Nar-Phu & Kangla with Thorang-la

On reaching Kathmandu international airport our AE staff will receive with a transfer to hotel in the hub of Kathmandu around Thamel area, an interesting place with shops, stores, international standard restaurants. Our guide will meet and inform you with details of the hotels and trekking to Narphu & Kangla with Thorang-la and more.

Morning our city guide will meet and take you on sightseeing tour at places of interest. Kathmandu city and the surrounding valley steeped with history, culture. Kathmandu is full of World Heritage Sites with old Temples, Monasteries, Stupas, Royal Courtyard and Palaces, afternoon free at leisure preparation for the trip to Annapurna.

Starting early morning for the long drive to Chamje around Lamjung area before Manang, the drive leads on the main busy and interesting highway for few hours following Trisuli river downstream, on leaving the river heading west at Dumre town from here our route diverts towards north from the main Kathmandu / Pokhara highway and arriving in Beshisar a large town the headquarter of Lamjung area, after a short stop drive continues on the winding country road to Chamje village, passing several pretty villages of Khudi, Bulbule, Syange and Jagat following the river Marsyangdi upstream and the finally ending the day drive at Chamje village, a moderate size village developing into a town slowly, here overnight in a nice lodge, from here onwards a Tibetan way of life style, culture and Buddhism religion.

First day of trekking from this nice busy village of Chamje located in a river gorge of Marsyangdi, morning walk leads to cross a bridge over the same raging river to Talbesi on the winding gradual path for few hours and then a short climb and descend to a large river valley at Talbesi for lunch, from here onwards in Manang district after leaving Lamjung area. A nice large village with beautiful waterfalls, from here walking for another 2-3 hours following Marsyangdi River and re-crossing the same river couple of times and passing many farm villages and finally reaching at Dharapani a nice spread out village with many nice lodge and guest houses to stay. From here onwards altitude gets higher and cooler in this alpine region.

After a pleasant stop at Dharapani, morning walk starts on a pleasant wide trail with beautiful coniferous forest of rhododendron, pines and fir tall tree lines Chame, overlooking views of Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal North Face and on the back Mt. Manaslu range of peaks, and then reaching at Bagarchap and Danque village from here an hour steep climb to Timang village for lunch stop with awesome panorama of surrounding snow capped mountains. Timang a nice village of mixed tribe of hill people Manang, Magar and Gurung. After lunch another 2-3 hours of good walk reaches at Koto village for overnight stop, Koto village where route to Chame and Narphu splits.

From here our journey splits from the main Annapurna circuit trail for a week heading towards Nar & Phu villages, in one of the hidden corners of Mid West Himalaya range on the trail close to Tibet border in the land of blue sheep’s and snow leopards and other wild life that can be seen along this trekking area, walk continues in a narrow valley in between massive walls of towering rock cliffs within cool shade of woodlands of pines and rhododendron tree lines, and then coming towards nice summer pasture fields with huts and sheds of cattle herders and into a gorge created by Pisang Peak and Kang-guru Himal lower basin, walk carries on following Nar-Phu khola (stream) upstream to reach our first overnight stop Dharmashala with houses around of cattle and yak herders.

Morning trekking towards far northern route, as the walk continues heading towards Phu village in complete isolated area of dry and arid landscapes of Tibetan plateau extension, walk around these area with an opportunity of seeing some wildlife’s Blue Sheep’s, Snow Leopard, Musk deer’s and mountain goats.

As the walk continues finally reach at Kyang for overnight stop after 5-6 hours of interesting trek of the day, Kyang with dozen of farm houses and of Tibetan life style and culture in this wild surrounding.

Today, walk leads to our destination at Phu valley and its village the highlights of this journey, as the morning walk proceeds leading towards a powerful current of Phu Khola and following upstream for some time and then descending back to river again and walking along the river side leading to cross over the stream with a climb to reach a gorge valley, continue walking on the gorge after sometime it finally opens up into wide glacial valley, after few hours of good walk day coming to nice pasture lands and to Phu village for two nights stop in this mystical environment of Phu valley and village strongly of Tibetan influence with similar culture, traditions, religion and way of daily farm life.

An important to have rest day in Phu, an amazing place which helps to acclimatize as well for further higher journey, in this nice village explore around Phu village and it’s small hills for better views and its worth a visit to Tashilkhang and Samdu Choling Monastery and Kyauchyu waterfalls, around Manang with Nar and Phu villages the native has strong connection in Tibetan way of lifestyle, religion, traditions and cultures, consisting of 30 houses for 100 to 150 inhabitants.

From Phu village with pleasant and interesting time, morning walk heading back on the same path for few hours downhill to a narrow gorge, at Phu khola, from here a slow climb to reach at Yughat small village with mani, chortens and Buddhist shrines, then finally reaching on a flat and even field at Nar Phedi for overnight stop.

After staying in a small farm area, today’s walk leads back at Phu Khola for few hours, and then reaching a steel suspension bridge over rampant Phu Khola, after the bridge heading for a steep climb for few hours to reach a flat and gentle path to conclude the day’s walk at Nar village for overnight. Nargaon in comparison with Phu it looks similar but smaller due to its remoteness and high altitude dry terrain.

With a nice stop at Nargaon walk today heads to complete wilderness, away from human settlement for few days till Ngwal and Manang village, an interesting walk on the gradual path for few hours and then with short ups and downs in some rocky and arid ground , passing several cattle herders shelters and grazing field heading further west following Temdenzon khola, as the walk progress in this wild surrounding with awesome scenery of snow peaks and high rolling hills finally ending the trek at Kang la pass base for overnight camp at 4,530 meters altitude.

