Difficulty and fitness
Most days are 4–6 hours. The big days are Nar to Ngawal via Kang La (9–10 hours) and Thorong Phedi or High Camp to Muktinath via Thorong La (8–9 hours). The Thorong La day also drops about 1,700 m, which is hard on the knees. The trail is remote throughout the restricted section, with basic lodges and little margin for delays.
You should be comfortable walking 6–8 hours with a daypack, day after day. A beginner can prepare, but should plan for months of training:
- hill or stair walking with a loaded pack
- back-to-back long walking days
- strength work for the legs
Altitude
Sleeping altitudes: Tal 1,857 m, Koto 2,610 m, Meta 3,560 m, Kyang 3,820 m, Phu 4,250 m, Nar Phedi 3,490 m, Nar 4,110 m, Ngawal 3,600 m, Manang 3,540 m, Yak Kharka 4,050 m, Thorong Phedi 4,600 m or High Camp 4,900 m. The highest point is Thorong La at 5,416 m.
The first big jump is Koto to Meta, a sleeping-altitude gain of roughly 950 m. That is more than the 300–500 m per night often suggested above 3,000 m, so your guide will pace this day carefully.
Acclimatisation
The rest days sit at the two villages where you have just gained height. At Phu you spend a night, then a day with a short walk, then another night at the same altitude. Nar works the same way. By Kang La you have spent several nights at about 4,000 m or above. Manang is lower than Nar, giving you a recovery night before the final stretch.
Know the warning signs and tell your guide immediately:
headache that doesn't ease
nausea
dizziness
unusual tiredness
breathlessness at rest
confusion
unsteady walking
If symptoms worsen, go down. Do not push on, and do not self-treat or make dosing decisions on your own.
Not sure whether your fitness fits this route? Tell us your recent hikes and we'll give you an honest answer before you commit.
Best time to trek
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the usual windows. Autumn is the busiest and most expensive period. Spring has more snow risk on the passes. Winter and early spring can leave snow on both passes, and snow, wind and cold are what close Kang La and Thorong La. Nar Phu sits in a relatively rain-shadowed area, but monsoon rain can still affect the drive from Kathmandu.
Permits
Nar and Phu are in a restricted area. Trekkers cannot obtain the restricted area permit themselves: a registered Nepali agency applies for it, and it is issued for fixed entry and exit dates. Tell us before you travel if your dates may shift.
Your package covers the Nar Phu Restricted Area Permit (RAP), the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the TIMS card. We'll ask for your passport details after booking to apply for them.
Visa
Most visitors can get a tourist visa on arrival. For a 17-day itinerary, a 30-day visa is the realistic minimum. Visa fees change, so check the current fee with the Department of Immigration before you travel. The visa fee is not included in the package.
Transport
Day 2: Kathmandu to Besisahar by road, then a shared four-wheel-drive jeep to Tal (8–9 hours in total).
Day 16: Muktinath to Pokhara by jeep or bus (6–7 hours).
Day 17: Pokhara to Kathmandu by road (7–8 hours).
No domestic flight is part of this itinerary, so there is no flight schedule to depend on.
Accommodation
You stay in Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels and in teahouses on the trail. Teahouse rooms are simple, mostly twin rooms with mattresses, and are generally unheated. Bathrooms are shared, and the dining room is where the stove is lit. Phu and Nar are the most basic stops. Phone charging is limited and often paid, and hot showers may be unavailable at the highest stops.
Guides and porters
A licensed guide is required in Nar Phu. Your English-speaking, government-licensed guide watches for altitude symptoms and adjusts pace early. Porter support is included at one porter for every two trekkers, with a weight limit of 15–20 kg per porter.
You cannot trek this route independently or without a guide. A private party or a small group works best, because two high passes need flexibility if the weather turns. Contact us with your dates and group size and we'll arrange a departure around you.
Health, insurance and emergencies
Drink steadily and eat even when appetite drops. Report symptoms early. Never hide a headache to keep up with the group. Before departure we ask you to complete a health declaration form and disclose any condition that could affect your safety.
Insurance is mandatory. It must cover trip cancellation, medical treatment, and emergency evacuation including helicopter rescue at altitude, and you must send proof before departure. Make sure the policy explicitly covers trekking to at least 5,500 m. Thorong La is 5,416 m.
How to book
Enquire through the contact page or WhatsApp with your dates and group size.
Confirm in writing, by email or through our online booking form.
Pay the 25% non-refundable deposit.
Send passport details for the permit applications.
Complete the health declaration and send proof of insurance.
Pay the balance by the deadline on your invoice, before departure.
Ready to go? Confirm your booking here.
Payment and cancellation
A non-refundable deposit of 25% of the total trip cost is required at booking. The balance is due in full by the deadline on your invoice, always before departure.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing.
At booking: the deposit is non-refundable, whatever the reason for cancellation.
15–35 days before departure: a 25% cancellation fee of the total trip cost applies, plus any non-recoverable hotel, flight or permit charges already incurred. Any remaining balance is refunded.
Less than 15 days before departure, or a no-show: the full trip cost (100%) is non-refundable.
No refunds are given for early returns, missed days, unused services, or itinerary changes after the trip has begun.
Accepted methods: bank transfer (SWIFT, recommended for international clients), online gateways such as Stripe or PayPal (fees may apply), cards (3–4% surcharge), and cash in person in Nepal.
Nar and Phu are far from roads. A serious problem may mean descent on foot first, then transport, or a helicopter if conditions allow. Helicopter flights depend on weather and cloud, and no one can promise evacuation timing. Cover and payment are the insurer's decision. Tell us your policy details before you go so we know who to call.
