Dhaulagiri High Pass Trek

Location: Kathmandu

Kathmandu Altitude: 1345 Meters

Accommodation: Hotel

On the first day of the Dhaulagiri High Pass Trek, trekkers will embark on a flight to Kathmandu. Trekkers will reach Tribhuvan International Airport from their home country. The officials from Peak Climbing Nepal will welcome trekkers and onboard them with a drive to our office in Kathmandu.

After the small meet and greet program, trekkers will be escorted to their respective hotels, where they will stay their first overnight in Nepal.

Location: Pokhara

Altitude: 822 Meters

Accommodation: Hotel

Drive Duration: 5 to 6 Hours

The next day, trekkers will start their day early in the morning with a light breakfast. After that, trekkers will be escorted to the bus park via the company’s bus. After completing the ticketing process, we will embark on a scenic drive to Pokhara, which takes around 5 to 6 hours.

On the way, we will traverse the countryside locations in Dhading and Tanahun district, which offers the scenic vistas of green hills, Trishuli River, Marshyangdi River, green terraced fields, and snow-capped peaks. Similarly, the waterfalls at some points and the busy towns will also excite the excitement of this drive. Upon reaching Pokhara, we will be escorted to our respective hotels.

Location: Tatopani

Tatopani Altitude: 1268 Meters

Elevation Gain: 446 Meters

Trek Time: 4 Hours

Today, we will embark on a three-hour drive from Pokhara to Beni. We will return following the same trail until we reach a diverting roadway to Beni and Aarughat. From there, we will drive straight to Beni and rest for some time before starting our trek.

From Beni, we will embark on a short trek today and reach Tatopani, where we will stay overnight. We will traverse several settlements, including Babuwa, Tallo Singa, and Singa, and then push our hike for the next hour to reach Tatopani.

Tatopani is a natural hot water spring, one of the resting points in the Manaslu and Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek. We will stay at a tea house tonight, enjoying a shared bathroom and bedroom.

Location: Dharapani

Dharapani Altitude: 1860 Meters

Elevation Gain: Trek Time: 5-7 Hours

Today, we will start our day early in the morning with breakfast and head straight towards Dharapani at 1860 meters above sea level. First, we will reach Darbang, a remote village rich in local culture and tradition. From there, we will continue our hike towards Dharapani.

We will pass through many Chhetri and Gurung Villages before we reach a suspension bridge. After crossing a suspension bridge over Myagdi Khola, we will gradually ascend towards Dharapani. Tonight, we will stay at a tea house.

Location: Muri

Muri Altitude: 1850 Meters

Elevation Loss: 10 Meters

Trek Time: 6-7 Hours

On the fifth day of the Dhaulagiri High Pass Trek, we will start our journey from Dharapani. After the early trail passing through terraced rice and wheat fields, we will enjoy scenic landscapes and picturesque mountain ranges. As we hike uphill alongside the Dhara Khola, we will cross a suspension bridge and gradually ascend towards Muri Village.

Muri Village is a Magar settlement which is rich in traditional culture. Traditions like Ghyaatu Dance and honey hunting are some of the major attractions of this village.

Location: Boghara

Boghara Altitude: 2080 Meters

Elevation Gain: 230 Meters

Trek Time: 6-7 Hours

After we wake up on the sixth day of Dhaulagiri High Pass Trek, we will journey towards Boghara at 2080 meters above sea level. The trail that starts from Muri Village is steep and mostly uphill. It then passes over the Muri Khola via a suspension bridge.

After crossing a suspension bridge, we will hike through the bamboo forest and farmhouses. As we hike through the valley, the green vegetation widens and opens a clear space to view the magnificent peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. We must hike for the next few hours to reach Boghara, where we will be accommodated at a tea house.

Location: Dobang

Dobang Altitude: 2500 Meters

Elevation Gain: 420 Meters

Trek Time: 6-7 Hours

From Boghara village, our next destination is to reach Dobhang, which lies 2500 meters above sea level. To reach there, we will start our journey from the west bank of the Myagdi River. The remote trail takes us through the subtropical forests before reaching Lipshe.

