Nar Phu Valley and Kang La Pass Trek with Chulu Far East Peak Climbing

Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be welcomed by the Top Trail Nepal team and transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu. The rest of the day is kept relatively easy so you can recover from the journey and prepare for the trek. Depending on your arrival time, you can walk around Thamel or complete any last minute shopping for personal trekking items.

In the evening, your guide will conduct a trek briefing covering the route, altitude, accommodation, meals, safety procedures and the Chulu Far East climbing section. Your climbing equipment will also be checked so that anything missing can be arranged before leaving Kathmandu.

The journey to the mountains begins early with a drive toward Koto in the Manang region. The road initially follows the main highway toward Besisahar before continuing through the Marsyangdi Valley on a rougher mountain road.

As the landscape changes from developed valleys and terraced hillsides to steep river gorges and mountain settlements, the journey becomes part of the adventure itself. Koto is the gateway to the Nar Phu Valley, and from here the trail leaves the main Annapurna Circuit route.

Today marks the real beginning of the remote trekking section. From Koto, the trail follows the Nar Phu Khola through a dramatic gorge, crossing forests and rugged mountain terrain as it gradually climbs away from the Marsyangdi Valley.

The trail becomes increasingly isolated as you move deeper into the restricted region. Pine and juniper vegetation gradually gives way to drier landscapes, exposed cliffs and high mountain scenery. Meta sits on a hillside above the valley and provides the first real taste of the elevation and remoteness that define the days ahead.

The trail continues through increasingly dramatic terrain toward Phu. You will cross several streams and follow the valley deeper into the highlands, with rocky cliffs and open mountain slopes replacing much of the forest.

Near the junction toward Nar and Phu, the route turns toward Phu Valley. The final approach leads through a narrow gorge before opening into the remarkable landscape surrounding Phu Gaon.

Phu Gaon is 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.

The trail descends from Phu toward the junction and then turns into the Nar Valley. After several days above 4,000 m, the lower overnight elevation at Nar Phedi gives the body a useful break before the next altitude gain.

The landscape remains dry and rugged, with views of high cliffs, open slopes and grazing areas used by local herders. Nar Phedi is a small settlement beside the trail and is much simpler than Phu or Nar, making tonight an important part of the remote mountain experience.

The trail climbs steadily from Nar Phedi toward Nar Village. Although the distance is comparatively short, the increase in altitude makes the walk more demanding than the mileage suggests.

As you approach Nar, traditional stone houses begin to appear across the high valley. Prayer flags, mani walls and Buddhist monuments reflect the strong cultural character of the settlement. With the afternoon available after arrival, you can explore the village and rest before the demanding Kang La crossing.

This is one of the hardest days of the journey. You will leave Nar early and gradually climb toward Kang La Pass, following a high mountain trail where conditions can vary depending on snow, wind and the season.

The final ascent to Kang La at 5,320 m is physically demanding, but the effort is rewarded with sweeping Himalayan views. From the high pass, we can see the entire Annapurna range, the Himlung Himal, and even Manang’s Humde Airport.

A packed lunch is normally carried for this crossing because there are no regular meal stops around the pass.

After spending some time at the pass, you begin the long descent toward Ngawal. which will take a couple of hours. The change in landscape is striking as you leave the remote Nar Valley behind and enter the upper Annapurna region.

Ngawal offers excellent mountain views and a more comfortable environment in which to recover after Kang La. A controlled acclimatization walk can take the group to a higher elevation before returning to the village for the night.

This day also marks the transition from trekking to climbing. The team can review personal climbing equipment, discuss the upcoming ascent and make final checks before moving into the higher camps.

After breakfast, the route leaves the village behind and gradually moves into the higher terrain toward Chulu Far East. The trail becomes increasingly alpine as trees become sparse and the landscape opens toward rocky slopes, high ridges and glacial terrain.

The climb is steady rather than technical at this stage, but the altitude makes every section more demanding. Your climbing team will establish camp at Chulu Far East Base Camp, where the focus shifts fully toward the summit objective.

The remainder of the day is used for rest, equipment checks and preparation for the higher camp.

Today you climb higher toward the Chulu Far East High Camp. The trail becomes steeper and more exposed as you enter the true high mountain environment.

At High Camp, the climbing team will prepare for the summit attempt, checking ropes, crampons, harnesses, ice axe systems and other equipment as appropriate to the route and current conditions. The rest of the afternoon should be spent conserving energy and preparing mentally and physically for the early morning summit push.

This is the main climbing day of the expedition. The team starts very early, usually well before sunrise, to take advantage of colder and generally more stable morning conditions.

Walking across glaciers, you will reach the top of Chulu Far 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 ascent follows the established climbing route under the direction of your climbing guide. Depending on the season and current mountain conditions, sections may involve snow and glacier travel, crampon use, fixed rope systems and other standard mountaineering techniques.

The climb to the summit is difficult and steep from here. As you get closer to the Summit of Chulu Far East, the vistas continue to improve.

From the summit, you may enjoy a breathtaking view of three of the eight thousand-meter peaks from the top, along with numerous other notable Himalayan peaks, including 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.

After reaching the summit of Chulu Far East at approximately 6,059 m, the team begins the descent back toward High Camp and then Base Camp. The descent requires just as much attention as the ascent, especially after a long day at altitude.

This day is deliberately kept flexible because mountain weather cannot be controlled. If the summit attempt on Day 12 is unsuccessful because of strong winds, poor visibility, snowfall or other unsafe conditions, this day provides another opportunity to attempt the summit.

When the summit has already been completed successfully, the day can be used for additional rest or an earlier descent according to the condition of the group and the climbing team’s assessment.

Keeping this reserve day is much more professional than pretending that a 6,000 m peak can operate on a perfectly fixed schedule.

Once the climbing section is complete, the route descends from the high mountain environment toward Ngawal.

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.

You will 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.

Ngawal itself is a beautiful traditional settlement with old-style houses, a few cozy lodges, and stunning sunset views over the Annapurna range.

The lower elevation makes the day noticeably more comfortable, while the landscape gradually changes from bare alpine slopes to more familiar Himalayan vegetation and settlements. Reaching Ngawal also marks the end of the remote climbing section and the beginning of the return journey toward the road network.

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 villages like Humde, Pisang, Chame, and Dharapani, tracing the Marsyangdi River downstream. You will experience a thrilling descent from alpine to subtropical landscapes.

Along the way, you will 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 days in the mountains, Besisahar provides a comfortable stop before the final drive to Kathmandu.

The final day follows the road along the lower Marsyangdi corridor before joining the main highway toward Kathmandu. After the long mountain journey, you arrive back in the capital with the Nar Phu Valley, Kang La Pass and Chulu Far East climb behind you.

Depending on your departure schedule, the evening can be spent relaxing in Kathmandu or enjoying a final dinner with the team.

Your 17 days trekking and climbing trip concludes today, with breathtaking experiences and unforgettable memories with the Top Trail Nepal team in the Himalayas. Our Representative will drop you to Tribhuvan International Airport depending upon your flight schedule. If time persists you may have few hours to buy souvenir or stroll around Kathmandu Durbar square for a bit.