- Length
- 18 days
- Highest point
- 5,360 m
- Difficulty
- Extreme
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Apr–May
- Starts
- Darbang (drive via Beni)
- Group size
- 2–10 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House / Camp
Circle the world's 7th-highest peak on Nepal's wildest camping trek — Italian Base Camp, Dhaulagiri Base Camp, two 5,200 m+ passes and remote Hidden Valley.
- Circle Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), the world's 7th-highest peak and the only 8,000er entirely within Nepal
- Cross two high passes above 5,200 m — the French Pass (5,360 m) and Dhampus Pass (5,240 m)
- Camp beneath the towering north face of Dhaulagiri at Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,750 m)
- Trek the wild Chhonbardan Glacier and remote, wind-swept Hidden Valley
- Experience a true tented wilderness expedition with a full camping crew
- Finish in the Thakali apple village of Marpha before flying out from Jomsom
- One of the most remote and committing trekking circuits in the entire Himalaya
The climb, day by day
Day 1Arrive Kathmandu (1,400 m)1,400 m
Arrive in Kathmandu, transfer to your hotel and meet your guide for a full expedition briefing and equipment check. The Dhaulagiri Circuit is a camping trek, so we confirm gear, permits and crew arrangements this evening.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- D
- Night
- Hotel
Day 2Drive Kathmandu → Beni → Darbang (1,180 m)1,180 m
Long scenic drive west through Pokhara and Beni, then a rough mountain road up the Myagdi Khola valley to the roadhead at Darbang. First night under canvas as the camping crew sets up the kitchen and dining tents.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- 8–9 hours (drive)
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 3Trek Darbang → Muri (1,850 m)1,850 m
Cross the suspension bridge over the Myagdi Khola and climb through terraced fields and Magar villages to the friendly settlement of Muri, with first glimpses of Dhaulagiri and Gurja Himal.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 4Trek Muri → Boghara (2,080 m)2,080 m
A demanding day of steep ups and downs along the river gorge, traversing landslide-prone slopes and forest before reaching the small village of Boghara perched above the valley.
- Distance
- 14 km
- Walking
- 6–7 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 5Trek Boghara → Dobang (2,520 m)2,520 m
Descend to the river and climb through dense rhododendron and bamboo forest, leaving the last permanent villages behind. Camp at Dobang as the valley narrows toward the mountains.
- Distance
- 13 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 6Trek Dobang → Sallaghari (2,820 m)2,820 m
Follow the Myagdi Khola deep into the gorge through pristine forest, crossing several streams. Sallaghari is a forest clearing camp surrounded by towering pines beneath the Dhaulagiri icefall.
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 7Trek Sallaghari → Italian Base Camp (3,660 m)3,660 m
Climb out of the treeline onto open moraine with the immense west face of Dhaulagiri towering ahead. Camp at Italian Base Camp, the gateway to the high glacier section.
- Distance
- 9 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 8Acclimatisation day at Italian Base Camp (3,660 m)3,660 m
An essential rest and acclimatisation day. Take a short hike to higher ground for views of the Dhaulagiri massif before returning to camp. Hydrate, rest and let your body adjust.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- 2–3 hours (hike)
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 9Trek Italian BC → Glacier Camp (4,210 m)4,210 m
Negotiate the lateral moraine and step onto the Chhonbardan Glacier — careful glacier travel with the crew along an icy, rocky route. Camp at Glacier Camp beneath seracs and avalanche-prone faces.
- Distance
- 7 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 10Trek Glacier Camp → Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,750 m)4,750 m
Continue up the glacier to Dhaulagiri Base Camp, set directly beneath the sheer north face of the eighth-highest mountain — an unforgettable, exposed high camp amid towering glaciers.
- Distance
- 6 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 11Acclimatisation day at Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,750 m)4,750 m
A second crucial acclimatisation day before the French Pass. Explore the base camp area, watch climbing teams on the north face and prepare for the high crossing ahead.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- 2–3 hours (hike)
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 12Cross French Pass (5,360 m) → Hidden Valley (5,140 m)5,360 m
The biggest day of the trek. A long, cold pre-dawn climb to the French Pass at 5,360 m — the highest point of the route — with sweeping views of Sita Chuchura, Tukuche and the Mukut Himal. Descend into the remote, wind-scoured Hidden Valley to camp.
