Dhaulagiri Round Trek

18 Days

The Trans-Himalayan journey is quiet, peaceful and full of adventure and excitement. Trekking in this area is relatively strenuous but trekkers willing to spend their holidays amid nature and natural surroundings full of peace and tranquility choose this “off the beaten track” trekking destination.

Recently much improvements have been done on the trail such as from marking the way to establishing porters’ shelters. The trekking trail has been improvised upto the passes area by the local community. So, trekking here is adventurous the most as well as safe the perfectly.

Trip type: trekking, hiking, exploration,
Group of: 2 to 16 pax,
Locations: Dhaulagiri Area, Annapurna Conservation Area, mid-west Nepal,
Trip Duration: 18 days

Overview

White Mountains, separated from the Annapurna region by Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world, includes some fifteen peaks above 7000m. This region considered to be one of the most remote places of Nepal, has abundance of Himalayan peaks, hidden valleys, high passes and sweeping vistas. The Trans-Himalayan journey is quiet, peaceful and full of adventure and excitement. Trekking in this area is relatively strenuous but trekkers willing to spend their holidays amid nature and natural surroundings full of peace and tranquility choose this “off the beaten track” trekking destination. The awe inspiring Dhaulagiri Round trek takes you to encircle the Mt. Dhaulagiri (the 7th tallest peak on earth, with 8,167 m/26788 ft) majorly. The passes – French Pass (5360 m/17581 ft)) and Italian Pass (5182 m/16997 ft)) located en-route are challenging. Further, this trail displays the beauty and wilderness of Nepal’s remote area, which truly is an adventure for trekking enthusiast. This is a beautiful trek that incorporates the best of what Himalaya has to offer while being off the beaten track.

Itinerary

Arrive in Kathmandu (1350m|4429ft), reception at the international airport and transfer to hotel. Hotel check-in followed by welcome drinks and then trip sign-up with Q&A if there is any as well as last minute information, then free time.

Day at leisure, you may spend as you like. All you should spare is 15-20 minutes for checking your stuffs and packing list if you want with your guide so as to not to miss anything that is essential on the mountain. If anything is running shortage or missing, Kathmandu is the last good place to add up. On the evening we organize typical dinner with your trek guide.

A scenic drive starts from your hotel around 7:30 or 8am. Thankot about 7km exists you the Kathmandu valley and following along the Tribhuvan Highway, Pokhara is 205km takes 5-6hrs. The guide will pick up a nice place little before Pokhara for your lunch stop. From Pokhara another 92km for Beni(830m|2723ft) along a finely built highway. Upon arriving this recently turned as a boomed commercial town situated on the bank of Kaligandaki River; hotel check in and spend the rest time freely. Dinner around 6:30 -7PM. Later before setout for bed, discuss about tomorrow's program, mark up on your trekking map or read your books etc. Actually this will be followed for next many days until you make to Jomsom!

Beni to Darbang by jeep (3 hrs) and further to Dhrapani (1560m/2-3hrs) by trek.

The road is in construction phase so, every year it goes some KM further towards villages. Trekking trails invaded by road is a sad, but this lower section if driving is available, actually its OK to take it. We have several more days for trekking!

Start around 8am from Dharapani after breakfast at the lodge you're staying. Time schedule will be like 6:30 bed tea, 7 go for brushing your teeth or face wash and 7:20 you would take a seat for breakfast and by 8am we actually hit the trail. This will be followed for next several days, but of course your advices are highly welcomed any day, anytime!
Today's trek to Muri (1720m|5643ft) is about 11-12KM, takes 4-5hrs! We pass beautiful villages of Takum, Sibang, Machhim etc. as the major ones of Magar settlements.

Todays trek from Muri to Bagar or Baghara (2080m|6824ft) is less than 15KM, a much more scenic day than yesterday. We will pass two bigger villages (Mathatala and Naura) and perhaps the later one would be a good place for lunch break. After lunch an inclined trail until we finish today's journey.

It's within 15KM trek today as well and there are not much villages to pass to. Lunch place at Lipse (1970m|6423ft) where is a single hut and some 40min further of Lipse there is a natural hot spring. The number of houses are sparsely and gradually we enter into the alpine atmosphere. Dovan Kharka is situated at 2520m|8268ft is a confluence of Kunaban Khola (river) and Myagdi Khola.

