Trip Overview

The Nar Phu Valley lies in the Manang District, which is also known as the hidden valley. Besides the Kangla, linking Nar to the Nyeshang Valley, the most direct route from the Kathmandu to Nar and Phu is along the Marshyandgi River. Travellers trek through the Himalayan foothills and round the eastern end of the Annapurna before they arrive at Quad, a police check post half an hour before Chame, Manang’s district headquarters. From here a long and steep trail winds up to Nar and Phu. Villagers, laden with goods purchased in Chame and lower down in Besisahar – the end of the road head leading to Manang – often camp at Dharamsala, a rudimentary wooden hut built by the people from the two villages.

Nar Phu Valley trekking only opened to tourists in 2003. The Nepal Government’s decision to open up the Valley 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, Ratna Chuli and Gachikang, few foreigners have visited the area and the tourism infrastructure is almost non-existent.