Trekking in Dhaulagiri Region, Nepal
Just west of Annapurna is the 40-mile-wide
Dhaulagiri Himal. Dhaulagiri I, the
sixth-tallest peak in the world, towers high
above the well-trekked Muktinath pilgrim trail
up the Kali Gandaki Valley. The vast massif
screens the hidden lands of Dolpo to its north,
and to the west of it are Nepal's far western
hills. Only to the east along the Kali Gandaki
Valley can we easily view the mountain close up,
so massive Dhaulagiri with its symmetrical peak
and four major outliners remains an enigma along
much of its perimeter. Like fabled but
restricted Dolpo, the complete month-long trek
around Dhaulagiri is only for a handful of
hikers. This is because much of the route
traverses difficult, remote country.
Plan for the Trip:
Day 01 Arrival /pick up transfer hotel /
tour briefing /introductory evening meal
Day 02 Full days sightseeing within the
Kathmandu valley.
Day 03 Fly Kathmandu / Pokhara / drive to
Baglung.
Day 04 Baglung / Maldhunga
Day 05 Maldhunga / Darbang
Day 06 Darbang / Takum
Day 07 Takum / Muri
Day 08 Muri / Bagar
Day 09 Bagar / Dovan
Day 10 Dovan / Upper Vungini (Italian Base
Camp)
Day 11 Upper Vungini (Italian Base Camp)
Day 12 Upper Vugini (Italian Base Camp) to
Glacier Camp
Day 13 Glacier Camp / Dhaulagiri Base Camp
(4750 m.)
Day 14 Dhaulagiri Base Camp / French Col /
Hidden Valley
Getting off the glacier above the base camp
often requires the use of ropes. Once over
the steep moraine walls we reach gentler,
less strenuous country. After a breathless
climb to the top of French Col (5360m,) the
views of Hidden Valley open out. The broad
valley is reminiscent of Tibet and Ladakh
and so are the temperatures (at least -20șC
at night).
Day 15 Hidden Valley camp 5000 m.
A rest day for side treks and exploring
around the surrounding peaks.
Day 16 Hidden Valley / Yak Kharka After
climbing over the 5250 m. Dhampus Pass, we
traverse avalanche-prone slopes and then
take on the steep descent to Yak Kharka.
Day 17 Yak Kharka / Marpha
Day 18 Marpha / Ghasa
Day 19 Ghasa / Tatopani
Day 20 Tatopani / Ghorepani
Day 21 Ghorepani / Tadapani
Day 22 Tadapani / Ghandrung
Day 23 Ghandrung / Birethanti / Pokhara
transfer hotel.
Day 24 Pokhara fly / Kathmandu transfer
hotel
Day 25 Transfer airport /Departure for
onward destination
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