Dhaulagiri circuit Trek

The Annapurna region of Nepal, a couple of hundred kilometers northwest of Kathmandu, is renowned for its blend of undisturbed nature, spectacular mountain views, and embracing culture. The Annapurna Circuit is typically rated as one of the "top 20" trekking experiences worldwide...Now that is an understatement!

 

The Dhaulagiri area in west Nepal is a popular place for trekkers. The Dhaulagiri region is a land of dramatic contrast. It extends from the near tropical Pokhara valley to the steep slope of the snow-capped Himalayas. The Dhaulagiri range features several peaks. Dhaulagiri I is the sixth highest peak of Nepal and the world's seventh. It towers above the well – trekked Muktinath trail up to the Kali Gandaki valley. This vast massif screens the hidden land of Dolpo on its northwest. Following the river upstream, the trail passes through the ferns, forest of Oak, other deciduous trees and junipers. In spring the trail passes through the rhododendron blooms and other wild flowers. Even in the high mountain passes above the tree line, the trail passes through alpine flowers dotting the windswept ground. The range has 15 peaks of above 7,000 meters. The region is considered to be one of the most remote places of the country and there are many high mountain passes. This makes the trans-Himalayan trek rather quite but full of adventure and excitement.  

 

A circuit of the Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m) massif is possible for well-equipped and fully self-sufficient group of trekkers. The trek is started at Beni, the district headquarter of Myagdi. Magars are the dwellers of this area. This group of hill dwellers are similar in many ways to their Gurung neighbours but are thought to have settled in Nepal some time earlier. Like their Gurung cousins, the Magar have a tradition of service in Gurkha regiments. The Dhaulagiri trail follows the Myagdi Khola. Passing through the settlements of Darbang and Muri, the country is still quite heavily populated with scattered villages and farming land. Beyond Muri, the Myagdi Khola swings north and the landscape becomes much more rugged and sparsely populated. A great significance of this trek is French pass (5360m). Trekkers must be aware of the health of their group members, especially on the section between French pass and Dhampus pass (5250m). The thrilling region has shown its long kept secrets, since reopened of the places like the Gandaki Gorge, the deepest Gorge in the world!! Dhaulagiri means "white mountain" though many mountains over the world have names, which translate, to White Mountain, this is without doubt the most astonishing one.

Best season to visit: In the spring (March to May) when the rhododendrons, the national flower of Nepal, are in bloom. Also in the fall (September to November) or post-monsoon when the weather is temperate and the skies are clear. September –January & February –June

Trek Grade: Difficult. This is a difficult trek. Crossing the Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4700m), French pass (5360m) and the Thapa Pass (5200m) some of the highlights of this trek then onto Hidden Valley, most adventure trek.

Maximum altitude: 5360m at French Pass.
Length of trek: It is advisable to spend three weeks along this route to fully experience the full scenic and cultural splendor.

Accommodations: This is  a camping trek as the valley floor can provide comfortable camping spots in good weather. Camping trek rates and fees are considerably higher as more resources are required.

Additional Information:


Outline Itinerary

Day 01	Kathmandu - Beni By Drive
Day 02	Beni – Babiya Chaur
Day 03	Babiya Chaur – Durbang
Day 04	Durbang – Sibag
Day 05	Sibag – Muri
Day 06	Muri – Bagar
Day 07	Bagar – Dovan
Day 08	Dovan – Salla Ghari
Day 09	Salla Ghari – Italian Base Camp
Day 10	Acclamatization At Italian Base Camp
Day 11	Italian Base Camp – Glacier Camp
Day 12	Glacier Camp – Dhaulagiri Base Camp
Day 13	Dhaulagiri Base Camp – Hidden Valley
Day 14	Hidden Valley – Yak Kharka
Day 15	Yak Kharka – Marpha
Day 16	Marpha – Kalopani (Either You Can Heads To Jomsom And Fly Out To Pokhara)
Day 17	Kalopani – Tatopani
Day 18	Tatopani – Ghorepani
Day 19	Ghorepani – Birenthanti
Day 20	Birenthanti – Pokhara By Drive
Day 21	Pokhara – Kathmandu