Note: we had nice hotel in Kathmandu and in Beni also we had a good one. At the later days upto yesterday at Baghara, there were local lodges. Basic but that were rooms with roofs and walls. Here and above, for until we reach to Marpha, we will have the tented accommodation that is mentioned here by "Camp".

From Doban (or Dovan Kharka) to Khola Camp; ie also called Chaur Bag with 3445m|11302ft is situated on the bank of Chaurban Khola coming down from Tsaura Bong Glacier. Tsaura Bang is a snowy peak with 6395m|20981ft just above on the left of your trekking trail or towards where you are heading to. Today, the distance is not much, about 10KM, but we gain considerably higher elevation.

It's just a few hrs trek to Italian Camp (3660m|12008ft). It will be like a lunch-camp trek! We're paying attention about how much elevation we gain in the cumulative days trek. So, it's just 200m/655ft high gaining. The more we do here is amazing exploration of the nearby vicinity as much and get more acclimatized for next day's advancement to new elevation!

It will be like from 3660m|12008ft to 4748m|15577ft. You might have gain a lot of energy from the rest and surely have enjoyed the rare adventure by the Dhaulagiri Himalayas!
On the way several passes are covered such as the Swiss Base Camp (3730m), French Base Camp (3870m), Deposit Camp (3940m), Japanese Base Camp (3890m) etc. These are not big different camps or anything particular variation is there. These are just the names. The good thing of the Base Camps are it provides camping place, little bit wider and has source of waters and sometime you may find a hut. Perhaps dismantled hut but still that can be used for kitchen. Amazing day trek in the real base camp of giant Himalayas!

It's a good long day trek at this elevation. On the way we pass the French Pass (of 5360m|17585ft), require a strenuous walking! Total trek about 6-7hrs. Amazing views throughout the day. Pack lunch is served on the top of French Pass. This point is a good view point, so have lunch enjoy the panorama.

Cross the final pass of the Dhaulagiri Round Trek ie Dhampus Pass (5244m|17205ft) before making the descend to Yak Kharka (4000m|13123ft).
The Dhampus pass is often visited by the locals and when they visit here they offer prayer flags. So, Dhapus pass is full of prayer flags and itself it is a very good view point.
It's the final evening of staying at the tents. And gradually your trek comes to the end.

It's a half day trek to Marpha (2670m|8760ft), but gives good tiring final descend. Upon arriving at the hotel in Marpha, room check in and enjoy lunch, then rest. Hot shower is possible too. In the evening being the final night on this amazing Dhaulagiri Round trek celebration is an inbuilt!

It's a scenic drive along the Pokhara-Jomsom Road for 6-7 hrs. The road passes some of the unique locations such as the Kabre gorge, Rupse Waterfall, Dana hot-spring water pool etc. You may stop for photos if you like.
Hotel check in Pokhara and enjoy your own meals | drinks.

Pokhara to Kathmandu by drive.

It's a long and off the beaten path trek in the remote location by the Dhaulagiri massif! So, allowing an extra day gives you much spaces for the thing you want to do. Sometime, you might want to spend one more day somewhere in a beautiful location. So, this will be a reserve day! If this day is not required, you may send it in Pokhara or Kathmandu still do the thing you would like to do or just don't do anything but relax at the hotel to kill all of your tiredness from the arduous Dhaulagiri Round trek.

Congratulations for successful accomplishment of your dream of doing the Dhaulagiri trek. It's where there is probably the unspoiled nature!
Have breakfast and spend your time leisurely. We transfer you to the airport on the given time for your flight back home! Happy See Off!!

Services

  • Airport pick up and transfers,
  • Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu & Pokhara (in 3 star) with daily breakfast (twin sharing),
  • All transportation to and from Kathmandu by road as the program,
  • Lodge & tented (camping) accommodation in the mountain as program (as availability),
  • Daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner with hot drinks),
  • Guide, porters, a cook with kitchen helpers etc as required,
  • All trek permits and NP entry tickets/TIMS,
  • And all regular services of Alpine Exodus,

Extras

  • Cold drinks, bar bills, luxury beverage consumption (in the market places),
  • Nepal visa fee, international flight tickets,
  • Personal equipment, travel insurance, medical expenses when any, emergency evacuation fi any,
  • Tips and gratitude if any to your guide, porters, drivers etc.
  • Anything that is not included in the above in Trip Include section.
15% Off
From $ 1,745 $ 1,480
/ Person