Starting much earlier than normal trekking routine to cross the high pass of Kang-la at an altitude 5,322 meters the highest point so far before Thorang-la, the cold morning walk makes it warmer as the trail climbs higher on the steep slope for 2-3 hours offering striking view of Pisang Peak with Chulu Far East Peak, and then after a strenuous walk reaching the top of the pass with breathtaking views of Annapurna massif mountain range, Chulu Peaks, Lamjung Himal and adjoining peaks of Annapurna range, after a fantastic moment and rest, walk downhill through Julu village and to our overnight halt at Ngawal village which is close to Manang village and the popular Annapurna circuit trail.

After being in the other side of North East Manang at Narphu where Kangla pass separates these two Manang high valleys, the West Manang valley with more nice lodges being in the main trekking route, morning walk is pleasant with striking views of Chulu’s, Pisang peaks and looking south Annapurna II, III, IV Gangapurna mountains with Tilicho peaks, walk continues over a small ridge with awesome scenery of wide valley of Manang and of high mountains on both side of this arctic landscape country, a slow downhill to Humde village with small airstrip, from here reaching at Braga village with its old important monastery of Manang area, worth a visit to Braga monastery with ancient artifacts and statue of various Buddha with mind blowing panorama of snow capped mountains towards northern Annapurna range and of Pisang, Chulu’s peaks. After a wonderful time here carry on trekking for an hour to proper Manang village for tow night stay in one of its many excellent lodges.

After a pleasant and wonderful rest at Manang village, morning walk leads to a slow climb for an hour, after the last village of Manang at Tenki, the trail gently winds up with inspiring views of Annapurna II, Gangapurna, Tiloche peak and close views of all Chuli’s peaks, walk continues passing few scattered summer pasture and tea shops along the way in the barren windswept terrain\'s with only juniper bushes the only surviving vegetation of this region, and then reaching at Yak-Kharka a small place with 4-5 lodges for overnight stop. Here for lunch and night stay with ample time for a short hike around this amazing country.

The trail from here leads to a slow climb up, after the last settlement of Ledar, the track gently winds up offering grand views of the Annapurna II, Gangapurna, Tiloche and the close up view of Chuli peaks as the trail heads up in the barren windswept terrain\'s, then slowly reaching at Thorang Phedi for the overnight.

From this nice little place in a plateau morning walk leads to the base of Thorang-la following the path on this amazing terrain with slow climb and then down to a river after crossing on a bridge a steep haul for 30 minutes and back to gentle walking all the way to Thorang phedi, here at Phedi depending on fitness if all is well here after lunch time with a climb on the zig-zag track towards Upper Phedi or High Camp with 2-3 lodges, staying here for overnight helps to reach Thorang-la on time and making an hour shorter for next big day.

Today a big and long day of this awesome journey, starting bit earlier with proper warm clothes as the wind chill can be quite cold and nasty sometimes, walking on the gentle uphill on the winding mountain path reaching hills after hill and eventually reaching the top of Thorang-la the highest point of this fabulous trip at 5,416 meters / 17,700 ft. The pass is heavily decorated with prayer flags with unmatched views looking at Mt. Dhaulagiri range of mountains, Tukuche peaks and of Damador Himal range including Annapurna II, IV, Tilicho peak and Gangapurna Himal, after marveling the super panorama, a long descend awaits, leading on the gravel path for a while and then on the rocks and muddy trail to the bottom of the pass where there is few small lodges, after having a rest or lunch continue walk on the good pleasant trail for an hour reaching at the holy place of Muktinath visit the Temple premises with its 108 fresh spring water spouts, this is one of the source of Kaligandaki river also, after a holy and exciting moment and tired reach the lodge nearby with views of Mt. Dhaulagiri North Face and Tukuche peak.

From today onwards walk will be quite easier on the downhill trail and losing altitude and with great different scenery on the Kaligandaki river valley starting with a gentle descend following the wide jeep road passing few smaller villages of Jharkot, with tremendous views of arid and barren country on this new Mustang area, after few hours of good walk reaching at Kaligandaki river valley and to the big town of Jomsom with its small airport, where every morning flights takes place to Pokhara and Kathmandu on smaller planes. Jomsom, headquarter of whole Mustang district. In Jomsom in the comfort of nice and good lodges and enjoy the party with fellow members and staffs with apple products of Mustang area, as Jomsom, Kagbeni to Marpha famous for apples and its products.

In Jomsom as per the flight time which is early morning due to the heavy afternoon winds, transfer to Jomsom airport for a short flight to Pokhara with awesome views during this 22 minutes flight, in Pokhara transfer to respective hotels for overnight near picturesque Phewa lake with great views of Annapurna Himalaya range and Mt. Machhapuchhre at 6,997 meters high reflecting at Lake Phewa in the morning time, Pokhara an amazing place and popular tourist haven.

(For those who wish driving options an interesting drive on winding dirt road till Beni passing many nice towns and villages of Marpha, Ghasa, Tatopani and to Beni before Pokhara takes nearly 5-6 hours of drive.)

After a lovely stop at Pokhara, morning drive back to Kathmandu an interesting journey coming across Dumre where the first day drive took place, from this town another four hours of good and exciting bus ride reaches back to hustle bustle city of Kathmandu and transfer to respective hotels with rest of the afternoon free for own activities. (for flying options 30 minutes of sweeping scenic flight brings you at Kathmandu at the airport our staff will meet and transfer you back to hotel)

Last day in Nepal with memorable moment and awesome experience and good time with Annapurna Encounter services, as per the international flight time our AE staff will transfer you to airport for the flight back home or to respective countries.