- Duration
- 18–21 days
- Grade
- Strenuous
- Accommodation
- Camping, with limited tea houses
- Itinerary
- 17 days
- Section
- Dolpo and Dhaulagiri
About the trail
Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek
- Key sites covered: Beni, Babiachor, Muri, Boghara, Dobang, Italian Base Camp, Dhaulagiri Base Camp, French Pass, Hidden Valley, Dhampus Pass, Jomsom
Highlights
- One of Nepal's most challenging and rewarding high-altitude adventures, encircling the Dhaulagiri range (8,167 m), the world's seventh highest mountain
- Remote, rugged terrain — deep gorges, high pastures, glaciers and snow-covered passes, including French Pass (5,360 m) and Dhampus Pass (5,244 m)
- Italian Base Camp (3,660 m) and Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,740 m), with views of Dhaulagiri I–V, and beyond French Pass the mystical Hidden Valley, an isolated plateau ringed by peaks
- Lowland Magar and Gurung communities at the start of the journey
- River crossings, moraine climbs and glacial walks for experienced trekkers, with chances of rare wildlife and alpine flora
Itinerary
Day by day
-
Day 01
Drive from Pokhara or Kathmandu to Beni (850m)
-
Day 02
Trek to Babiachor (950m)
-
Day 03
Trek to Dharapani or Muri (1,850m)
-
Day 04
Trek to Boghara (2,080m)
-
Day 05
Trek to Dobang (2,520m)
-
Day 06
Trek to Choriban Khola or Sallaghari (3,110m)
-
Day 07
Trek to Italian Base Camp (3,660m)
-
Day 08
Acclimatisation day at Italian Base Camp
-
Day 09
Trek to Glacier Camp (4,210m)
-
Day 10
Trek to Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,740m)
-
Day 11
Acclimatisation and rest at Dhaulagiri Base Camp
-
Day 12
Cross French Pass (5,360m) and trek to Hidden Valley (5,100m)
-
Day 13
Optional exploration or acclimatisation in Hidden Valley
-
Day 14
Cross Dhampus Pass (5,244m) and descend to Yak Kharka
-
Day 15
Trek to Jomsom (2,710m)
-
Day 16
Fly to Pokhara, or an extra contingency day
-
Day 17–18
Return to Kathmandu, by flight or road