Chulu Far East and the Hidden Va

Chulu Far East and the Hidden Va Overview

A superb trek and climb combination in Nepal, including 6000 metre Chulu Far East

Beyond the Annapurna Himalaya, amongst a group of peaks known as the Manang Himal, the eminently climbable Chulu Far East (6059m) boasts a superb summit panorama that includes all of the Annapurnas, as well as a host of little-known peaks in Tibet. In a change to the way we run this classic climbing holiday we have chosen to make our approach to the mountain through the recently derestricted valleys of Naar and Phu. Leaving the Annapurna Circuit trail at Koto, we spend a week in this lost Buddhist region, trekking northwards as far as the remote stone-built village of Phu, whose inhabitants continue to trade across the border into Tibet. We then turn off into a broad and rocky tributary valley and trek up to the similarly unspoiled village of Naar, before hiking up to cross the Kang La (5306m) and dropping down to Ngawal (3660m) in the Marsyangdi Valley. Two nights in a newly built lodge in Ngawal sets us up for the final approach to Chulu Far East. This great peak has been compared in character to Island Peak in the Everest region and offers some really interesting climbing without being too technical. From a high camp at 5335 metres, we make our ascent via straightforward snow-slopes to a sensational pinnacle summit which commands fantastic and far-reaching views. We then descend to Manang, principal town on the north side of the Annapurnas, and trek out via Chame to Tal before transferring back to Kathmandu. This refined itinerary gives us a much more interesting approach trek and better acclimatisation ahead of our climb on Chulu Far East. This is one of the very best trek and climb combinations in Nepal.