Overview
The Naar-Phoo Valley was only opened to the outside world in 2003. This remote area is situated on the Tibetan Plateau, and is a taste of the real Tibet of a century ago. The people of the Naar-Phoo Valley are subsistence farmers who have inhabited this valley for well over 1000 years. They are Tibetan Buddhists and speak a dialect of Tibetan.
This trek combines the experience of seeing the lost valley of Naar-Phu and trekking to the high mountain waters of Tilicho Lake, creating a most rewarding experience that combines scenery and unique culture. Here there are aromatic pine forests, unique rock formations, ancient monasteries, deep, narrow canyons and much more. There are yaks and blue sheep that call this place home. It is a place of isolation, where you will trek for hours without seeing another house. There are ruins of ancient fortresses along the way that once guarded this valley against outsiders. There is much to explore here in 18 days.
The Naar-Phoo Valley is a restricted area and requires a special permit to enter. This was done to preserve the local culture as the year around population is around 300. Vertical Expedition is pleased to be able to offer this trek. We can get the permits and put together a truly amazing trip where you will be stepping back in time. If you have ever wanted to visit the real Tibet, Naar-Phoo Valley is that place where the traditional Tibetan culture is still lived daily. Why not make this trip for your next holiday in Nepal?
Itinerary
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport where you will be met by your representative of Vertical Expedition. You will be escorted to your hotel where there are complimentary welcome drinks and a short briefing with plenty of time to relax from your flight.
Your day will be spent visiting several of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is a great day to get a feel of the culture, spirituality and the beauty of the famed Kathmandu Valley. The Valley is larger than the country of Singapore and is known for its temples, shopping and great hospitality.
We travel by private vehicle, leaving the capital city behind as we move into the mountains. We pass the Trisuli and Marshyangdi Rivers, enjoying great views of the canyons and lower mountains of the hilly region of Nepal. Along the way, enjoy views of the snowcapped peaks like Lamjung Himal, Peak 29 and Manaslu while on the road to the village of Jagat where we will spend the night in a local lodge.
We begin trekking uphill as we start into the Annapurna Mountains. We leave the beautiful little village Jagat where the road has ended. From now on, we are working our way upward in elevation as we pass through rhododendron forests and along fast moving mountain streams. At Tal Village, there are many beautiful waterfalls to explore as we stop for lunch. We continue the rocky trail to the village of Kotro and then move on toward Dharapani where we will spend the night in a local lodge. Trekking time is 5 – 6 hours.
The trek continues to climb as we pass through thick pine and fir forests. We will pass through several small villages with their whitewashed monasteries high above the people. Buddhists tend to build their monasteries on high places, better to be able to get away from the noise of life as they do their meditation. Along the way, there will be several excellent overviews where we can see Mt. Manaslu, Annapurna II and Peak 29. We will eat lunch on the trail, arriving at Koto village following a trek of 5 – 6 hours.
Today we enter the Naar-Phu Valley Restricted area. Your permit has already been taken care of by Vertical Expedition. Once we pass the police check point, we follow along the river bank of the Suti Khola River in fragrant pine forests. There are numerous streams and suspension bridges we will be crossing. At the village of Dharmashala there is a picturesque waterfall where we will have lunch. From here, the trail becomes steep as we ascend to Meta Village where we will spend the night. Here we arrive on the Tibetan Plateau, which will offer incredible views of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal. Trekking time is 6 – 7 hours, and we will stay in a local lodge.
The trail today is up and down as we cross suspension bridges over fast flowing mountain streams. It is a four hour trek to Kyang where we will have lunch. We pass ruins of old forts and watch towers used by the defenders of the ancient Khampa settlements. These places were occupied by Khampa refugees who migrated illegally to this area over a thousand years ago to escape the oppression of the Khampa kingdom. Although the Khampa kingdom fell a long ago, the refugees made this area home. The forts are no longer needed, but are interesting places to explore. After 3 – 4 hours walk now we have reached the heart of the Naar-Phu Valley area as we trek towards the village of Phu. Here we will undoubtedly see some of the wild Blue Sheep along with other wildlife on this trail. You are in the lost valley, and will encounter the people of Phu village. Phu Village features the famed Tashi Lakhang Monastery, which is one of the oldest monasteries as well as said to be one of the 108 finest Buddhist monasteries in the world. It is believed that it was the last monastery constructed by Karmapa Rinpoche. From the village are great views as well as ancient Tibetan culture. We will spend the night at a lodge in Phu. Trekking time is 8 hours.
We cross numerous streams and suspension bridges until we come to Mahendra Pul. Here we cross a very high suspension bridge over the Lopche River. The trail now ascends steeply upwards toward the next lost village at Naar, passing Buddhist stupas. There are incredible views of the snowcapped peaks along the way. Trekking time is 6 – 7 hours, spending the night at a local lodge.
The trail ascends steeply past different landslide areas for around 3 hours, all the while enjoying incredible views of the Annapurna Mountains. We are above the tree line, so there are great views everywhere. We will reach the village of Ngawal trekking time 8 – 9 hours and we will overnight at a lodge in Ngawal.
Our goal today is Tilicho Base Camp (BC) where mountain climbers start their ascent of this snowcapped peak. We won’t be climbing any peak, but we will be experiencing some incredible mountain views along the way! We will see the Annapurna Massif, beautiful views of Gangapurna Lake as well as Tilicho Peak. We will stop for lunch at Thare Gompa and then continue our trek until we reach Tilicho BC. Here we will spend the night at a local lodge. Trekking time is 5 – 6 hours.
