Dhaulagiri region · Camping and lodge trek
Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek
- Trek
- Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek
- Trek type
- Camping and Lodge Trek
- Duration
- 18 days
- Program starts/ends
- Darbang / Jomsom
- Trek difficulty
- Strenuous
- Maximum elevation
- 5,360 m
- Walking duration
- 4–7 hours
- Group size
- 1–6 people
- Best season
- Apr–May · Sep–Nov
- Accommodation
- Lodges and tents
- Transportation
- Jeep and flight
- Permits
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card
From $2,950 for 1–2 People
Book this trekOverview
The Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is one of Nepal's wildest and most demanding treks. It takes you right around Mt Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), the world's seventh-highest mountain, from the green Myagdi valley up the Chhonbardan Glacier, over two high passes, and down into the deep Kali Gandaki gorge.
The first days follow village trails through Magar villages such as Darbang, Muri and Boghara, where you sleep in simple lodges and homestays. Above Dobang there are no villages, so we run a full camping trek: our crew carries the tents and kitchen and cooks all your meals. You reach Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,740 m) below the mountain's huge north face, cross French Pass (5,360 m) into the empty Hidden Valley, and cross Dhampus Pass (5,240 m) before descending to Marpha and Jomsom.
This trek is for experienced, fit trekkers who have already walked above 4,500 m. Days on the glacier are rough and cold, and snow can close the passes. In return you get some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Nepal and almost no other trekkers.
Related treks: the Upper Mustang Trek, the Annapurna Circuit Trek and the Makalu Base Camp Trek.
Highlights
- Walk all the way around Mt Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), the world's seventh-highest mountain
- Stand at Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,740 m) below the mountain's huge north face and icefall
- Cross two high passes: French Pass (5,360 m) and Dhampus Pass (5,240 m)
- Camp in the Hidden Valley, a wide, silent valley at 5,050 m with views of Tukuche Peak and Sita Chuchura
- Magar villages of the Myagdi valley, and Thakali Marpha, famous for its apples
- Very few other trekkers: a true wilderness camping trek
- Trek with purpose: a licensed guide, fair wages and insurance for every crew member, and a share of every trip fee for community projects
Itinerary
A. Outline Itinerary
- Day 1 1,400m
- Day 5 1,565m
- Day 9 3,110m
- Day 13 4,740m
- Day 14 5,050m
- Day 17 820m
- Day 18 1,400m
| Day | Description | Altitude (m) | Net Gain/Loss (m) | Duration (hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Kathmandu | 1400 | - | - |
| 2 | Kathmandu: permits and preparation | 1400 | 0 | - |
| 3 | Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara | 820 | -580 | 6-7 by road |
| 4 | Drive from Pokhara to Darbang | 1110 | 290 | 5-6 by jeep |
| 5 | Trek from Darbang to Dharapani | 1565 | 455 | 5-6 |
| 6 | Trek from Dharapani to Muri | 1850 | 285 | 5-6 |
| 7 | Trek from Muri to Boghara | 2080 | 230 | 6-7 |
| 8 | Trek from Boghara to Dobang | 2520 | 440 | 5-6 |
| 9 | Trek from Dobang to Sallaghari | 3110 | 590 | 5-6 |
| 10 | Trek from Sallaghari to Italian Base Camp | 3660 | 550 | 4-5 |
| 11 | Acclimatization day at Italian Base Camp | 3660 | 0 | 2-3 |
| 12 | Trek from Italian Base Camp to Glacier Camp | 4200 | 540 | 5-6 |
| 13 | Trek from Glacier Camp to Dhaulagiri Base Camp | 4740 | 540 | 4-5 |
| 14 | Cross French Pass (5,360 m) to Hidden Valley | 5050 | 310 | 6-7 |
| 15 | Cross Dhampus Pass (5,240 m) to Yak Kharka | 3680 | -1370 | 6-7 |
| 16 | Trek from Yak Kharka to Marpha, drive to Jomsom | 2720 | -960 | 4-5 |
| 17 | Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara | 820 | -1900 | 25 min flight |
| 18 | Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu | 1400 | 580 | 6-7 by road |
B. Detailed Itinerary
Itinerary
- Altitude: 1,400 m
- Walking: None
Our team meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and takes you to your hotel in Kathmandu. In the evening, meet your guide for a short briefing about the trek, the camping days and the gear you need.
