Nar Phu Tilicho Lake Trek

21
Days

Nar Phu Tilicho Lake Trek lead us through the hidden village of Phoo (phu) and Nar village over Kang La pass and world’s highest Lake Tilicho Lake in Annapurna region of Nepal. Nar and Phu (Phoo) are restricted areas and have opened for the trekkers only since 2003. This unique “Off The Beaten Path” trek combines the blend of high peaks and passes, remote villages, narrow canyons, amazing rock formations, and Himalayan cultures simultaneously through out the trek. Because of the restriction in the areas, monasteries and valleys are still yet to be fully explored and has maintained an enigma. Crossing through challenging high passes of Khang La Pass (5280 meters), Mesokanto Pass (5089 meters) and visiting the world’s highest lake Tilicho at an altitude of 4949 meters are the major attractions of Nar Phu Tilicho Lake Trek. This is an ideal trip for those trekkers who want to do a panoramic trek in Annapurna Region and also want to avoid the busy and crowded regions around Thorang La Pass.

Nar Phu Tilicho Lake Trek in these areas are unlike most of Nepal as the terrain is Trans Himalayan and similar to Tibet. Trails are rugged and at times cut high into the sides of the cliff, in an area that has changed little over the years. The trek spends a number of days exploring the region and visits the remote villages of Nar and Phu (Phoo), as well as crossing the Khang La Pass (5280 meters) which offers fantastic views of the Annapurna massif, Lamjung (6983 meters) and Manaslu (8163 meters). Another attraction is the world’s highest lake, Tilicho Lake (4949 meters) and the crossing of Mesokanto Pass (5089 meters).

The trekking route starts initially following the well-known Annapurna Circuit as far as Koto before heading into the previously restricted wilderness of Nar Khola Valley. The route then rejoins to the Annapurna Circuit, at Manang for a brief period but once again heads to the less visited route to Tilicho Lake. Mesokanto Pass (5089 meters) interlinks Manang and Kali Gandaki Valleys and ends Nar Phu Tilicho Lake Trek at Jomsom.

