Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek

The Dhaulagiri Base Camp trek is a great way to get a taste of the Himalayas. It introduces you to Dhaulagiri’s base camp, the world’s seventh-tallest peak (8167 meters/26795 ft).

Mount Dhaulagiri forms the Kaligandaki gorge, the deepest in the entire globe, alongside another Eight-Thousander, Mount Annapurna. This peak is located on the east side of Mount Annapurna, another gorgeous mountain, and is 34 kilometers away.

The name is derived from the Sanskrit words “Dhawala”, meaning “beautiful, white, and dazzling.” and “Giri,” meaning “mountain.” In 1960 on May 13, a Swiss expedition team became the first to summit Mount Dhaulagiri. More than 30 peaks spread over 6,000 meters in this area, eight rising above 8000 meters.

The Dhaulagiri base camp trek is popular for its multicultural background, abundant greenery, cultivated plains, small, secluded settlements, and mountain views. The trek covers two high passes, the French pass (5,240m) and the Thapa pass (5,155m). En route to the base camp, you come across a magnificent mountain vista. You’ll be stunned by the panoramas of Dhaulagiri I, Tukuche Peak, Annapurna I, and many more.

The majority of the locations along this route are distant and lonely. The various ethnic groups of Nepal populate along the trekking routes to the base camp. There are numerous ancient Tamang and Sherpa villages that you can visit. Their way of life and culture make all trekkers feel even happier. Some of the trek’s attractions are the Italy base camp, Glacier Lake, Dhampus mountain, and the Dhaulagiri base camp.

The trek has been rated as “very difficult” by some people. This is because taking on any challenge of this magnitude takes considerable time, money and effort, but that is why this trek is so worthwhile.

Short Explanation of the Trip

Driving from Kathmandu to Beni is the first phase of our Dhaulagiri Base Camp trek. You hike up to the villages of Babiyachaur and Dharapani from Beni. The walk next winds past villages with more gorgeous paddy fields, including Muri, Baghara, and Doban. After Doban, the climb gets more difficult as you make your way up to the Italian Base Camp.

The toughest part of the trek is crossing the French Col at 5,350 meters to get to the Hidden Valley. The Hidden Valley serves as the journey’s final stop. After spending one-night camping there, you proceed to the last pass and descend to Marpha, a well-known city in the Mustang region. Next, you trek to Jomsom from this lovely settlement along the Annapurna Trail before flying to Pokhara the following day. Finally, after returning to Kathmandu, our entire trip ends.

Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek Difficulty

• Dhaulagiri trekking is one of the most challenging yet exciting adventures. Exploring the local environment, culture, mountain views, and community is really worthwhile.
• Along the route, there are numerous steep ascents and descents, which might be challenging for some persons. You will require more energy than usual due to the altitude. Just to maintain oxygen-rich blood flowing through your body, your body will be operating at maximum efficiency.
• Not everyone is suited for this trek. We advise not to try this trek alone if you have any physical limitations or health issues (such as asthma) that make hiking challenging or risky.
• To hike to Dhaulagiri, you must be in good physical shape and have a solid understanding of mountains and weather.
• Training at lower altitudes is the best way to get ready for this trek. In order to adapt to the elevation changes smoothly after you reach base camp, you must acclimatize beforehand.
• Once you have all these, you are prepared to be amazed by the breathtaking mountains and surrounding wildlife views.

Best Time to Trek

Spring 

After autumn, spring is the ideal season for the Dhaulagiri Base Camp trek. It is a time of renewal. During this season, the skies are typically clear, the snow melts, the trees begin to blossom, and so on.

The trails become even more picturesque when the forests blossom and look gorgeous with colourful flowers of all colours. Additionally, after winter, average temperatures also start to rise, softening the climate. 

Summer

You may experience the area at its most vibrant when you trek to Dhaulagiri Base Camp in the summer. But in Nepal, summer is also the monsoon season. Therefore, one should prepare for regular rainfall.

Rainfall causes the ground to become muddy and hazardous. This results in flooding and landslide. Hence, it becomes challenging for trekkers in their endeavours.

Autumn

An excellent time to hit the trails is in the autumn. It’s obvious that this will be an amazing trekking season since the leaves are changing and the temperature is decreasing.

You can consider clear skies throughout this time of year, allowing you awe-inspiring views of the massive mountains along with astonishing sunrise and sunset panoramas. In contrast, given that it is the busiest time of the year, one would expect to see lots of people on the route.

Winter

Although the Dhaulagiri trek is not the finest in the winter, one may still take in the landscape from various angles. You could be surprised by the adventure’s pristine beauty and breathtaking scenery.

Trekkers, however, have difficulties due to the chilly weather during the season since the nighttime temperature in the highest elevations can approach -20 degrees Celsius. However, despite all the challenges, anyone can sign up if one is physically and mentally prepared.