- Altitude: 1,400 m
- Walking: None
We arrange your Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card today. Use the free time to visit Swayambhunath or Patan Durbar Square, and to hire or buy any missing gear in Thamel, such as a warm sleeping bag and microspikes.
- Altitude: 820 m
- Walking: None (6 to 7 hours by road)
A tourist bus or private car takes you west along the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers to Pokhara, Nepal's lake town. On a clear evening you see Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Machhapuchhre from the shore of Phewa Lake. Overnight in a hotel.
- Altitude: 1,110 m
- Walking: None (5 to 6 hours by jeep)
A jeep takes you via Baglung and Beni, where the Myagdi Khola meets the Kali Gandaki, up the Myagdi valley to the village of Darbang. Your camping crew meets you here. Overnight at a simple lodge.
- Altitude: 1,565 m
- Walking: 5 to 6 hours
The trail crosses the Myagdi Khola and climbs through terraced fields and Magar villages. From the ridge you get your first view of Dhaulagiri I and Gurja Himal. Overnight at a lodge or homestay.
- Altitude: 1,850 m
- Walking: 5 to 6 hours
You walk past Takam and Sibang, through millet fields and small forests, to Muri, a large Magar village on a sunny shelf above the river, with views of Dhaulagiri and Gurja Himal. Overnight at a lodge or homestay.
- Altitude: 2,080 m
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
The trail drops to the Myagdi Khola and then climbs along steep, narrow paths high above the gorge, with waterfalls and terraced fields. Boghara is the last proper village on the trail. Overnight at a lodge or camp.
- Altitude: 2,520 m
- Walking: 5 to 6 hours
You enter thick forest of oak, rhododendron and bamboo, passing the small settlement of Lipshe. Dobang is a forest clearing with a few huts. From here on you sleep in tents and your crew cooks all meals. Overnight in camp.
- Altitude: 3,110 m
- Walking: 5 to 6 hours
Cross to the west bank of the Myagdi Khola and climb through pine and rhododendron forest past Choriban Khola. The views of Dhaulagiri's huge west face open up. Overnight in camp at Sallaghari.
- Altitude: 3,660 m
- Walking: 4 to 5 hours
The forest thins out as you climb onto open moraine. Italian Base Camp sits on a grassy terrace below the north face of Dhaulagiri, with Tukuche Peak and the Dhaulagiri glaciers all around. Overnight in camp.
- Altitude: 3,660 m
- Walking: 2 to 3 hours (short hike)
A rest day to help your body adjust before you go higher. Take a short hike up the moraine for views of Dhaulagiri I, II and III, and practise with microspikes if there is snow. Your guide checks the route ahead. Overnight in camp.
- Altitude: 4,200 m
- Walking: 5 to 6 hours
The hardest walking of the trek: you descend to the Chhonbardan Glacier and follow it upstream past rockfall areas, which you cross early in the morning. Your guide sets the pace. Overnight in camp on the glacier moraine, sometimes called Japanese Base Camp.
- Altitude: 4,740 m
- Walking: 4 to 5 hours
Continue up the glacier to Dhaulagiri Base Camp, a rocky shelf facing the north face of Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m) and its icefall. You may hear avalanches thundering down at night. Overnight in camp.
- Altitude: 5,050 m (high point 5,360 m)
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
An early start for the climb to French Pass, the high point of the trek. From the top you see Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak, Sita Chuchura and the wide, empty Hidden Valley below. Descend into the valley. Overnight in camp, the coldest night of the trek.
- Altitude: 3,680 m (high point 5,240 m)
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
Cross the Hidden Valley and climb to Dhampus Pass, then make the long, steep descent towards the Kali Gandaki valley, with the Annapurnas and Nilgiri ahead. Overnight in camp or a simple lodge at Yak Kharka.