Detail Itinerary

Day 01:Arrive in Kathmandu. (1400 meters) .
A representative from Visit Himalaya Treks with the company’s display board will greet you outside the arrival terminal and transfer you to your Hotel. The trek leader will meet the group for a meeting and provide a detailed briefing on the trek. All the required information regarding the trek would be provided. (Overnight at Hotel)
Day 02: Sightseeing at Kathmandu .
A half day guided tour to several of historical and spiritual attractions enlisted under the World Heritage Sites. (Overnight at Hotel. Breakfast included)
Day 03: Drive to Besisahar (830 meters) .
After breakfast, a private vehicle (car/bus) will pick you at your hotel. We drive to Besisahar via the Prithvi Highway, following Trishuli River for most part of the drive. It takes around 6 hours to reach Besisahar. (Overnight at Camp)
Day 04: Drive to Dharapani (1960 meters) .
We now take a local bus and drive to Dharapani on a secondary road. The road at times passes through the settlements of the old Annapurna Circuit. It keeps following the Marshyangdi River for the whole day. This bumpy and exciting ride will take around 5 hours. (Overnight at Camp)
Day 05: Trek to Koto (2600 meters) .
The trek starts on the secondary road and does so for the most part of trek until the trek reaches Manang. The road passes the villages of Bagarchap and Danaque. The trail gets briefly off the road and starts to climb through the woods to Temang. Stunning view of Manaslu (8163 meters) opens up at Temang. The trek returns back to the road and goes through the small villages of Thanchok and then finally reaches Koto. (6 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 06: Trek to Dharmasala (3220 meters) .
The trail leaves the road, enters a narrow valley, leaving crowded settlements behind, and heads for sparsely inhabited Nar Phu Valley. The trek crosses and leaves Marshyangdi River and starts to follow Phu River gradually climbing into the valley. The valley gets narrower and goes through pristine forests, as the valley grows wider with views starting to open up. The long day of climb finally ends at Dharmasala. (6-7 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 07: Trek to Chaku (3772 meters) .
Trek to Chaku is an interesting day as the trek passes through stunning waterfalls and towering rock faces. The day starts with a steep climb passes the village of Meta. The terrain is leveled all the way up to Junam and continues to be similar until the lower village of Chaku. The day ends with a final steep climb ending at the higher village of Chaku. (6 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 08: Trek to Phu (4050 meters) .
A steep drop kicks off the day and leads to the river. The trail stays on the riverbed for a while and then slowly starts to climb off the river. Another climb ends another long day at Phu. (6-7 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 09: Acclimatization day at Phu .
A short hike up to the village offers stunning views of the valley. Although a long and exhausting walk to Himlung Base Camp also remains a good alternative. (Overnight at Camp)
Day 10: Trek to Nar (4150 meters) .
The trek retraces back to Chaku and passes the village. After crossing the bridge, the trail once again starts to climb and does so for the rest of the day. This is also one of the longer days of the trek. (7-8 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 11: Trek to Khang La Phedi (4530 meters) .
The day is a shorter one as the trek enters the higher elevations. Couple of hours climb ends the day at Khang La Phedi. A good rest is recommended as the trek now enters higher elevations. (3 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 12: Cross Khang La (5280 meters) and trek to Ngawal (3670 meters) .
An early start to the day to cross the Khang La (5280 meters). The day starts with a climb that continues to get steeper and only ends at the top of the pass. A steep drop in a rocky moraine then on a scree leads to a new valley. Steep drop continues throughout the day and finally ends at the village of Ngawal. This is one of the longest and hardest days of the trek. (7-8 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 13: Trek to Manang (3540 meters) .
A descend down to the valley and an easy terrain joins the trail back with the road near Mugje. After passing through Mugje, the road leads to the village of Braga. Braga has two contrasting parts, an ancient looking village with a monastery a few minutes away from the road and new modern facilitated teahouses at the other side of the road. An easy walk on the road and a final brief climb ends the day at Manang. The road also ends at Manang and the trek will only get back on road after the Thorang La. (4 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 14: Trek to Tilicho Base Camp (3734 meters) .
The trail now separates from the regular Annapurna Circuit and heads into a different valley. A descent leads into the river and turns into an ascent for the next few hours until Khangsar. After the Khangsar the trail gets narrower and crosses through a scree in the latter part of the day. A flat grassy area with a small stream finally leads to the Tilicho Base Camp. (6-7 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 15: Trek to Tilicho Lake (4949 meters) .
The day starts with a steep climb and then turns into an easier ascent. More majestic views of mountains start to appear in every direction as the trek slowly and continuously keep on climbing. Gangapurna (7455 meters), Annapurna III (7555 meters) and several unnamed peaks starts to show themselves as the climb continues. The huge lake finally starts to appear as the terrain slowly starts to turn easy. Tilicho Lake is highest lake in the world located at an altitude of 4949 meters.After a brief walk away from the lake we camp on a rocky moraine. (5 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 16: Cross Tilicho Pass and trek to Yak Kharka (3510 meters) .
Another early start to the day starts with a steep climb on a ridge. The trail now drops briefly and a long gradual uphill walk follows. Finally, the trail starts to drop and drops very steeply for the rest of the day to Yak Kharka. This is the other long day of the trek and almost as difficult as the day of crossing of Khang La. (8-9 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 17: Trek to Jomsom (2720 meters) .
The trek still continues to drops and continuously loses the altitude. After a long downhill, the trail gets to get easier at Thini and slowly and easily reaches the busy town of Jomsom. Jomsom is also the admintrative headquarter of Mustang, the forbidden Kingdom. Jomsom is also famous for apples and is also known as the apple capital of the country. The apple and apricot brandy from the region is also very popular. A visit to Marpha Village is also an interesting option for the afternoon.(5 hours) (Overnight at Camp)
Day 18: Fly to Pokhara .
An early scenic flight to Pokhara. Views of Annapurna range and the dominating figure of Machapuchare (also known as Fishtail) (6993 meters) dominates both the sky and the beautiful Phewa Lake with its reflection in it. Afternoon can be enjoyed by the lake as the hotel is located near to the lake. (Overnight at Hotel. Breakfast included)
Day 19: Sightseeing at Pokhara and fly back to Kathmandu .
A half day guided tour to the most popular and historical sites of Pokhara and a late afternoon flight back to Kathmandu. (Overnight at Hotel. Breakfast included)
Day 20: Sightseeing at Kathmandu .
A half day guided tour to several of historical and spiritual attractions enlisted under the World Heritage Sites. (Overnight at Hotel. Breakfast included)
Day 21: Departure .
A representative from Visit Himalaya Treks Pvt. Ltd. will check your flight tickets and transfer you to the airport before two hours from your flight with a hope of seeing you again in the future. (Breakfast included)
Note:
ALL ITINERARIES CAN BE CUSTOMIZED AT YOUR REQUESTS ACCORDING TO YOUR CONVENIENCE.

Includes

Arrivals and departure transport by car (We will collect you from the Kathmandu international airport) and transfer to Hotel.
Half day sightseeing in Kathmandu (Boudhanath and Pasupatinath) with city guide and necessary transport.
5 nights accommodation (2 persons per room) in Kathmandu and Pokhara in a 3* standard Hotel with breakfast.
Kathmandu - Besisahar land transportation in a private car. Other sections will be in a local bus.
Pokhara - Kathmandu airfare including airport taxes.
Salary, insurance, food, accommodation for guides and porters.
A porter to carry your luggage on treks (Per person 15 kilogram luggage).
National Park entry fee and Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS).
All meals and hot drinks during the trek.
Group First Aid Kit.
Government taxes and service charge.

