Dhaulagiri circuit is a wild region for trekking. Dhaulagiri circuit is Remote and vast and this is the perfect area to show the wide range of vegetation and wildlife inhabiting this area of Nepal that most do not take the time to go and explore.
Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is situated in the mid-western part of Nepal and provides a stunning panoramic view of Mount Dhaulagiri, the seventh-highest mountain in the world, with other majestic peaks surrounding it.
Dhaulagiri trekking goes around Mount Dhaulagiri and over the French Pass (5,360m) and Dhampus Pass (5258m) which are the highest pass of the trek. So this trek is suitable for those looking for some Greater adventures out in the wild.
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How do you get to the trailhead of Dhaulagiri circuit trekking?
You can choose different options to get to the trailhead of the Dhaulagiri circuit treks in which you can drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu which takes about 6 hours to reach. Then it's another drive to Darbang (1180m) via Beni bazaar which is as far as you can drive nowadays.
But if you want to make it quicker to the trailhead. You can take an early morning flight to Pokhara which takes about 30 minutes and drive to Darbang village via Beni Bazaar which saves one day.
Dhaulagiri circuit trek route
The journey for the Dhaulagiri circuit trek begins reaching Darbang (1180m) for the first night of the trekking journey. Darbang was once a small village and now turned into a small marketplace due to road access. After the Darbang trek go onwards to Sibang (1770m) and to Naura (2500m) on our second and third night of the trek which passes through local villages and farmlands.
After this, the trek continues gradually to Dobang (2520m) and the Italian base camp (3660m) for another two nights. At the Italian base camp, we take an acclimatization day before heading on to a higher elevation. Now our trek has already entered into less vegetation and more into moraine terrain.
Now our trek goes onwards to the Japanese base camp (4200m) before heading to Dhaulagiri base camp (4740m) where again we take another preparation day. Today we climb the nearby hill which provides an excellent view of the Dhaulagiri mountain range and the moraine valley.
Here on our trek enter into a more desolate area of the mountain valley. So, we pass through the rugged moraine trail and on the glacier which continues to the highest point of the Dhaulagiri circuit trek, French pass (5360m), and camps down to the hidden valley (4900m) for the night. The trek continues through another high pass of the trek of Dhampus pass (5258m) and long descends to Yak Kharka (4036m) for another night.
Leaving yak Kharka the trail continues to descend and join the famous Annapurna trail at Marpha(2667m). It is one of the beautiful Thakali villages in the lower region of Mustang which has a monastery as well. The Marpha trek follows along the Kaligandaki River to Jomsom (2736m) from where we take a flight to Pokhara on the following day to finish the trek.
Required permits and fees for Dhaulagiri circuit trekking.
TIMS CARD (trekking information management system) costs $10 US dollars per person for organized trekkers and $20 US dollars each for independent trekkers.
"Annapurna conservation area entrance fee" which costs 3000 rupees for each trekker as at the end of the trek we meet at Annapurna conservation area.
What not to forget to bring for the Dhaulagiri circuit trek?
This trek falls in remote and higher mountain areas which often remain cold during the night and morning, so bring the proper trekking gear for dealing with the coldest mountain weather.
Proper medical first aid kit also must things as there are not any medical facilities until you Jomsom. You also need to bring a water purifier as there are no options to buy bottled water or Purified water.
Microspikes that fit your trekking shoes are another thing to bring as it is handy to walk in icy places.
This trek lies in one of the remote regions of Nepal and there is no teahouse along the trail even if you find some, these are the most basic. So, there are not many options besides staying in tents at least for 4-5 days. Besides this, you also need to suffice with supplies to eat if you are on your own.
Best time of Year to Do Dhaulagiri circuit trekking
Autumn season (September October November). The beginning of September and till mid-November is the best to do the Dhaulagiri circuit trek.
Things to be noted is, on this trek, we have to only rely on Tent accommodation on higher ground. So the Late November or after that is not recommended to do this trek as it gets a lot colder and things start to freeze even if it is good weather. So, this might be a huge challenge with the cold.
Spring season (March, April, May). This is considered to be the best time of year for the Dhaulagiri circuit trek as the weather is relatively warmer all these months and you can enjoy beautiful rhododendron blossoms during the trip.
