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Dhaulagiri Trekking

Dhaulagiri High Trekking ::

Location : Asia, Nepal, Dhaulagiri base camp, French pass, Hidden valley
Minimum altitude : 1100m.
Maximum altitude : 5200m.
Grade : Strenuous
Season : Spring & Autumn
Accommodation : Tented Camp
Duration : 20 Days
Entry and Exit Point: Beni and Pokhara

Overview:

Dhaulaghiri was climbed first in 1960 by an international team under the leadership of Max Eiselin, Lucerne. Since I happen to know some of the team members personally, my description concentrates mainly on this ascent. But in this Overview chapter, I try to inform about the present situation.

Dhavali giri is Sanskrit and means white mountain. It is located in the west central part of Nepal. On the altitude scale it is number 7 and it is almost the last 8000er to be conquered. The way of the first ascent is the normal route of today. There are however two main possibilities to reach the base camp. Both ways start from south at the small town of Beni (860 m) which can by reached by bus from Pokhara and Kathmandu.

The eastern valley is called Kali Gandaki and was chosen by the French expedition in 1950. Today there is even an airport at Jomosom (2700 m) in this valley. On the west side of this valley is Dhaulagiri, on the east side is Annapurna. The alternative route is the Mayanghdi valley, which was discovered by a Swiss expedition one year later. Today there are commercial trekking tours that climb on one side, reach the base camp and come back through the opposite valley. But there also organized tours that try to reach the summit.

 
Itinerary:
 

Day: 01 Upon arrival to Kathmandu airport, transfer to hotel, rest of time free leisure. overnight Hotel.


Day: 02 Drive from Kathmandu to Beni (830m.) by bus which takes about ten and half hours.

Day: 03 Trek from Beni to Maldhunga (1300m.) which takes about six hours. Start Soon the rough rubble gives way to the smooth ice of the white part of the glacier. You climb steadily to the rough and chilling but spectacular Dhaulagiri Base Camp.

Day: 04 Trek from Maldhunga to Darbang and it takes about five and half hours. This day you trek gently ascend for early one hour passing through jungles with varieties of oaks, rhododendron and so on. You can hear the chirping of the local birds then your trails follow quite flat land passing through stream at one place. The way you trek is muddy road crossing villages at some of the places. Darbang is a small village mainly inhabited by Magar and Limbus. There is a beautiful camping site. You can find small local shops with minimal supply.

Day: 05 Trek from Darbang to Takum which takes about five hours.
This day also you trek ascend through narrow path for early one hour. Now you go along the flat land passing through jungle with varieties of rhododendrons, oaks and Christmas trees at some distance. After you cross a small stream, your trails suddenly begin to follow ascend path until you reach Takum. There is a government school before you enter Takum, a small village. Here you camp behind the school located in central Takum. You find a Hindu temple where the villagers go to submit their offerings.

Day: 06 Trek from Takum to Muri and it takes about six hours.
You start trekking to descend trails for early one hour passing through jungle. Then you follow steeply ascent path and before you approach Muri you pass along the flat land until you reach Muri. This is a small village mainly inhabited by Gurung and Rai, one of the ethnic communities of Nepal. There are situated beautiful hotel offering attractive services to tourists guests who visit this particular area. You are here quite captivated by a Buddhist monastery.

Day: 07 Trek from Muri to Baghar (2080m.). Descend a gentle slope, and cross a rocky stream. Descend a path amid terraced fields to Dhora khola. Cross the river and climb to the right up the mountainside to Ghorban dhara. The view from this pass is fine, for the first time you can see Ghustung south (6465m). Follow the right bank path past Naura where you begin to ascend the mountainside. After climbing for a short while, take a path that traverses the steep grass-covered hill. The Myagdi khola assumes a steep-walled V-shape as the traverse ends and a high, winding path climbs the steep, grassy slope. The steep slope will not tolerate any missteps but the path is well-constructed with a great number of zigzag stone step paths. At last the long climb ends, and you enter a traverse to the right-here you must also beware of falling into the gorge of the Myagdi khola. Soon you descend through a forested area, emerging to a ridge snout where bagara (2080) is visible. Descend through terraced fields to this mountain village where you camp in people's yards or the terraced fields.

Day: 08 Trek from Baghar to Dobang (2520m.) and it takes about five hours. Here you leave the villages behind and the trial becomes increasingly challenging.

Day: 09 Trek from Dobang to Upper Vungini or Italian Base Camp (3660m.)

