Nar Phu Valley Trek

What are the permits required for Nar Phu Valley?

The permits required for the Nar Phu Valley trek are mainly the two permits, which are the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). Let's discuss in detail for each permit.

Restricted Area Permit (RAP)

A Restricted Area permit is the first permit required for you if you are planning to trek in the Nar Phu valley. As the valley is inside the restricted area, like the Manaslu Circuit trek. The cost for the permit is 100 USD per person for the first 7 days and then 15 USD per day after that. The restricted area permit cannot be obtained by the trekkers themselves, so it's necessary to have a registered trekking agency package to obtain it.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

The Annapurna Conservation Area permit (ACAP) is another permit required to enter the Nar Phu valley. ACAP is also the entry permit to the famous trekking routes like the Annapurna Trek, the Annapurna Circuit Trek, and many other Annapurna region treks. The ACAP permit is used because the Nar Phu valley lies both inside the Restricted Area and the Annapurna Conservation Area as well. The permit is issued by the tourism board office and can be obtained by the trekkers visiting the office. The cost of the permit is NPR 3000.

How to reach Nar Phu Valley?

To reach Nar Phu Valley, you will have two options. Either you can drive to the starting point of the trek, which is Besi Sahar, or to Koto village. You will need a proper 2-day drive to reach the starting point, as the valley lies far away from direct access for the people. On the first day, you will drive to Besi Sahar from Kathmandu. The distance between Besi Sahar and Kathmandu is 179 km, which is 111 miles, and a proper 7 to 9 hours of driving will be required to reach Besi Sahar. After reaching Besi Sahar, you will rest for the night, and another day you will drive from Besi Sahar to Koto village. The distance between Besi Sahar and Koto village is 62 km via the bumpy off-roads, which will take around 5 to 6 hours depending on the road conditions.

Another option is that you can directly fly from Kathmandu to Nar Phu Valley, which will be an 11-day tour. You will fly for a visit and return. If you stay there, you might get altitude sickness. The flight time will be 40 minutes, and you will get 2/3 hours to explore the place and return. However, the cost will be much higher than trekking.

What is the best time to trek in Nar Phu Valley?

The best time to visit Nar Phu Valley is during the months of September to November, which is during the autumn, and March to May, which is during the spring. But the valley is among those beautiful places in Nepal that can be visited during all four seasons, which are autumn, spring, monsoon, and winter, as every season has something unique to offer you and you can witness it.

Autumn

Autumn is the best season to trek in the Nar Phu Valley, as this is the time when the climate is cool and not so hot and not so cold, making it ideal for trekking. The skies are clear, due to which you can witness the panoramic views of the beautiful mountains and landscapes. The trail is lush green and dry, making it eye-catching. The daytime temperatures range from 10°C to 18°C, and the nighttime temperatures range from 0°C to -5°C, which is cold and harsh. The trail is also in good condition. This is also the time of Nepal’s biggest festivals, Dashain and Tihar, which you can explore and celebrate.

Spring

Spring is another of the best seasons to trek in the Nar Phu Valley. Like autumn, spring also offers lush green scenery and beautiful landscapes. The weather is mild, and the rhododendrons and alpine flowers start to bloom below 3,500 meters. It is also a perfect time to witness the transition from barren winter to colorful spring. Temperatures during the day are usually between 10°C and 20°C, while nights are still chilly, going up to 0°C to -5°C.

Monsoon

Monsoon is not considered the time to explore the Nar Phu Valley; however, if you trek in monsoon, you will witness something unique that cannot be witnessed in the other peak seasons. During monsoon, you will feel nature as there will be rain every time you see the water streams overflowing and growling in the wild. The trails may be in bad and slippery conditions, especially in the starting places of the trek, as the Nar Phu Valley lies inside the shadow area where there is little or very little rainfall. The only disadvantage of trekking in the mountains is reaching the starting point, and in some places, like Koto and Meta, after that, you will witness the same beautiful mountain ranges. The landscapes are just changing and looking colorful.

