Introduction
Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is a strenuous and challenging trek around Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167m), the seventh highest Himalayan Peak. The trek route lies south of the Tibet-Nepal border and offers great views of Dhaluagiri Massif, which includes more than 30 peaks over 6000 meters, eight of these surpassing 8000 meters.
Trekking in Dhaulaigiri is more like an expedition than a trekking, owing to its wild locations, snow trails and glacier moraines and cold climes. Also termed as ‘number one’ trek in the world, majority of trekkers regard it as a classic trek, having a full range of trekking experiences from low hill to high alpines.
The trek starts from Beni and passes along Myagdi river leading through forests into the high country and onto snow and glaciers trails. The highest point of the trek is French Col (5240m.), which sits across the northern slopes of Dhaulagiri peak, offering a stunning display of Dhaulaigiri ranges. We will then drop to the Hidden Valley and continue our trek over Dhampus Pass (5155m). You can also grab the unique opportunity to climb Damphus (6,060 metres) peak when you are in the area. The trek ends with a steep descent to Jomsom and a quick flight return to Pokhara. The other option is to trek back to Pokhara via the Kali Gandaki valley or over the Ghorepani ridge.
Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is a full-on camping trek and one of the longest trekking trails in Nepal. However, there are few home stay and lodging facilities available.
As it is longer and physically demanding trek, every member is required to have sound fitness and good health. The team members also need to acquire good boots to wear and bring along crampons and ice axes.
September-November and March-May are the best seasons to trek Dhaulagiri Circuit. Nepal Environmental Treks & Expedition offer you the best team of highly skilled and professional guides who have already had years of experience of trekking on this route. Our guides will help you provide personal guidance on glacier walking, using ropes and ice axes.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Drive from Kathmandu to Beni which takes about eleven hours.
Day 2 Trek from Beni to Maldhunga (1300m.) which takes about six hours.
Day 3 Trek from Maldhunga to Darbang which takes about five and half hours.
Day 4 Trek from Darbang to Takum which takes about five hours.
Day 5 Trek from Takum to Muri which takes about six hours.
Day 6 Trek from Muri to Baghar (2080m.). You descend a gentle slope, and cross a rocky stream.
Day 7 Trek from Baghar to Dobang (2520m.) which takes about five hours.
Day 8 Trek from Dobang to Upper Vungini or the Italian Base Camp (3660m.). Stay overnight in camp.
Day 9 Rest day for acclimatization. The day is free for you to move around as you like.
Day 10 Trek from Upper Vugini (Italian Base Camp) to Glacier Camp which takes about four hours.
Day 11 Trek from Glacier Camp to Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4740m.) which takes about five hours.
Day 12 Trek from Dhaulagiri Base Camp to French Col (5010m.) - Hidden Valley which takes about four hours.
Day 13 Trek from Hidden valley (5200m.) to Yak Kharka (3680m.) which takes about seven hours.
Day 14 Trek from Yak Kharka to Marpha (2670m.) which takes about five hours.
Day 15 Trek from Marpha to Kalopani (2530m.) which takes about six hours.
Day 16 Trek from Kalopani to Tatopani (1189m.) which takes about six and a half hours.
Day 17 Trek from Tatopani to Beni which takes almost five hours and drive from Beni to Pokhara by bus which takes another four and half hours. Stay overnight at a hotel.
Day 18 Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by a tourist mini bus that takes about seven hours
Day 19 Final departure
Day 1 : Drive from Kathmandu to Beni which takes about eleven hours.
This is one of the most picturesque road journeys found in Nepal. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 2 : Trek from Beni to Maldhunga (1300m.) which takes about six hours.
You start hiking through the rough rubble which gives way to the smooth ice of the glacier. You climb steadily to the rough and chilling but spectacular Dhaulagiri Base Camp. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 3 : Trek from Maldhunga to Darbang which takes about five and half hours.
Your trek begins by gently ascending for one hour passing through jungles with varieties of oaks, rhododendron and so on. You can hear the chirping of the local birds as your trail follows flat land passing through a stream at one place. The route is mostly muddy crossing villages at some points where you can interact with the local folks. Darbang is a small village mainly inhabited by the Magar and Limbu communities. A beautiful camping site is available here. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 4 : Trek from Darbang to Takum which takes about five hours.