This is a high mountain lake with its incredibly blue waters. Its colorful waters are breathtaking as you stand and behold its great beauty. It is surrounded by snowcapped peaks that reflect in its surface. We will spend the night at a tent house by the lake. Trekking time is 3 – 4 hours.
We continue to climb until we reach the pass of Mesokanto La after walking for 3 hours. It is a climb, but the high elevation views are extraordinary as you look in a 360° panorama view of the mountains. From here, we have a great view of Mt. Dhaulagiri, the 7th highest mountain in the world.Now this is our last day of trekking as we head down the mountain, past a goat farm until we reach Thini Gaun. From here it is just 50 minutes to Jomsom, a major village with an airstrip in the Annapurna Mountains. We can explore Jomsom and enjoy a larger menu selection tonight at a local lodge. Trekking time is 8 -9 hours.
Today we catch a plane for a 30 minute flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, the beautiful lakeside mountain city of western Nepal. Nestled on the eastern shores of Phewa Lake, it offers great boating, walking, temples, museums and great views. Your guide will take you around to see the major sites. Tonight, enjoy a Three Star Hotel with some really good food.
The final day of traveling in Nepal will be on a luxury bus, following the rivers and valley from Pokhara to Kathmandu. There are lots of rushing rivers, waterfalls, village and more that your journey will take you through. You will arrive back in Kathmandu and spend the night at a Three Star Hotel. Tonight will be a farewell dinner with traditional Nepali food and cultural show.
All good things must come to an end, and your trip to Nepal is no exception. Before leaving, why not talk to your representative at Vertical Expedition about returning to Nepal for your next holiday. The vast majority of people make a return trip to Nepal because they are impressed by not only the beauty, but also the local people. Vertical Expedition offers trips into neighboring Tibet, Bhutan and India. Be sure to discuss your interests and plans with them today.
Trip Information
- All airport/hotel transfers
- 3 nights in 3-Star Hotel in Kathmandu
- 1 night in 3-Star Hotel in Pokhara
- During the trek, double occupancy in tea houses/local lodges is all that is available.
- All accommodations and meals during the trek.
- One day of guided sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley, along with tour guide and entrance fees.
- Domestic flights (Jomsom to Pokhara)
- An experienced, English speaking trekking leader/guide. All guides, porters and Sherpas are government licensed and experienced. There will be one porter provided for two trekkers to carry luggage. Your fees cover their salaries, insurance, equipment, flight, food and lodging. We take good care of our trekking guides, Sherpas and porters, as well as giving them additional training that is not required by the Government of Nepal.
- Vertical Expedition will provide free of charge a sleeping bag, duffle bag, t-shirt and trekking map (sleeping bag & duffle bags are to be returned after trip completion.)
- Farewell Dinner along with one cultural show.
- A comprehensive medical kit
- All government and local taxes
- Nepal Visa (bring US currency along with four passport size photographs. You can buy visa upon arrival at airport.)
- International airline ticket to and from Nepal.
- Excess luggage charge
- Personal clothing and gear
- Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara (and also in the case of early return from the mountains that the scheduled itinerary.)
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara because of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountains (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary.
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, hot shower in mountains, etc.)
- Cost raised by cancellation, landslide, weather, political unrest and illness will not be our responsibility as these are factors out of our control.
- Tips for driver, guide and porters.
Extras
FAQS
What will be the crew and group size during this trip?
For this trek there will be one team leader/guide. We also provide an assistant leader (1 assistant per six trekkers), and Sherpa porters for carrying luggage (usual compliment is one porter for two trekkers). This arrangement ensures that anybody in the group gets sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned. Vertical Expedition can run this trek for any size group, but the maximum size is 12 people in order to make it a pleasant and enjoyable trip. However, if you would like to have a larger group, Vertical Expedition can make the appropriate arrangements as well.
Where will you be staying during the trip?
All accommodations for Naar-Phoo and Tilicho Lake Lodge Trek are on twin sharing basis with inclusive trip costs and are chosen based on standard hygiene, standard of service and food, location and more. There are two styles of accommodations during the trip. We will spend three nights in 3-Star Hotels in Kathmandu and and one night in Pokhara. For the remaining ten nights, we will stay at local tea houses or home stay. Some of these places have shared toilets and washing facilities. Solo travelers may share a room with someone of the same sex, or if requested, we can arrange for a private room for an extra additional fee, which will be available only during the trekking. However, please understand that in some remote places single rooms might not be feasible, even if the extra fee is paid. These are remote villages that we are dealing with. We at Vertical Expedition will do all we can to make your trip as pleasant and enjoyable as possible.
What Will Be the Meals Arrangements During This Trip?
During the trek, we can enjoy typical Nepali food, different ethnic cuisines as well as all types of international cuisine (Tibetan, Continental, Italian, Indian, etc.) from pizza and chips to apple pie. We can even enjoy hot chocolates, variety of breads, drinks and snacks. Breakfast will be served from the tea house or lodge menu where we spend our night. Lunch will be served on the way to our destination and usually along the trail. Dinner and breakfast will be served at the tea houses where we will spend the night. Note that at the tea houses and lodges, the food is good, although the menus will be limited. A farewell dinner with cultural show and breakfast will be served in our stay in Kathmandu as well as breakfast served in Pokhara.
