Dhaulagiri circuit trek comprises of two of the highest massifs in the world -Mt. Dhaulagiri 8,167m and Mt. Annapurna 8,091 m, which are equally beautiful and popular white-dove mountains. Trekking through these mountains is no less than a fantasy. The trekking area consists of massive mountain ranges of Dhaulagiri and fifteen mountains peak in the groups that stand at an altitude of 7000 m. We need to have the stamina, fit body, and spirit of adventure to complete the trek.
Nepal is the country that boasts the highest; sky-piercing mountains in the world. Having Majestic 8,000 m mountains here is no surprise at all. Mt. Dhaulagiri 8,167 m is one of the arduous Mountains with the picturesque view and stunning landmarks. The enchanting beauty of this mountain is enough to capture the heart of every visitor passing by. Dhaulagiri circuit trek in Nepal is once in a lifetime adventure to behold and cherish one of the most beautiful mountains in the world.
Dhaulagiri circuit trail passes through a wide range of climate, vegetation, and cultures than most small countries can boast in their entire country range. Get ready to be mesmerized by the lush vegetation of rain and temperate forests, arid rain shadow of Tibetan landscape contoured by winds, Hindu rice farmers, and the highland Buddhist dwellers. You will experience the radical changes in the landmarks and its people on a daily basis, or even hourly. On the trail, you’ll visit forests full of rhododendron, oaks, and pines.
This 23 days Dhaulagiri circuit trek takes you to the deepest gorge in the world between the two massifs of Dhaulagiri 8,167 m and Annapurna 8,091 m with only 35 km apart. This trail takes you to the strenuous mountain passes like French pass (5360 m) and Thapa Pass (5200 m), where you have to walk on the icy track. The beginning of March to the end of May and the beginning of September to November is the perfect time to explore these Magnificent Mountains and vivid landscapes with our Dhaulagiri circuit trek.
Trip Code
DCT22
Starts
Galeshwor
Finishes
Jomsom
Duration
23 Days
Difficulty
Very Hard
Group-Size
2 - 7
Age
Minimum 16
Seasons
Mar-May,Sep-Nov
Elevation
5350 m/ 17552.5ft
Trip View
5826
Activities
Trekking
Travel Style
Comfortable
Trip popularity
Special Discount
5 %
TRIP FACTS
The Nepalese name Dhaulagiri originated with its Sanskrit name dhawala giri, which translates to “beautiful white mountain".
This mountain was discovered by westerners in 1808 and considered the world highest mountain.
Dhaulagiri held the title of the highest mountain in the world for 30 years until 1838 when Kanchenjunga was declared the tallest.
The Swiss-Austrian team was the first to climb the white mountain in 1960.
Dhaulagiri now holds the title of the 7th highest mountain in the world.
Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek crosses through French Pass (5360 m)and Dhampus Pass (3680m).
The Dhaulagiri Circuit route was discovered in the 1950s by a French team, hence the French Pass was named after them.
Why this Trip
Trekking in Dhaulagiri is a wonderful experience that transports you to Beautiful Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range, lush vegetation of rain and temperate forests, arid rain shadow of Tibetan landscape contoured by winds, Hindu rice farmers, and the highland Buddhist dwellers.
Trip Notes
•We reserve the right to change and that the program may be reversed. Things can happen that make it impossible to meet them as planned. If any meeting or plan would not be feasible, we always try to find an equivalent alternative. In Nepal, you always have a plan B and C!
•What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible
•A trekking permit is a must to travel to controlled areas. Permit, however, is issued only to groups. Individual trekkers will not be issued trekking permit
This is going to be the first day of Nepal adventure. At the arrival section of Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, one of our representatives will be waiting with a placard-carrying your name on it. The airport representative will explain the program upon arrival and escort you to the hotel on a private vehicle. Overnight in Kathmandu.
On this day we will explore the city, where you get to see 7 out of 10 UNESCO listed world heritages. This will be as per your suitability where you want to visit. First, we will take you to Patan Durbar Square and then it's about your preference.
Next day, we pack our gears and equipment and fly to the city of lakes i.e. Pokhara. Pokhara is 20 minutes flight away from the Capital. Valley of Pokhara is enriched with beautiful lakes and scenic mountains. You can relax on the lakeside, visit pubs and restaurants, go city exploring in your spare time.
Right after breakfast, we head towards Galeshwor, where our trek will commence. Upon reaching our trek to Mauwa will start. On the trails, you’ll walk over fascinating suspension bridges and move through villages like Syalikhet, Patalikhet. Today our stay would be at Mauwa village.
After breakfast, today we start our trek towards the Chimkhola where we can see the beautiful sceneries and view of the mountain. On the way, we will pass the Tharbang and hot spring where you can take some rest and feel nature. About 7-8hrs trek from Mauwa we will reach today destination, Chimkhola.
