Pristine Nepal presents an adventurous and most scenic destination in the Far northwest “Around Dhaulagiri & Kaligandaki Valley”. It is an awesome adventure where you will be enclosed within giant peaks for a few days. Round Dhaulagiri Trek & Kaligandaki Valley a super adventure where we will be away from villages and human settlement for a week till the trail joins the famous Annapurna Circuit trail at Kaligandaki River valley at lovely Marpha village.
On this overwhelming adventure visiting world seventh highest Mt. Dhaulagiri base camp, and into green Hidden Valley with the crossing of high passes of French-la and Thapa / Dampus pass. Walk leads from warm sub-tropic of rice/paddy terraces fields to reach the cooler alpine zone of conifer forest and into remorseless ice fields and glaciers on the North West areas of Mt. Dhaulagiri and its massive range of peaks.
Pristine Nepal adventure Around Dhaulagiri begins after a drive from Kathmandu to picturesque Pokhara Valley a popular touristic spot of Nepal and Himalaya region.
After Pokhara scenic drives towards west leading to remote farm villages of the Dhaulagiri region at Beni and Darbang, we start our adventurous and scenic walk towards inner mountain areas of the massive Dhaulagiri mountain range.
On leaving the last village of Bagar into complete wilderness in the harmony of nature and mountains, following Myagdi River right to its glacial source at base camp, after being in hidden corners crossing highest point of the adventure at French pass to reach Hidden Valley and towards last high Thapa / Dhampus pass to Kaligandaki valley is pretty Marpha village.
From here onwards to Pokhara walking on the Apple Pie trail with delicious orchard, walk leads past lovely villages of Tukuche-Kalapani-Ghasa and to Tatopani (hot-spring) in warmer areas.
Finally, our great adventure concludes walking back and a short drive to Pokhara after visiting famous Poon Hill with striking sunrise over a wide range of peaks.
From Pokhara enjoying a pleasant time in this scenic city then drive back to Kathmandu after a grand adventure Around Dhaulagiri & Kaligandaki Valley trekking.
Our Social Activities
We are coordinating for free volunteering in Nepal as well. And we are supporting to needy people of Nepal through our trekking agency. We are helping some students with their school expenses back on the mountain. You may check those of our social activities on the free volunteering page.
You are received by Pristine Nepal staff on arrival in Kathmandu airport and transfer to hotel. It is the only short drive from the airport to Thamel which one is very popular touristic place in Kathmandu. Our guide or tour leader will brief about this trip. You may meet other trekkers who they are trekking together in your group.
The morning after breakfast our tour guide will receive you for sight-seeing tour around interesting part of Kathmandu, as Kathmandu city a blend of modernization and old lively cultures where you can witness medieval period villages and way of life of the locals as it was for past hundreds of years. Kathmandu valley steeped with ancient history-old traditions full of world heritage sites of Buddhism and Hinduism temples/monasteries. After an interesting tour afternoon free at leisure preparation for Around Dhaulagiri & Kaligandaki Valley trekking.
Around Dhaulagiri & Kaligandaki Valley trek starts with an interesting and exciting overland drive on Nepal’s busy highway to reach scenic Pokhara, the journey leads past farm villages and towns with views of mountains. Drive finally reaches Pokhara and then transfer to your hotel near the pristine and beautiful Phewa Lake where most of the nice hotels are located.
After a nice stop and overnight in Pokhara, continue for another 4 hours to reach Beni town and to further west at Darbang farm town to start this wonderful trek, overnight in the best available tourist lodge or hotels.
Our first day walk starts with a climb to a small ridge past farm areas and villages and then walking along the bank of Myagdi River, after a nice walk reaching to our camp by the bank of the river for overnight stop, after noon at leisure for a dip in the river and short hike around the least visited area by other trekkers.
Morning walk follows river for a while reaching a small rural farm village of Jugepani, for lunch time permitting after 3 hours of nice walks, after a break here a steep climb to a ridge for an hour reaching a ridge and then downhill through forest to Bagar, a small farm village overnight camp by the school yard, this will be the last village or human settlement for a week till it joins at popular Annapurna circuit route at Kaligandaki near Marpha.
Morning leaving farm fields of Bagar village, walk into cool forest for an hour and then a steep climb towards forested ridge of bamboo, oaks and rhododendron trees, looking way down at Myagdi river, after ending the climb downhill into dense forest of pines and rhododendron to reach at Dovan for overnight camp by river, Dovan a small temporary place with small tea house in the midst of a forest surrounding.
From Dovan morning walk leads to cross an unstable wooden bridge over a river confluence of Myagdi river, after crossing back into woodlands for a whole day, walking on winding forest path till Chartare also known as Bhainse Kharka, as this area a grazing place for animals.
After overnight stop in the midst of a forest, morning leads towards South Flank of Mt. Dhaulagiri with views of Putha Huinchuli, Manapath, after few hours walk reaching a glaciated area known as Italian camp, from here leaving tree lines behind for few days, and then true adventure starts walking on glacier and moraine, rocky ridge to reach a small grassy spot called Pakhaban also known as Japanese camp, where Japanese expeditions to Dhaulagiri first camped on this spot.
