At a glance: A 17-day strenuous trek, reaching 5,360 m. Best season: Spring and Autumn. From $2,700 per person.
Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trekking Highlights
An exciting adventure on off-the-beaten-path trails around the majestic Dhaulagiri Himalayas.
Experience the dramatic diversity, from warm lowland farm areas to the arctic cold zone.
Enjoy stunning panoramas of the Mid-West Himalayan peaks from start to finish.
Explore a lesser-visited Himalayan destination, far from mainstream trekking routes.
Embark on a journey to the world’s 7th highest peak, Dhaulagiri, and the scenic Hidden Valley.
Trip Overview
Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trekking is a circuit that takes you around the world’s 7th highest peak, from base camp and beyond. Mt. Dhaulagiri towers at 8,167 meters (26,795 feet) and was first ascended by a Swiss expedition with the support of Nepali climber Nawang Sherpa on May 13, 1960. Since then, the mountain has attracted climbers from around the world seeking the challenge of reaching its summit.
The trek to Dhaulagiri Base Camp leads you to Nepal’s far northwest, around the Myagdi District and near Mustang. This pristine wilderness trek takes you away from villages and human habitation, allowing you to trek amidst tranquil surroundings at the foothills of the Dhaulagiri Himalayan range. Dhaulagiri can be seen from the scenic city of Pokhara towards the northwest, along with the Annapurna Himalayas.
The adventure begins in Darbang Village, which lies in low sub-tropical farming areas. The trek progresses towards the remote corners of Myagdi District, passing through the small village of Bagar. From there, the adventure continues to higher elevations through cooler hills covered in dense forests of rhododendrons and pine trees. After leaving Bagar, you will encounter a few smaller settlements used as summer camps by cattle herders.
One of the trek’s remarkable features is the dramatic change in elevation and landscapes. As you leave behind dense tree lines, you enter a stark terrain of ice and glaciers. Reaching the southern flanks of Mt. Dhaulagiri, you will find the Myagdi River fed by the massive glaciers of the Dhaulagiri Himal. The trail continues through moraines of rocks, ice, and glaciers to reach Dhaulagiri Base Camp. The campsite is set close to the massif ice falls of Dhaulagiri, adjacent to Tukuche Peak. Enjoy the dramatic scenery of the snow-capped Dhaulagiri range.
The return journey includes crossing the French Pass, where you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Dhaulagiri range. Descend to the scenic Hidden Valley, where an extra day is spent surrounded by peaks extending to Dolpo and Mustang. From Hidden Valley, the trek continues east to cross the scenic Thapa/Dhampus Pass, offering incredible views of Annapurna and Nilgiri’s Himal. Gradually, the trek comes to an end as you head downhill to the Kaligandaki Valley, reaching Marpha Village and Jomsom. Jomsom, a large town and the headquarters of the Mustang District, is where you’ll spend your last night. The following morning, a short scenic flight takes you to the beautiful city of Pokhara, concluding the Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trekking.
Best Seasons for Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trekking
The best seasons for Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trekking are spring and autumn. Spring, from March to May, offers the best time for scenic views and pleasant walks. Most days are clear and sunny from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., though overcast conditions with light snowfall can occur in the afternoons. Spring is also the blooming season for wildflowers, particularly rhododendrons, Nepal’s national flower. The temperatures drop to freezing at higher altitudes, but the longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures make this period ideal.
Autumn, from September to November, is the next best season. During this time, days are bright and sunny with clear views. It is one of the peak trekking seasons, though daylight hours are shorter and temperatures drop significantly in the morning and late afternoon. Light snowfall can occur above 2,000 meters.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel. Day 02: In Kathmandu for optional tour and trek preparations Day 03: Drive to Pokhara 860 m (220 km/137 miles-06 hrs.), transfer to hotel. Day 04: Drive to Darbang 1,200 m via Beni 900 m-05 hrs. Day 05: Trek to Riverside 1,560 m – 05 hrs. Day 06: Trek to Bagar 2,375 m – 06 hrs. Day 07: Trek to Dovan 2,600 m – 06 hours. Day 08: Trek to Chattare / Bhaise Kharka 3,000 m -05 hrs. Day 09: Trek to Pakhaban / Japanese Camp 3,750 m – 05 hrs. Day 10: Trek to Dhaulagiri Base Camp 4,750 m-06 hrs. Day 11: Trek to Hidden Valley 4,900 m via French Pass 5,360 m. Day 12: At Hidden Valley (Contingency or spare days). Day 13: Trek to Yak Kharka/Alu Bari 4,915 m via Thapa/Dhampus pass 5,250 m – 05 hrs. Day 14: Trek to Marpha 2, 670 and drive to Jomsom town-05 hours. Day 15: From Jomsom short flight to Pokhara 860 m and transfer to hotel. Day 16: Drive to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel. Day 17: International Departure for Homeward bound.
