Side by side
| Nar Phu Valley Trek | Annapurna Circuit Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 10 | 16 |
| Highest point | 5,320 m | 5,416 m |
| Difficulty | Strenuous | Challenging |
| Total distance | 115 km | 210 km |
| Best months | March to May and September to November | March to April and October to November |
| Typical cost | $1,100 to $1,850 | $900 to $2,200 |
| Starts from | Koto (near Chame) | Besisahar or Chame (for road-shortened version) |
| Permits | 2 | 2 |
Choose the Nar Phu Valley Trek if
The Nar Phu Valley trek is a 10 day restricted route north of the Annapurna Circuit reaching 5,320 m at Kang La Pass. It leads into medieval stone hamlets, ancient monasteries, and dramatic trans-Himalayan gorges near the Tibetan border, requiring special permits and a registered guide.
Remote trails chiseled out of vertical canyon cliffs, sustained altitude in Phu village, and an early morning pass crossing over Kang La at 5,320 m.
Choose the Annapurna Circuit Trek if
The Annapurna Circuit is Nepal's most diverse trek, taking 14 to 21 days to circumnavigate the entire Annapurna massif. It climbs from subtropical river valleys through pine forests and across the highest trekking pass in Nepal, the Thorong La at 5,416 m, before descending into the arid Mustang rain shadow. The circuit is partly motorable, so most trekkers now begin at Chame or Dharapani to preserve the best sections.
The altitude and duration are the main challenges. The walking itself is rarely technical, but Thorong La at 5,416 m is the highest trekking pass in the world that is regularly crossed and demands thorough acclimatisation at Manang.
