Narphu Valley – Kang La Pass – Chulu East Peak Trek

On your first day in Kathmandu, you will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, be driven to your accommodation, and have time to relax or explore Thamel, a popular tourist area. A welcome supper or a briefing with your trip leader may be part of the evening, depending on your itinerary. If necessary, there may then be some last-minute shopping.

By jeep or bus, it is possible to go from Kathmandu to Koto in a single day; the trip usually takes nine to ten hours. There are two phases to the trip, each with a separate set of roads.
Kathmandu to Besisahar: This leg takes about 6-7 hours and is on a paved road (Prithvi Highway), albeit it can occasionally be bumpy and narrow due to ongoing construction.
Besisahar to Koto (2,600m): Due to the unsealed, uneven, and off-road nature of the route, you will need to switch to a 4×4 jeep. This part takes an additional three to four hours.

A strenuous yet breathtaking part of the Nar Phu Valley trek, the walk from Koto to Meta takes you away from the main Annapurna circuit trail and into a secluded, isolated Himalayan setting.

With stunning high-mountain views, today’s hike takes you more into the isolated Phu Valley. Following the river upstream, the footpath separates toward Nar or Phu at Junction (3,700m). You will come across a number of old mani walls and prayer flags, which are indicators of Tibetan Buddhism. With tall cliffs and sporadic glimpses of blue sheep, the terrain gets increasingly dry. At last, you reach Phu Gaon, a secret medieval town with stone homes, a Tashi Lhakhang Gompa from the fifteenth century, and breathtaking views of the Himlung Himal (7,126m).

You’ll spend a day touring Phu Gaon to get used to the altitude. A quick trek to higher vantage points (4,500m+) provides expansive views of the valley and neighboring peaks. You can go to the historic monastery, talk to people of Tibetan heritage, and see how they live. Some hikers investigate the remnants of ancient forts (dzongs) or go on an optional excursion to the adjacent glaciers. The day aids in your body’s preparation for the strenuous journey to Nar.

After leaving Phu, you go back to the Junction (3,700m) and then take a detour in the direction of Nar. The road progressively rises, passing through yak herders’ camps and high-altitude fields. With far-off snow-capped peaks and wind-carved rock formations, the scene is harsh but lovely. The village of Nar looks like a mirage as you get closer, with a collection of stone homes with flat roofs encircled by fields of buckwheat and barley. With its own historic gompas and a significant Tibetan influence, Nar has a rich cultural heritage.

You don’t have to walk much on the sixth day of the expedition. The walk takes only three hours. Such significant highlights do not exist in the area. The path is rocky and quite dry. We will eat lunch once we arrive in Nar Village because the journey is short.
/>/>/>The large village of Nar is located in a remote and restricted region of Nepal. There are about a hundred local homes. The majority of the population in the area is Tibetan and Sherpa. The residences have a wide variety of designs. One house appears to be built on top of the other, and so on.

Among the several days of the Nar Phu Valley Trek, this one is likely to be extremely difficult and lengthy. On this day, we must travel to Kang La Pass, a high pass. From Nar village, it takes five to six hours to get to Kang La Pass. Since we will be reaching a high altitude, the route up to the Kang La Pass is difficult. The elevation of Kang La Pass is 5320 meters. From the high pass, we can see the entire Annapurna range, the Himlung Himal, and even Manang’s Humde Airport.
On this day, we will pack a lunch and eat it in Kang La Pass. We will travel to Ngawal after taking a short break. Due to the high snowfall and steep drop on the way to Nawal, passing the Kang La Pass in the winter is extremely difficult.Ngawal can be reached from Kang La Pass in about three to four hours. Ngawal’s teahouse will be our lodging.