17 days on the trail: altitude, walking time, stays and meals for each day.
Altitude profileMax 4,915 m
Start · Day 1
1,355 m
Peak · Day 13
4,915 m
Finish · Day 17
1,350 m
17 days · , 1 flight · , highest overnight 4,915 m
Day 01Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotelKathmandu Airport1,350 m→toKathmandu1,355 m▲Climb of 5 mWalking: -Stay: HotelMeals: Breakfast
Upon arrival at Nepal International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. After resting, attend a trek briefing and enjoy a welcome group dinner featuring a Nepalese folk-culture program.
Day 02In Kathmandu for optional tour and trek preparationsKathmandu1,355 mWalking: -Stay: HotelMeals: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day with options for sightseeing around Kathmandu's world heritage sites, followed by trek preparation and last-minute gear checking.
Day 03Drive to PokharaKathmandu1,355 m→toPokhara860 m▼Descent of 495 mWalking: 6 hoursStay: HotelMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
An exciting drive on Nepal's main highway heading west along the Trishuli River to the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara. Enjoy an afternoon stroll around Phewa Lake.
Day 04Drive to Darbang via BeniPokhara860 m→toDarbang1,200 m▲Climb of 340 mWalking: 5 hoursStay: Tea HouseMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Start the journey in a 4WD vehicle, driving past the Annapurna Himalayas through Beni, the headquarters of the Myagdi district, and along a dirt road to Darbang.
Day 05Trek to RiversideDarbang1,200 m→toRiverside1,560 m▲Climb of 360 mWalking: 5 hoursStay: TentMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Begin walking through small farm villages on a gradual trail along the Myagdi River. Camp overnight on a grassy meadow by the riverbanks.
Day 06Trek to BagarRiverside1,560 m→toBagar2,375 m▲Climb of 815 mWalking: 6 hoursStay: TentMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk upstream to the rural farm village of Juge-Pani. Climb over a high ridge and descend through the forest to Bagar, a remote Magar village and the last settlement on this side.
Day 07Trek to DovanBagar2,375 m→toDovan2,600 m▲Climb of 225 mWalking: 6 hoursStay: TentMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Leave the last village behind, heading into absolute wilderness. Climb steeply through dense rhododendron and pine forests before descending to Dovan, a cattle herders' spot.
Day 08Trek to Chattare / Bhaise KharkaDovan2,600 m→toChattare3,000 m▲Climb of 400 mWalking: 5 hoursStay: TentMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Cross a small wooden bridge over a tributary stream and hike through a dense forested path for several hours to reach the summer grazing pastures of Chattare, also known as Bhaise Kharka.
Day 09Trek to Pakhaban / Japanese CampChattare3,000 m→toPakhaban3,750 m▲Climb of 750 mWalking: 5 hoursStay: TentMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Leave the tree lines behind and enter the remorseless fields of moraine, ice, and snow. Walk over the Italian Camp and slowly climb to the grassy field of Pakhaban (Japanese Camp) with views of Dhaulagiri's South West ridge.
Day 10Trek to Dhaulagiri Base CampPakhaban3,750 m→toDhaulagiri Base Camp4,750 m▲Climb of 1,000 mWalking: 6 hoursStay: TentMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Navigate a challenging mountain wilderness of moraines, glaciers, and small ice ponds. Arrive at the wide area of Dhaulagiri Base Camp, surrounded by the massif ice fall and towering peaks.
Day 11Trek to Hidden Valley via French PassDhaulagiri Base Camp4,750 m→toHidden Valley4,900 m▲Climb of 150 mWalking: 6 - 7 hoursStay: TentMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Steeply climb over French Pass, the highest point of the trek at 5,360m, marked with Buddhist prayer flags. Descend into the wide, flat expanse of Hidden Valley surrounded by spectacular Himalayan peaks.
Day 12At Hidden Valley (Contingency or spare days)Hidden Valley4,900 mWalking: -Stay: TentMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
A contingency day reserved for rest or weather delays. Take a short hike around the vast Hidden Valley, a summer pasture for yaks and cattle, and enjoy the snow-capped views.
