Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek

After breakfast, you can see a car waiting at your hotel gate. Just hop inside the car, and it’s time for some great views. Initially, we drove to Swayambhunath (the so-called monkey temple). Our other destinations are Bouddhanath, Pashupatinath, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. In the evening, we are back to Thamel for some shopping. The guide helps you buy/ rent every gear essential for the trek. And then, the night is all yours.

Early in the morning, we accommodate a bus taking us to Beni. On Prithivi highway, along the bank of Trishuli River, it’s a scenic drive Kathmandu to Pokhara. In the next few hours, we will be standing in the small town of Beni. Some also choose to fly to Pokhara (25-mins flight) and then drive to Beni. We start our Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek tomorrow.

Altitude: 830 meters

: 9/10 hrs

Altitude: 970 meters 

Now, we move north of Beni, following MyagdiKhola. Our first stop shall be at BeniMangalghat and then walk to Singa. Lastly, we stop at Tatopani (natural hot water) before crossing a suspension bridge and entering Simalchour. Then, another hour of walk brings us to a beautiful tea house in Babiyachaur.

: 5 to 6 hours 

Altitude: 1560 meters

From Babiyachaur, we first walk to the open valley and then climb to the village of Shahashradhara. Then, we cross a bridge over DukKhola and then stroll to the Ratorunga. Slowly, we climb the stairs leading us to Dharapani. Today’s walk might be demanding for many of us.

: 6 hours

Altitude: 1720 meters

We leave Dharapani after a relaxing breakfast. Then, we quickly get to Phedi, and then stop at Sibang. You might stop to see the villagers working on the farm or just walk to Mattim. Now, walking in the ridge soon brings you to another village of Phalai and finally to Muri. The locals are very hospitable, and you shall have a great stay.

: 5 hrs.

Altitude: 2080 meters 

We plan to walk further north, crossing MyagdiKhola until we reach Naura village. As we keep on gaining altitude, the landscape keeps on changing. Now, we first walk down to a small before climbing along with the terraced fields. Here, Mt. Ghustung at 6465 mt greets us with a pleasing smile. Further walking via a thick forest, we get to Boghara for the night.

Overnight in Boghara

: 5 to 6 hours

Altitude: 2520m

As the settlement gets thinner, we enter into a rather thick and remote forest of Pine. In the morning, we walk to Jyardan and then enter Lipshe. Now, we keep on trekking via the open valley to LapcheKharka. After some rest, we enter Dobang. This might be the day when we start to set the camp.

: 5 to 6 hours

Altitude: 3445 meters 

Today, we leave Dobang and head towards Chartare for lunch. This is a very challenging day- we gain about 1000 meters of height in a single day. So, look out for the symptoms of altitude sickness in the way. Also, we get to see our very first glimpse of Dhaulagiri before getting into ChoribanKhola Camp.

: 5 hours

Altitude: 3600 meters 

The 10th day of our Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek Itinerary is even more exciting. After ChoribanKhola, you are close to the mountains like never before. We will also start to witness the glacier and the Tukche Peak smiling at us. Dhaulagiri I looks magnificent as we crawl into Italian Base Camp. Getting here, we look for a perfect place to set the camps.

Overnight in Italian Base Camp

: 7 hours 

Italian Base Camp is a great place to stop for a rest day. Instead of rushing to Dhaulagiri, we let our lungs acclimatize with the lower level of oxygen. Let the sore legs heal while you enjoy a great view, yum food, and camp firing. Take some beautiful pictures and prepare yourself for the upcoming adventure.

Altitude: 4220 meters 

Today’s hike to 4220 meters takes your trekking experience to a new level. Walking on the narrow gorge, we carefully trace our way to Glacier camp. Look for the falling stones and listen to your guide. As per our Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek map, today’s the most tricky part of the trip.

Overnight in Glacier Camp

: 6 hours

Altitude: 4748 meters

Yes, this is what we have all been waiting for. We leave Glacier camp in the early morning and set our journey along the narrow ridge. The seven hours of walking in such rough terrain won’t be easy, but it’s also an exhilarating experience. Here, we can witness Dhaulagiri I at 8167 meters and other ranges, including Dhaulagiri II, III, and V; all of the above 7000 meters. Dhaulagiri Base Camp is a perfect place to set the camp.

Overnight in Dhaulagiri Base Camp

: 7 hours

Another great day for rest, right at the foothill of majestic Dhaulagiri. What could be better than a sunrise in the mountain; that is too visible from your tent? It’s the most beautiful view in the world. We enjoy our rest day with some dance and music, calling it a rest day.

Altitude: 5200 meters

This is a big day before us. We set a rough walk to the French pass at 5360 meters in the morning. This is the second-highest point of our trek. Although it’s challenging, the view of over a dozen peaks from the top will definitely be breathtaking. After some rest, we walk into the Hidden Valley. This valley lies between Tukche and Thapa Peak. We unpack at 5200m in sea level and call the day off.

Overnight camp in Hidden valley

: 6 to 7 hours

Altitude: 3700 meters 

And the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek keeps getting more exciting. Our plan for the day is to climb the Dhampus pass (Thapa peak), which is at 6,012m. We walk to the top of Thapa Pass, opening up more views of the mountains. The final part of the day is a relaxing walk to the Yak Kharka. This is where we join the classic Annapurna Circuit trek route. You will already see the landscape changing at 3700m above sea level.

Overnight camp in Yak Kharka

: 6 to 7 hours 

Altitude: 2700 meters

So, are you excited about the last day of your walk? We enjoy a warm breakfast in the tea house at Yak Kharka and then continue walking on the Annapurna circuit trail. Firstly, we enter the Mustang valley with a unique landscape. The colossal sand cliff and orange vegetation of Mustang is something you are gonna love.

: 4 -5 hrs