Overview
Around Dhaulagiri trek is the adventurous journey circling the entire Dhaulagiri range which consists over fifteen peaks of over 7,000 meters. Dhaulagiri region is separated from the Annapurna region by Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest in the world. The trekking trail crosses two high passes – the French pass (5,240m) and the Thapa pass (5200 meters). The trekking trail offers majestic mountain views passing through remote valleys, ancient villages, alpine lakes, age-old monasteries, glaciers with abundant flora and faunas. Dhaulagiri Trekking starts from Beni with gradual ascend towards Babyachaur. The first few days of the trek passes through cultivated fields passing along some mountain villages before reaching to Doban. Then it tougher climb towards the Italian Base Camp, and Dhaulagiri Base Camp. Yak Kharka, Tukuche, Ghasa, Tatopani, Ghorepani, Tadapani, Ghandruk in between the routes. In due course, trekkers get to know the culture and traditions of the ethnic people. Trekking into the Dhaulagiri region is a taste of almost all the trekking regions that Nepal has to offer.
Outline Trekking Itinerary for Around Dhaulagiri Trekking
Day 01 : Arrive in Kathmandu
Day 02 : Kathmandu Sightseeing and trek preparation
Day 03 : Kathmandu to Beni (671m) 9-10 hrs bus ride
Day 04 : Beni to Babi Chaur (853m) 5-6 hrs
Day 05 : Babyachaur to Darbang (1800m) 5-6 hrs
Day 06 : Darbang to Takum (1830m) 5-6 hrs
Day 07 : Takum to Muri (1800m) 5-6 hrs
Day 08 : Muri to Boghara (2080m) 5-6 hrs
Day 09 : Boghara to Doban (2520m) 5-6 hrs
Day 10 : Doban to Italian Base Camp (3660m) 6-7 hrs
Day 11 : Acclimatization day in Italian Base Camp (3660m)
Day 12 : Italian Base Camp to Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4740m) 6-7 hrs
Day 13 : Dhaulagiri Base Camp to Hidden Valley (5025m) 5-6 hrs
Day 14 : Acclimatization day in Hidden Valley (5025m)
Day 15 : Hidden Valley to Yak Kharka (3680m) 5-6 hrs
Day 16 : Yak Kharka to Tukuche 5-6 hrs
Day 17 : Tukuche to Ghasa (2010m) 5-6 hrs
Day 18 : Ghasa to Tatopani (1190m)) 5-6 hrs
Day 19 : Tatopani to Ghorepani (2870m) 5-6 hrs
Day 20 : Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3210m) to Tadapani (2710m) 6-7 hrs
Day 21 : Tadapani to Ghandruk (1940m) 5-6 hrs
Day 22 : Ghandruk to Nayapul (1070m) to Pokhara
Day 23 : Drive or fly to Kathmandu
Day 24 : Transfer to the Airport for your onward destination
Trip Highlights
- Enjoy sightseeing at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites inside the Kathmandu City.
- Witness the spectacular views of the Dhaulagiri range consisting of fifteen peaks over 7,000 meters.
- Hike past Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest in the world
- Cross over two high passes - the French pass (5,240m/) and the Thapa pass (5200 meter)
- Visit the Italian Base Camp, and Dhaulagiri Base Camp
- Hike along roaring Himalayan Rivers, green countryside, alpine meadows, valleys, glaciers, age-old villages, ancient monasteries.
- Witness variety of floras and faunas.
- Get along with ethnic people and their culture.
Itinerary
After landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu from your designated destinations, you will be welcomed by a representative of the travel company at the arrival gate. After that, you will be transferred to your pre-booked hotel in luxury transportation. If time permits, you can wander around the streets of Kathmandu or can relax at the hotel to overcome your jet lag. O/N stay at hotel.
This day is reserved for sightseeing in the historic Kathmandu City. The day will start early as the weather is not a worry in the valley. After breakfast, you will be taken for a guided tour around the city. During this trip you will access the heritage sites like historical Durbar Square, and many more cultural and natural monuments. Also, you will visit the religious sites that include the sacred Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva named as Pashupatinath. Likewise, visits to Buddhist pilgrimage Swoyambhunath (famous by the name of Monkey temple among tourists), Boudhanath Shrine will be covered by the evening. On the day, we will set a seminar to discuss about the trekking plan. You will be introduced with your trek leader who will answer all you questions/queries regarding the expedition. O/N stay at hotel.