Day 13Trek to Yak Kharka/Alu Bari via Thapa/Dhampus passHidden Valley4,900 m→toYak Kharka4,915 m▲Climb of 15 mWalking: 5 hoursStay: TentMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk to the eastern end of the valley and cross Thapa/Dhampus Pass (5,250m) with panoramic views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. Descend to the yak pastures of Alu Bari for the final camping night.
Day 14Trek to Marpha and drive to Jomsom townYak Kharka4,915 m→toJomsom2,710 m▼Descent of 2,205 mWalking: 5 hoursStay: Tea HouseMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
A long, steep descent through rhododendron and pine forests back into human settlement at Marpha. From there, take a short drive to the district headquarters of Jomsom.
Day 15From Jomsom short flight to Pokhara and transfer to hotelFlightJomsom2,710 m→toPokhara860 m▼Descent of 1,850 mWalking: 30 minsStay: HotelMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Take an early morning, sweeping flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, offering grand views of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges. Transfer to your hotel by Phewa Lake.
Day 16Drive to Kathmandu and transfer to hotelPokhara860 m→toKathmandu1,355 m▲Climb of 495 mWalking: 6 hoursStay: HotelMeals: Breakfast
Board a vehicle for a 6-hour overland journey back to Kathmandu, tracing the Trishuli River upstream. Transfer back to your hotel for the final evening.
Day 17International Departure for Homeward boundKathmandu1,355 m→toKathmandu Airport1,350 m▼Descent of 5 mWalking: -Stay: HotelMeals: Breakfast
Transfer to the international airport in Kathmandu for your flight homeward, concluding your remarkable Dhaulagiri Base Camp adventure.
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Add rest days, upgrade your lodges or combine regions. Our guides will shape the route around you.
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All prices per person, twin share. Subject to availability: Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trekking dates fill quickly in peak season.
What's Included
Everything your trip price covers, and what to budget for separately.
Your $2,700 covers
Per person, from price
15 items
Airport pickup drop
Twin-sharing accommodation in boutique hotel Kathmandu with breakfast included
Twin-sharing accommodation in boutique hotel in hotel in Pokhara for 2 nights.
Freshly prepared meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with boiled water, tea, coffee, etc.
Twin-sharing tent for accommodation during the trek (high-quality 3-person tent).
Experienced local guide with a 1:4 assistant guide-to-client ratio.
Full support camping crew with 1 porter for every 2 trekkers.
All camping logistical arrangements for your comfort.
All ground transportation as mentioned in the itinerary on a private vehicle.
All required permits for the trek.
Kathmandu - Pokhara - Kathmandu Tourist bus
Comprehensive first aid kit with high-altitude medicine.
Supplementary oxygen system and Thuraya satellite phone for emergency purposes.
Waterproof duffel bag and use of a sleeping bag and down jacket.
Staff wages, equipment, insurance, and allowances.
Budget separately
6 items
International airfare, Nepal Visa and travel insurance
Meals at Kathmandu
Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu, Pokhara or on the trek for any reason (Early arrival or delay, Early arrival from trek due to any reason)
Personal expenses
Tipping
Personal trekking gears
Peaceful Nepal Traveler Reviews
Recent reviews from travelers across all our treks and tours.
Anna ISep 2026
Great Trek to ABC
I completed the Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill trek with my partner through Peaceful Nepal in May 2026 and had an amazing time! Bishnu was an amazing guide throughout the experience, organising everything and answering all our questions. He was able to change our itinerary on the trek to suit our walking pace and the conditions each day. Bishnu handled all the logistics throughout the trip, including airport pickup, transfers to Pokhara and our bus to Chitwan after, and accomodation. All accomodation we stayed at was pleasant and clean. The trek itself was also amazing! Would definitely recommend both ABC and Peaceful Nepal.
TravelerSep 2026
Excellent ABC experience
I have just completed the Annapurna Base Camp trek and would like to sincerely thank my guide, Som Giri, and my porter, Nepal Giri, for making this 6-day journey such a wonderful and memorable experience.Som Giri was an excellent guide — highly professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly caring throughout the trek. He always paid close attention to my pace, health, and comfort, and shared valuable insights about the mountains, local culture, and daily trekking routes. His calm attitude and experience gave me great confidence and peace of mind every day.Nepal Giri was equally outstanding. He was strong, reliable, and always smiling, even on the most challenging sections of the trail. His support and positive energy truly made a big difference, and I felt well taken care of during the entire journey.Both Som Giri and Nepal Giri went above and beyond their duties, showing genuine care, teamwork, and professionalism. I really appreciated having fruit every day, which made a big difference…
AAmit KAug 2026
Langtang Trek
I had an unforgettable 7-day trek through the Langtang Valley, climbing all the way up to Tserko Ri at 4,985 meters. Really enjoyed the snow-capped mountains, lush green forests, countless waterfalls and incredible wildlife (if you’re lucky you might spot a rare red panda) throughout the trek. Huge thanks to my guide Bishnu from Peaceful Nepal Treks and Tours. His deep knowledge of every trail, wildflowers and wildlife along the way made this adventure truly special.
