This is a 19-day trek that adds the Nar Phu valley and the Kang La pass to the classic Annapurna Circuit, from USD 1,315 per person on Budget for a couple. Nar Phu is a restricted area, so we arrange the permit, and your guide stays with you all the way. It is a hard trek with two passes, for fit people who like quiet trails.
Annapurna Circuit with Nar Phu Valley Trek at a glance
| Duration | 19 days |
|---|---|
| Start and finish | Kathmandu |
| Highest point | Thorong La, 5,416 m / 17,769 ft |
| Difficulty | Very strenuous |
| Trail days | 17 on foot, 2 by road |
| Group size | 1 to 20, always private |
| From price | USD 1,315 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 2,915, Luxury USD 5,140 |
Why I built it this way
Our Annapurna Circuit takes 12 days and our Nar Phu Valley trek takes 9. This trek joins them. You start at Bhulbhule, walk to Koto, go up into Nar Phu, cross Kang La to Ngawal, rejoin the Circuit at Pisang, then cross Thorong La. We sleep in the same villages as our shorter treks.
I keep a rest day in Phu and another in Manang. The Nar Phu days are long, up to 7 to 10 hours, so those two rest days are not a luxury.
Nar Phu is a restricted area, so the permit, the licensed guide and the rule of not walking apart from your guide all apply. You do not need to arrange any of it.
Best time to go, month by month
Nar Phu is high and cold, and the Kang La pass can be closed by snow. These are the months I recommend.
| Month | What it is like | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| January | Very cold, snow on both passes. | No |
| February | Very cold, passes closed by snow. | No |
| March | Cold, snow still lies on the passes. | Late March only, with spare days |
| April | Warmer, rhododendrons lower down, clear mornings. | Good |
| May | Warm lower down, cloud builds in the afternoon. | Good, early May |
| June | Monsoon on the lower valley. | No |
| July | Monsoon. | No |
| August | Monsoon. | No |
| September | Rain eases late in the month. | Late September only |
| October | Clear, stable and the busiest month. | Best |
| November | Dry, clear, colder every week. | Best, first half |
| December | Cold, the passes carry snow. | Only with care |
The Nar Phu permit costs more from September to November (USD 100 for 7 days) than from December to August (USD 75). We have included the higher figure in the price in all months.
Permits and costs
| Permit or fee | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area permit | NPR 3,000 | Included |
| TIMS card | NPR 2,000 | Included, issued by us |
| Nar Phu restricted-area permit | USD 100 for 7 days from September to November, USD 75 for 7 days from December to August, then USD 15 a day | Included for the 7 days plus 1 spare day. Any extra day in the area is charged at USD 15, paid by you |
| Rules for restricted areas | Licensed guide, never walk apart from the guide | Maximum 7 trekkers per guide. Solo travellers can get the permit since 22 March 2026 |
Prices are per person, include VAT and our service charge, and hold for 2027. A child pays the same as an adult. Private or group, the price per person is the same. Here is the full table.
| Group size | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 guest (solo) | USD 2,290 | USD 3,550 | USD 7,340 |
| 2 to 4 guests | USD 1,315 | USD 2,915 | USD 5,140 |
| 5 to 8 guests | USD 895 | USD 2,535 | USD 5,000 |
| 9 to 12 guests | USD 875 | USD 2,475 | USD 4,855 |
| 13 to 20 guests | USD 790 | USD 2,365 | USD 4,775 |
Not included: international flights, Kathmandu hotels, drinks other than the tea or coffee with meals, tips and the Nepal visa. You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance in Kathmandu. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card, and card payments carry a 3.5% bank charge. We cannot take Nepali rupees from foreign guests.
Getting there and getting back
You start and finish in Kathmandu. We pick you up from the airport and your hotel. The first day is a long drive to Bhulbhule, and the last two days are by road from Muktinath to Pokhara and Kathmandu.
The road from Muktinath to Pokhara runs down the Kali Gandaki valley. It is rough in places and we use a jeep.
Safety and altitude
This trek has two high passes and four nights above 4,000 m. We follow the same pattern as our shorter treks: slow days, a rest day in Phu and one in Manang, and no climbing more than we should in a day. Tell your guide at once if you get a headache, feel sick, or cannot sleep.
Your guide carries a pulse oximeter and a first aid kit. A helicopter cannot reach Thorong La itself, so a rescue there starts from lower ground. A helicopter can reach Muktinath, Manang and the Nar Phu villages.
What to pack
- Warm layers, a down jacket (we lend one free) and a windproof shell
- Good boots, already worn in, and microspikes in October and May
- Gloves, a warm hat, sun hat and sunglasses
- A headtorch and spare batteries
- Sleeping bag rated to -15 C, lent free by us on every tier
Budget, Standard or Luxury
All three tiers walk the same route. What changes is the comfort and the help you get, not the days.
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porter | None, you carry your own bag | 1 porter for every 2 trekkers (solo: the guide carries up to 10 kg) | A porter for each of you, up to 20 kg |
| Meals | Not included | All meals, tea or coffee with each meal, fruit at breakfast, 2 litres of hot water a day | All meals, plus fruit, nuts, soft drinks and all the hot water you can drink |
| Rooms | Shared | Private | Private, the best room each lodge has |
| Road transport | Shared local vehicles | Shared tourist vehicles | Private luxury vehicle |
| Pokhara night | Comfortable Pokhara hotel | Comfortable Pokhara hotel | Five-star Pokhara hotel |
Read before you book
The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
Secure payment by Himalayan Bank.