Note – Our Itinerary does not include your arrival and departure day to and from Kathmandu, and our fixed dates are the trekking starting date from Kathmandu.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Kathmandu - Beni By Drive  
Drive from Kathmandu to Beni which takes about eleven hours. As you climb out of the Kathmandu valley, only to quickly descend again to the Trisuli River, you follow upstream to its junction with the Marsyangdi River. You follow the Marsyandi gently up through heavily terraced fields and small hill towns to the Seti River that takes you directly into Pokhara. Having pleasant weather, Pokhara is tourist's paradise with full of natural as well as cultural heritage sites such as lakes, caves, temples of Buddhist and Hindus along with mountains. You can observe views to the north across the hills and Phewa Tal (lake) to the white peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The drive from here goes through uphill into zigzag road all the way to Naudanda. It then descends through zigzag road up to Nayapul with views of Annapurna South, Fish tail, green hills, terraces and villages. To reach Beni, your drive moves along the bank of Mardi river. This is one of the picturesque road journeys.                     
Day 02: Beni – Babiya Chaur
Trek from Beni to Maldhunga (1300m.) which takes about six hours. Start Soon the rough rubble gives way to the smooth ice of the white part of the glacier. You climb steadily to the rough and chilling but spectacular Dhaulagiri Base Camp.

Day 03: Babiya Chaur – Durbang

This day you trek gently ascend for early one hour passing through jungles with varieties of oaks, rhododendron and so on. You can hear the chirping of the local birds then your trails follow quite flat land passing through stream at one place. The way you trek is muddy road crossing villages at some of the places. Darbang is a small village mainly inhabited by Magar and Limbus. There is a beautiful camping site. You can find small local shops with minimal supply.

Day 04: Durbang – Sibag
Trek from Darbang to Takum which takes about five hours. This day also you trek ascend through narrow path for early one hour. Now you go along the flat land passing through jungle with varieties of rhododendrons, oaks and Christmas trees at some distance. After you cross a small stream, your trails suddenly begin to follow ascend path until you reach Takum. There is a government school before you enter Takum, a small village. Here you camp behind the school located in central Takum. You find a Hindu temple where the villagers go to submit their offerings.

Day 05: Sibag – Muri

Trek from Takum to Muri and it takes about six hours. You start trekking to descend trails for early one hour passing through jungle. Then you follow steeply ascent path and before you approach Muri you pass along the flat land until you reach Muri. This is a small village mainly inhabited by Gurung and Rai, one of the ethnic communities of Nepal. There are situated beautiful hotel offering attractive services to tourists guests who visit this particular area. You are here quite captivated by a Buddhist monastery.

Day 06: Muri – Bagar
Trek from Muri to Baghar (2080m.). Descend a gentle slope, and cross a rocky stream. Descend a path amid terraced fields to Dhora khola. Cross the river and climb to the right up the mountainside to Ghorban dhara. The view from this pass is fine, for the first time you can see Ghustung south (6465m). Follow the right bank path past Naura where you begin to ascend the mountainside. After climbing for a short while, take a path that traverses the steep grass-covered hill. The Myagdi khola assumes a steep-walled V-shape as the traverse ends and a high, winding path climbs the steep, grassy slope. The steep slope will not tolerate any missteps but the path is well-constructed with a great number of zigzag stone step paths. At last the long climb ends, and you enter a traverse to the right-here you must also beware of falling into the gorge of the Myagdi khola. Soon you descend through a forested area, emerging to a ridge snout where bagara (2080) is visible. Descend through terraced fields to this mountain village where you camp in people's yards or the terraced fields.
Day 07: Bagar – Dovan
Trek from Baghar to Dobang (2520m.) and it takes about five hours. Here you leave the villages behind and the trial becomes increasingly challenging.

Day 08: Dovan –  Italian Base Camp

Trek from Dobang to Upper Vungini or Italian Base Camp (3660m.)

Day 10: Acclamatization At Italian Base Camp

Day 11: Italian Base Camp – Glacier Camp Trek

 

from Upper Vugini (Italian Base Camp) to Glacier Camp and it takes about four hours. After crossing the first glacier, probably using a rope in a couple of tricky spots, you climb onto the main glacier. The surroundings are spectacular which makes up for the rough and dangerous trail. You may also use a rope on this section. This is a particularly tough day. You camp on the glacier rubble.

 

Day 12: Glacier Camp – Dhaulagiri Base Camp

Trek from Glacier Camp to Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4740m.) which takes about five hours. Soon the rough rubble gives way to the smooth ice of the white part of the glacier. You climb steadily to the rough and chilling but spectacular Dhaulagiri Base Camp.