After your two days stay in the capital city, you will be driven towards Beni. During this 9-10 hours bus ride, you can see Trishuli River along the way. You will reach Beni, the District headquarters of Myagdi district during the evening hours. You can wander around the beautiful city known for enthralling spectators with its superb mountain views. O/N at Hotel.
The day will start with a hike toward Babi Chaur following a steep ascending trail. All kind of ethnic groups reside in the beautiful village. O/N at Lodge.
Leaving the beautiful village of Babi Chaur behind, you will start on a climbing route towards Darbang, a rich farmland village in the Myagdi district. O/N at Lodge.
On the day, the trek towards Takum will follow in the morning. While walking on the route you will come across snowy trails. O/N at Lodge.
The day’s walk will take you through some undulated trails crossing several villages to reach Muri village. From the village you can see the beautiful views of mountains. O/N at Lodge.
You will lead towards Boghara by trekking on forested path. The trails are somewhat flat with occasional ascend and descend until you reach to your destination. O/N at Camp.
On the day, you will take a descending route through scenic landscapes until you reach a forest. Passing the forest, you will reach a beautiful landscape. From here you will climb on a rocky area to reach Lapche Kharka. You have to keep on climbing until you reach Doban. O/N at Camp.
Getting to Italian Base Camp is little strenuous as you have to walk past some dense forest and river banks. The place is called Italian Base Camp because a group of Italians camped here for the first time as they could not move further due to some adverse weather. O/N at Camp.
The day is reserved for the acclimatization process. There is nothing much to do at the place, but you can relax all day long. Watching the amazing views of mountains from the site can make your day go faster. O/N at Camp.
This is a remarkable day of the trek as it leads towards the much anticipated place of the journey, the Dhaulagiri Base Camp. The trail towards the base camp gradually climbs until it reaches to the destination. It is worth a tough hike as you will enjoy the natural splendor of Dhaulagiri massif from the base camp site. O/N at Camp.
Descending from the Base Camp you will reach Hidden Valley after trekking through some snowy trails. The valley is comprised of unspoilt wild life and vegetation. This is where you can unleash your adventurous photographic passion. O/N at Camp.
The day is reserved for the acclimatization process. On the day, you can explore around the hidden valley and take some photographs. Likewise, you can witness variety of floras and faunas in the vicinity. O/N at Camp.
On the day, the tracks gently winds up offering inspiring views through terrains with juniper bushes and reaches Yak Kharka. O/N at Camp.
The journey starts on a plane trail for few hours. Afte that there is a steep descend that leads to Tukuche Village which is settled on the bank of Kali Gandaki River. O/N at Camp.
Leaving Tukuche behind, you will head towards Ghasa. The route crosses the Kali Gandaki River. You are expected to reach Ghasa before sunset. O/N at Lodge.
The day will start early as you will have to rush yourself to get to Tatopani in order to enjoy the relaxing hot springs. The route crosses the Kali Gandaki River on a suspension bridge and descends to Thapla, Kopchepani, Rupse and Chhahara. You will see some beautiful waterfalls all along the ways. After crossing Bhalu Khola on a suspension bridge the trail meets Guithe. You should reach Tatopani to enjoy the much awaited relaxing hot springs before sunset. O/N at Lodge.
The day to leave the amazingly gifted place of Tatopani, and walk towards Ghorepani. You will have to cross Kaligandaki River during the quest to reach Beni passing through villages named as Shikha and Phalate. Later, the trail gets forwarded through rhododendron and Mongolia forests to reach Ghorapani. O/N at Lodge.
From Ghorepani, the trek to Poon Hill is just an hour away. During the course of the trek, you have to pass through aromatic pine and rhododendron forests. Your trek will start few hours before sunshine as you are entitled to catch one of the most magnificent views of sunrise form Poon Hill. Along with the sunrise view, you can also get the eyeshot of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Himchuli and Machhapuchchhre mountains. After spending some good time at the magnificent hill, the trek heads towards Tadapani. You will reach the place to enjoy the view of sunshine. O/N at Lodge.
Leaving Tadapani behind, on the day, you will walk on descending trail towards Baisi Kharka. The route keeps on falling crossing some streams to reach Ghandruk, a beautiful village which is known for providing excellent views of Annapurna South. The village is also the headquarters of Annapurna Conservation Area Project. O/N at Lodge.