The Annapurna region contains the large settlement of Ngawal. An ideal way to begin the day is to visit a stunning Gompa in the heart of the hamlet. There are a few tiny cafes here where you may also enjoy some baked products. We will have plenty of time to take in the views and sunrise because today’s walk is short. Today, we will trek from Yak Kharka to the Chulu East Base camp.
For those traveling from Yak Kharka to the base camp, there may be some really difficult parts of the walk due to the significant elevation gain in the short distance. We’ll take a quick break in the middle to have lunch. This route offers amazing views. We will arrive at Chulu East’s base camp in the afternoon by walking steadily uphill. We will camp there and then take a nap for the day. Spend the night at Chulu East Base Camp.

At a height of more than 5,000 meters, today is an essential rest day. Snow from the base camp has mostly covered the path and its surrounds. Tomorrow, you can take a quick hike to see the scenery and analyze the climb. Examine the equipment and get ready for the next day’s summit. Today, we shall eat at the camp. Spend the night at Chulu East Base Camp.

At the Chulu East Base Camp, wake up to a breathtaking sunrise vista of the Annapurna range. From the base camp, the walk to the high camp is rather steep. The trail is difficult despite the short distance of just over 4 kilometers. On rocky and slick terrain, you must properly follow the guide. We will set up camp in the High Camp once we arrive in the afternoon, and you can spend the day relaxing. Spend the night at High Camp.

Today, we shall begin the ascent quite early. Walking across glaciers, you will reach the top of Chulu East by following the northeast ridge. Halfway to the summit, take in the morning panorama. You will reach the base of the summit ridge after a few more hours of steady hiking. The climb to the summit is difficult and steep from here. As you get closer to the Summit of Chulu East, the vistas continue to improve. From the summit, you may enjoy a breathtaking view of enormous snow-capped peaks that dominate the skyline, creating an unbelievable experience. Three of the eight thousand-meter peaks from the top, along with numerous other notable Himalayan peaks, are the Annapurna (8,091 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), and Manaslu (8,163 m). After a while, make the hard descent via High Camp back to Base Camp. Spend the night at the Base Camp in a tent.

A prearranged buffer day in a high-altitude itinerary to account for weather delays or other unanticipated disruptions is known as a contingency or extra summit day. This day offers flexibility to wait for a suitable opportunity to summit and is utilized if the planned summit attempt must be postponed owing to inclement weather, such as strong winds or low visibility. If all goes according to plan, it can also be used as a rest day or a quick day on the way back.

After an early breakfast at Base Camp, you begin your descent toward Ngawal, a charming village perched high above the main Annapurna trail. The trek starts with a gradual descent along rocky and alpine trails, surrounded by magnificent views of Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak. The landscape transitions from rugged alpine terrain to juniper and pine forests as you lose altitude.
You’ll pass through yak pastures and small stone huts used by herders before reaching Manang Valley’s upper section. The trail to Ngawal offers a quieter, more scenic alternative route compared to the main trail through Manang. As you approach Ngawal, prayer flags and mani walls (Buddhist stone carvings) welcome you to the village. Ngawal itself is a beautiful traditional settlement with old-style houses, a few cozy lodges, and stunning sunset views over the Annapurna range.

After breakfast, you’ll board a local jeep for the drive down to Besishar, the administrative headquarters of Lamjung District. The drive follows a rugged mountain road that winds through picturesque villages like Humde, Pisang, Chame, and Dharapani, tracing the Marsyangdi River downstream. You’ll experience a thrilling descent from alpine to subtropical landscapes.
The pine forests and rocky cliffs gradually give way to lush valleys, waterfalls, and terraced fields. Along the way, you’ll pass traditional Gurung and Manangi villages, small teahouses, and suspension bridges crossing roaring streams. The scenic ride offers a wonderful recap of the terrain you’ve trekked through earlier in the journey.

After breakfast, you’ll begin your overland journey back to Kathmandu, following the Prithvi Highway along the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers. The drive takes approximately 6–7 hours, with opportunities to stop for lunch and refreshments along the way. The route offers scenic views of terraced hillsides, rivers, local markets, and small towns bustling with daily life.