All about the Nar Phu Valley Trek
The Nar Phu Valley Trek has only been open for exploration since 2002 and offers an extraordinarily pristine cultural and scenic experience that is all the more remarkable given its proximity to the famous and well-traveled Annapurna circuit.
One of Nepal’s true hidden valleys, its rugged landscapes and ancient villages bordering Tibet have lain in peaceful solitude for years from the outside world, with relatively few trekkers making the journey to one of the last truly untouched regions in the Himalayas.
The Nar Phu Valley trek begins proper at Besisahar and follows the stock route for the Annapurna Circuit through to Koto before branching away eastward towards Nar Phu valley. The trail leads along the Nar Khola River and through a narrow gorge before arriving at the small settlement of Odar (which translates to ‘Cave’), a convenient point for a lunch stop at one of the newly constructed tea houses. From Odar the path heads out through thickets of pine, rhododendrons, and bamboo, with the soothing delights of a hot spring en route to bath in for a refreshing break. From there we head to the picturesque village of Meta and its impressive landscapes and view of the monastery at Nar Phedi in the distance.
The following day’s journey to Phu offers some of the most memorable and unspoiled views on the trek as the trail pass below the daunting slopes of Kangaru Himal and Chyakhu before winding on through the village of Kyang. Phu itself is a remarkable and impressive village that seems as much a bastion against the forces of time as the harsh Himalayan elements, with a known history that dates back to at least the 5th century. The structures are like building blocks set side by side and seemingly one on top of the other along the sloping hill at the heart of the village, creating the semblance of terraced fields of stone. Replete with the obligatory Mani walls, prayer wheels, and its own fascinating monastery, the village is a treasure house of Tibetan culture frozen in time that intrigues and beguiles at every turn and stairway, particularly for photographers.
To be honest you don’t have to be a runner to enjoy the trek. But the preparation will probably save you a lot of pain and suffering on the trail and help you to enjoy your experience there. The suggestions we have for physically preparing is to take good, long, brisk walks, preferably wearing a pack with a similar load that you’ll be carrying. Cycling and swimming are also great alternatives too, as is just about anything that gets your cardio working. Do some breathing exercise to get more oxygen into your lungs? Watch for signs of altitude sickness: symptoms include headaches, dizziness, sleeplessness, loss of appetite and breathlessness. Bring a supply of the medication Diamox for treatment; if symptoms persist, descend. Trekking to Everest Base Camp may not be the trip for everyone as it is quite a physically demanding experience, and when you combine high altitude with plenty of climbs, you may get a recipe for suffering. But normal, average, travelers can do Everest Base Camp trek.
Most of the tea houses do have western-style flushing toilets. But in higher elevation, you may also find the traditional type of toilet made of either a ceramic basin on the ground or few planks precariously positioned over a hole in the ground and it is situated outside the room.
Travel insurance & rescue when travelling to a remote destination like Nepal is strongly advised. It should provide adequate protection for the full duration of the tour. Your insurance policy must cover all the activities that you will be undertaking during your stay in Nepal such as helicopter rescue, cancellation, air ambulance, injury, death, lost baggage, theft, liability, medical treatment, and cover repatriation and personal expenses. If a client becomes ill, all hospital expenses, doctors’ fees, and repatriation costs are the client’s responsibility. For reliable travel insurance, we have the suggestion of some of the best insurance companies: Cover more or Europe assistance or Travel Direct- TID. We have an agreement with Helicopter Company to do the payment of Helicopter evacuation after we collect the payment with you once you have been rescued. And the reimbursement responsibility from your insurance company will go up to you. Be sure your policy specifically covers helicopter evacuation and does not exclude mountaineering or alpinism.
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