This is the final day of your trek as you proceed towards Nayapul. You will have ample time left in the day to go around Nayapul and explore the ethnic culture of the place. On the very day, you will return to Pokhara for an overnight stay. O/N stay at hotel.
You will have a choice to fly to Kathmandu or take road ways. Whatever means of transportation you chose you will be left with some time to go around the streets of the capital city for shopping. The day will give you the last chance to add up to your shopping list. O/N at Hotel.
As per your flight timings, you will be escorted by one of the representatives of Breakfree Adventures to the international terminal at the Tribhuvan International Airport approximately three hours before your flight schedule from your hotel in Kathmandu. A day to bid farewell to the glorious country situated in the South Asia. While waiting for your flight, you can make plans to venture other destinations of majestic country in near future.
We hope you had a lovely time with us. Breakfree Adventures would be obliged to be your travel partner during your next adventure in Nepal. Have a safe flight back home!
Cost
What is Included
- Airport pick up / drop off by private vehicle as per the itinerary.
- Accommodation in Kathmandu & Pokhara including breakfast as per the itinerary.
- Guided Kathmandu city tours inclusive of private vehicle and guide.
- Kathmandu - Beni & Nayapul - Pokhara by bus.
- Pokhara - Kathmandu by tourist bus (Option: Flight or private vehicle)
- Accommodation during the trek at Tent/Camp or guest houses/lodges.
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) during the trek.
- Experienced English speaking trekking guide and necessary porters (1 Porter for 2 trekkers) during the trek including their transportation, food, accommodation, salary, equipments and insurance.
- Dhaulagiri Permit & national park entrance fees.
- Trekker's Information Management System (TIMS) card fees. (Please bring 2 passport size photos for TIMS & Permit)
- First Aid medical kit.
- Duffle bag, down jacket, sleeping bag and walking pole.
- Breakfree Adventures T-shirt, trekking map and trip achievement certificate.
- Farewell dinner in Authentic Nepali Restaurant.
- All government taxes, VAT and office service charge.
What is Not Included
- Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
- Monuments entrance fees while sightseeing in Kathmandu.
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu if needed.
- Nepal entry visa fee (bring accurate USD cash and two passport photographs for faster service)
- International airfare and travel insurance.
- Personal expenses (phone calls, internet, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, hot shower etc.)
- Any kind of drinks (tea/coffee, hot chocolate, boiled water, bottle water, cola, beer etc.)
- Tips for guide, driver and porter.
Trip Information
We will provide you with comprehensive information on the every trek and tour we arrange. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require more information or have any questions, we are more than happy to assist you in anyway.
When to go:
Spring (February, March, April, May) and Autumn (October, November) are the best seasons for the Around Dhaulagiri Trekking. Trekking in summer/monsoon (June, July) will be affected by rain but summer trek could be a boon for a keen botanist. The trekking routes are crowded during spring and autumn but during monsoon and winter the routes are not packed and you could enjoy rather best of nature.
Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance is highly recommended and is in fact compulsory should you be going trekking, rafting, paragliding etc. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, helicopter rescue, loss of luggage, etc. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Please check with your insurance company that adventure activities and trekking above 3000m are covered in your policy, as some companies do not cover such things. You must carry proof of insurance (e.g. your insurance certificate) with you on the holiday; if you cannot provide this at the start of the holiday, you will be required to take out a suitable policy at that time.
Meals and Accommodation:
In Kathmandu, we normally use 3 stars hotel with breakfast but can upgrade upon request. During the Around Dhaulagiri Trekking, we provide the best available camping tents (twin sharing), kitchen equipment, toilet & dining tents. If you are travelling in a group, you will share a tent with someone else of the same gender from your group. If you prefer a single tent, you may indicate your preference on request and pay a supplement. So in this arrangement overnight halts will be as fully organized camping program.
We provide quality food in sufficient quantities (breakfast, lunch and dinner) on a set menu prepared by our experienced cook & kitchen staff. Although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, you should be aware that the menu is not normally extensive but it will be wholesome & nutritious with variety of rice and noodle dishes, as well as soup & seasonal vegetables. A variety of cereals, bread and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. You can ask your guide to fill your water bottle with boiled water and treat with water purification pills.