Excludes

Nepal entry Visa Fee.
Personal Travel Insurance (Compulsory)
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
Entry fee at the sightseeing sites
Personal expenses like beverages (mineral water, alcohol, soft drinks), telephone bills, laundry, bar bills, personal tips etc

Gear List

The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. The packed weight of your trek bag while trekking should be no more than 15 KG.

Hiking boots
Socks
Trekking trousers / pants
Waterproof overt rousers / rainpants
Baselayer shirts
Casual shirt and/or T-shirts
Fleece jacket or warm jumper/sweater
Waterproof jacket
Sunhat
Warm hat
Sunglasses
Thermal gloves
Warm and waterproof over gloves or mittens
Headtorch/Headlamp with spare bulb and batteries
Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
Water bottles 1 L.
Antibacterial handwash
Small towel
Daypack, 25/30Litres
Trekking poles
Sleeping bag 4 or 5 season * (rated down to – 20ºC)
Warm jacket (down)*

Medical
Small, personal first-aid kit. (Simple and light)
Aspirin, first-aid tape, and plasters (Band-Aids)
1 skin-blister repair kit
Anti-diarrhea pills
Anti-headache pills
Cough and/or cold medicine
Anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox or Acetylzolamide
Stomach antibiotic: Ciprofloxacin, etc. Do not bring sleeping pills as they are a respiratory depressant.
Water purification tablets or water filter
1 set of earplugs
Extra pair of prescription glasses, contact lens supplies.

Note: Walking pole, down jacket, sleeping bag, etc available on hire in Kathmandu or request we will provide it.

Faqs

How do I know that your company is a legit company?

On the home page of our website, under the section, company profile, all the legal documents are present.

What happens if I have to cancel or postpone my booked trip?

On cancellation, depending on time duration before the cancellation of the trip, cancellation charge will be charged. A trip can be postponed up to a year.

How far in advance can I book?

A trip can be booked as far as one year in advance. We do not book more than one year ahead because of possibility of huge fluctuations in the international exchange rate.

Can I customize trips to make them suite me?

We always try to be flexible with our trips for our client’s convenience. We are open to changes on the trips as long as the proposed itinerary does not harm your own chances of acclimatization on the trips.

Before a trek: What do I need to bring for the trek?

On confirmation of a trek, full lists of required gears would be sent to you or please view our Gear List section on website.

What kind of insurances do I need?

Proper travel insurance is necessary before confirming a trek. At times of emergency cases like evacuation, it will cover your expenses. Make sure to consult with your insurance company about the coverage of the insurance that you have bought.

How do I prepare myself for the physical requirement of the trek?

An average physical fitness should be maintained on prior of booking a trek. Any sort of illness or recent medical problems should be mentioned while booking a trip. Most of our itineraries are prepared to give you a maximum time to acclimatize and pace setting on the treks would be done according to your convenience.

How long will be an average day on the trek?

On average, a day on a trek would be 5-6 hours long. The longest day can be up to 10 hours and 3 hours is the shortest day. It all depends on the region that your are trekking.

How safe are the treks?

Our main objective is your safety. Safety is never compromised and all our guides are properly trained and equipped to take care clients’ safety in even the wildest region of the country.

Is there any arrangement made for emergency while on trekking Tour?

In case of severe sickness or accident (which is least expected), you will be rescued by a helicopter. Since you are entirely liable for all the expenses incurred for the use of such emergency services, please make sure that your travel insurance covers you for both- medical as well as emergency evacuation costs.

On a trek: How are the food and the logistics on the trek?

All the lodges used on the treks are frequently used and trusted by our company. We take our clients review very seriously and never repeat any lodges with complaints on their food on lodge/ tea house trek. On Camping Trek our trekking cook will provide food cooked in our own camp.

I m a Vegetarian, is that a Problem?

It is not a problem at all because in a mountain tea house / lodges serve vegetarian food as well and our guide well take care at the time and on a camping trek our cook will care well for the vegetarian food.

How is the standard of the lodges that we use on treks?

Most of the lodges in the mountains are quite basic. On few major towns or settlements, when possible we provide the best lodges possible. There are luxury lodges but it’s not included on the standard treks.

What is the stander of gears use on camping trek?

We use stander quality of (Camping Gears) like tents, dining tents, mattress, etc on a camping trek, Also we provide proper warm jacket, trouser, shoes for the porters too.

