Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning to begin your city tour of Kathmandu. You will visit the Boudhanath temple, the largest Buddhist Stupa in Nepal, Pashupatinath, a Hindu pilgrimage site, and possibly view cremation ceremonies along the banks of the Bagmati River. Continue drive to Patan Durbar Square to see ancient Nepalese architecture and end your tour after lunch. Then, you will visit the Patan museum. Overnight in Kathmandu.

This morning we will drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu (200km). You will be arriving late afternoon in Pokhara. From the Pokhara valley you can see one of the most beautiful Himalayan panoramas including famous “Fishtail” mountain peak of Machhapuchhare tower over the tropical setting of Pokhara. You will be free in Pokhara valley to explore the various interesting place at your own like boating in Phewa lake, visiting popular sites around. In the evening you will prepare yourself for your trek to Dhaulagiri trek next day morning.

After breakfast we make a short drive to Beni where we meet our trekking crew. After lunch we start walking, from Beni leaving the Kali Gandaki valley and heading west along the bank of Myagdi Khola. We camp at Tatopani near by the hot springs in a grassy area next to the river. Overnight at camp.

The trail continues along the Myagdi Khola passing through several villages before reaching Darbang for lunch. We cross the bridge and soon arrive to Phedi and start the climb to Dharapani. This village is mainly gurung and chettri and has our first view of Dhaulagiri to the north.

Today the trail passes through several interesting villages the largest being Takum and Sibang. These are prosperous villages with many terraced fields mainly growing rice & wheat, also many of the menfolk work overseas in the Middle East or in the British and Indian Ghurkas. There are good views of Gurja
Himal and Puta Hiunchuli to the west. We cross the Dhara Khola on a suspension bridge and then continue to Muri following the Myagdi Khola flowing from the north. You will have time in the afternoon to explore Muri village.

From Muri, we descend steeply to a bridge over the Muri Khola. After passingthrough several dense bamboo stands the trail passes through a number of clearing with fields and farmhouses above the Myagdi Khola.Further north the valley steepens and the trail is exposed in places, however the difficult section before Boghara can be avoided by taking a high route used by porters (highly recommended!). We camp in the grounds of the primary school in this village.

The trail to Doban follows the west bank of Myagdi Khola through an undulating trail in the forest. There are a couple of clearings where we find a number of stone-built shepherds huts, and one of these is Doban where we camp for the night.

The trail continues through dense, lush vegetation of ferns, bamboo and rhododendrons. We cross to the east bank of the Myagdi Khola on a rickety bridge and then camp at a clearing in the forest at Sallaghari.

From Sallaghari we walk through pine trees, rhododendron and birch and then see heather, juniper and azaleas above the treeline. The trail traverses the side of the valley and then climbs to a grassy area on the lateral moraine where Italian base camp is located. From the camp the impressive west face of Dhaulagiri towers above with Tsaurabong Peak visible on the other side of the valley.

Today we can either explore around Italian base camp on a day walk or relax in camp. This day is essential for acclimatization.

Today is a short walk although essential for acclimatization process, unlike most other itineraries we believe in having two extra nights between Italian base camp and main Dhaulagiri base camp (otherwise going from 3,660m to 4,740m will result in AMS and possibly worse). From Italian base camp the trail descends steeply through the lateral moraine to gain the glacier, it is likely that we will fix a rope here mainly to help the porters. One crosses the glacier and comes off the moraine on the left side to enter the Chonbarden gorge. Walk along talus in the Chonbarden gorge to the snout of the Chonbarden glacier. The glacier is covered in moraine at this point and the trail follows a pressure ridge to Glacier camp.

There is a rough trail along the glacier marked by cairns to Dhaulagiri base camp. From the camp one can see Dhaulagiri I and Little Eiger, further to the west lies Dhaulagiri II (7,751m) and IV (7,618m). In season there are likely to be many expeditions on the moraine strip at base camp, one can also the start of the climbing route above the icefall descending from the col between Dhaulagiri and Tukuche Peak.

These are essential rest days for acclimatization before crossing French pass and our campsite in Hidden Valley at 5,100m. There are a number of day walks from base camp which are well worth doing and will also help the acclimatisation process (climb high, sleep low).

Today we walk along the base camp moraine strip and past several older camps and cross over to the left hand side of the Upper Chonbarden glacier. A high lateral moraine ridge is visible further up the valley; we gain this by following a steep trail across the scree. We continue walking up the lateral moraine ridge with superb views down the valley to Dhaulagiri I and also Tukuche Peak. The approach to the French passes in up easy angled snow slopes with the top marked by Buddhist prayer flags. From here one can see Sita Chuchura, the peaks of the Mukut Himal, Tashi Kang, Tukuche Peak, and the huge Dhaulagiri I. The descent is across easy snow slopes to enter the Hidden Valley; we camp further down at the base of Dhampus Peak next to our next pass.

Today we ascend on snow slopes to Dhampus pass and then after a long snowy traverse (approx. 3 hrs) we finally head down a rocky ridge to Yak Kharka. An earlier start is important in order to cross the pass before the customary white out reduces visibility. At Yak Kharka, Dhaulagiri I is hidden by Tuckuche Peak, but Nilgiri and the western end of the Annapurna Massif are visible.

There is a long descent today to the interesting village Marpha in the Kali Gandaki valley with Tibetan whitewashed houses and paved streets. We continue on to Jomsom where tomorrow morning we fly out to Pokhara.

Today you will have a scenic flight to Pokhara observing the spectacular mountain views as well as striking natural beauty of Nepal. Upon arrival in Pokhara you will be transferred to the hotel and then go sightseeing. Pokhara is an ideal lake city for holiday makers.

Pokhara is situated in the mid western Nepal. It is linked by the main highway of 200 km driving distance from Kathmandu, and by air approximately 20 to 30 minutes flight with a sweeping panoramic view of the mid western Himalaya. Mother Nature has certainly blessed this fertile valley with outstanding scenery of the landscapes, snow capped mountains, moderate tropical climate, and beautiful pristine lakes of Begnas, Rupa and Phewa. The most stunning of Pokhara’s sights is the magnificent panorama of the Annapurna range which forms its backdrop. Annapurna massif includes Annapurna I to IV and Annapurna South. Among these high peaks it is the towering majestic Mt. Machhapuchare (Fish Tail) which dominates all others in this range Pokhara with its natural beauty is also a starting point of trekking, mountaineering expeditions and it’s an ideal spot for all types of holiday makers.

We drive back to Kathmandu through the endless terraces of lowland Nepal, the six hour drive get back us to the buzz and bustle of Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu.

On this pleasant day you may have a full day at leisure either relax at hotel or explore the around Thamel. Or, you may do your last minute shopping for souvenirs or gift to your family, friends or relatives.

Our airport representative will come to pick you up and transfer you to the International Airport according to your flight time.