My partner and I did the Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Peaceful Treks and it was an amazing experience!! Bishnu was great to plan with, accomodating our requests for an extra day in Kathmandu at the start and always replying to any requests we had promptly.When we started hiking Bishnu was flexible with the itinerary to allow us to go at the pace we wanted to walk. He always checked in and had some fun facts about Annapurna and Nepal in general and it was great getting to know him.Overall it was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend Peaceful Treks.Also Bishnu made sure to grab some pics and sent them to us after, see attached :)
DDamayanthi SMay 2026
18 days Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit combined trek!
Namaste!I did a 18 days trekking tour covering the Manaslu and Annapurna circuit combined with peaceful Nepal trek and it was absolute perfection.Started with the planning phase where email and what's app inquiries were answered immediately and the itinerary was planned together and agreed upon.The trek was long and hard but this team made it bearable by always finding good accomodations (95% of my room has electric socket to charge my electronics , attached toilet which is a huge advantage and good food).The guide also brought along medical kit (which many company doesnt) and often was being asked to share medical supplies/medicine to others.Bonus is the guide love to take pictures and videos along the way so you can get nice documentation too even when you are too lazy to get your camera/phone out.Main highlights on this trip :1. Manaslu basecamp : not too many people come here for "rest day" but we made it. It was HARD but i am glad we did it. One of the best experiences on this tr…
Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trekking FAQs
Straight answers to what travelers ask us most about the Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trekking.
Do we need crampons and ice-axe on this trek?
It is best to carry crampons, which are necessary for walking on glaciers with ice and snow from Italian Camp. As well as to cross French Pass, the guide carries an ice-axe, so members do not need to carry one, only as an option. But walking with a ski pole will be much better and provide support on walks wading rivers, glaciers, and moraine, as well as on long steep descents.
Do we have facilities to charge our electronic gadgets?
The last village is Bagar, with facilities of electricity to charge electronic items. From Bagar village, there are no facilities to charge until Marpha village at the end of the trek. For this situation, trekkers need to carry a portable solar panel for charging their electronic gadgets.
Does the company carry the foods and kitchen equipment?
All camping gear and equipment will be carried and ferried throughout the end of the trek. This includes two-man tents, a dining tent as per group size, toilet tents, as well as kitchen tents supported by cooks, kitchen staff, guides, and porters.
All food is carried, and meals are cooked by our expert chef, providing excellent food throughout the trekking and camping days.
How tough is Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek?
It starts with moderate walks from the last village of Bagar, with steep ups and downs to reach Dovan and Italian Camp. From here onward, there is a gradual climb but with some difficulty walking through glaciers and moraine of ice, rocks, and snow all the way to Dhaulagiri Base Camp and near the bottom of the high French Pass at 5,360 m.
The rest of the walk from Hidden Valley is on a gradual path but with a short steep climb to Thapa/Dhampus Pass at 5,244 m high, then reaching Marpha village to end the trek.
Do we spend overnights in tented camp?
This trek is more of a tented camping trek, as the region of trekking leads away from villages for many days into absolute wilderness. There are no facilities of good lodges, only at Darbang village at the start of the trek and at the end, Marpha and Jomsom offer the best and nice lodges.
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What age group can join on this trek, and is insurance required?
For Dhaulagiri Base Camp, which is one of the adventurous and challenging trekking routes around the Himalayas, this trek leads to tough walks away from villages towards sheer mountain wilderness. The minimum age is 15 to elderly persons of 70 years. Those below 18 and above 65 years must be accompanied by friends, families, or guardians.
All trekkers need to buy Travel and Medical Insurance as a precautionary measure against unfortunate incidents, such as being very sick and needing evacuation by the fastest means of transport, like helicopter service. As well as if the road is broken and obstructed by landslides and rockfalls en route the journey. In this situation, it might lead to a delay of the tour or might be cancelled and re-routed to other safe areas. In this case, extra expenses should be claimed from your insurance companies back in your home country.
