Annapurna Circuit vs Nar Phu Valley
Pick Annapurna Circuit for
road trips
Pick Nar Phu Valley for
peace and quiet, culture and heritage, a spiritual journey, fewer people, fewer days
| Annapurna Circuit | Nar Phu Valley | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Nepal, Lamjung–Manang–Mustang, Gandaki | Nepal, Manang, Gandaki |
| Highest point | 5,416 m | 5,320 m |
| Difficulty | Difficult | Difficult |
| Trek distance | about 160 km | about 90 km |
| Days on the ground | 12–14 | 10–12 |
| Best months | Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov | Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov |
| Snow likely | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| Crowds in season | Busy | Quiet |
| Daily spend | about ₹3,500 | about ₹4,000 |
| Gateway | Pokhara / Kathmandu | Kathmandu / Pokhara |
| With kids | Not advised | Not advised |
| With seniors | Not advised | Not advised |
| Permits | ACAP + TIMS. Check current guide rules for your nationality. | Restricted Area Permit + ACAP + TIMS via a registered agency. |
Annapurna Circuit: when to go
- ❄︎Jan
- ❄︎Feb
- ❄︎Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- ❄︎Dec
BestPossibleNot recommended❄︎Snow likely
Nar Phu Valley: when to go
- ❄︎Jan
- ❄︎Feb
- ❄︎Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- ❄︎Dec
BestPossibleNot recommended❄︎Snow likely