Nar Phu Valleys and across Kang La Pass

Sujoy Das has been trekking and photographing in the Himalayas for more than thirty years. His photographs and essays have been featured in leading magazines worldwide like The Washington Post, Lonely Planet, The Outdoor Journal, Lifeforce Magazine, APA Guides, Outlook Traveller, India Today Travel Plus, Frontline, The Telegraph, Times of India Crest, India Magazine, Frontline, Mint Lounge, Hindu Business Line etc. He is the joint author of Sikkim- A Travellers Guide and Lonely Planet - Nepal for the Indian Traveller

He leads treks and photo workshops under the banner of South Col Expeditions www.southcol.com and every single trek has been led by him personally Some of the areas where South Col runs treks are Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Mustang and Manaslu in Nepal. In India, Ladakh and Sikkim are favoured destinations.

He has a deep interest in the history of Everest and the Sherpa community and has been asked to speak at Kolkata and Delhi by The Himalayan Club on this subject.

He is currently working on a book of photographs on the Nepal Himalaya and organizing treks and photo workshops as a part of South Col Expeditions.

The trek initially follows the Annapurna Circuit route but branches off north east at Koto Qupar and then enters a restricted valley bordering Tibet. It then crosses the 5300 metre Kangla pass and returns to the Annapurna circuit. The cost of the trek is USD 1600 including restricted area permits, two nights hotel in Kathmandu, all transfers by road in a private vehicle, camping support like tents where needed, porters and guides, all permits, etc. Meals in Kathmandu and in the tea houses not covered in the cost.

DAY 1: Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar 820m and up to Dharapani 1900m if possible.

We leave Kathmandu early around 7 00am and drive to Besisahar around 5 to 6 hours. We either spend the night in Besisahar or if we can get a connecting jeep we carry on to Dharapani four hours away. Night: TEA HOUSE

DAY 2: Besisahar/Dharapani to Koto Qupar 2600m 4 to 5 hours

The drive from Besisahar to Dharapani on a rough road will take around four hours. After lunch we start our walk to Koto Qupar the entrance of the Nar Phu Valley which will take us around four to five hours and we should reach the lodges of Koto Qupar by evening. Night: TEA HOUSE

DAY 3: Koto Qupar to Dharamsala 3220m: 5 to 6 hours

Travel along the gorge keeping on the right bank of the Nar Phu Khola and reach Dharamsala by late afternoon. It is a walk in the shadow of the forests hugging the cliffs. After around four hours reach a small cave marked Holaki Odar at 3060m. From here it is about a half hour to Dharamsala NIGHT: CAMP

DAY 4: Dharamsala to Khyang 3840m 6 to 7 hours

The trail leaves Dharamsala climbing all the way and reaches the winter settlement of Meta 3610 metres. From Meta reach the deserted fields of Chyakhu 3800 metres. Keep climbing and reach a small pass with excellent views of the Annapurnas. Finally reach Kyang with outstanding views of Pisang Peak, Annapurna II etc NIGHT: CAMP

DAY 5: Khyang to Phu 4070m 4 hours

The trail clings to the side of the cliffs and in about two hours passes the Phupi Gyalgoe gate to enter the spectacular region of Phu. In about an hour from the gate the village of Phu consisting of about 40 houses is reached. NIGHT: TEA HOUSE

DAY 6: Phu village to Nar Phedi 3550m 6 to 7 hours

From Phu retrace your steps down the valley until you reach the junction beyond Junam from where a trail heads westwards to the village of Nar Phedi which is our night stop. NIGHT: CAMP

DAY 7: Nar Phedi to Nar 4180m 4 to 5 hours

From Nar Phedi it is a steady climb up the valley proceeding west. Nar has 65 houses and is a bigger village than Phu with both tea houses and a number of monasteries. NIGHT: TEA HOUSE

DAY 8: Nar to Kang La Phedi 4620m 2 to 3 hours

Today is a very short day and a good aid to acclimatisation. You can leave late after exploring Nar and get into Kang la Phedi at the bottom of the pass by lunch time. It can get very cold at Phedi due to the height so be properly prepared. There is a small ACAP camp site here. NIGHT: CAMP

DAY 9: Kangla La Phedi to Kang la pass 5320m and down to Ngawal 3615m 7 to 8 hours

Make an early start for the pass and get there in three to four hours. It is a long way down from the pass to Ngawal where you rejoin the Annapurna circuit and the lodges of the circuit. NIGHT: TEA HOUSE

DAY 10: Ngawal to Chame 5 to 6 hours

We descend from Chame to Ghyaru with fabulous views of the Annapurnas and the stop for lunch at lower Pisang. After lunch we drop to Bhrtang and then down to Chame by evening. NIGHT: TEA HOUSE

DAY 11: Chame to Besisahar to Kathmandu

We leave Chame in the early morning by jeep and reach Besisahar in time for lunch. After lunch we take our own micro bus and return to Kathmandu. It’s a long day and we should be in Kathmandu by evening.