Dhaulagiri Trek - 17 Days

Duration: 17 DAYS

The actual trekking day is 13 days of trekking and travelling. The rest of the time will be spent in Kathmandu valley and one night in Pokhara.

Elevation: 5,360 m

Difficulty: STRENUOUS (Walking hours from 5 to 8 hours per day)

This is a strenuous trek which involves crossing some of the high passes up to 5,360 m and walking up to 08 hours per day in extremely difficult trek trails of snow and glaciers above 4,500 m.    In some parts of this trek, you might need to use rope, ice axe and crampons for safety purposes. You might also encounter extreme weather conditions.  To undertake this trek, one needs to have high altitude trekking experience with some knowledge in mountaineering.

Altitude Problem:

This trek goes up to an altitude of 4,100 m with side trips reaching up to an elevation of 5,360 m, a zone which is highly susceptible to high altitude problems. Altitude sickness can affect anyone in the elevation beyond the safer limits of 2500m above sea level. As you ascend higher into the atmosphere, the oxygen content of the air decreases, making it more difficult for the body to adapt to the new altitude and perhaps leading to altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness can happen very quickly. It can be lethal if it’s not treated on time. If you have a headache, cough, racing heart or trouble breathing, difficulty in sleeping, weak you might be affected by altitude problems. In such cases you need to consult with your guide and stop ascending to higher elevation. The only remedy for altitude problems is descending to lower elevation immediately.

Prevention:

Allow ample time between trek days to let your body acclimatize well. – Do not increase the altitude by more than 500m per day – Drink plenty of liquid and don’t let your body get dehydrated – Eat plentiful and keep your body fit – Move slowly and don’t stress too much in your body – If you are smoking cut it out. However, even after following the prevention rules if someone is still affected then one needs to DESCENT down to the lower elevation asap as altitude problem can be life threatening.

Who Can Undertake This Trek?

The Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is not for beginners — it’s for seasoned adventurers seeking an unfiltered Himalayan experience. One needs to have a knowledge of using a rope, ice axe and crampons for safety purposes. The combination of extreme altitude, remote trails, and surreal beauty makes this one of Nepal’s most rewarding treks.

Are you ready to challenge yourself and walk along one of the most dramatic and wild trekking routes on Earth? The Dhaulagiri Circuit awaits.

Preparation For the Trek:

Since this trek is graded demanding and reaches up to an altitude of 5,360 m planning needs to be done to have a safe and enjoyable trek.

Mental Preparation: It is important to do the reality check before signing up for the trip:

– First need to question yourself if you are ready for the trek which goes up to an altitude of 5,360 m?

– Your health conditions? Recommends you check with your GP/Doctor

– Meditation practice which will strengthen your brain and might need it during trek in times of difficulties.

Physical Preparation:  It is crucial toning your legs & amp; body muscles, stamina, ready to take up the challenges of the Himalayas. If you are a regular trekker and have already done several treks not much preparation is needed but for a novice it is always good to prepare yourself with proper training as early as possible. As to when you should start training, you would want to begin at least 6 months before your journey. The longer you train, the fitter and stronger you will become and thus, more likely to enjoy the trek without adding any additional stress to your body and helps avoid injury.

– Start hiking covering 9 – 12 kms per day with bit of weight 5-15kg. Try this quite frequently and increase the distance. This will slowly build strong muscles in your legs and body, also help as to how you move on the trail. Practice with the hiking boots that you plan on taking to avoid blisters during the trek.

– Also, you can build up your strength, endurance, stability and self-assurance by doing stair walking. You can start slowly and then gradually prolong it for a bit longer period.

– You can work on a treadmill as it will strengthen your calves and Achilles tendons and improve your cardio and leg endurance. This can be done by increasing the incline each week till you can tolerate 45-60 m at a 15% incline.

– Other fitness activities like swimming, cycling, jogging is all helpful

Season: First week of October & from mid-April till May

You really need to have a good weather to enjoy your trek fully – normally the ideal time to undertake this trek is from October till mid-November and in the spring, you can start from April till first week of May. But as the weather pattern is changing its hard to be precise.

Group Size: 2-10 participants

Trek Style: Camping Style

Since there are only a few basic lodges in the lower section of this trek trail we therefore have based this trek in a camping organized style. Camping treks are organized in the remote terrain of Nepal where the facilities of tea houses are not available, here we entirely must depend on an organized trip where all the camping facilities i.e. tents, food and kitchen utensils will have to be supplied from Kathmandu. You will also have a whole bunch of staff to support the trip such as Sherpa to set up the camp, a Cook to prepare and serve freshly cooked meals and porters to carry your luggage, food supplies and camping equipment.