Will I be able to charge my mobile and camera during the trek?

Lately, most of the teahouses on the trekking routes have electricity. So, charging your gadgets is not a problem at all. However, on some teahouses which run on solar power, you would have to pay additional fee (US$ 1 to 3 approx.), in order to get your gadgets charged.

Is there any communication while we are on trekking?

Now a day’s most of the major village cell phone is work however such a remote place cell phone does not work but land line phone is available. You can use land line Local phone to call to your relatives.

Can I use credit cards in the places I visit in trekking?

You can’t use credit card on a trekking unless in a certain luxuries hotel.

Can I use foreign currency in the place I visit in trekking?

Well! You may use foreign currency during the trekking but exchange rate may not meet correct rate as city so we recommended you to take enough Nepali currency from Kathmandu where you can exchange.

What opportunities will I have for shower along the trek?

Most of the place they have shower heated by gas and some places headed by solar so you can have shower paying extra cost. However in Camping trek our staffs will provide hot water in bucket for wash and shower.

What safety measures are in place? What safety equipment do your guides carry with them on trek to deal with sickness/accidents?

In every trekking our guide carries first aid kit with basic requirement tools and some medicine for preventing out in an emergency condition.

Is Visit Himalaya's staff insured?

All our staffs are fully covered by Insurance and high altitude evacuation if necessary.

Do I get refund if trek finished earlier then the schedule?

After conformation your trip we manage our field staff giving them a full wages of the trip duration so you won’t get refunds. If any case you drop from the trip by illness or any case there will be not any refundable.

Do you use yaks/porters on the trek or do we carry all of our own gear?

We provide 2 in sharing porter for carry your gears in Tea house trek (Lodge Trek) and such a demanding camping trek we use Yak, Mules, for carry the loads. Our porter carry 20 to 25 kilograms so we suggest each person‘s good weight 10 to 12 Kilograms. You need to carry your own day pack with your valuable items.

Will there be a place to store items/clothing not required for the trek?

Yes either you can store same hotel as you stayed or we can store your goods with us safely in our office free of cost.

Can I obtain the visa for Nepal upon on arrival at the airport?

Yes you can obtain your Nepal Visa upon arrival in Kathmandu Nepal. More details of Nepal visa please follow the link given. Nepal Visa Information.

How much luggage is allowed on treks?

The luggage must not exceed up to 20 kilos. A trekking helper (porter) carries a baggage of less than 15 kilos. This bag can be received at the end of each day’s trek and you should carry the rest of the weight as a day bag with all your money and valuables inside it.

About Tipping and Suggestion:-

This is a difficult thing to gauge. We have seen everything from USD 25 to USD 900 per person for guides and porters. Tipping is not required, but a small gesture of thanks to your guides and local porters. The level of the tip should reflect the level of satisfaction from and personal involvement with your guide. However, we recommend you to spend minimum 10% of your total trip cost for tipping entire local staffs.

The best time to Visit Nepal - October to November :-

October to November also referred as the autumn season, this is the time of the year with the clear blue skies and green and lush valleys, easily making it the best time in the year to visit Nepal. Adding to the weather is also the festive season that falls in these months, Tihar, the festival of lights (also known as the festival of the brothers and sisters) being the highlight of the many festivals. The temperature can be hot in the days with clear sky with no rains and can be very pleasant for the views of the mountains.

December to February :-

December to February it is winter in Nepal in these 3 months in Nepal. High altitude trekking can be unbearable because of the freezing cold, with many treks with high passes being close at this time of the year. This could be easily the best time to visit and do some moderate treks like Annapurna Base Camp, Everest Base Camp Trek, Langtang Trek etc if a quiet, peaceful and less people on trails is your priority. The weather remains calm, rainfall is rare during these months and trekking is still very much possible and enjoyable as well.

March to May :-

March to May The spring season falls during this time and is easily the busiest time of the year in some parts, Everest Trekking trail in particular being the busiest region. The days can get really hot, at times temperature crossing 30 degrees Celsius mark but the jungles with blossoming colourful Rhododendrons and other flowers with towering snow capped pinnacles at the background are an absolute delight to watch. March to May, along with October to November are the best months to trek in Nepal.

June to September :-

June to September The worst time to trek in Nepal as heavy rains, floods and landslides are common until mid September. However, places like the Upper Dolpo and upper parts of Mustang are the places to be at this time of the year because of the least rainfall in these areas. Apart from these areas, all other areas are a nuisance to trek during these times because of the rains and the problems like leeches, muddy trails, cancelled flights.

Notes

Trip cost will vary depending on numbers of travelers, duration/days of trek, standard of hotel in Kathmandu before & after the trip. Please contact us to GET a Custom Quote.

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