Today your trek also ascends through a narrow path in the early first hour, before going on the flat land passing through jungle with varieties of rhododendrons, oaks and Christmas pine trees at some distance. After you cross a small stream, your trail suddenly begins to follow an ascending path until you reach Takum. You will come across a government school before you enter Takum, a small village. Here, you camp behind the school located in central Takum. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 5 : Trek from Takum to Muri which takes about six hours.
You start trekking along a descending trail in the early first hour passing through a dense jungle. You then follow a steeply ascending path and before approaching Muri you travel along flat land until you reach Muri. This is a small village mainly inhabited by the ethnic Gurung and Rai communities of Nepal. You will be captivated by the calm presence of a serene Buddhist monastery found here. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 6 : Trek from Muri to Baghar (2080m.). You descend a gentle slope, and cross a rocky stream.
After you cross the river you climb to the right up the mountainside to Ghorban dhara. Following the right bank past Naura 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. 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 the yards of the local people's houses or on the terraced fields. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 7 : Trek from Baghar to Dobang (2520m.) which takes about five hours.
Here you leave the villages behind and the trial begins to get increasingly challenging. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 8 : Trek from Dobang to Upper Vungini or the Italian Base Camp (3660m.). Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 9 : Rest day for acclimatization. The day is free for you to move around as you like.
You may want to do some reading or explore the area around. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 10 : Trek from Upper Vugini (Italian Base Camp) to Glacier Camp which takes about four hours.
After crossing the first glacier, probably using a rope at a couple of tricky spots, you climb onto the main glacier. The surroundings are beautiful which makes up for the rough and dangerous trail. This is a particularly tough day. You camp on the glacier rubble.
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Day 11 : 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. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 12 : Trek from Dhaulagiri Base Camp to French Col (5010m.) - Hidden Valley which takes about four hours.
Getting off the glacier above the base camp often requires rope climbing. Once over the steep moraine walls you reach gentler, less strenuous country. After a breathless climb to the top of French Col (5300m,) the views of Hidden Valley open up. The broad valley is reminiscent of Tibet and Ladakh. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 13 : Trek from Hidden valley (5200m.) to Yak Kharka (3680m.) which 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. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 14 : Trek from Yak Kharka to Marpha (2670m.) which takes about five hours.
A steep descent leads you to Marpha. En route you can see yak and sheep herds. Marpha is a small town mainly inhabited by a mixed community of Buddhist and Hindus. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 15 : Trek from Marpha to Kalopani (2530m.) which takes about six hours.
Your trail stretches at an almost flat level through forests to Kalopani, a Thakali village and the southern-most limit of Tibetan Buddhism. En route, you find Larjung which is situated near Dhaulagiri Glacier. The first part of the trek passes through a high windy area covered with pine and rhododendron forests. At Kalopani, you will be amazed with the breathtaking views of Annapurna I (8091m.), Dhaulagiri I (8167m.) and Tukuche peak (6920m.). Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 16 : Trek from Kalopani to Tatopani (1189m.) which takes about six and a half hours.
The trail descends steeply to Rukse Chhahara (Rukse Waterfall). It is an amazing site to view this gushing, milky looking water. The deepest gorge in the world is seen here as well, between the two mountains Annapurna I (8091m.) and Dhaulagiri I (8167m.) which face each other near the Rukse Waterfall. The trail again descends slightly to Tatopani through different human settlements. You can enjoy the hot springs at Tatopani as the word ‘Tatopani’ is named after the natural hot springs situated near the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. It is popularly believed that taking a bath in the Hot Spring helps you get rid of skin diseases. Stay overnight in camp.
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Day 17 : Trek from Tatopani to Beni which takes almost five hours and drive from Beni to Pokhara by bus which takes another four and half hours. Stay overnight at a hotel.
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Day 18 : Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by a tourist mini bus that takes about seven hours
While driving from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you head up to Damauli, Dumre, Mugling and Kurintar where Nepal's first Cable car is operated to reach the famous Manakamana Temple. En route, you can enjoy mountain views, green sceneries, terraced rice fields, vegetable patches and people happily engaged in their daily chores. From Naubishe you climb up to Thankot, the gateway to the capital city of Kathmandu. You can also fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu which takes about 25 minutes.
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Day 19 : Final departure
Your adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! There is nothing to do but trade emails with your travel companions and organize your photos. A representative fromJ.vill nepal Trekking will take you to the airport, approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight. On your way home you'll have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.