- Altitude: 2,720 m
- Walking: 4 to 5 hours, then 30 minutes by jeep
Walk down to Marpha, a whitewashed Thakali village famous for its apples and apple brandy. Say goodbye to the camping crew and drive a short way up the valley to Jomsom. Overnight in a lodge, with a hot shower at last.
- Altitude: 820 m
- Walking: None (25-minute flight)
An early morning flight down the Kali Gandaki gorge, between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, back to Pokhara. Free afternoon by Phewa Lake. If the flight is cancelled by wind, we take you by jeep (about 7 to 8 hours). Overnight in a hotel.
- Altitude: 1,400 m
- Walking: None (6 to 7 hours by road)
Drive back to Kathmandu, or take the 25-minute flight. Your guide drops you at your hotel. End of the trek.
Permits for this trek
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000 per person. The trek ends in the Annapurna Conservation Area at Marpha and Jomsom.
- TIMS card (Trekkers’ Information Management System): about NPR 2,000 per person.
Dhaulagiri is not a restricted area, but since April 2023 foreign trekkers must walk with a licensed guide through a registered agency. We arrange all your permits through our registered agency (TAAN no. 1597) before the trek. Please send us a copy of your passport and 2 passport-size photos. Fees can change, so we confirm the current amounts when you book. Want to know how your price is worked out? See how we price your trek.
How to Get to the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek
The trek starts in Darbang in Myagdi district and ends in Jomsom in Mustang. Both are reached from Pokhara.
- Kathmandu to Pokhara: a 6–7 hour tourist bus (about US$25) or a 25-minute flight (about US$120).
- Pokhara to Darbang (trek start): 5–6 hours by jeep via Baglung and Beni. This jeep is included in your price.
- Jomsom to Pokhara (trek end): a 25-minute morning flight (about US$130). Flights are often delayed by wind, so we keep a spare day. The road option is about 7–8 hours by jeep.
Cost and Price Details
The Price Includes
- A licensed, English-speaking guide: daily wages, food, accommodation and insurance
- Porters (one for every two trekkers) and a camping crew (cook and helpers): wages, food, equipment and insurance
- Tents, sleeping mats, kitchen and dining tent for the camping days (Days 8 to 15)
- Three meals a day with tea and coffee on the camping days (Days 8 to 15)
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card for each trekker
- Jeep from Pokhara to Darbang
- A contribution to our community projects in Sankhuwasabha
- 25% agency service charge, including government tax
The price does not include
- International flights
- Nepal visa (currently US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days)
- Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Bus or flight between Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Flight from Jomsom to Pokhara (about US$130 per person)
- Food and lodges on Days 4 to 7 and 16 (paid directly to lodges and homestays)
- Travel and medical insurance, including helicopter rescue (required)
- Personal expenses: drinks, hot showers, charging, laundry, sleeping bag hire
- Tips for your guide and crew
- Costs caused by events outside our control, such as flight cancellations, snow on the passes, landslides or strikes
Lodges, homestays and camping
On the village days (Darbang to Boghara, and Marpha and Jomsom at the end) you sleep in simple lodges and homestays and pay for your food and room directly, so 100% of that money stays with local families. Budget about NPR 3,500 per person per day.
From Dobang to Yak Kharka (Days 8 to 15) there are no villages. Our crew carries tents, a kitchen and food, and cooks three meals a day. These camping days are included in your price.
Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek Cost: Your Full Budget
Our package is US$2,950 for 1–2 trekkers. It covers your guide, porters, the camping crew, tents and kitchen, camping meals, permits and the jeep to Darbang. For a bigger group, ask us for a price.
Here is a full budget for one person in a group of two, so you know the real total before you book.
| What | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| MAST trek package (guide, porters, camping crew, tents, camping meals, permits, jeep to Darbang): US$2,950 shared by 2 | about US$1,475 |
| Food and lodges on the village days: about NPR 3,500 a day for 5 nights | about US$130 |
| Flight Jomsom–Pokhara | about US$130 |
| Bus Kathmandu–Pokhara and back | about US$50 |
| Tips for your guide and crew | about US$150–200 |
| Total for one person (group of 2) | about US$1,935–1,985 |
Trekking alone? Your package is US$2,950, so your total is about US$3,410–3,460.
