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The
Nar and Phu valleys are newly opened, spectacular regions
of ethnically-Tibetan inhabitants. This is a trek that combines
remote villages, narrow canyons, lovely forests, amazing rock
formations, yaks, gompas and unique Himalayan cultures. Trekking
the standard Annapurna circuit, the bridge leading over the
Marshyangdi River to the steep portals of the Nar Phu valley
system is easily missed. Although the entrance is narrow and
forested, the valley system above opens up to a huge expanse
of high snow-peaks, ancient villages and high altitude grazing
settlements. The Valley is two long days of walking from the
border of Tibet. This region was first explored by Tilman
in the 1950s and closed to trekkers until late 2002. Very
few westerners have explored these virtually untouched villages
or climbed the many 7000m peaks surrounding it. We will venture
into this remote region of upper Manang, staying at the winter
settlement of Nar, and visit one of the most unvisited and
most interesting regions in the Tibetan Buddhist world. |
