Holidays
Dhaulagiri Circuit via the French Pass

6 reviews

Ke Classic

Holidays

Dhaulagiri Circuit via the French Pass

Nepal

6 reviews

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Walk & Trek

Guided Group

TOUGH

One of the best trekking holidays in Nepal, making a circuit around Dhaulagiri

Trip Code: DLG

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays

4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays

7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays

10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Section:

Dhaulagiri Circuit via the French Pass

Highlights

A classic and challenging trek around Dhaulagiri, the 7th highest peak on Earth
Trek across the French Pass (5370m) and into the spectacular Hidden Valley
Superb views of Dhaulagiri and the peaks of the Annapurnas
Excellent Kathmandu accommodation including the Hotel Shangri-La
FREE sleeping bag, down jacket and climbing gear hire is available for this holiday

At a Glance

Group Size 5 to 12
12 days trekking
Max altitude - 5360 metres
Join In Kathmandu

Accommodation & Meals

All meals included
4 nights Hotel
12 nights Camping
1 nights Lodge

Overview

Amongst the peaks and high valleys of the Nepal Himalaya there are several long and demanding trekking routes and this real adventure holiday tackles one of the best and most challenging of these; the circuit of Dhaulagiri (8167m) via the French Pass (5360m) and the Hidden Valley. This is a classic adventure trekking holiday for those with previous high altitude trekking experience, which includes a taste of all of the trekking environments that Nepal has to offer.

After a night in Pokhara and an exciting drive south of Dhaulagiri to the village of Dharapani, this superb trekking route ascends the lovely and unspoiled valley of the Myagdi Khola, which flows southwards from the heart of the Dhaulagiri Himal. We then spend 8 days trekking through an ever-changing landscape, with numerous picturesque villages, to reach Dhaulagiri Basecamp where we have a rest and acclimatisation day in preparation for the crossing of the French Pass. This tough, but technically straightforward pass lies close beneath the northern slopes of Dhaulagiri and the mountain views on our ascent and descent are simply sensational. Our highest camp is in the remarkable Hidden Valley at around 5100 metres and from here we cross the Dhampus Pass with sensational views across the Kali Gandaki Valley to the peaks of the Annapurnas. After a long descent to Marpha, we fly back to Pokhara from the airstrip at Jomsom and have more time to enjoy this laid-back lakeside town, before returning to Kathmandu. This is adventure travel at its best - a brilliant trek in a rarely-visited part of Nepal.

Is this holiday for you?

Much of the trekking on this holiday in Nepal involves straightforward walking on good trails. The trek is within our highest grade range on account of a number of factors including the unavoidably large altitude gains, the committing nature of the pass crossings and because there are a number of long or difficult days. On the first part of the trek we will follow generally good paths, through paddy fields and villages, as well as narrow tracks through forest, with good underfoot conditions. Approaching and crossing French Pass, we will encounter rough glacial moraine, scree, rock ridges with some degree of exposure (fixed lines may be used) and easy angled snow slopes. All group members will be required to bring crampons and an ice axe and should be competent in their use. (These can also be hired through KE). Our itinerary is staged to allow the best possible acclimatisation but large steps in altitude are unavoidable because of limited campsite options. You will need to be comfortable walking for 6 or 7 hours each day on a variety of terrain with the occasional longer day and to maintain this over several days. Since there are no lodges of a good standard in this region, this is a camping trek with a full Nepalese crew. Please note that this is camping in some style, where we provide spacious 2 person tents and thick foam mattresses to ensure you get a really good night's sleep. Also part of the camp set up is a dining tent (complete with table and chairs) where you will eat your meals and relax. The cook and his team have the use of a kitchen tent and there will also be one (or more usually two) toilet tents. Your local crew will set up the camp each evening and take it down again in the morning.

Why KE?

The Full Monty
Heading off the beaten track on quiet trails and across challenging snow covered high passes, this classic circuit trek includes a taste of all of the trekking environments Nepal has to offer.

Itinerary

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Day 1

Meet at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Transfers from Kathmandu Airport are provided.

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Your holiday starts at the hotel in Kathmandu. Transfers from Kathmandu Airport are provided. Depending on your arrival time, you may have the opportunity to explore the immediate vicinity of the hotel and get acclimatised to this bustling city. Alternatively, you may prefer to recover from your journey by relaxing at the hotel. Your guide will take dinner with you and will provide an informal briefing about the days ahead.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

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Day 2

Fly to Pokhara. Explore this beautiful lakeside town with views of the Annapurnas.

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After breakfast in the hotel we take a bus to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport for the 30 minute flight to Pokhara. It is a most interesting flight, with the peaks of the Greater Himalaya clearly visible through the right-hand window as we travel westwards. Particularly prominent are Manaslu and the Annapurna group as we approach the airport at Pokhara. Getting off the plane into the heat of Pokhara is impressive, as is the sight of the snow peaks of the Annapurna Himal which form the skyline to the north. After lunch the afternoon is free to explore this laid-back lakeside town. You can go shopping, take a rowing boat out on to the lake of Phewa Tal or hike up to the Peace Pagoda which sits on a ridge overlooking the town. Dinner will be taken in a local restaurant.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

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Day 3

Drive via Beni and Darbang to Dharapani (1550m).