Not included in this budget: international flights, Nepal visa, hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, sleeping bag hire, and travel insurance with helicopter rescue.
Your Guide and Crew
Your guide is licensed, speaks English and has crossed French Pass and Dhampus Pass before. On the camping days a cook and helpers look after the tents and meals, and porters carry up to 15–20 kg each (one porter for every two trekkers). Every crew member is paid a fair wage and insured, and has proper boots and warm clothes for the passes.
Altitude and Fitness
This trek sleeps at 4,740 m and 5,050 m and crosses passes at 5,360 m and 5,240 m. You should have trekked above 4,500 m before and be fit enough to walk 6–7 hours a day on glacier moraine and snow. Our itinerary includes an acclimatization day at Italian Base Camp. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water, and tell your guide straight away if you have a headache, nausea or dizziness. Travel insurance with helicopter rescue up to 6,000 m is required.
Best Time for the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek
The best time for the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is spring (April–May) and autumn (late September–November).
| Months | What to expect | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Mar–May (spring) | Longer days, rhododendrons in the lower forest; snow on the passes in March | Best in April–May |
| Jun–Aug (monsoon) | Rain, leeches and landslides in the Myagdi valley; clouds hide the mountains | Avoid |
| Sep–Nov (autumn) | Clear skies, the best mountain views, cold nights at Hidden Valley | Best time |
| Dec–Feb (winter) | Deep snow and very low temperatures; French Pass is usually closed | Not possible |
Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek Map
FAQs
General
It is one of the hardest treks we offer. You walk on glacier moraine for two days, cross two passes above 5,200 m and sleep at 5,050 m in the Hidden Valley. You should have trekked above 4,500 m before, be very fit, and be comfortable walking on rough, cold ground with microspikes.
Both. Days 4 to 7 use simple lodges and homestays in the villages. From Dobang (Day 8) to Yak Kharka (Day 15) there are no villages, so our crew carries tents and a kitchen and cooks all your meals. These camping meals are included in the price.
18 days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu, with 12 walking days, one acclimatization day at Italian Base Camp, and drives and a flight at the start and end. We can add a spare day for bad weather on the passes, which we recommend.
April to May and late September to November. In winter (December to February) the passes are usually blocked by snow, and in the monsoon (June to August) the lower trail is wet and slippery with leeches and landslides.
Our package price is shown in the booking box. It includes your guide, porters, camping crew, tents, camping meals, permits and the jeep to Darbang. You also pay for food and lodges on the village days, the Jomsom–Pokhara flight, and hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara. See Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek Cost: Your Full Budget above for the full total.
The Annapurna Conservation Area permit (NPR 3,000 per person) and a TIMS card. Dhaulagiri is not a restricted area. We get both permits for you in Kathmandu; please send a copy of your passport and 2 passport photos.
No. Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in Nepal must trek with a licensed guide through a registered agency, and on this route a guide and crew are essential for safety on the glacier and passes.
A four-season sleeping bag (rated to about -20°C), a down jacket, waterproof shell, warm gloves and hat, good boots, gaiters, trekking poles, microspikes and sunglasses. We provide the tents, mats and kitchen. You can hire a sleeping bag and down jacket in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Yes. You sleep at 4,740 m and 5,050 m and cross 5,360 m. The itinerary has an acclimatization day at Italian Base Camp and climbs slowly. Your guide checks how you feel every day and will take you down if needed. Travel insurance with helicopter rescue up to 6,000 m is required.
There is phone signal in the lower villages and from Marpha down, but none on the glacier and passes. Your guide carries a phone and can call for help from the nearest point with signal. Charge your devices in the villages and bring a power bank.
Yes. We can add spare days, a private jeep from Kathmandu, extra days in Marpha or Jomsom, or combine it with the Upper Mustang Trek. Contact us to plan it.
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