Continuing the trek today we will go towards the Malkabang village. Malkabang is a populated locality in Dhaulagiri Zone. After 7-8 hrs trek and passing through the Kuinekhani we will reach our destination.
Today, the trek starts with the ascending trail that leads to Deurali Dhuri. After 7/8 hrs trek, we will reach to the beautiful settlement of Deurali Dhuri. From Deurali Dhuri, we can view the Dhaulagiri Mountain which will attract towards it and make us feel excited, good and amazing.
The trail descends from the Deurali Dhuri village entering streams and fields and again climbing a ridge to reach the pass from where you can see Mt. Ghustung South (6,465m). Descending to the Myagdi Khola and trekking along with its West Bank we reach the village of Naura from where we will climb a little before traversing into the grassy hill and climbing a steep slope with switch-backs. Then descending through a forest and terraced fields we reach Boghara (2,080m).
Initially, the trail descends through terraced fields to a small ridge, later through a forest to Jyardan which is the most remote village in this part. After crossing a rocky area which then descends before climbing again to Lipshe where there is one single hut. The trail continues through a forest to Lapche Kharka and then climbs to Dobang. Today the path is quite difficult and sometimes you might need to use ropes.
After finishing breakfast at Dovan we will leave that village and heads towards the Sallaghari. Crossing the Konaban Khola we go through the forest area and again from there, we will go down to the Myagdi Khola. Before we reach our destination we will cross the Pakite Khola which remain us to reach our destination of today.
On the way to Italian You need to walk through glacier moraine and snow, and in some places requires ropes to climb. You will have otherworldly experience as you walk through Chonbarden gorge. The trail passes through alpine forests and from the Base Camp (3,660m), you will have mountain panorama all around.
After the body is used to being in high altitudes, we now move towards Glacier Camp (4,200m) in the early morning. This Trail is prone to stone fall, which passes through a narrow gorge. The route involves risks and requires strength, but the surreal sceneries will pay off the effort. Today you stay overnight near the glacier.
You can either trek our way to Dhaulagiri Base Camp however it is necessary to adjust your body into the thin air of high altitude... As per the name, this place offers the views from a moraine ridge include that of Tukuche, little Eiger, and icefall from the northeast face of the mountain.
This is one of our adventurous days to Dhaulagiri base camp. From here you can look up at the impressive north face of Dhaulagiri I (8,167m) dominating the skyline to your right. Dhaulagiri is the tallest white mountain of Nepal. As the other peaks of the country have steeper slopes, ice does not accumulate as much as herein Dhaulagiri. As you reach the Base Camp, you will enjoy the unbeatable sceneries of Dhaulagiri II and IV as well as Tukuche. You will also see the trail that climbs towards the summit.
Another day is added for the acclimatization to the thin air and high altitude to be in the safe side. Explore the opportunity to Views awe-stricken scenery from this place.
After the rest at Dhaulagiri Base Camp, our trek resumes to Hidden Valley Passing through the French Col. we will require the climbing gears like an ice axe and crampons to continue the trek. We need to muster up the physical strength and mental composure for this is one of the toughest and most adventurous parts of the trek. Breathtaking sceneries will always follow us to relief from the strain. After the glacier, we climb two terraced hills, the first of which runs along the glacier, then cuts across the mountain flank and the moraine, we enter a gentle incline on the left from an ablation valley. Climb this gentle slope to the French Pass (5,360m). A great vista opens up from the French Pass and we will be able to see Mukut Himal (6,328m), Tashi Kang (6,386m) and Sita Chuchura (6,611m), all of which surround the Hidden Valley. To the south is Tukche Peak (6,920m) and beyond is the massive peak of Dhaulagiri I. From the French Pass we continue along the right edge of the Hidden valley losing a little altitude to the Thapa Pass (5,250m) between Tukche Peak and Thapa Peak (6,012m). Descending from the Thapa Pass we will make it to the camp at 5,200m.
This rest day is to absorb the sceneries of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri Himal in your cameras and mind. It further facilitates in acclimatization that is necessary to traverse the Dhampus Pass (5,240m) the next day.
The trail now descends from the Hidden Valley to the Alu Bari. Crossing the Dhampus Pass we traverse avalanche-prone slopes and then descend steeply to Yak Kharka. From there again we step down towards Alu Bari which is our overnight stay for today.
Trek further continues to the Marpha. Marpha is a very popular place for apples and apple wines. Today we will reach Marpha after 4hrs trek so we will have lunch in here and explore the whole area in the day time.
Trek further continues to the windy town of Jomsom. Explore the town inhabited by the Thakali People with their exquisite culture, cuisine and hospitality.
