DAY 1: ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU
Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, our local team warmly welcomes you at the airport. You will then be escorted to the hotel, where you can enjoy some well-deserved relaxation. The itinerary includes a briefing about the trek's progress and presentation, followed by leisure time. If you arrive in the morning, you'll have the entire day at your disposal. This can be used for rest or for those interested, to explore the surroundings freely. It's an ideal chance to deeply experience Nepalese culture and indulge in the local culinary delights.
Transfer to hotel
Final altitude: approximately 1350 m
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: night in the hotel
DAY 2: KATHMANDU – PHOKARA
We leave Kathmandu by bus to reach Pokhara located 200 kilometers further west, in about 7 hours by road. The road offers magnificent views over the valley of the Trisuli River, then we cross superb tropical landscapes, before going up towards Pokhara and having a first vision of the Annapurnas and the Machhapuchhare.
Final altitude: 800m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
DAY 3: POKHARA – DARBANG – DHARAPANI TREK
We take a track to Darbang, passing by Naudanda, then Kare (1,630 m) from where we have a splendid view of the Dhaulagiri, and Kusma, a large town at the confluence of the Modi Khola and the Kali Gandaki. The peaceful landscape of this valley, made of rice fields where farmers are busy, allows us to glimpse the Dhaulagiri, still very far away! Darbang is the last important village of our hike and we take the opportunity to make the last purchases. We start our trek here. We gain altitude, surrounded by a magnificent Himalayan pine forest, and the cultures change: millet gradually replaces rice and the inhabitants have a much more mountain look. Dharapani is a village of the Tamang ethnic group.
Final altitude: 1,500m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in a tent
DAY 4: TREKKING FROM DHARAPANI TO MURI
The crops already have autumn colors and the green rivals the yellow of the stubble and the ocher of the millet fields. Very nice view of the Dhaulagiri massif and the Churen Himal. Camp near the beautiful village of Muri.
6 hrs walking
Final altitude: 1,850m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in a tent
DAY 5: TREKKING FORM MURI TO BOGHARA
We always climb slowly. A sudden soft climb allows you to admire splendid waterfalls on the Myagdi Khola. Canyons and steep paths follow one another until Boghara, the last permanently inhabited village, where 250 people live in virtual self-sufficiency.
7 hrs of walking
Final altitude: 2,100m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: tent
DAY 6: TREKKING FROM BOGHARA TO DOBHAN
From climbs to descents, from clearings to forests, we go up the valley. A few basic huts remind us that the forest is inhabited by a few herders who come down as soon as the first cold weather hits. With a bit of luck, we will be able to see monkeys and admire the last orchids. Camp at the exit of the forest. Very beautiful sunset over the approaching Dhaulagiri.
6 hrs walking
Final altitude: 2,600m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: tent
DAY 7: TREKKING FROM DOBHAN TO FOREST CAMP
We climb slowly, the altitude begins to be felt. Crossing the river on a suspension bridge, to continue our climb facing Dhaulagiri, in a beautiful pine forest. The mountains surround us: Dhaulagiri I, III, V, and VI, the Manapati (6,380 m) just above us, and the Tsaurabong (6,395 m) on the other side of the valley. Camp in the pines.
6 hrs walking
Final altitude: 3,200m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: tent
DAY 8: TREKKING FROM CAMP TO ITALIAN CAMP
A fairly steep climb at the foot of Manapati (6,380 m) allows us to cross a forest of rhododendrons to arrive against the Dhaulagiri which spectacularly dominates us. We have to walk slowly in order to acclimatize ourselves properly. Beautiful camp at the limit of the vegetation.
4 hrs of walking
Final altitude: 3,600m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: tent
DAY 9: ITALIAN CAMP
Acclimatization day at the Italian camp. We go to a small Belvedere at 4,300 meters with magnificent views of Dhaulagiri II and III. This is the perfect time to take a day off and enjoy the camp, for those who want to land.
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in a tent
DAY 10: TREKKING FROM ITALIAN CAMP TO JAPANESE BASE CAMP
After crossing a glacier tongue, we progress slowly into a deep gorge at the foot of the Chonbardan glacier which we go up, a sort of corridor between the mountains. In front of us stands Sita Chuchura at 6,600 meters and the north face of Dhaulagiri.
5 hrs of walk
Final altitude: 4,300m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: tent
DAY 11: TREKKING FROM JAPNESE CLIMB TO DHAULAGIRI I BASE CAMP
We continue the climb towards the base camp of Dhaulagiri, we see the Tukuche Peak at almost 7,000 meters above sea level. It is at the last moment that we discover the pass of the base camp of Dhaulagiri, in front of its formidable north face.
5 hrs walk
final altitude of 4,600m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in a tent
DAY 12: ACCLIMATIZATION AT DHAULAGIRI I BASE CAMP
We acclimatize at Dhaulagiri base camp, facing its impressive north face. It is important to rest to acclimatize well.
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in a tent
DAY 13: DHAULAGIRI BASE CAMP– FRENCH PASS 5 360 M – HIDDEN VALLEY
After a steep climb in a moraine, we find the wide open spaces: the “Col des Français” at 5,360 meters is very vast. The view is exceptional on the Dhaulagiri. We descend slowly towards the Hidden Valley dominated by several peaks between 6,000 and 7,000 meters (Sita Chuchura, 6,611 m, Hongde 6,556 m, Dhampus Peak 6,035 m and Tukuche Peak 6,920 m).
6 hrs
Final altitude: 5,050m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in a tent
DAY 14: HIDDEN VALLEY – ASCENT OF THAPA PEAK AT 6012 M
We are in the very wild Hidden Valley with beautiful views to the peaks of Dolpo. We attempt the ascent of Thapa Peak at 6,012 meters via the south-west face. It is a not very technical climb, the only difficulty may be the thickness of the snow with the trace to be made. We follow the trail to Thapa Pass. Then, you evolve on a fairly wide ridge and then you reach a "chimney" which you take by following the final slope. From the summit at 6,012 meters, the panorama is magnificent over the Annapurnas, the Manaslu, the Gangapurna, the Dhaulagiris, the Tilicho, the Nilgiri...
NB: for those who do not wish to attempt the ascent, it is possible to discover the Hidden Valley in a short day's walk.
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in a tent
DAY 15: HIDDEN VALLEY – THAPA PASS 5,250 M – YAK KHARKA
After crossing the Thapa pass (5,250 m), we leave this high mountain atmosphere to begin our descent towards the Kali Gandaki valley, dominated by the superb Annapurna massif. Some crossing passages can be tricky in bad weather.
6 hrs walking
final altitude: 3,680m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in a tent
DAY 16: YAK KHARKA – MARPHA
We descend while losing altitude and all day we admire the Annapurnas facing us. Marpha is a very beautiful village of the Takali ethnic group surrounded by orchards, where there are many shops. This village is known for Marpha Brandy and Mustang Coffee! At the top of the village, stands a very beautiful Buddhist monastery which regulates the religious life of the inhabitants.
5hrs walking
final altitude:t 2,700m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in a Lodge
DAY 17: MARPHA – POKHARA
An uncomfortable track day along the Kali Gandaki. This saves us from taking the Jomosom-Pokhara flight which is regularly cancelled.
in a private vehicle, 8 hrs drive
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: overnight at the hotel
DAY 18: FLIGHT POKHARA – KATHMANDU
Flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Free day in Pokhara and/or Kathmandu
35 minutes flight
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: overnight at the hotel
DAY 19: FINAL DEPARTURE TO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Free time depending on the departure time of your flight and our representative will drop you at the airport, ending your journey in Nepal. We hope to be of service to you again. Thank you and safe travels.