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After breakfast in the hotel we board our transport for the 5 to 6 hour journey westwards through a fascinating and lush landscape of emerald green rice paddies and dense forest on the steeper and higher slopes. With the Annapurna Himal rising up to the north, we turn to follow the Kali Gandakhi River to the town of Beni and from there head west again, following the tributary Myagdi Khola. We pass several small settlements including Darbang (1100m) where our route beside the river turns again towards the north. We finally arrive at the ridge-top village of Dharapani (1550m) and set up our first camp here. There are views of Dhaulagiri and of Gurja Himal and Puta Hiunchuli to the west.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

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Day 4

A first short morning's walk to Sibang (1770m).

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There's no need to rush today and this first short stage of trekking lets both us and the trek crew get into the swing of things. Setting off from Dharapani, we can look across and down to the river and its point of confluence with the Maran Khola which comes in from the north-east. Our walk then continues along the ridge on paths and jeep trails which cut through pleasant terraced farmland, generally contouring above the river on our right hand side and with good views of Dhaulagiri to the north. We pass lots of isolated farms and through the picturesque settlement of Takam to reach our camping place on the school yard at Sibang (1770m). We will have lunch at camp and the rest of the day is free to do some exploring amongst the fields and houses of this colourful village.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

350 M

Descent

130 M

Time

3 - 4 hrs trekking

Distance

7 KM

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Day 5

Cross the Dar Khola, trek up to Muri, descend to the Myagdi Khola and camp at Naura (1450m).

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We have a short ascent and a rather longer descent to the Dar Khola which flows down from the west from the important bazaar town of Dhorpatan. Crossing this river at around 1650 metres elevation, we ascend for 2 hours to the large village of Muri (1840m) which sits high up on a spur between the Dar Khola and the Myagdi, which flows down from the north. We arrive at Muri in time for lunch and afterwards we continue northwards, making a long descent to cross the Muri Khola (another tributary of the Myagdi) and then meandering through pretty farmland, terraced rice fields and isolated houses, as we traverse around to regain our course above the Myagdi Khola. We set up our second camp of the holiday close to the village of Naura (1450m).

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

800 M

Descent

1120 M

Time

7 hrs trekking

Distance

15 KM

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Day 6

Trek up through the Myagdi Khola valley to a grazing area called Lapche Kharka (2100m).

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We continue to follow the Myagdi Khola upstream, gaining height steadily, to the larger settlement of Baghara (2080m) where we stop for lunch. From Baghara, the path descends for half an hour to Jeltung, the last village in this valley and the last village that we will encounter until we arrive at Marpha in the Kali Gandaki Valley. Beyond Jeltung, we continue to descend on steep and stony path to the river's edge. Following the river for a while, we then climb up into the forest on the west side of the river and follow an undulating trail through the trees passing several clearings with some stone-built shepherds huts. We make camp in a grazing area known as Lapche Kharka at approximately 2100 metres.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

1100 M

Descent

450 M

Time

6 - 7 hrs trekking

Distance

13 KM

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Day 7

Gradual ascent to Sallaghari (2800m) via Dobang.

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Continuing our gradual ascent on a spectacular alpine-style path, we encounter more grassy clearings and arrive at the level kharkha or grazing area known as Dobang (2600m). Here, we take lunch in a fine, open position on the south side of a tributary valley with a tantalising glimpse of the peaks of the Dhaulagiri Massif ahead. Crossing the tributary Konaban Khola, once again we enter a forested area and climb to a crest, from where we can see the west wall of Dhaulagiri I between the trees. Our adventurous route drops down to the Myagdi Khola, which we cross to reach the east bank, and then follows the river, crossing the tributary Pakite Khola, to reach the summer grazing area of Sallaghari (2800m).

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

1100 M

Descent

400 M

Time

7 hrs trekking

Distance

12 KM

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Day 8

Trek up to Italian Basecamp (3600m), crossing moraine debris and boulders.

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In accordance with our programme of careful acclimatisation, we have another reasonably short day today. We trek close up beneath the west side of Dhaulagiri, initially on moraine and then enter the forest before encountering more moraine and boulders. We come eventually to the site which is known as 'Italian Basecamp' (3660m). This is a tremendous location beneath the West Face of Dhaulagiri I.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

900 M

Descent

100 M

Time

5 hrs trekking

Distance

10 KM

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Day 9

A day for rest and acclimatisation at Italian Basecamp.

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As we make our approach to the head of the valley, gaining height steadily, we need to be careful with our programme of acclimatisation. As a vital part of this we will spend the day at this camp. This is a good opportunity to rest, take stock, catch up on laundry, do a bit of exploring and admire the views of Dhaulagiri. We spend a second night at Italian Basecamp.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

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Day 10

A short trek over glacial moraine to Japanese Camp (4150m).

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Another short day as we climb up above four thousand metres for the first time. Leaving our camp, the trail now crosses a rocky area, traversing a steep slope and climbing abruptly to cross the moraine of a glacier which flows down from Dhaulagiri itself. Beyond the glacier, we reach a wide grassy area in a shallow ablation valley. This is the place known as Japanese Camp and is a pretty spectacular camping place, dominated by the impressive west face of Dhaulagiri I on one side and by the huge rock walls of Tsaurabong Peak on the other. For the first time, we have the feeling that we are approaching the heart of the Himalayas.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

600 M

Descent

50 M

Time

4 - 5 hrs trekking

Distance

6 KM

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Day 11

Trek to Dhaulagiri Basecamp (4700m) traversing moraine and the glacier itself.