From the camp into deep gorge where glacier feeds the source of Myagdi River, walk continues following moraine and iceberg in few places, climb towards base camp requires a team work to find the right good path on this glaciated sections, after a strenuous walk off the glacier area to reach a rocky place and then at Dhaulagiri base camp for overnight, one of the highlight of this adventure.
Camping on the rocky area within views of Mt. Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m) and its glacier including Tukuche peak on the north side with west peaks of Dhaulagiri II (7,751 m.), Dhaulagiri III (7,715 m.) and Dhaulagiri IV (7,618 m).
Today’s walk leads to highest point of this trip at French pass at 5,360 meters, morning walk follows the dry glacier and moraine section close to Tukuche peak and then heading higher to the top ridge of French Pass which is festooned with Buddhist prayer flags, after enjoying the surrounding views a short downhill walk of few hours reaches to a wide grassy area at hidden valley for overnight camping. This camp offers awesome views of Sita Chuchura, Mukut Himal, and Tashi Kang 5,386 meters, Tukche Peak and Dhaulagiri I.
A reserve spare day as a contingency in case of unfavorable weather or for physical conditions of members, staff, and porters, if all goes well can carry to next camp on the safer area to shorten the days towards Pokhara, or just relax and marvel the surrounding views and explore this least visited the place.
After a nice rest at Hidden Valley morning a leisure and gradual walk for few hours and then reaching the last pass of this marvelous adventure at Thapa also known as Dhampus pass at 5,250 meters, on reaching the top views of Annapurna Himal with Nilgiri’s peak towards north- east horizon, after enjoying the scenery heading down towards Yak Kharka for overnight camp and back to vegetation of Juniper, Burberry and rhododendron bushes.
From Yak Kharka, rest of the walks is easier with big drop of 1,200m as the trail descends to Kaligandaki river valley to reach at Marpha, on popular and famous Annapurna circuit trail close to Jomsom (headquarter town of Mustang region with a small airstrip), an interesting country walk downhill to Marpha village for overnight stop. One of the most charming and a gem of a village with whitewashed houses paved streets, and numerous well-kept lodges. This Kaligandaki area famous for delicious apples and its products, here celebrate with local apple products cider, brandy, and juices. Kaligandaki area is also famously known as Apple Pie Trail.
From Marpha walk is enjoyable following Kaligandaki river downstream, reaching at Tukuche another beautiful village, located beneath Tukuche peak and massive Dhaulagiri Mountain range with Mt. Nilgiris, from here back into tree line of pines, oaks and rhododendron, and then reaching a lovely area in Kalopani village, after a short stop here walk to another nice village to Lete as the walk leads with grand views of Mt. Annapurna I, Nilgiris and Dhaulagiri, a short downhill brings at Lete village for overnight stop.
From Lete onwards leads to a dramatic change in landscapes and temperatures, walking in between two high peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna turning this narrow valley into world deepest gorge of Kaligandaki. On reaching Ghasa village the end of Mustang district, dominated by Thakali tribe from here few hours of good walk to Tatopani (Hot Spring) village within sub-tropic climate area. Tatopani another nice village with large hot spring pools just by the bank of the River Kaligandaki.
After Tatopani, morning walk leads across a bridge over Kaligandaki River and then our route diverts heading uphill on terraced hillside, dotted with farms and villages, after a steep section through dense alpine forest reaching Chitre and to Ghorepani- village with superb views of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and Vara-Shikar also known Annapurna Fang.
Early before the sunrise hike to the top at Poon Hill to catch the striking sunrise over a range of Himalayan peaks of world 7th highest Dhaulagiri-10th highest Annapurna with a range of peaks includes world 8th highest Manaslu with towering Machhapuchare peak “Fish Tail”. After an enjoyable and exciting time with eye catching views from Poon Hill, head back to Ghorepani and continue downhill walk into the lovely forested area for an hour, and then reaching at Ulleri village with long descend to Tirkhedhunga for an overnight stop in warmer areas.
Our last day walk of this marvelous adventure leads downhill to much warmer temperature walking past farm fields and terraces with interesting traditional Gurung villages to reach at Bhirethati with beautiful cascading waterfalls, from this nice village following Modi River for short while to reach at the end of the trek in Nayapul, for the drive back at picturesque Pokhara by the serene Phewa Lake after an hour of exciting drive.
Depart from lovely Pokhara for interesting and exciting overland journey to Kathmandu after a fantastic time on Around Dhaulagiri & Kaligandaki Valley trekking, after six hours of nice pleasant ride reaches you at Kathmandu, then transfer to your hotels with an afternoon free at leisure for individual activities and shopping souvenirs.
Last day in amazing Nepal country of Himalayan wonders, as per your international flight time depart from the hotel where Pristine Nepal staff transfer you to the airport, after a greatly enjoyable and memorable time Around Dhaulagiri & Kaligandaki Valley Trekking with quality services and guidance of Pristine Nepal.