Winters

During the month of winter, the Nar Phu Valley looks like a snow wonderland. The weather is harsh and cold, and every place is covered with thick snow, and there is snowfall at night. The valley looks magical under a fresh coat of snow, and the crisp air makes for incredible views. You will witness the snow-covered mountains and landscapes, which will make you feel like you have come to Antartica.

Health and Safety Tips for Nar Phu Valley Trek?

While trekking in the Nar Phu Valley, it is important to take care of your health and prepare according. While trekking to the valley, there are some things that need to be considered before trekking. The Nar Phu Valley lies above 4000 meters, which is higher compared to normal places. The Kang La pass is also at an altitude of 5350 meters, which is higher than the Larke La pass. You will need to ascend gradually, acclimate yourself, and watch for the symptoms of altitude sickness, like headache, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. Drink at least ¾ liters of water every day in order to hydrate yourself. Have enough well-balanced diet foods to overcome the soreness and pain. Trek with the licensed guide and porter, don’t stress your body, and many more. You can read our blog on how to do the high-altitude treks.

What is the cost to visit the Nar Phu Valley trek?

The cost for the Nar Phu Valley trek depends on many factors, like the guide you choose, the accommodations you choose, the meals you have during your trek, permits, the vehicle options you choose for the trek, and the trekking gear you rent or buy.

Guide and porter

The Nar Phu lies inside the Restricted Area, due to which you will need a guide at least, which will cost you around 20 to 30 USD and sometimes 40 USD as well if you trek with a licensed guide who speaks your native language. For a porter, you will have options; you can choose the porter to carry your weight, whose cost is also around 20 to 25 USD per 20 kg per day.

Permits

Another place where you will be spending money is on permits, as the region lies in a restricted and conservation area, permits are mandatory, and to obtain the restricted area permit, you will need to pay USD 100 per week. However, the permit costs are 75 USD during other seasons. The ACP permit costs are around NPR 3000 fixed.

Accommodations

The accommodations during the Nar Phu Valley trek are simple on a twin-sharing basis; however, they're expensive compared to the cities, although they are basic. The accommodation costs are around 5 to 8 USD in lower regions and 10 to 20 USD in upper regions per day.

Foods and meals

As you will be trekking, you will need food to survive, and the Ar Phu Valley trek is far away from the city, due to which the food is basic in taste but expensive in quantity. The costs of the meals per day will be around 30 USD per day, taking an example that you are having breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Transportation costs

Transportation costs depend on you. If you're crossing in a public vehicle, then the costs will be lower compared to if you are renting a vehicle like a Scorpio from the agencies. The cost of the rented vehicle is around 250 USD, which can be divided among the trekker groups if you have one, or else you can drive among the other travelers. If you are choosing the private vehicle, then the cost is around 10 USD to reach Besi Sahar, 10 USD from Besi Sahar to Koto, and return the same. However, the public vehicle is time-consuming and very uncomfortable, so it is suggested to rent a Scorpio or a jeep from the rental agencies.

Gear rentals

The other costs that you will need to pay during the Nar Phu Valley trek are for the gear rentals. As you will be trekking with the proper gear rentals, it's necessary to rent or buy the items according to the seasons. The rentals are around 1 to 5 USD per item, and you can create a list of items you want to rent and a list of items you want to buy. You can check our packing list for the Nar Phu Valley trek below.

Travel Insurance

Another cost that impacts your budget is travel insurance, as no trekking agencies take responsibility for the emergency evacuations. You will need to have travel insurance that covers your health, loss, and emergency evacuations. You will need to get travel insurance that covers at least 5000 m above rescue. In a natural emergency, the Nepal government does rescue and cover your health, but if you are getting acute mountain sickness and emergency evacuations are needed during this time, travel insurance is important. The average cost of the travel insurance is around 100 to 200 USD.