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Today we have an early start for the rugged day of trekking to Dhaulagiri Basecamp. We follow the north side of the glacier, sometimes on the lateral moraine and sometimes on the undulating surface of the glacier itself which lies below the west face. Finally, we reach Dhaulagiri Basecamp (4700m) after a tough walk. From our camp, we can look up at the towering north face of Dhaulagiri I, whilst to the west lie the awesome peaks of Dhaulagiri II (7751m), III (7715m) and IV (7618m). Directly opposite our camp is the impressive icefall which descends from the col between Dhaulagiri and Tukuche Peak.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

650 M

Descent

100 M

Time

6 hrs trekking

Distance

8 KM

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Day 12

An important day for acclimatisation at Dhaulagiri Basecamp.

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To set ourselves up for the crossing of French Pass (5370m) we will spend an acclimatisation day at Dhaulagiri Basecamp. A short exploratory walk above camp will help with the acclimatisation process. We spend a second night at Dhaulagiri Basecamp.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

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Day 13

Cross French Pass (5370m) and enjoy views of Dhaulagiri. Descend into the Hidden Valley.

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Continuing our route on the north side of the Chhondarban Glacier, we walk along the valley before steadily climb the stepped hillside above the glacier, with zig-zag trails across scree and moraine leading to the easy-angled snow slopes which lead up to French Pass (5370m). From this vantage point we have a stunning 360 degree panorama of the surrounding mountain ranges. These include, nearby Sita Chuchura, the peaks of the Mukut Himal, Tashi Kang, Tukuche Peak, and the huge Dhaulagiri I. A gentle descent, across easy snow slopes, takes us to the head of the so called Hidden Valley, a long and broad mountain enclave which remained undiscovered behind the Dhaulagiri Massif until as recently as the last few decades. We descend to camp on a level shelf, overlooking the Hidden Valley, at an altitude of approximately 5100 metres.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

800 M

Descent

400 M

Time

6 - 7 hrs trekking

Distance

9 KM

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Day 14

Another tough day as we cross Dhampus Pass (5280m) and descend into the Kali Gandaki Valley.

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We climb back up almost to the level of the French Pass at the eastern end of Hidden Valley, as we make a high traverse to the Dhampus Pass (5280m) which overlooks the deep cleft of the Kali Gandaki Valley with the peaks of the Annapurna range beyond. At this point Dhaulagiri I is hidden by the bulk of Tuckuche Peak. We follow a high-level alpine style traverse, before making the steep, challenging and at times rocky descent towards the Kali Gandaki. It is a further couple of hours of unrelenting descent to our camp on the grazing area of Yak Kharka (3900m), from which point we can once again see Dhaulagiri I.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

500 M

Descent

1700 M

Time

8 hrs trekking

Distance

14 KM

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Day 15

Descend to the Tibetan village of Marpha (2660m). Evening short drive to Jomsom.

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We complete our descent to the floor of the Kali Gandaki Valley, more than 2500 metres below Dhampus Pass! The first seasonal settlement that we reach is the cluster of stone huts at Alubari (3400m) beyond which, our steeply zig-zagging descent takes us eventually to the village of Marpha (2660m). This is a gem of a village, with whitewashed houses, paved streets and numerous well-kept lodges and Tibetan craft shops. We should have plenty of time to look around and to sample the apple pie (regional delicacy) in one of the many cafes. Then in the late afternoon, we will arrange to drive the short distance up the valley (20 mins) to the airstrip town of Jomsom (2736m). Here we check in to a local lodge and can celebrate the completion of our trek with a beer or perhaps with a glass of one of the famous, locally produced spirits, such as apple brandy.

Accommodation

Lodge

Meals

B L D

Ascent

60 M

Descent

1300 M

Time

3 hrs trekking

Distance

5 KM

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Day 16

Take the short flight to Pokhara and check in to a hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

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We take the short and exciting internal flight to Pokhara. (Please note that if, for any reason, the flight is cancelled, we are obliged to travel from Jomsom to Pokhara by road. This is a long journey of as much as 10 hours on poor roads, but does provide an insight into the spectacular valley of the Kali Gandaki). Assuming we have flown, we can check in at our comfortable hotel close to Phewa Tal in time for lunch. The afternoon is then free to wander by the lake, to browse the bazaar, or to simply sit in the garden of one of the excellent lakeside restaurants and admire the view of the Annapurnas and the spectacular 'Fishtail' peak of Macchapucchre. Overnight at our Pokhara hotel.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

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Day 17

Fly to Kathmandu. Free time to explore or relax before a final celebratory dinner.

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In the morning, we transfer to the airport and board the flight back to Kathmandu. After checking in at the hotel, there will be plenty of time to relax or for some independent sightseeing in the nearby Thamel district. In the evening we will go out to a restaurant for a celebration dinner.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

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Day 18

Your holiday ends after breakfast. Transfers to Kathmandu Airport are provided.

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Your holiday ends after breakfast. Transfers to Kathmandu Airport are provided. To extend your holiday in Nepal, why not pre-book a day's sightseeing tour in the Kathmandu Valley, or a multi-day excursion to the wildlife reserve at Chitwan. Contact our office for details.