Flight from Jomsom to Pokhara is very rewarding. You can view the surrounding mountains and lakes of the Pokhara from the air. At Pokhara, you can spare a day and relax at the lakeside. We reach Pokhara in the morning leaving us enough time to reach Kathmandu by the evening. We take a 6hrs ride to Kathmandu via crossing many wonderful places like; Dumre, Khaireni, Mugling, Manakamana Cable car, Malekhu etc.
For nights in cities, we use standard/superior standard/deluxe rooms whereas, during the trek we use lodges/tea houses/guesthouses/home stay for our clients, and whatever is available and accessible. We also arrange sleeping bags for our clients, on their request.
We believe in operating small intimate group to provide personal attention and services to our guests. Small groups can enjoy the trek hassle free and enjoy the customized trip according to their will so we try to keep group as small as group of 14 but it can be increased with the special request of the clients.
Nepal is a safe country for anyone who wants to explore on their own although professional guidance is highly recommended by our team for the safety in remote mountainous lands.
Yes, Nepal can proudly boast as one of the safest countries in South Asia for women, you will find people very friendly and respectful especially towards women. Dhaulagiri is one of the most visited trekking areas in Nepal and in the world. In general, locals are very respectful and welcoming.
We make sure to take security measures during trek to make your trip delightful. We hire experienced and license holding guides to safeguard your life in mountains. We suggest you to follow the guide’s instruction carefully and take responsibility for personal belongings. Always keep your valued belongings near you and lock the door from inside during the night.
Dhaulagiri circuit trek is trekking region and mostly we spend our night at Camp. During Camping, our expert Camping cook prepare according to your wish, most of the time they will cook Dal Bhat (Rice, Lentils and Vegetables) as it is a great way to gain energy for the strenuous trek.
There are plenty of water stations on each stop on the route. You can easily fill up the bottle from the open taps. We recommend that you bring water purifier tablets with you or at least get it from Kathmandu before you depart for trekking. You can also buy mineral waters but we usually recommend tap water which is pure and it helps us not promoting plastic bottled water.
We use private car for sightseeing inside the Kathmandu Valley and transfer to Pokhara and Beni on car, van and deluxe minibus with A/C depending on the size of the group. We also drop and pick up from the starting and ending point of trek on private car or jeep.
Before coming to Nepal make sure that you are covered by insurance policy for the altitude of 5500 meters. In the case of an emergency like altitude sickness, dehydration or any medical conditions ask your tour leader/guide to contact us as soon as possible so that we can manage/arrange helicopter for the rescue. Then you will be transferred to hospital for the treatment.
Trekking is a tiresome activity that requires a lot of physical movement so pack your active wears and trekking pants for at lower altitudes. Weather at high altitude is unpredictable so carry a light weight waterproof jacket along with thick down jacket, pant and thermal innerwear t to escape severe cold. Needless to say that, Good shoes are very important for trekking in rough and snowy terrain, so invest on good quality shoes or rent it from us in a minimum price. As you are trekking in remote village try to wear modest clothes to quickly gel up with the local people without hesitation.
We contact the lodge/guesthouse owner for reservation of the room before trekking on a particular day. On other days, porters reach the destination on advance and book the rooms for you. But there are always going to be exceptions but even in those cases, we may have to be flexible about very basic sleeping arrangements. We always try to make sure that we have everything well arranged.
All our Guides are trekking experts holding license from Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Government. They are the most valuable assets of the company. Guides know the trekking route like the back of their hand and use their expertise in ensuring your safety in the mountains.
While trekking in higher lands you need to pay for charging the electronics upon request to the owner. The best idea always is to bring your power bank with you. It's easier and cheaper.
Whilst trekking in Dhaulagiri, you can make local and international calls from telephone provided by the guesthouse owner after paying the price directly.
Before coming to Nepal make sure you are covered for diphtheria & TB, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, malaria, typhoid, polio and tetanus. Make sure you are in best shape to complete the trekking without any complication.
Usually, we have to walk about 7-9 hours a day. But it should not be taken as certain thing. Because number of hours of walk really depend on client's speed. So it is really relative.
To confirm your booking, a deposit of 15% of total trip amount is required if you are booking at least a year in advance before trip departure date. If booking is made between 100-364 days before the trip departure, you'll need to pay 20% to confirm the trip. If payment is made between 99-60 days, 25% of the total trip amount will need to be paid and if booked between 59-30 days, 50% of the total trip amount needs to be paid and finally, if you are booking 29 days prior to trip departure, then 100% payment should be made. The payments can be easily made by the bank transfer. The due balance is payable on arrival in Kathmandu with cash (preferably USD/EURO) or card on POS/credit card machine. Please note that non refundable fee is 10% or $200 whichever is greater.
You have to carry your personal bags with water bottle and medicines remaining bags will be carried by porters to make you easy to trek. The weight limit for porters is 15 KG.