 

Day 13: Dhaulagiri Base Camp – Hidden Valley
Trek from Dhaulagiri Base Camp to French Col (5010m.) - Hidden Valley and it takes about four hours. Getting off the glacier above the base camp often requires rope climbing. Once over the steep moraine walls we reach gentler, less strenuous country. After a breathless climb to the top of French Col (5300m,) the views of Hidden Valley open out. The broad valley is reminiscent of Tibet and Ladakh and so are the temperatures (at least -20ºC at night). 

Day 14: Hidden Valley – Yak Kharka

Trek from Hidden valley (5200m.) to Yak Kharka (3680m.) and it takes about seven hours. You traverse avalanche-prone slopes and then take on the steep descent to Yak Kharka. This day you trek through bare land for some distance. 

Day 15: Yak Kharka – Marpha

More steep descent leads to Marpha. The way is not much covered with trees. En route you can see some yak herds and sheep herds as well. Marpha is a small town mainly inhabited by the mixed community of Buddhist and Hindus as well. You can a visit a monastery. In and around the monastery, you can see the many walls and prayer flags hanging.

Day 16: Marpha – Kalopani (Either You Can Heads To Jomsom And Fly Out To Pokhara)

Marpha is a remarkable and interesting village to have a stroll. Marpha has its own factory where it produces its own brandy from the apple andit is quite popular in the locality too. The trail is not easy as the sharp stones at the bottom of the valley and always the strong wind makes the walking little tough, but, this is too a kind of adventure and can be recalled with nice memories when getting back home. The stony & windy trail is compensated by the majestic and impressive peaks and some caravans of mules & donkeys on the way. In the middle of pine trees forests, Kalopani is one of the few places where we can see Annapurna I. We can see also very nice Thakali villages. Our stop will be at Kalapani for the night. 5h30 walk.

Day 17: Kalopani – Tatopani

The long descend walk along the turbulent but wonderful gorges river will make the walk pleasant more than exhausting down walk. Another interesting factor of this trail is we witness variation of landscapes like from alpine zone to sub-tropical zone, dcops and villages as well as their culture keeps on changing during the entire walk. We stay at the lodge at Tatopani, hot spring, today. 7 hours walk.

Day 18: Tatopani – Ghorepani

Unlike yesterday, today’s walk is ascended one, a long but never monotonous one. Because of majestic Dhaulagiri mountain keeps on appearing and this will kill the fatigue of the long up walk. One hour before Ghorepani, we enter a rhododendrons forest; in the spring, it’s one of the most exceptional place of that trek. Today’s night stop at Ghorepani. 7hours walk

Day 19: Ghorepani – Birenthanti

The day we wake up early in the morning and hike up to Poon Hill 3210m. for morning sunrise panoramic view of the whole Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. A long 360 degree panoramic view can be seen from this place. Poon is the most popular mountain panoramic place of Asia. From this place we can see close view of Mt. Annapurna I, 8091m and Dhaulagiri 8167m. between from the both mountain, the Kaligandaki river comes throughout the northern Himalayan Mustang Tibet. In between those 2 high mountain the river made a deepest valley, which is called a deepest George of the word. After the Poon hill the day we do breakfast and trek to Birethanti.

Day 20: Birenthanti – Pokhara By Drive

 

Day 21: Pokhara – Kathmandu

Price includes:

• Arrival and departure by Car.  (Airport to City, City to Airport)
• Ground Transportation from Kathmandu to Pokhara to Kathmandu by Tourist Bus and Pokhara to Nayapul to Pokhara by car or taxi.
• All meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) and Accommodation in Trek.
• Best quality Sleeping bags, dawn Jackets.
• First Ai
• d Kit
• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (Nrs 2000 Per person)
• English speaking Experienced Guide (Licensed by Government) and Porters (1 porter for 2 client).
• All necessaries for Nepalese staff (all meals, accommodation in teahouses, equipments, insurance etc).
• Certificate of Trek completion from Himalayan Humanity Trekking.

Price Excludes:

• Any bar bills (alcoholic drinks, mineral water and cold drinks),
• Client's personal insurance,
• Personal expenses,
• Meals and Accommodations in Highways, Kathmandu and Pokhara
• Rescue,
• Tips for staff (porter/Guide) etc

 

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