Meals

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The Route

Airport

Peaks

Point

Direction

Pass

Transfer

Trek

Internalflight

Internal_flight

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

Holiday

General

Equipment

What's Included

An experienced English-speaking local leader
Kathmandu Airport transfers
Internal flights and all land transport involved in the itinerary
All accommodation as described
All meals throughout the trip
Foam camping mattress
Once on trek the group will be assisted by porters and a local guide
FREE sleeping bag
down jacket and climbing gear hire is available for this holiday on request

What's not Included

Travel Insurance
Nepalese Visa
Tips for porters and other trek staff
Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.

Joining Arrangements & Transfers

The group will meet at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Transfers are provided from/to Kathmandu Airport for all clients arriving on Day 1 of the Land Only itinerary and departing on the last day of the Land Only itinerary.

Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

Meal Plan

All meals are included in the holiday price from dinner on day 1 until breakfast on day 18.

Food & Water

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. If you are on a trekking or cycling holiday, water is supplied to fill up your individual bottles. This will be boiled, filtered or provided in large jerry cans or 5 litre bottles. Additionally you should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water when in towns or where water is not supplied. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

Our camping holidays in Nepal are accompanied by an experienced and well trained trek cook and his team of assistants. Breakfasts will include porridge or cereals and sometimes eggs, with tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Lunches are generally prepared on the trail and can include cooked or tinned vegetables, rice, chips, freshly made Tibetan bread, as well as tinned tuna, meats or cheese. On occasion this can be augmented by noodle soup. Dinners always start off with soup, followed by a locally inspired main course such as rice, dal and spicy vegetables, or a more international dish like pasta with a tomato sauce or pizza and chips. Dessert can be tinned fruit with custard or rice pudding or cake with custard. The emphasis is on providing a high-carbohydrate and largely vegetarian diet, which we have found to be easily digestible at high altitude. During this trek there will be very few opportunities to purchase snacks and drinks from simple shops and tea houses. All meals while on trek and also while staying in hotels in Kathmandu and in Pokhara are included in the trip price.

Accommodation

In Kathmandu we use a range of excellent hotels including the new and very comfortable 4 star Aloft Hotel. Located in the heart of the city, this hotel offers a range of first-class facilities including fast and free WiFi and a spa and fitness centre. There are also 2 nights at a comfortable hotel in Pokhara and a night in a lodge at Jomsom at the end of the trek. Whilst on trek there are 12 nights full-service camping. This is camping in some style, where we provide spacious 2 person tents (foam mattresses are also provided), a dining tent complete with table and chairs where you will eat your meals and relax, a kitchen tent in which the cook crew produce your meals and one (or more usually two) toilet tents. Your local crew will set up the camp each evening and take it down again in the morning. You will be served with a cup of `bed-tea` each morning and provided with a bowl of water with which to wash. Water for hand washing is also provided at each meal. On arrival into camp each afternoon hot drinks and snacks will be provided in the dining tent. Accommodation is generally arranged on a twin sharing basis and if you are travelling by yourself you will usually be paired up with someone of the same sex. For the hotel nights single rooms are available at supplementary cost. It is also possible to pre-book single tent occupancy at additional cost. Additional hotel nights in Kathmandu can also be pre-booked.

Internal flights

Access to the high and remote areas of the Himalaya where our treks start is often only possible using internal flights. The changeable nature of mountain weather makes flying conditions complex. In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal does not operate to the same standards as those of western nations and all airlines in Nepal appear on the UK Air Safety List (ASL), and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the United Kingdom. Flying in Nepal is an acknowledged risk, and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice provides further details which you can read on their website. KE is mindful of its duty of care to clients travelling with us in Nepal and we are stakeholders in an annual independent air audit of Nepal airlines undertaken by UK tour operators, most recently undertaken in February 2024. KE uses 5 airlines in Nepal which have been approved by this audit. These airlines are: Buddha Air, Summit Airlines, Shree, Tara and Yeti. We continue to cooperate with other tour operators to monitor aviation safety in Nepal and will ensure we remain a stakeholder in any further air safety audits. While we have taken appropriate action to try to minimise the risks of flying in Nepal, you should be aware that flying in mountainous terrain is not without any risk.

Please note that poor weather can cause delays on internal flights. If at the start of your holiday internal flights are cancelled for the day, you will spend an extra night near the airport (this may be at a hotel other than the group hotel). On the majority of trips there is enough flexibility in the trekking itinerary to make up 1 or possibly 2 lost days, but an alternative trek will be provided if delays to internal flights mean the original itinerary (or a shortened version of it) is no longer feasible.

For trips that end with an internal flight out of the mountains with no alternative road access, we have included 2 nights in Kathmandu as a contingency against delay. In the extremely unlikely event that a delay to your internal flight causes you to miss your homeward international flight, KE will re-book international flights for Flight Inclusive clients, but please be aware that clients booking on a Land Only basis will be responsible for re-booking their onward travel and for any associated costs. We advise you to take out suitable travel insurance and to keep your receipts, as you may subsequently be able to make a claim.

Group Leader & Support Staff

The group will be led by an experienced English-speaking local leader, and on trek will have the services of porters or baggage animals to carry luggage and local guides.