From Lipshe, we will continue our trek towards the traditional settlements of Gurung and Magar village through the dense forests. We will then catch a trail towards Dobhang and reach there by the evening.

Location: Sallaghari

Sallaghari Altitude: 2820 Meters

Elevation Gain: 320 Meters

Trek Time: 5-7 Hours

Today, we will embark on a trek of around 5 to 7 hours. Our trek starts early in the morning from Dobhang, taking us to Sallaghar at 2820 meters above sea level. The trail passes through the dense rhododendrons and bamboo forests and crosses over Myagdi Khola. We must cross a suspension bridge, and after that, we will follow the trail that leads us to Sallaghari.

We will catch a trail from the east bank of the Myagdi Khola before diving into the lush green forest. After a few hours, we will finally reach Sallaghari and stay overnight at a tea house.

Location: Italian Base Camp

Italian Base Camp Altitude: 3660 Meters

Elevation Gain: 840 Meters

Trek Time: 5-6 Hours

On the ninth day of the Dhaulagiri High Pass Trek, we will reach Italian Base Camp after 5 to 6 hours of trek. We will catch a trail that passes through the dense forest of rhododendron, pine, and birch trees. Later, the landscape opens to the lateral moraine, which can be reached after around 2 to 3 hours of uphill walking.

From there, we will head towards Italian Base Camp, enjoying the views of green hills and valleys. We can also have stunning views of Mount Dhaulagiri and other subsidiary peaks from the Italian Base Camp.

Today is the day for rest. As we have already reached over 3500 meters above sea level, we must acclimatize to adjust our bodies. Also, the trek has already been ten days, so we will be physically exhausted. To revive our body and energy, we must rest and acclimatize.

There are several ways to acclimatize; some of them are:

• Gradual Ascent.
• Ascent high and sleep at a lower altitude.
• Proper diet and nutrition.
• Enough sleep and rest.
• Hydration

Location: Glacier Camp

Glacier Camp Altitude: 4200 Meters

Elevation Gain: 540 Meters

Trek Time: 6-7 Hours

Glacier Camp, our next destination from the Italian Base Camp, is among the most beautiful and challenging destinations. It lies between the Italian Base Camp and Dhaulagiri Base Camp. The trail is uphill and physically & technically challenging, so trekkers are recommended to prepare enough to reach there successfully.

The trail to Glacier Camp starts with a steep, slightly technical notion. It then descends steeply down towards the glacier, and after crossing the glacier, we will reach the left side of Chonbarden Gorge.

A narrow trail begins from the Chonbarden Gorge, which leads us towards the Glacier Camp.

Glacier Camp is 4200 meters above sea level, where we will find thin air with low oxygen levels. Similarly, the air pressure is high at such high altitude locations that our body cannot adapt quickly. So, we must acclimate at Glacier Camp before making our ascent toward Dhaulagiri Base Camp.

Trekkers are recommended to make a gradual ascent, focusing on hydration and nutrition. Similarly, trekkers must have enough rest and sleep, which is the sole reason for acclimatizing at Glacier Camp. We will accommodate a tent, so providing sleeping bags, pads, and thermal clothes is necessary.

Location: Dhaulagiri Base Camp

Dhaulagiri Base Camp Altitude: 4700 Meters

Elevation Gain: 500 Meters

Trek Time: 5 Hours

After retrieving our energy from acclimatization, we will embark on a 5 hours trek to Dhaulagiri Base Camp. The trail is simply challenging, and trekkers require technical climbing skills at some part. Technical climbing skills are essential since the trail is covered in ice and glaciers.

The Chongarden Glacier lies above the trail of Dhaulagiri Base Camp, and the slowly moving ice sheets cover the whole trail. So, trekkers must use the ice axes, poles, and crampons for a successful ascent through the moving glacier.

After a few hours, we will reach Dhaulagiri Base Camp, where we can get magnificent views of Mount Dhaulagiri, Dhaulagiri II, III, V, and Mukut Himal.