Fitness and Experience Required:
Our 24 days Around Dhaulagiri Trekking is strenuous trek suitable for passionate walkers who have ability to walk at least 5-6 hours a day with a light day pack. Walking in higher altitude is physically demanding than walking in the lower altitudes; however, if you are in excellent health with average physical fitness and have positive attitude, self confidence and strong determination, you can accomplish the 24 days Around Dhaulagiri Trekking successfully. Exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks prior of the trip are good idea to enhance your strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no technical skill is required for this trip. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood disease should inform us before booking the trek.
The Trekking Group:
For the Around Dhaulagiri Trekking, there will be one Guide, assistant Guide (6 trekkers: 1 assistant guide) and porter for luggage carrying (2 trekkers: 1 porter). This arrangement ensures that should anybody in the group is sick; the trip can still go ahead as planned. We can run the Around Dhaulagiri Trekking for group of any size, but generally have a maximum of sixteen people, as we’ve found this to be the optimum size for a successful trip. However, if you’d like to make a group booking for more than twelve people together, we can arrange this too.
Trekking Guides and Staff:
The most significant thing that makes your Around Dhaulagiri Trekking successful, enjoyable and memorable is the expert, experienced, courteous and helpful trek and Guide and the crew members who have ability of operating your days in the mountain smoothly. Your trip will be led by the best and most professional Guide. All of our Trekking Guides are carefully selected on the basis of their appropriate experience, Guiding skills and personal aptitude. With an objective of sustaining local communities Breakfree Adventures employs staffs who have plenty of knowledgeable about culture, flora and fauna, geography, and history of Nepal. Trekking Guide of Breakfree Adventures are also trained with following trainings to make them educated on potential medical issues during their trek, biodiversity and environmental issues, English language, etc:
Intensive Wilderness First Aid – KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Educational Project)
Trekking Guide Training – Nepal Governments Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation department of Hotel Management and Tourism Training Centre of Nepal
Eco Trekking Workshop and Adventure Meet TAAN (Trekking Agents Association of Nepal)
English Language – KEEP (Kathmandu environment education project)
Conservation and Biodiversity TAAN
Rock, Ice Climbing and Mountaineering (Climbing leaders) Nepal Mountaineering Association
Our Trekking Guides obviously speak English sufficient enough to communicate but please consider this is not our mother language. The guides and porters know the routes and locality like the back of their hand, they practice the local culture themselves and they are extremely passionate about their country and its cultural aspects.
Climate and Weather:
The climate of Nepal is as varied as its geography. The low-lying Terai has a sub-tropical monsoonal climate. The Himalayan foothills, where most of our treks take place, are best in the cool dry season from September to May. The traditional trekking season in Nepal is late September to December, with October and November generally recognized as having the best weather. Spring is also a popular time of year with warmer weather and the advantage of seeing spring flowers and rhododendrons in bloom. The visibility is good and days are pleasantly warm, although nights can be cold, and snow is possible above 3,000 meters.
Himalayan weather can be unpredictable where nights are generally cooler and days warmer. It’s a bit colder during the winter season (Jan to Feb) but days can be quite warm and lovely if the sun is shining. You can expect a bit of snow in the months of January/February and December. Expect the unexpected! The temperature could be as high as 20 deg C to -15 deg C low.
Safety and Security:
Security and safety are a high priority of our company however there are risks associated with adventure travel, that you should consider before booking .Our trip operators constantly monitor their areas of operation and will cancel or re-route a trip if they feel a destination is unsafe. The decision to travel to a particular country or region is a personnel one.
Responsible Travel
Breakfree Adventures is a leading trekking and travel agency with dedicated travel Professionals who are well trained to give you the best of what Nepal has to offer. Our professional team follows a social philosophy that accepts responsibility for the local people and the environment in which we work. We respect the natural environment and the culture of our country, and we help travellers from around the world discover the natural beauty and cultural treasures of Nepal. We know that responsible travel tries to minimize the impact of tourism on the environment and maximize employment and income-generating opportunities for local communities. The whole of Nepal, including those living in remote rural areas that have very few other opportunities for development, benefits from sustainable tourism.
Breakfree Adventures is passionate about preserving the environment. As responsible tour guides in Nepal, we strive to maintain a symbiotic relationship with the local communities through which we travel. While trekking to different destinations, we choose environmentally- friendly lodges that respect the needs of their staff members. We take care of our staff as well as our valued clients. During our treks and other trips, we follow a zero garbage policy (“pack in, pack out”) and leave nothing behind in the campsites. We always welcome your feedback and comments regarding responsible travel, so please send an e-mail to let us know what you think.
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