Altitude

This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least one night above 4000 metres and/or trekking to 5000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude on our website which can be viewed via the link below. Unless you have previous experience of trekking above 4000 metres you should consult one of our trekking experts before embarking on this holiday. On this trip we carry a portable altitude chamber (PAC-bag) and/or bottled oxygen for use in emergencies. www.keadventure.com/page/altitude.html

Spending Money

Approximately £200 (or equivalent in US dollars, Euros etc.) changed into local currency, should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses including approximately tips for your porter and trek crew, drinks etc. It is not necessary to obtain local currency (Nepali rupees) prior to departure. Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are equally acceptable for exchange in Nepal. Please note: Scottish and Northern Ireland bank notes are not accepted in Nepal. We recommend that you carry your travel money in the form of cash, since you will exchange the majority of this on the day of your arrival in Kathmandu. If you prefer not to carry all of your spending money in cash, it is possible to withdraw money from ATMs in Kathmandu using your debit or credit card. During the trek it is occasionally possible to buy snacks, chocolate, soft drinks and beer from tea-houses. Please be aware that since everything has to be carried up, these items become more expensive as you gain altitude.

Guidance on Tipping

Tipping is the accepted way of saying thank you for good service. Normally the tips are given at the end of the trek and this is best done as a group. Your Nepali tour leader will advise the group on an appropriate level of tipping. Most groups will hand out the tips with a bit of ceremony (or sometimes a party) on the last evening, to mark the end of the holiday. As a guide, we recommend that each group member contributes around £90 (in rupees) to these tips. At the end of their trek many people also like to donate various items of equipment to the porters and trek staff who work so hard to make the trip a success. Boots, gloves, hats, scarves and even socks are always warmly received by the porters, whilst technical clothing and equipment such as head-torches and trekking poles is highly prized by the Sherpa team. Your tour leader will make arrangements for a fair distribution (possibly by raffle) amongst the trek crew. Please note that you will have the opportunity to tip your tour leader separately (and additionally) during dinner on the final evening of the holiday.

Beat the Jet Lag

Our holidays are normally designed with minimal 'down time' at the start of the trip, but having a day or two at the beginning will have the additional benefit of allowing you time to get over the stress of a long journey or travelling across time zones, leaving you refreshed and ready for your holiday. We can easily arrange for you to have additional nights and airport transfers.

Baggage Allowance

Your main item of luggage should be a sturdy kit bag, duffle bag or similar. This will be carried during the trek by porters or pack animals and must weigh no more than 15kg. If you are picking up a sleeping bag and down jacket from KE in Kathmandu, you need to factor in the weight of these items (around 3kg) and allow space in your bag for them. You should also take on your holiday a daypack of approximately 30 litres capacity. For all flights to and from STOL airstrips in Nepal the maximum allowance for hold baggage AND hand baggage combined is 15kg and you should make every effort to keep to this total weight. It is usually not a problem to check in a couple of kg more than this, but you may be required to pay a small excess luggage charge. It is possible to leave items not required on trek at the hotel in Kathmandu. For your international flights, please check the baggage allowance with your airline.

Group Size & Holiday Status

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

Passport & Visas

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

Visa Nepal

All nationalities require a visa. The visa process is partly automated and the fee is $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days, $125 for 90 days. The visa is FREE for children under 10 years. The visa allows multiple re-entry. Payment must be made in cash and USD, GBP or Euros are accepted.

Part of this on-arrival visa process involves filling in a ‘Tourist Visa Application Form’ and you can simplify the procedure at Kathmandu Airport by filling this form in online (within 15 days of travelling) at this link. This generates a receipt which you present (hard copy or saved on your phone) on arrival. This should allow you to go straight to the cashier to pay for your visa and has the potential to save you time in the visa queue.

Whilst these are not now needed for the visa process, we recommend that you travel with at least 2 spare passport photographs.

If you are travelling via India (Delhi or Calcutta) to your destination you may also require a visa for India. This may apply even if you are not leaving the airport unless your baggage has been checked all the way through to your destination. Generally, if you use the same carrier for both legs of your journey, you will not need an India Visa. Please download the detailed information document: Visa PDF India.

TREKKING PERMITS – WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU ?

For treks in the Everest region – EBL, EVL, EHW, ELL - we need your passport details and we need you to take with you to Nepal 2 passport photographs. You will hand these over to your local leader on Day 1.

For treks in the Annapurna region – ASL, ACL, UAT, ANL and for the Gosainkund and Langtang Trek - GLT – we need your passport details and we need to send through to Nepal ahead of your departure a scan of a passport-style photograph of yourself. Please send this to us once your holiday is guaranteed.

For these Conservation Area treks and other treks requiring Special Permits – KAN, DLG, NAP – we need to send through to Nepal ahead of your departure a scan of a passport-style photograph of yourself and a scan of the information pages of your passport. Please send these to us once your holiday is guaranteed. On arrival in Kathmandu you will still be required to provide your passport (with your visa) for presentation at the Nepal Tourism Board. Your passport will be returned to you by your tour leader at dinner.

For those trips requiring Climbing Permits – MER, IPC, CTL, YAR - we need to send to Nepal ahead of your departure, a scan of a passport-style photograph of yourself and a scan of the information pages of your passport. Please send these to us once your holiday is guaranteed. On arrival in Kathmandu, for YAR and for CTL, you will still be required to provide your passport (with your visa) for presentation at the Nepal Tourism Board. Your passport will be returned to you by your tour leader at dinner.