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Features Included on Dhaulagiri Round Circuit Trek
Features Not Included on Dhaulagiri Round Circuit Trek
Things To know
Requirement
Equipments & Packing List
This list is a guideline to help you pack for your adventure. Also understand that the items listed below will vary a little according to the season and the trek duration. Those items marked by an asterisk (*) are provided by Himalayan Glacier inclusive in the service. The weight limit for your luggage is 33 pounds or 15 kg. Remember that your luggage will be carried by your porter but you are required to carry a day-pack (with your valuables or anything important) on your own. We also suggest that you pack only what is necessary.
Important documents and items
- Valid passport, 2 extra passport size photos, airline tickets
- Separate photocopies of passport, visa form (easily obtained at Kathmandu airport), proof of insurance
- Dollars, pounds or Euros in cash for purchasing Nepalese visa at Kathmandu airport, for paying for restaurants and hotels, for gratuities, snacks, and to purchase your own drinks and gifts
- Credit cards, Bank/ATM/Cash machine cards for withdrawing funds from cash machines (bring a photocopy of your cards), traveler's checks, etc.
Head
- Bandana or head scarf, also useful for dusty conditions
- Warm hat that covers your ears (wool or synthetic)
- Headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- Prescription sunglasses (if required)
Upper Body
- Polypropylene shirts (1 half sleeve and 2 long sleeves)
- Light and expedition weight thermal tops
- Fleece wind-stopper jacket or pullover
- Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
- Down vest and/or jacket *
- Gore-Tex jacket with hood, waterproof and breathable
Hands
- 1 pair of lightweight poly-liner gloves.
- 1 pair of lightweight wool or fleece gloves
- 1 pair of mittens, consists of 1 Gore-Tex over mitt matched with a very warm polar-fleece mitt liner (seasonal)
Lower Body
- Non-cotton underwear briefs
- 1 pair of Hiking shorts
- 1 pair of Hiking trousers
- 1 pair of lightweight thermal bottoms (seasonal)
- 1 pair of fleece or woolen trousers
- 1 pair of waterproof shell pants, breathable fabric
Feet
- 2 pairs of thin, lightweight inner socks
- 2 pairs of heavy poly or wool socks
- 1 pair of Hiking boots with spare laces (sturdy soles, water resistant, ankle support, “broken in”)
- 1 pair of trainers or running shoes and/or sandals
- Cotton socks (optional)
- Gaiters (winter only), optional, “low” ankle high version
Sleeping
- 1 sleeping bag (good to -10 degrees C or 14 degrees F)*
- Fleece sleeping bag liner (optional)
Rucksack and Travel Bags
- 1 medium rucksack (50-70 liters/3000-4500 cubic inches, can be used for an airplane carryon)
- 1 large duffel bag *
- A small daypack/backpack for carrying your valuables, should have good shoulder padding
- Small padlocks for duffel-kit bags
- 2 large waterproof rucksack covers (optional)
Medical
- Small, personal first-aid kit. (simple and light)
- Aspirin, first-aid tape, and plasters (Band-Aids)
- 1 skin-blister repair kit
- Anti-diarrhea pills
- Anti-headache pills
- Cough and/or cold medicine
- Anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox or Acetylzolamide
- Stomach antibiotic: Ciprofloxacin, etc. Do not bring sleeping pills as they are a respiratory depressant.
- Water purification tablets or water filter
- 1 set of earplugs
- Extra pair of prescription glasses, contact lens supplies
Practical Items
- 1 small roll of repair tape, 1 sewing-repair kit
- 1 cigarette lighter, 1 small box of matches
- 1 compass or GPS(optional)
- 1 alarm clock/watch
- 1 digital camera with extra cards and batteries
- large Ziplocs
- 2 water bottles (1 liter each)
- 1 small folding knife
- Binoculars (optional)
- 4 large, waterproof, disposable rubbish sacks
Toiletries
- 1 medium-sized quick drying towel
- Toothbrush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
- Multi-purpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
- Deodorants
- Nail clippers
- Face and body moisturizer
- Female hygiene products
- Small mirror
Personal Hygiene
- Wet wipes (baby wipes)
- Tissue /toilet roll
- Anti-bacterial hand wash
