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Dhaulagiri base camp trek - 21 days
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Separated from the Annapurna region by the Kali
Gandaki the Dhaulagiri massif includes more than
30 peaks over 6000 meters, eight of these
surpassing 8000 meters. The area around Tansen
is home to the Magar people and capital of the
independent kingdoms to become part of Nepal.
From Dhorepatan the panorama of the Annapurna
and Dhaulagiri ranges is exceptional and this
remote area is home to communities of Tibetan
refugees who search the area for minerals and
medicinal plants.
There is a long, difficult trek around
Dhaulagiri (8167m.) that starts from Beni on the
Kali Gandaki. Follow the Myagdi Khola westwards
to Darbang and turn north on a tiny trail that
leads through forests into the high country.
Much of the route is on snow and glaciers as it
crosses French Col (5240m.), traverses the head
of Hidden Valley and crosses 5155m Dhampus Pass.
The trek ends with a steep descent to Marpha and
a return to Pokhara, either via the Kali Gandaki
valley or over the Ghorepani ridge for a
panoramic view of the entire Dhaulagiri massif.
Facts of the Trek
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Duration: 21 Days
Trek type: Tea House
Max Altitude: 4750 m.
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Minimum Pax: 1 +
Mode of travel: Land
Grade: Moderate
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Itinerary in Detail
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Day 01 : |
Fly Kathmandu to Pokhara(915m.) by tourist mini
bus and drive to Baglung.
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Day 02 : |
Trek from Pokhara to Maldhunga (1300m.) which
takes about 5 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.
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Day 03 : |
Trek from Maldhunga to Darbang and it takes
about 5 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.
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Day 04 : |
Trek from Darbang to Takum which takes about 5
hours.
This day also you trek ascend through narrow
path for early one hour. Now you goes 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.
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Day 05 : |
Trek from Takum to Muri and it takes about
6 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 community
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.
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Day 06 : |
Trek from Muri to Bagar which takes about 4
hours.
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.
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Day 07 : |
Trek from Bagar to Dovan and it takes about 5
hours.
Here you leave the villages behind and the trial
becomes increasingly challenging. The whole
trails is quite steeply ascent through thick
jungles providing you the opportunity to observe
the flora and fauna of the area. If you are
lucky, you can encounter different species of
monkeys.
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Day 08 : |
Trek from Dovan to Upper Vungini (Italian Base
Camp) which takes about 6 hours. Passing through
the beautiful forest you rapidly gain altitude
and mountains burst out all around.
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Day 09 : |
Upper Vungini (Italian Base Camp)
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Day 10 : |
Trek from Upper Vugini (Italian Base Camp) to
Glacier Camp and it takes about 4 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. we may also use a rope on this
section. This is a particularly tough day. you
camp on the glacier rubble.
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Day 11 : |
Trek from Glacier Camp to Dhaulagiri Base Camp
which takes about 5 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.
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Day 12 : |
Trek from Dhaulagiri Base Camp to French Col -
Hidden Valley and it takes about 4 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).
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Day 13 : |
Hidden Valley camp 5000 m.
A rest day to admire the surrounding peaks and
does some local exploring.
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Day 14 : |
Trek from Hidden Valley (5200 m) to Yak Kharka
and it takes about 7 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.
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Day 15 : |
Trek from Yak Kharka to Marpha which takes about
5 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.
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Day 16 : |
Trek from Marpha to Ghasa and it takes about 6
hours.
Your trail descends steeply through forests to
Ghasa, the last Thakali village and the
southern-most limit of Tibetan Buddhism. The
beginning part of the trail is stretched at
almost flat level up to Kalopani and then your
trail begins descending steeply to Ghasa. The
first part of the trek passes through the windy
area covered with pine forests, rhododendron
forests and birches are seen. The surrounding
area of Ghasa is famous destination for bird
watching and wild Marijuana. Here you are quite
amazed at the panoramic view of Mount Nilgiri
North (7061m.), Nilgiri Central (6940m.),
Nilgiri South (6839m.),Annapurna I (8091m.),
Dhaulagiri I (8167m.) and Tukuche peak (6920m.)
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Day 17 : |
Trek from Ghasa to Tatopani which takes
approximately 5 hours.
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Day 18 : |
Trek from Ghorepani to Tadapani
Wake up early morning and climb up to Poon hill
from where you can see Dhaulagiri range to
Mustang range. During the Sun rise panoramic
views with colorful mountains. Again walk down
to hotel and after breakfast walk up hill
towards Tadapani. Climb with Mountain views
again through Rhododendron forest. After the top
path goes along the ridge and Trail descends
steeply through dense moss-covered forest rich
with bird life. A short early-morning climb to
the Deurali pass for a spectacular panorama over
Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna, and to Tadapani
for beautiful sunset views of Annapurna South
and Machhapuchhare.
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Day 19 : |
Trek from Tadapani to Ghandrung
This is short trek. Trial descends steeply
through dense damp forest, where you may see
monkeys, and continues down over a series of
rock-cut steps that follow a leaping stream.
Arrive in Ghandrung and explore the maze like
streets of this thriving Gurung Settlement.
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Day 20 : |
Trek from Ghandrung – Birethanti - Pokhara
Walk down after village via Kimche to Shauli
Bazaar. Geantal walk rest of the day via
Birethati to New bridge and drive back to
Pokhara over night at hotel.
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Day 21 : |
Trek from Pokhara to Kathmandu
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Services
Included
A Guide, A cook, Necessary Porters, Kitchen helper, Sherpa,
All surface transportation to the starting point and from
the ending point of the trek, All meals three times a day
(breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee etc.), Necessary
Camping equipment such as tents, kitchen tent, dining tent,
toilet tent, mattresses, down sleeping bags, down jackets,
cooking utensils, fuel etc. Camping charges, Necessary
insurance for trekking staff, Rescue help, Insurance and
equipment for guide and porter
Services
Excluded
Personal expenses, Insurance, Tips, Emergency
evacuation by Helicopter, Alternative
transportation in case of heavy rain, landslide,
strike, road blockade etc.
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