Himalaya Safety Treks
Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek -
18
/Days
Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek
The 18-Day Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is one of the most physically demanding wilderness and high-pass expeditions in the Himalayas. Encircling the colossal massif of Mount Dhaulagiri (8,167 m)—the White Mountain—this remote expedition climbs through the dense sub-tropical forests and river gorges of the Myagdi Khola before breaking out onto active glacial moraines. After setting up high-altitude camps on the rubble and ice of Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,748 m), you will cross the glaciated ridge of French Pass (5,360 m) to enter the wind-swept, uninhabited plateau of Hidden Valley. Crossing Dhampus Pass (5,240 m), the route descends into the Kali Gandaki Valley to Marpha and Jomsom.
Availability
Includes
What's Included
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit and TIMS Card
- One-way domestic flight ticket (Jomsom to Pokhara) including airport taxes
- Private 4WD ground transportation (Kathmandu/Beni – Darbang & Pokhara – Kathmandu)
- Full expedition team: Government-licensed high-altitude guide, professional wilderness cook, kitchen crew, and porter support
- All accommodation (teahouses on lower sections & complete tented camping infrastructure for 8+ days on glaciers)
- All three daily meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) prepared by your expedition cook
- High-altitude mountain camping gear (four-season tents, foam mattresses, dining tent, kitchen equipment, toilet tents)
- Emergency satellite phone support, medical oxygen bottle, pulse oximeter monitoring, and full staff insurance
What's Not Included
- International airfare and Nepal tourist visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance covering emergency high-altitude helicopter rescue up to 6,000 meters
- Hotel accommodation and extra meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara outside the set itinerary
- Hot showers, Wi-Fi, and electronic device charging fees at lower teahouses
- Personal trekking and climbing gear, microspikes/crampons, minus-20°C sleeping bag, and staff tips
Itinerary
Follow our carefully planned Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek itinerary, designed with proper acclimatization and comfortable trekking days throughout the journey.
Depart Kathmandu early morning along the Prithvi Highway to Pokhara, continuing westward along the Kali Gandaki valley to the bustling district headquarters of Beni. Transfer to your hotel for an expedition safety briefing, final gear check, and team introductions.
Day 1
Take a 4WD vehicle along the rugged dirt track along the Myagdi Khola to Darbang, the traditional gateway to Dhaulagiri. Meet your porter and kitchen crew, cross the suspension bridge, and begin walking through terraced rice fields and Magar agricultural hamlets to reach Dharapani.
Day 2
Follow the winding river trail through subtropical valleys, passing traditional stone houses and bamboo groves. Cross the Dhara Khola on a suspension bridge and tackle a steep uphill switchback climb through terraced fields into the large, historic Magar village of Muri, with views of Dhaulagiri I and Gurja Himal.
Day 3
Descend stone steps through terraced fields to the Dhora Khola riverbed. Cross the river and follow the narrowing Myagdi gorge along cliffside paths carved into vertical rock faces. Ascend through dense subtropical forest and terraced crops to reach the small riverside settlement of Boghara.
Day 4
Leave the last permanent human settlements behind as the trail plunges into uninhabited wilderness. Walk through dense subtropical rain and cloud forests filled with bamboo, oak, and rhododendron. Traverse rocky streams, muddy trails, and narrow gorge shelves to pitch camp at the forest clearing of Dobang.
Day 5
Climb steadily through ancient pine, bamboo, and birch cloud forests draped in moss. The Myagdi Khola rushes furiously through the canyon below. Cross wooden log bridges over glacial streams and ascend through the thinning forest to set up camp in the pine clearing of Sallaghari.
Day 6
Break out of the forest canopy into the sub-alpine zone. The trail follows the lateral moraine of the Myagdi Glacier, climbing through alpine scrub directly in front of the colossal west face of Dhaulagiri. Arrive at Italian Base Camp, surrounded by sheer rock ramparts and hanging glaciers.
Day 7
Spend a crucial acclimatization day adapting your body to the thinner atmosphere. Take a morning hike up the rocky lateral moraines toward the Chhonbardan Glacier for dramatic views of Mount Dhaulagiri II, III, and V, then return to camp to rest and hydrate.
Day 8
Navigate carefully through the narrow, rocky gorge known as the 'Swiss Gully' or 'Glacier Valley' beneath towering ice walls. The route crosses loose moraine scree and traverses directly onto the ice-and-rubble surface of the Chhonbardan Glacier to pitch tents at Glacier Camp.
Day 9
A steady, slow ascent walking directly over the rolling hummocks of the Chhonbardan Glacier moraine. Surrounded by ice seracs and sheer glacial walls, arrive at Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,748 m), situated directly beneath the immense 8,167-meter north face of Dhaulagiri I.
Day 10
A mandatory high-altitude rest day before crossing the pass. Explore the glacier terrain, watch ice avalanches cascading off the north face from a safe distance, practice crampon footwork with your climbing Sherpa guide, and rest early for the high pass push.
Day 11
Depart before dawn across the frozen glacial moraine. Climb steep snow and scree switchbacks to reach the prayer flags marking French Pass (5,360 m). Enjoy a 360-degree vista of Dhaulagiri I, Sita Chuchura, Tukche Peak, and Mukut Himal. Descend into the vast, untouched arctic desert of Hidden Valley to establish camp on the frozen tundra.
Day 12
A built-in buffer day in Hidden Valley to account for high-altitude weather disruptions or snow conditions. Trekkers feeling strong can take a non-technical scramble up the slopes of Dhampus Peak (approx. 5,500 m) for sweeping views into the Mustang basin.
Day 13
Traverse the gentle rolling tundra of Hidden Valley to ascend the snow slopes of Dhampus Pass (5,240 m). Take in panoramic views across the Kali Gandaki Valley toward the Annapurna massif and Nilgiri. Begin a long, steep 1,500-meter scree descent down into the alpine grazing meadows of Yak Kharka.
Day 14
Descend the steep hillside trail through pine and juniper woods down into the whitewashed, stone-paved Thakali apple town of Marpha. Celebrate with fresh apple pie and cider, then follow the flat Kali Gandaki riverbed north to the airstrip hub of Jomsom for a celebratory hot shower.
Day 15
Board a morning flight from Jomsom down the Kali Gandaki gorge between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna to Pokhara. Transfer to your lakeside hotel in Pokhara for an afternoon of boating, massages, and relaxation.
Day 16
Transfer to Pokhara Airport for a 25-minute flight or take a scenic drive along the highway back to Kathmandu. Meet our vehicle for private transfer to your hotel.
Day 17
Enjoy a relaxed day in Kathmandu for sightseeing and shopping in Thamel before transferring to Tribhuvan International Airport for your international departure flight.
Day 18
Things To Know
Requires an Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit and TIMS Card. Maximum elevation reaches 5,360 m at French Pass. This is a full camping expedition above Italian Base Camp: no permanent lodges exist in the upper glaciated sections or Hidden Valley. Trekkers must be in peak physical condition with experience using microspikes/crampons on snow slopes.
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