Health & Vaccinations

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Vaccinations

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid.

Malarial prophylaxis is not usually required for trips in the mountains, however if you are visiting rural and remote low lying areas then they might be necessary.

On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

Preparing for your Holiday

It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking holiday getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. For this trip you need to be aerobically fit and also comfortable with walking up to 7 hours or more each day, sometimes on difficult terrain including boulder and scree slopes. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime. Regular hiking in hill country is the best training but running, cycling and swimming are also good for developing cardiovascular fitness and stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country. For this trip we also recommend that you gain some experience of walking in winter conditions wearing crampons.

Climate

October to November and March to May are the best times for trekking in Nepal. These months either side of the summer monsoon season are neither too hot in the foothills nor too cold in the higher elevations and they offer the best conditions for trekking. Pre-monsoon is the time to see the colourful blooms of the rhododendron at lower elevations. The post-monsoon months usually offer the clearest skies and the most settled weather. At either of these periods you will encounter a wide range of daytime temperatures during your holiday from approximately 25ºC in Kathmandu to approximately 14ºC at 3000 metres and approximately 3ºC at 5000m. The ‘real feel’ temperature in the middle of the day will be much warmer than this. At night in the rarefied air the temperatures plummet. You can expect to experience overnight temperatures below freezing once above approximately 4200m and at the highest camps in the Hidden Valley, the night time temperatures may drop as low as minus 20ºC. Extended periods of rain or snow are very unlikely outside of the monsoon period but short lived storms can and do occur. It is very important that you are equipped and prepared for these extremely low temperatures.

Travel Aware

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that before travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates directly from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

Single Use Plastic

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

Books

Nepal Guide: Lonely Planet
Rough Guide to Nepal: Rough guides
Trekking and Climbing in Nepal. Steve Razzetti.
Kathmandu and the Kingdom of Nepal. Prakash Raj.
Nepal phrasebook. Lonely Planet

Maps

Dhaulagiri Circuit. 1:87,500. Nepa maps

The map covers Thapa Pass, Hidden Valley, French Pass, Dhaulagiri Base Camp, and West Dhaulagiri Glacier. This is one of Nepa’s earlier maps and consequently the topographic base is not as detailed as it is for example, for the Everest trail. Also the contour interval is a less helpful 500 metres. However, the trail information is good and the map is still quite useful.

Travel Insurance

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct. Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Equipment List

The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. The packed weight of your kit bag while trekking should be no more than 15 kgs.

You must bring the following items:

Hiking boots (minimum B1 – see notes)
Gaiters
Trekking trousers
Waterproof overtrousers
Baselayer shirts
Baselayer leggings
Casual shirt and/or T-shirts
Travel clothes
Fleece jacket or warm jumper
Waterproof jacket
Sunhat
Warm hat
Sunglasses
Thermal gloves
Warm and waterproof gloves or mittens
Headtorch and spare batteries
Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
Water bottles 1 Litre x 2 (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
Water purification tablets
Washbag and toiletries
Antibacterial handwash
Small towel
Selection of dry bags (to keep your kit bag contents dry)
Small padlock (to lock your kit bag)
Daypack 40 litres
Sleeping bag (comfort rated -20°C)*
Warm jacket (down)*
‘Walking’ ice axe*
Crampons*
Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).

The following items are optional:

Trekking poles (recommended)
Approach boots (lightweight hiking boots)
Shorts
Sleeping bag liner
Thermarest or similar camping mattress (a foam mattress is provided)
Scarf or buff
Swimwear
Camera
Pen-knife (remember to pack sharp objects in hold baggage)
Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)
Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Notes

Specialist equipment: For this trip you will need boots capable of taking crampons securely. You will also need to bring a ‘walking’ ice axe* and crampons*. These items are a safety measure only for the pass crossings and you will not necessarily be required to use them.

*FREE sleeping bag, down jacket and climbing gear hire is included in your KE holiday booking on request.

Please make all requests at least 4 weeks prior to the trip departure date. Please note all hire / rental equipment is issued in Kathmandu. Please remember to allow room in your trek bag for these items.

The Nepalese are still traditional and conservative in the way they dress. Therefore to avoid embarrassment on both sides we recommend that you respect this and do not wear revealing clothing or sleeveless tops while visiting Nepal. Shorts are acceptable, but they should reach to just above the knee and be modest and for women it is preferable to wear trousers or a long skirt.

Recommended Outdoor Retailers

Many of the equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive a 12.5% discount with Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock and Runners Need. The discount code can be downloaded from your MyKE account and you can use this code at the checkout, either in store or online.

Extensions

Chitwan Jungle Extension

3 Days

The jungles of southern Nepal are an interesting counterpoint to trekking in the foothills or the high Himalaya. Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge provides a relaxing and comfortable base for a wildlife safari and cultural village experience. During two days of wildlife viewing in the Chitwan National Park 'buffer zone' - the interface area between visitors and the animals that live at Chitwan – you will be accompanied by expert guides on safaris by jeep by boat and on foot.

