Overview
The Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is a demanding trip through a remote area that is hardly visited by trekkers. This area, West of the Annapurna range, can only be visited by well organized parties. From Kathmandu it’s a long day drive to the starting point of this trek, just near Pokahara, a tropical area that can be very hot and humid. As soon as all equipment and food is rearranged for the porters, you will start trekking through little villages, green fields, rice terraces, thick bamboo forests and wild, rocky valleys until you reach the Italian base camp. From here the landscape changes dramatically.
The Dhaulagiri base camp is reached by trekking through a narrow gorge, across a rocky glacier for several days. The original base camp lies just below the stunning ice fall that’s comes down from Dhaulagiri’s west slope. An area that is known for avalanches and strong winds. The magical, white ‘hidden valley’ is just one pass crossing away: the French Col (5238m). But first you will have to descend to the bottom of the valley to find out that there’s another valley behind the first part! A rare and convenient flat area that eventually leads to the second high pass: Damphus Pass (5250m) and Thapa Peak (6035m). From the pass you have a stunning view at the impressive Annapurna Range that dominates the Eastern skyline. A long descend across slippery slopes leads you to the village of Jomson, the ending point of this challenging trek. From Jomson you will fly to Pokhara for a well deserved rest day, followed by a bus ride back to Kathmandu.
