Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek

The Dhaulagiri Round Trek or Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is a challenging trek that reaches a maximum altitude of 5360 m at the French Pass and an overnight elevation of 5050 m at Hidden Valley. This trek, which lasts over two weeks, involves crossing two high passes above 5000 m and is an entirely camping-based trek. Physically challenging due to the high altitude, it involves approximately 6–8 hours of daily trekking.

The best time to trek the Dhaulagiri round are Autumn (from October till November) and Spring (April until May). The weather during these months tends to be clear and nice allowing us to enjoy the trekking to the fullest, and temperatures will drop considerably as you ascend higher every day. The nights are cold (between -10C to 5C) and the days are sunny and hot (between 10C to 20C). Mornings are usually clear, with clouds building up in the afternoon and disappearing at night.

Absolutely yes! Under normal circumstances, our booked trips are guaranteed to run. We are a tailor-made company. If you are in a last-minute stress, remember to find us to sort out your trip decisions. Please feel free to book your stress-free holidays with us. Unless there is a situation which is out of control such as a political riot, natural disaster, pandemic, epidemic or weather catastrophes, our trips are 100% guaranteed to run.

Rest assured that you will be in good hands with our experienced trek leaders, who have multiple years of experience trekking in Nepal. All of our guides, known as, are locals with a deep understanding of the mountain, its people, culture, health, hygiene, and most importantly, your safety. They are fluent in English and will be able to communicate effectively with you throughout the trek. Our guides are passionate about their work and will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trekking experience.

The guides have many years of guiding experience in trekking. Most have been exploring the Himalayas for years. Our guides are also trained in first aid and know how to handle any situation. All our guides speak fluent English and are happy to share their in-depth knowledge of the culture, geography, flora, festivals, lifestyle with you. It is enough to take visitors to special places or special cultures, who can engage people in what they are experiencing, explain it well and entertain them. They are well versed in how to make the journey comfortable and safe while appreciating the beauty of the Himalayas.

The Circuit Dhaulagiri trek is considered a less crowded trek with almost no more than a few trekkers every year. It is a regulated trek that requires special official permission with a minimum of 2 trekkers in the group. You cannot expect teahouses/lodges at all places on this trek. Known as one of the virgin trekking routes for trekking in the Himalayas, this camping trekking has become less volcanic with modernization and the treks are rich in flora and fauna. It is the best place to gather authentic experiences of the culture and traditions of the local people. In recent times, this trek has become a little popular and the number of trekkers has started to increase. This camping trek takes you to the passes of high altitudes.

Generally, all mountain treks above 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) require physical and mental fitness. On this trek, you will start at 800 meters (2,624 feet) and climb to (5,360m/17,581ft). This means you should be very fit and well prepared before undertaking this trek. You will cover a total distance of around 120 kilometers (75 miles) on a trek that involves mostly uphill walking over varied terrain. Although you don’t need to be extremely experienced, you should definitely be physically and mentally fit and fully prepared.

No, you don’t need crampons for the Dhaulagiri trek. You just need good quality hiking boots and trekking poles for extra support and stability. However, depending on the intensity of snowfall, especially on the Dhaulagiri Circuit, you may need crampons.

Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is a restricted area trek in Nepal that takes travelers to a real wilderness in a remote location. It is a high-altitude trek and is known as the virgin trek with the most stunning and captivating views of the world’s seventh-highest mountain, Dhaulagiri. This trek is not that easy and the adventure is full of surprises for which you need to carry the right gears and make the right preparations before the trek. You need a good level of fitness and strong determination to face the challenges and complete it successfully. How to prepare for Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek.

• Do some short hiking or trekking prior to this trek.
• Do regular exercises to stay physically fit.
• Be mentally strong and highly determined.
• Pack the right gears and equipment.
• Get your health checked up and consult your doctor at least 3 months ahead of your trek.

Yes, of course, we will be very happy to do so. AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions is the #1 adventure travel company specialized for customized and tailor-made travel planning. For all about customized and tailor-made trip planning, please contact us and one of our expert consultants will assist you to ensure that your interest and other requirements are accommodated just like the way you want it to be.

Since Dhaulagiri Trek falls within a restricted area, a special restricted area permit is required for this trek along with the regular permit. In addition, Nepal’s trekking authorities have made arrangements to allow a minimum of two travelers to access the Dhaulagiri trek, provided that the trekker books their trip through a registered trekking agency. However, the average group size varies depending on the agency, anywhere between 4 and 12 people or more. (Since this is a camping trek)

There are hundreds of trekking agencies that offer the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek. The cost of the trek varies widely depending on where you purchase your trip, the reputation and reliability of the tour operator and the services they provide to you. In general, the cost ranges from anywhere between $180 and $210 per person per day.

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness usually occurs when people try to ascend too quickly in altitudes beyond [2,500m/8,202ft.]. It is very difficult to predict whether a trekker will get altitude sickness on the trek or not, but in the end everything depends on factors like prior exercises, previous hiking experience on high elevations, food & sleep, current hiking pace, physical fitness, medical conditions and mental health, and more. You can visit our Altitude Sickness: Cause, Prevention, and Treatment section to learn more about altitude sickness.

Yes, you absolutely need to take Diamox on this trek. Diamox is taken as prevention for altitude sickness but not to cure its symptoms. After the symptoms begin to show, the only option you will have is to descend to a lower altitude.

AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions has a capable team of trekking guides teams who are highly skilled in dealing with any difficulties or emergencies that may arise during the trip. If you feel sick with altitude, the first thing you should do is inform your leader so that he or she knows what to do. With years of experience, he or she can sense the severity of the situation and respond accordingly, either by bringing you down to a lower altitude or by using a helicopter to rescue you. If for some reason a helicopter is unable to fly, we will use our local staff and contacts to coordinate alternative rescue and treatment procedures, which may mean using a horse or stretcher to transport the sick person down the mountain to the nearest health post or a safe helicopter landing site.

AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions offers a lifetime deposit policy that gives you the flexibility to transfer your deposit to anyone or any other trip. If you wish to cancel your booked trips, certain cancellation fees apply. Please see our Booking Terms and Conditions for detailed information.

Yes: We advise all our clients to get travel insurance that covers up emergency evacuation that may be needed in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or any other reasons in high altitudes where there are no other means of transportation available. It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision. Carry proof of your insurance with you on the holiday and you must ensure that your insurance provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved. More information: Travel Insurance

Normally, oxygen is not required for the trek as our itinerary is designed in such a way so that it allows enough acclimatization. In addition, we provide Diamox, a medication that suppresses altitude sickness symptoms, from the beginning to prevent falling sick. However, in case of severe altitude sickness, we will descend to a lower altitude immediately.

Caffeine might contribute to altitude sickness as it could lead to dehydration triggering altitude sickness. Caffeine, on the contrary, is known to stimulate your brain, kidneys, and breathing, all of which are helpful at high altitude. For people who are into caffeinated beverages for a long time period and abruptly stopping to consume them on the trek may trigger profound headaches in them.

Trekkers will enjoy 3 delicious meals on each day of the trek. Typically, you will have breakfast and dinner at the lodge where you will spend the night. Lunch will be provided at tea shops or small restaurants along the trail. You are free to choose your meals from the menu wherever possible; they will provide you with the best food items – our leader will ensure that you are provided with the right food. Throughout the trek, you will be fed fresh and organic fruits, either brought from Kathmandu or sourced locally in local villages. The meals include a nutritionist-designed balanced diet containing complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The chefs are trained by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in hygienic food preparation and allergy safety. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and kosher diets can be arranged if required with prior notice.

Sample menu for Annapurna Region, Trek

Breakfast:

• Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate
• Toast with jam or honey, toast omelet, pancake, Tibetan bread, porridge/muesli
• Eggs on your choices
• American breakfast or Continental breakfast

Day Lunch:

• Rice item: veg fried rice, egg fried rice, mixed fried rice, dal-bhaat
• Noodle item: vegetable fried noodle, mixed fried noodle
• Potato item: chips, fried potato, hash brown potato, veg fried potato, boiled potato
• Burger: veg burger, chicken burger, veg sandwich, chicken sandwich
• Pasta: spaghetti tomato sauce, macaroni cheese sauce
• Pizza: veg pizza, tomato cheese pizza, chicken pizza, mushroom pizza
• Momo (Nepali style dumplings): veg momo, chicken momo
• Meat item: chicken sizzler, chicken steak, yak steak
• Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate

Dinner In Night:

• Soups: vegetable soup, mushroom soup, chicken soup, chicken noodle soup, Rara noodle soup, French onion soup, pumpkin soup, potato soup
• Main Meals: (Dinner in Night)
• Rice item: veg fried rice, egg fried rice, mixed fried rice, dal-bhaat
• Noodle item: vegetable fried noodle, mixed fried noodle
• Potato item: chips, fried potato, hash brown potato, veg fried potato, boiled potato
• Burger: veg burger, chicken burger, veg sandwich, chicken sandwich
• Pasta: spaghetti tomato sauce, macaroni cheese sauce
• Pizza: veg pizza, tomato cheese pizza, chicken pizza, mushroom pizza
• Momo (Nepali Dumplings): veg momo, chicken momo
• Meat item: chicken sizzler, chicken stake, yak stake
• Dessert: apple pie, chocolate cake, carrot cake, apple fritter, canned fruit
• Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate

All bookings are made through AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions Pvt. Ltd. based at Boudha 6, Kathmandu, Nepal. Travel Booking Terms To book your holiday you must send us a completed booking (enquiry) form or email us directly with details, for information. Learn more about our book. How to Book a Trip?

Dhaulagiri Round Trek is known as a ‘circuit trekking’, but since some climbing is involved, it requires some mountaineering skills and equipment. The right kind of equipment and tools play a vital role in successfully attempting to climb Dhampus Peak. We recommend the following equipment and kits for Dhaulagiri Round Trek:

1. Waterproof Duffel Bag
2. 40L Back pack (daypack)
3. Shirts and t-shirts
4. Set of thermals (tops & bottoms)
5. Fleece Jacket
6. Shell Rain Jacket
7. Down Jacket
8. Lightweight hiking trousers
9. Waterproof/Windproof pants
10. Socks
11. Buff
12. Sun hat & sun glasses
13. Gloves & Mittens
14. Hiking boots
15. Mountain climbing boots
16. Flip flops and slippers
17. Sleeping bag
18. Water bottles
19. Sun cream & lip balm
20. Gaiters
21. Personal toiletries
22. Trekking pole
23. Scarf & warm hat

Besides the regular items that you would pack for a typical trekking trip, read more for other essential peak climbing equipment and familiarize yourself with the kits you will be carrying along for the trekking and climbing.

Your safety is of imperative concern while traveling with AlpineTrav Treks. Please take care to note that your leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to your safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary; however, since this adventure entails travelling in remote mountainous regions, we cannot guarantee that we will not deviate from it. Weather or health condition of a group member, unexpected natural disasters, etc., can all contribute to changes in the itinerary. The trek leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if required.