Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek

Today your guide will meet you and take you to the tourist bus bound for Pokhara.  It’s a long drive from the Kathmandu Valley and down along the Trisuli River until the road turns off towards Pokhara. 

There are some good stopping places along the way, and the scenery is interesting to watch out of the window.  

On reaching Pokhara in the afternoon, we exchanged the tourist bus for a public jeep or bus heading to Beni. You will overnight in a lodge in Beni in preparation for starting the trek proper the next morning.

Setting off today, we follow the Myagdi Khola (river) and pass through several small villages, suspension bridges, and terraced fields. There will be plenty of time to take in local life and explore the surrounding area before settling down for the night. 

After leaving the bustling town of Beni, you may be thankful to be away from vehicles and markets. 

The trail follows the Myagdi Khola River, crossing suspension bridges on the way.  Passing through small villages, you can see cultivated fields, which are very common at this low altitude. 

This is a lovely start to what will be, in places, a very challenging trek.  But today you can enjoy the culture of the settlements you pass through.

Today’s trek continues along the banks of the Myagdi Khola, offering a scenic and gradual ascent through charming terraced fields, dense subtropical forests, and traditional Magar villages. As you move deeper into the Dhaulagiri region, the trail remains lively with glimpses of rural Nepali life, children waving from hillside homes, water buffaloes grazing quietly, and farmers working the fields.

The path includes a mix of stone-paved sections, forested stretches, and a few suspension bridge crossings. You’ll gradually gain elevation as you reach the peaceful village of Dharapani (1,400 m), nestled on a quiet river bend surrounded by greenery and ridgelines.

Today, there are many more villages to see and enjoy until we reach Muri, a village inhabited by Magar people. On the way across the river again, ascend through forests to reach a ridge above. More river crossings and another bit of a climb bring you to the ridge where Muri is situated.  

After breakfast, it’s an uphill hike with views of the Dhaulagiri mountain range and the Myagdi Khola. You will pass through a number of river crossings and forests before reaching the ridge on which the village of Muri sits. 

This village is inhabited by Magar people who cultivate rice, wheat, maize, etc.  You may be interested to know that Magars are one of the earliest ethnic groups in Nepal.  There is plenty of time today to explore the village and observe how Magars live.

Today, we cross a low pass, from which we get great views of Mt. Ghustung South. The trail zigzags a bit, goes through pine and oak forests, and eventually takes you to Boghara. From the settlement of Boghara, lying above the terraced fields, are Dhaulagiri I and Gurja Himal, to name just two of the mountains you can see. 

As you stand atop a low pass today, expect a fantastic view of Mt Ghustung South. The trail winds through pine and oak forests and emerges into terraced agricultural lands, making the journey a little tougher, but it is still a wonderful hike through interesting countryside.

Although we are still below the tree line today, as we pass through more farming settlements, we note the changing terrain as a sign of the days to come.

Departing Boghara, head towards a ridge where the trail becomes rougher with ups and downs, yet there are still cultivated fields to be seen. 

The trail continues windingly until you come to a small clearing in the forest near Lipshe where you stop for lunch.  Then it’s another two or three hours of not very strenuous uphill until Dobang.

It is beginning to feel more isolated today, and as the altitude rises, you may also begin to feel its effects. 

There is another forest path to follow along the Myagdi Khola, and if you are lucky, we will pass some teashops that may be open – offering you the chance to have a cup of tea on the way.

From here, the area becomes more devoid of human settlements, so take advantage of the tea while you can! Crossing streams and more rocky terrain, you finally reach Choriban Khola, where you will camp for the night.

This is a tough day on the trek as you ascend around 500m / 1,312 ft in altitude.  On the other hand, it is getting very exciting! 

You get a great view of the Chhonbarban Glacier and views of the Dhaulagiri Massif and Tukuche Peak. The landscape is quite rugged now and you need to watch the loose rocks and scree under your feet as you make your way to the Italian Base Camp.

As you are about to go even higher in elevation over the next few days, it is extremely important to become acclimatized.  So today you stay at base camp to let your body do just that. 

Take the opportunity to explore the area with a short hike nearby. You can also rest, gossip, write your journal, or stare at the amazing views of the nearby peaks.

It is not entirely clear why it is called the Italian Base Camp. In 1973, an Italian Dhaulagiri expedition tried establishing a new south-facing route on Dhaulagiri. Although unsuccessful in summiting, perhaps this expedition lends its name to the base camp.

This is another amazing day filled with wonder, excitement, and a hard grind! You will walk through a glacial moraine, which may be slippery until you reach a flat area after what is known as the Swiss Base Camp.

You will see Chhongardan Glacier, some towering mountains, including Dhaulagiri and Manapathi Peak, and much more. 

After safely negotiating the narrow canyon-like trails and crossing the loose moraine, you finally reach Glacier Camp, where you camp for the night.  

Today is thrilling as you are going to camp under the Dhaulagiri massif itself.  The day starts by climbing up some steep moraine trails, with a magnificent view of Tukuche Peak. 

When the valley opens up between Dhaulagiri and Tukuche it is only a short hike further to base camp.  At Dhaulagiri Base Camp, prayer flags indicate many have reached before you.

Here, you will see Dhaulagiri I, II, III, and V! What a wonderful sight as you sleep and wake up in this open area under the mountains and the stars.

You get to spend another day soaking up these magnificent surroundings as you acclimatize for the big push into the Hidden Valley. Explore the base camp and get some fantastic photos and footage.

You are familiar with how the team set up the camp by now. All credit goes to those who can work so hard at this high altitude.

Today, it’s a big push over the French Pass to reach the Hidden Valley, so we breakfast well to give us enough energy for the day and set off quite early. 

The trail initially heads uphill, across the mountain’s flank, and over more glacier moraine.  Be careful when walking today. 

From the French Pass, the views are simply out of this world—Tukuche Peak, Dhaulagiri I, Tashi Kang, Sita Chuchura, and many more peaks are on display. Once again, prayer flags greet you on the pass. 

Then descend down to 5,200m / 17,060 ft of the Hidden Valley.  Here, camp is set up on a grassy area for the most likely coldest night of the trek.

To exit the Hidden Valley today, you must cross another pass, the Dhampus Pass at 5,240 m / 17,191 ft. Glaciers can still be seen as you cross the pass and down towards the Kali Gandaki Valley.  

As you near the small settlement of Yak Kharka you may see herds of yaks.  Yak Kharka actually means yak pastures! 

Although this settlement is still considered high altitude, you have dropped down over 1,000 m / 3,280 ft and may feel the benefit of that drop regarding breathing and warmth (well, less cold, at least).

Today, we are walking at a lower altitude as we head towards the famous village of Marpha on the main Annapurna Circuit Trek. You can now feel the difference at the lower altitude and enjoy the pine and rhododendron forests after the last few days of the rocky landscape. 

Marpha is famous for its apple orchards and its monastery. It is a very picturesque village with whitewashed houses and cobbled roads. Sitting on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River, this is certainly a great place to relax and stop for a while. 

The teahouses will have WiFi, so it is possibly your opportunity to catch up with the folks at home, too. Another highlight of this village is the apple brandy they make here. 

Trust us, while it tastes wonderful on your trek, if you buy some, you might find it is an acquired taste once you return home!

Today’s a long drive back down to Pokhara along a dusty but spectacular road.  Reaching Pokhara in the afternoon, please take some time to explore a little of this wonderful town. 

After the stillness of the mountains, you may feel busy and hectic. Now, you can celebrate with a beer, wine, or cocktail. You can also celebrate with a really long and hot shower!