Day: 10 Rest day for acclimatization

Day: 11 Trek from Upper Vugini (Italian Base Camp) to Glacier Camp and it takes about four hours.
After crossing the first glacier, probably using a rope in a couple of tricky spots, you climb onto the main glacier. The surroundings are spectacular which makes up for the rough and dangerous trail. You may also use a rope on this section. This is a particularly tough day. You camp on the glacier rubble.

Day: 12 Trek from Glacier Camp to Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4740m.) which takes about five hours. Soon the rough rubble gives way to the smooth ice of the white part of the glacier. You climb steadily to the rough and chilling but spectacular Dhaulagiri Base Camp.

Day: 13 Trek from Dhaulagiri Base Camp to French Col (5010m.) - Hidden Valley and it takes about four hours.
Getting off the glacier above the base camp often requires rope climbing. Once over the steep moraine walls we reach gentler, less strenuous country. After a breathless climb to the top of French Col (5300m,) the views of Hidden Valley open out. The broad valley is reminiscent of Tibet and Ladakh and so are the temperatures (at least -20ºC at night).

Day: 14 Trek from Hidden valley (5200m.) to Yak Kharka (3680m.) and it takes about seven hours. You traverse avalanche-prone slopes and then take on the steep descent to Yak Kharka. This day you trek through bare land for some distance.

Day: 15 Trek from Yak Kharka to Marpha (2670m.) which takes about five hours. More steep descent leads to Marpha. The way is not much covered with trees. En route you can see some yak herds and sheep herds as well. Marpha is a small town mainly inhabited by the mixed community of Buddhist and Hindus as well. You can a visit a monastery. In and around the monastery, you can see the many walls and prayer flags hanging.

Day: 16 Trek from Marpha to Kalopani (2530m.) which takes about six hours. Your trail stretches at almost flat level through forests to Kalopani, a Thakali village and the southern-most limit of Tibetan Buddhism. En route, you find Larjung which is situated near Dhaulagiri Glacier. The first part of the trek passes through the windy area covered with pine forests, rhododendron forests and birches are seen. At Kalopani, you are quite amazed at the panoramic view of Annapurna I (8091m.), Dhaulagiri I (8167m.) and Tukuche peak (6920m.).

Day: 17 Trek from Kalopani to Tatopani (1189 m.) which takes about six and half hours. The trail descends steeply upto Rukse Chhahara (Rukse Waterfall) which is amazing to look at. There is situated the deepest gorge of the world between two mountains Annapurna I (8091m.) and Dhaulagiri I (8167m.) facing each other near Rukse Waterfall. The trail again descends slightly to Tatopani through different human settlements. You can enjoy the hot spring at Tatopani as the word Tatopati is termed after the natural hot spring situated at the bank of the Kali Gandaki river. It is popularly believed that taking bath in Hot Spring helps you to get rid of skin diseases. Along this, it gives you physical and mental refreshment as well.

Day: 18 Trek from Tatopani to Beni and it takes almost five hours and drive from Beni to Pokhara by bus which takes four and half hours.

Day: 19 Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist mini bus that takes about seven hours. While driving from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you head up to Damauli, Dumre, Muglin and Kurintar where the Nepal's first Cable car is operated to reach to Manakamana Temple. En route, you could enjoy the mountain views, green sceneries, rice terrace fields, vegetable fields and people being engaged in their daily life activities. From Naubishe you climb up to Thankot, the gateway to capital city. You can also fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu which takes about 25 minutes. evening farewell dinner, overnight at Hotel.

Day: 20 Final departure, Transfer to airport flight onward.

Incuded on Cost
  • All ground transfers as per our itinerary. (Airport-Hotel-Airport).
  • Accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Twin Sharing, Bed and breakfast basis inclusive of all Tax)
  • Farewell Dinner with Live Nepalese Cultural Program.
  • Fully organized camping trek arrangement (Including all high quality camping equipments like two men tent, dinning tent, kitchen tent, tables, chairs, mattresses, hot water bags, pillows and other utensils).
  • Three times meals a day while trekking, which will be prepared by our very professional kitchen crew (eg. bed tea, breakfast, tea, coffee, lunch, tea / biscuits, dinner).
  • Annapurna Conservation Area Entrance Fees and dhaulagiri trekking permit.
  • Guides, porters and their daily wages, insurance with all necessary lodging - fooding arrangements.
  • Ghale Treks service charge and taxes.
Cost Does Not Includes
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
  • Personal travel insurance.
  • Items of personal nature such as bottled drinks (mineral water, any cold drinks, and alcoholic drinks) whilst on trek.
  • Expenses of personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, bar bills, tips, etc.
  • Airfares and airport departure taxe as applicable.
  • Nepal Visa fee.
 
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