Extension Code: CHTL

Extension Itinerary

Day 1

Show Details

KE extension package services begin with a transfer to Kathmandu airport for the flight to Bharatpur. You are met by a Tiger Tops representative and transfer to the lodge. After a welcome briefing, you head off for the first of your jungle activities which may be by jeep, on foot or by boat. We can enjoy an excellent meal from the Tharu kitchen before retiring.

Meals

L D

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Day 2

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After an early wake-up call you will go out with your guide to catch the birds and animals at the watering hole. After breakfast at the lodge you will go out on safari again. As with yesterday your safaris can be by jeep, on foot or by boat. After a full day of wildlife viewing, you spend your final night at Tharu Lodge.

Meals

B L D

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Day 3

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Depending on your flight time, you may have another opportunity this morning to observe the animals at the watering hole, then after breakfast at the lodge, you transfer to the airport for the flight to Kathmandu where KE extension package services end.

Meals

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Whats Included

Return flights - Kathmandu / Bharatpur / Kathmandu
Kathmandu Airport transfers
Transfers to the lodge on arrival at Bharatpur Airport
2 nights full board accommodation at Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge
Jungle activities including jeep rides / boat rides / nature walks and birdwatching
Airport departure tax
National park buffer zone fee

What's Not Included

Any additional hotel nights required in Kathmandu before or after the extension
Expenses of a personal nature - drinks and souvenirs etc.

Kathmandu Tour - Nagarkot and Bhaktapur

1 Day

The Kathmandu Valley contains the cities of Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu itself, all of which were once independent kingdoms. An exploration of the valley’s historic and cultural sights is an excellent way to begin or end your adventure in Nepal. Highlights of this tour includes a very early drive up to Nagarkot on the Kathmandu Valley rim, the perfect place to watch a Himalayan sunrise. This is followed by a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bhaktapur, renowned for its temples and traditional buildings.

Extension Code: KTMV

Sharing Price from

US$175

Single Traveller Price from

US$270

Extension Itinerary

Day 1

Show Details

We have a long morning of sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley, beginning with a very early start (at around 0430). We drive for approximately 1 hour through the quiet streets to Nargakot on the valley rim to watch the sunrise light up the Himalayas. Dropping back down to the valley, you will then have a guided tour of medieval Bhaktapur before returning to your hotel towards midday.

Hide Details

Whats Included

Experienced tour guide
Vehicle transport and driver
Entrance fees

What's Not Included

Packed breakfast to be provided. Other meals and drinks are not included

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 from 6 reviews

Excellent Himalaya Trek ★★★★★

This was an outstanding Nepal trek that I highly recommend without reservation for anyone seeking a challenging but spectacular mountain trek experience. Scenery was superb and varied, progressing through farm countryside, quaint villages, lush forests, and finally above tree-line with vast Himalayan mountain vistas. I felt that daily walking pace, distance covered, and altitude gain were all reasonable. Notably, no client suffered significant altitude problems, only a couple transient headaches . Views before and after the French and Damphus passes were stunning. Hiking was great every day, with numerous waterfalls, scenic rivers, and of course snow-capped mountains. However, I especially enjoyed walking from the Hidden Valley campsite (5120m) to the meadow campsite Yak Kharka (4000m), passing over the Dhamphus Pass followed by a long but stunning alpine traverse and finally a precipitous descent from alpine terrain to meadows. Logistics were nearly flawless thanks to our fantastic head guide (Passang), assistant guides, porters, and cooking staff. Food was tasty, varied, and plentiful. Hygeine was excellent and no one in our group of 7 was sick on the trek. Efficient porters insured that our tents were either already set up or in process of setting up upon our arrival at every camp. Of course, near-perfect weather didn't hurt-- it was sunny every day and no more than a dusting of snow late one day in camp before dinner! Crampons and ice ax not used at all. Trails almost snow-free. Yes, nights at Dhaulagiri basecamp (about -7C in tent) and Hidden Valley (-10C in tent) were cold but tolerable with the right gear. I really think November is the best month for this trek-- slightly colder than October but better chance of stable, dry weather. In any case, days warmed up nicely. After the trek we flew from Jomsom to Pokhara where we toured the International Mountain Museum and enjoyed views of Phewa Lake from the Peace Temple.

By Steven from Albuquerque | 30 November 2017

A challenging trek with quiet, interesting trails and vast, stunning landscapes. ★★★★★

I wanted to complete this trek as it not only has a reputation for being a Himalayan classic but also one of the quieter, remoter routes in the region. It lived up to expectation in both these respects. The route manages to encapsulate many of the best features of Himalayan trekking with an interesting approach through dense woodland, friendly villages with their endless terraces and the odd precipitous path. After a week or so this scenery gradually gives way to be replaced by a moonscape gouge d out by glaciers, topped off with the familiar snowy peaks of 7000m plus giants. The main highlights, amongst many, come from Italian basecamp through Dhaulagiri basecamp, the French Pass and then down and out of the Hidden Valley over the Dhampus Pass. The following walk with views of Dhaulagiri on one side and the Annapurna massif on the other is simply breathtaking. The trek concludes with a chance to relax in the towns of Marpha and then Pokhara, although for our group this was interrupted by an unforgettable 8 hour bus journey worthy of a Top Gear special, due to the flight from Jomsom to Pokhara being cancelled. Our guide Jagan was excellent throughout, always attentive, and when his organisational skills were first tested by tardy porter issues and then by the weather forecast, he came through with flying colours. He made the group and the crew feel like one unit and this was never better illustrated than during the party we had in Marpha at the end of the trek. I have no hesitation recommending this trek with the caveat that a flexible approach should be taken towards the schedule. Changing weather meant we had to trek for 3 long days at a high altitude without the extra days that had been allowed for acclimatisation and some struggled with this. Having said that the route is certainly achievable for any fit and motivated trekker who shows it the necessary respect.

