nepal directory lists guides, porters and agencies who know this trek, with their licence checked, the languages they speak and traveller reviews.

See guides for this trek

Transport

Getting to the start

Besisahar → Koto

Duration 5 to 7 hrs

Shared jeep along the Annapurna Circuit road, via Dharapani.

Getting back

Ngawal or Manang → Besisahar

Duration 6 to 8 hrs

Jeep from Manang, or continue the Annapurna Circuit on foot.

When to go

J: Not advisedF: Not advisedM: PossibleA: IdealM: IdealJ: Not advisedJ: Not advisedA: Not advisedS: PossibleO: IdealN: IdealD: Not advised

IdealPossibleNot advised

September–November and April–May.

December to March: snow on the Kang La (often closed in winter, light crampons useful in March).

On the trail

AccommodationBasic lodges and homestays; a night at the Nar Phedi monastery.
BudgetAbout 30 to 45 USD (≈ €27 to €40) a day, excluding permits, guide and transport.
MoneyNo ATMs: withdraw in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
SignalWifi possible at Meta, then almost nothing.

Good to know before you go

Altitude: you sleep above 4,000 m at Phu and Nar; keep both acclimatisation days before the Kang La. See Altitude and safety.

What about the visa? A two-week trek plus a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara quickly adds up to more than 15 days: get the 30-day visa. The calculator on our sister site Visa Nepal shows the cheapest length.

Which visa length?

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Preparing your trek

PermitsPrices, where to buy, documents needed, trek by trek.Guide and porterMandatory or not, region by region, and what it costs.TransportBuses, jeeps and flights to the start of each trek.Altitude and safetyAcclimatisation, altitude sickness, rescue, insurance.BudgetDaily costs, cash to bring, ATMs.FAQThe questions people ask before they go.