It is the third acclimatization day during our Dhaulagiri High Pass Trek. We will follow the standard acclimatization guidelines to energize our body and adapt to the high altitude.

High-altitude locations like Dhaulagiri Base Camp are prone to altitude-related illnesses, such as AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema), and HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema). So they must be very careful while embarking on this trek. Some trekkers even use a medicine called ‘Diamox’ to avoid altitude sickness.

Location: Hidden Valley

Hidden Valley Altitude: 5050 Meters

Elevation Gain: 350 Meters

Trek Time: 8-9 Hours

Day 15 is one of the longest treks in the Dhaulagiri High Pass Trek – trekkers must hike for around 8 to 9 hours to reach the Hidden Valley from Dhaulagiri Base Camp. We will start our trek from the left of the upper Chonbarden glacier and continue to climb through the steep lateral moraine ridge. We can have stunning views of Dhaulagiri I and Tukuche Peak from here.

After that, we will reach one of the high-altitude passes, the French Pass, at 5360 meters. One of the soothing experiences while traversing this pass is that we can have the insights Buddhist Prayer Flags around the area, and the soothing breeze makes it more spicy.

As we descend towards the Hidden Valley, we can have the views of Dhaulagiri 8167m, Tukuche Peak 6920m, Mukut Himal 5970m, Sita Chuchura 6611m, and Tashi Kang 6386m. We will embark on a few hours trek to reach the Hidden Valley at 5050 meters above sea level.

After spending quality time at the French Pass, we continue our trail by descending through moderate snow slopes. After a long descent, we follow the trail that leads to the hidden valley.

As we reach the Hidden Valley from French Pass, we will set a free exploration day on the sixteenth day of Dhaulagiri High Pass Trek. There are several options to utilize this day, out of which one can be hiking to the western ridge to have the sights of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Nilgiri Himal.

For the information, Hidden Valley is also the starting point for climbing Dhampus Peak. Tonight, we will accommodate at a tented camp.

Location: Yak Kharka

Yak Kharka Altitude: 3680 Meters

Elevation Loss: 1370 Meters

Trek Time: 7-8 Hours

On the seventeenth day, we will start our journey early in the morning after breakfast. We will then prepare to descend towards Yak Kharka at 3680 meters, which takes around 7 to 8 hours to reach.

But the interesting thing is that we must traverse Dhampus Pass at 5240 meters to reach our destination. Dhampus Pass is one of the best viewpoints to view mystic peaks like Dhampus Himal, Dhaulagiri, and others. After crossing the pass, we will traverse through the Kali Gandaki Valley.

As we descend through the steep and rugged trail, we will reach Yak Kharka. Having a pair of sturdy hiking boots is recommended since the trail is very remote.

Location: Jomsom

Jomson Altitude: 2670 Meters

Elevation Loss: 1010 Meters

Trek Time: 5-6 Hours

Today, we will reach Jomsom, one of the most beautiful towns in Nepal, at 2670 meters. First, we will journey to Marpha Village, the Apple Garden. The village is rich in Himalayan Nepali Apple, which is very famous. From there, we will catch a trail that heads towards Jomsom.

Jomsom is one of the windiest places in Nepal, so having windproof clothes is a must. Upon reaching Jomsom, we will be accommodated at a tea house overnight.

On the nineteenth day, we will catch a flight from Jomsom to Pokhara; the flight takes us above the dense forests around the Jomsom and Kagbeni region and then above the soaring streams. We can have bird-eye views of peaks like Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and many others from the flight.

After around 20 to 30 minutes, we can reach Pokhara Airport.

After reaching Pokhara, we can delve into the beauty of Pokhara, which involves sightseeing activities around Phewa Lake, Mahendra Cave, Davis Falls, International Mountain Museum, and Bat Cave.

After a successful end of the Dhaulagiri High Pass Trek, we will return to Kathmandu on a drive. Reaching the Capital City of Nepal takes around 5 to 6 hours. Upon reaching Kathmandu, we will be escorted to our respective hotels by the officials of Peak Climbing Nepal.

Our representative will drop you at the International Airport per your flight schedule.