By Jonathan from COBHAM | 25 November 2016

Very good. Brilliant trek leader, great grouup, good scenery ★★★★

Great holiday. The group was exceptionally good and I had a good tent partner, Grace. I enjoyed the high altitude scenery, in particular the day we made the traverse after the hidden valley. I did suffer one night from altitude but I think this was circumstances beyond anyone's control because we had to skip the Japanese basecamp and go to Dhaulagiri base csmp. All in all a fantastic trip Clare

By Clare from Bristol | 22 November 2016

Tough fulfilling trek ★★★★★

This was a great trek, with beautiful mountain scenery, and almost mediaeval villages along the way. The 3 days over the French pass, in the Hidden Valley, and over the Dhampus pass were hard but stunning. Negatives - the porters were pretty mischievous at first, the rest days at the highest altitudes didn't work out, the beds in the 'hotel' in Jomsom were rock hard, and the dust in the Kali Gandaki was seriously heavy duty. But all is indelibly seared into the memory banks, inclu ding a huge lammergeyer passing 10ft overhead to check us out.

By Charles from YORK | 22 November 2016

Good but Cold ★★★★

Enjoyed our time on the trek - the flights and arrangements worked well and the trek leader Jagan (apologies for spelling) was charming, efficient and very knowledgeable. He really did his best to make the trip go well! The issues he had to deal with - some dodgy porters early on replaced by donkeys, difficulty with too small camping sites etc., he dealt with quietly and efficiently. The catering team were excellent - never easy to cater for 13 Westerners at 17000 feet but they did well! I don&# 039;t want to see another egg for a while but hey hoe! Things that could be avoided - the route description is not very accurate and could do with updating, the camp sites notably the Japanese camp is too small and the Dhaulagiri camp uncomfortable. Marpha was a charming village unlike Jomsom which was anything but! Dust was a predominant feature of the last few days, sadly our flight out of Jomsom was cancelled so we had an 8 hour very dusty mini bus trip that is not recommended but sadly unavoidable in the circumstances! The last day was rather clouded by the 'Katmandhu Trots' so we left with relief! To be recommended but not for the faint hearted!

By Michael from Corbridge | 21 November 2016

Excellent Himalaya Trek

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

By Steven from Albuquerque | 30 November 2017

A challenging trek with quiet, interesting trails and vast, stunning landscapes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

By Jonathan from COBHAM | 25 November 2016

Very good. Brilliant trek leader, great grouup, good scenery

★ ★ ★ ★

By Clare from Bristol | 22 November 2016

Tough fulfilling trek

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

By Charles from YORK | 22 November 2016

Good but Cold

★ ★ ★ ★

By Michael from Corbridge | 21 November 2016

A varied, stunning and inspiring big mountain experience.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This trip was everything I hoped it would be - as the walking starts low there is time to enjoy walking through the beautiful villages and terraced farmland which still feels like real Nepal. Once you are up in the high mountains the scenery gets more spectacular by the day! Although there are some long walking days, we also had a number of half days and rest days which meant you could really enjoy being in each camp. Once over the Damphus Pass, the terrain is different again and the views of An napurna are amazing. The village of Marpha at the end of the trek is a real gem. As we were unable to fly out of Jonsom we had a long bus ride out on local buses which was very spectacular but not for the feint hearted! Jo, our trek leader, was absolutely fantastic - I can not praise her enough - and coupled with the friendly local crew they really made this a trip to remember.

By Judith from PEEL | 01 January 2016

View Dates & Prices

Unfortunately there is no departures available for this trip - please get in touch with our team for more details.

Dhaulagiri Circuit via the French Pass

Holiday Grades

Our Holiday Grades Explained

1 - 3 LEISURELY

4 - 6 MODERATE

7 - 9 CHALLENGING

10 - 12 TOUGH

Dhaulagiri Circuit via the French Pass

Highlights

At a Glance

Accommodation & Meals

Overview

Is this holiday for you?

Why KE?

Itinerary

The Route

Essential Information

TREKKING PERMITS – WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU ?

Vaccinations

Dhaulagiri Circuit. 1:87,500. Nepa maps

You must bring the following items:

The following items are optional:

Notes

Extensions

Chitwan Jungle Extension

Extension Details

Chitwan Jungle Extension

3 Days

Extension Itinerary

Whats Included

What's Not Included

Kathmandu Tour - Nagarkot and Bhaktapur

Extension Details

Kathmandu Tour - Nagarkot and Bhaktapur

1 Day

Sharing Price from

US$175

Single Traveller Price from

US$270

Extension Itinerary

Whats Included

What's Not Included

Reviews

Traveller Reviews

Excellent Himalaya Trek

A challenging trek with quiet, interesting trails and vast, stunning landscapes.

Very good. Brilliant trek leader, great grouup, good scenery

Tough fulfilling trek

Good but Cold

A varied, stunning and inspiring big mountain experience.

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