Dhaulagiri Circuit(5,360 m)

Trek at a glance

Trek highlights

About this trek

An extremely adventurous journey around the massif of Dhaulagiri (8,167m), the world's seventh-highest peak. Remote, demanding, and largely off the beaten path, this circuit combines two high mountain passes, three legendary base camps, and some of the wildest scenery in the Nepal Himalaya — all wrapped around a full loop from Kathmandu, through Pokhara and the Myagdi District, and out through Mustang.

The Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is one of Nepal's most committing camping treks, threading through the remote Myagdi District west of the Annapurna range. It is not a trip for the uninitiated — the route demands solid fitness, stamina, and ideally some prior trekking or basic mountaineering experience — but for those who take it on, it delivers a true expedition-style journey through forests, glacial moraine, and windswept high passes.

After a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and a drive to Darbang, the trek proper begins along the Myagdi Khola, passing through Magar villages such as Dharapani, Muri, and Boghara before the trail turns increasingly wild and remote beyond Dobhan and Sallaghari. From here to Italian Base Camp and beyond, the trail leaves villages behind entirely — this stretch of the route is supported by tents and a trekking kitchen crew rather than teahouses, giving the trek the feel of a genuine mountaineering expedition.

Acclimatization days are built in at Italian Base Camp, Glacier Camp, and Dhaulagiri Base Camp before the trek's two big set-pieces: French Pass (5,360m), leading into the stark, high-altitude beauty of Hidden Valley, and Dhampus Pass (5,244m), which drops the route back down toward Alu Bari and, eventually, Marpha — a village worth savoring for its orchards and locally distilled apple brandy. From Jomsom, a short flight returns trekkers to Pokhara and on to Kathmandu, with a free day to explore the valley's temples and stupas before final departure.

A Note on Trek Style: Teahouse and Camping Combined

This is not a pure teahouse trek. Villages with lodges thin out beyond Sallaghari, and from Italian Base Camp through Glacier Camp, Dhaulagiri Base Camp, and Hidden Valley, the group sleeps in expedition-style tents supported by a dedicated cook and kitchen crew. Meals at these high camps are freshly prepared on the trail — porridge, eggs, and Tibetan bread for breakfast; dal bhat, pasta, noodles, and soups for lunch and dinner — with unlimited tea, coffee, and boiled water. There's no electricity at these camps, so a headtorch and spare batteries (or a small solar charger) are essential from the point, the trail leaves the last village until it reaches Marpha.

Permits

Two permits are required for this route:

• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) - approx. USD 25 per person, valid for the duration of the trek

• Dhaulagiri Restricted Area Permit — approx. USD 20 per person, per week (two weeks' worth required for this itinerary)

Both are arranged in advance using your passport and passport-sized photos and should be carried with you at all times — they're checked at entry points such as Beni and at intervals along the trail.