- Distance
- 9 km
- Walking
- 7–8 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 13Hidden Valley exploration / contingency day (5,140 m)5,140 m
A reserve day held for weather on the passes, or to explore the stark beauty of Hidden Valley — one of the last truly remote camping basins in Nepal. If schedule allows, an optional acclimatised hike toward viewpoints.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- flexible
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 14Cross Dhampus Pass (5,240 m) → Yak Kharka (3,680 m)5,240 m
Climb to the Dhampus Pass at 5,240 m with a final panorama of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas, then a long, knee-testing descent down scree and grassy slopes to the grazing pastures of Yak Kharka.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 7–8 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camp
Day 15Trek Yak Kharka → Marpha (2,670 m)2,670 m
Descend through alpine meadows into the Kali Gandaki valley to the charming apple-orchard village of Marpha, with its whitewashed Thakali houses, monastery and famous local apple brandy. First tea-house night.
- Distance
- 13 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 16Trek Marpha → Jomsom (2,720 m)2,720 m
A short, easy valley walk along the Kali Gandaki to Jomsom, the windy district headquarters of Mustang. Celebrate the completion of the circuit and rest before the flight out.
- Distance
- 7 km
- Walking
- 2–3 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 17Fly Jomsom → Pokhara → Kathmandu (1,400 m)1,400 m
Early scenic mountain flight from Jomsom to Pokhara through the Kali Gandaki gorge, then connect by flight or drive to Kathmandu. Evening at leisure and a celebratory dinner with the team.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- B
- Night
- Hotel
Day 18Departure (1,400 m)1,400 m
Free time for last-minute shopping before your transfer to Kathmandu airport for your onward flight. A reserve day in Kathmandu is recommended in case of Jomsom flight delays.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- B
- Night
- –
The price includes
- ACAP permit and TIMS card
- Licensed, experienced English-speaking trekking guide
- Full camping crew — cook, kitchen helpers and porters
- All camping equipment — tents, dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent, mattresses
- All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) on the trek prepared by the trek cook
- 2 nights tea-house/lodge accommodation at Marpha and Jomsom
- All ground transport: Kathmandu–Beni–Darbang drive
- Jomsom–Pokhara and Pokhara–Kathmandu flights
- Airport transfers in Kathmandu
- Guide and porter insurance, wages, food and equipment
- First-aid kit, pulse oximeter and emergency oxygen
- All government taxes and official paperwork
You pay separately
- International airfare to/from Nepal
- Nepal entry visa fee
- Travel and high-altitude rescue insurance (mandatory, must cover helicopter evacuation above 5,000 m)
- Accommodation and meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Personal trekking gear and clothing (sleeping bag, down jacket can be hired)
- Tips for guide, cook and porters
- Drinks, snacks, hot showers and personal expenses
- Costs arising from early exit, flight delays or itinerary changes due to weather
- Anything not listed under Included
The Dhaulagiri Circuit is one of the most committing and rewarding treks in the entire Himalaya — a true wilderness expedition that loops around Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), the seventh-highest mountain on Earth and the only 8,000-metre peak that lies entirely within Nepal. There are no tea houses above Italian Base Camp, so the route is fully camping-supported: you travel with a licensed guide, cook and a full porter crew, sleeping in tents on glaciers and crossing two high cols — the French Pass (5,360 m) and the Dhampus Pass (5,240 m) — to descend into the otherworldly Hidden Valley.
From the roadhead at Darbang the trail climbs through Magar villages, deep gorges and rhododendron forest along the Myagdi Khola before breaking out onto the Chhonbardan Glacier beneath the colossal north face of Dhaulagiri. This is glacier travel in big-mountain terrain, and it demands real fitness, prior high-altitude experience and patience for weather. The reward is solitude almost unmatched in Nepal, an intimate camp beneath an 8,000er, and a high crossing into a hidden basin that few trekkers ever see.
A genuine expedition, not a tea-house walk
Because everything above Italian Base Camp is tented and self-supported, this is a logistically heavy, weather-dependent undertaking. We carry contingency days for snow on the passes and run a conservative acclimatisation profile with rest days at Italian Base Camp, Glacier Camp and Dhaulagiri Base Camp before tackling the French Pass.
Who this trek is for
The Dhaulagiri Circuit suits experienced trekkers who have already been comfortable above 4,500 m and want a remote, physically serious objective. Basic glacier-walking confidence helps, and you should be prepared for cold, simple camping and long days. In return you get one of the last great wilderness circuits in the Nepal Himalaya.