Accommodation: Tents

The tent we provide for this trip will be a Mountain Hardwear Trango 3.1 tent which is a three-person tent with plenty of space for two people sharing plus gear.  Foam mattress with insulation underneath is provided for sleeping. We will also provide a pillow, but the sleeping bag needs to be brought by yourself.

Also, we make sure that on all our treks there is a bathroom tent and a dining tent with tables and camp stools to provide a cozy, comfortable atmosphere to eat and chat with fellow trekkers during the evening.

Meals and Drinking Water:

We provide three tasty, plentiful and nutritious meals daily with a variety of local and Western dishes. To start the day, breakfast consists of a choice of porridge, muesli and cereal followed by omelet, fried or scrambled eggs with chapatti or bread. Lunch is generally a selection of salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta and traditional breads.

After a long day on the trail, dinner is a hearty 3 course meal – soup, followed by a variety of vegetables, meat, rice and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also provided at all meals. We use as much fresh produce as possible and special diets are regularly catered for. The leaders can maintain very tight controls on health and hygiene in the kitchen with respect to general cleanliness and food preparation and within the group with respect to personal hygiene.  This has allowed us to maintain remarkably high standards of health over many years of trek organization – and good health is vital to an enjoyable and successful trek and climb. All foods are well cooked, and vegetables are treated by potassium permanganate or iodine. Boiled water is served for drinking. Antiseptic soaps and potassium or iodine treated water are provided for washing. Special dietary requirements can always be catered for.

Typical Day in An Organized Camping Trek:

Normally a trek day starts around 6 a.m. with a mug of coffee or tea served through your tent flap. Hot water is provided for washing and shaving followed by a healthy breakfast. Our staff will provide boiled water for your water containers. We pack our gears and begin walking in the pleasant cool of the morning for around 2-4 hours before stopping for lunch. This break offers an opportunity to relax while lunch is being served. Lunch normally begins with fruit juice, fresh fruit, tinned meat, cheese, rice, chapatis or biscuits, cooked vegetables and tea or coffee. We usually reach our campsite by 4 pm and have tea and biscuits shortly afterwards. There is time to rest or explore before our evening meal at 6 p.m. This is the social event of the day. It begins with an appetizer and soup, followed by the main course and dessert with tea or coffee. The variety and quality of our “camp” food will delight you. As we mainly camp near villages, there is usually plenty of time to visit the locals before or after dinner and sample their home brews. As night approaches, most people retire to their warm sleeping bags and are fast asleep by 9:30 pm.

Our Crew:

We have some of the most dependable and experienced guides who have spent several years exploring the mountains and countryside of Nepal. This trip will be supported by our guides who is acquainted with the area, have a basic medical knowledge and a reasonable English language. The best quality they possess is their friendliness and alertness, which will make your trip more enjoyable and a memorable one.

There will also be a porter support to carry your main baggage leaving just the daypack to be carried by you. For your information a porter can carry a weight of around 30 Kg, so you need to organize your baggage i.e. around 15 kg per person.  Since porters play an important role in the trek it is important that they remain strong, healthy and well taken care of.  We provide them with windproof jackets, trousers, walking shoes, blankets and a shelter.

Baggage:

During the trek your main baggage will be taken care of by our porters. You just need to carry a day pack with a water bottle, camera, sunscreen, spare jacket, personal medication etc. – a small load that allows full enjoyment of the trek. For this trip you will need to have small day pack to carry by you during the trek, FAR OUT will be supplying you with the main trekking bag for all your trekking gears but you will also need to carry a small lockable bag for travel clothes or anything that you do not need during trek to store at hotel’s locker room/safe deposit box in Kathmandu for free of charge. Weight allowance at Nepal’s domestic airlines is 15 Kgs, excess weight is chargeable at USD 1 or more per Kilo depending on sectors.

Equipment List:

We will provide you with the full list once the trip is confirmed.

Access:

Land – It is a flight to Pokhara which is around 30 minutes then a drive of around 7 hours to Sibang.   The drive will be in metallic road till Beni then it will be in the mountain terrain which will bit rough ride.

Travel Insurance:

It is a MUST while travelling with us that you are fully insured. Your insurance should also include helicopter rescue services in case of emergency. Also, we advise you take out the cancellation policy in case of last-minute withdrawal from the trip. We recommend the following Insurance company for your travel Insurance as most of our traveler have been using it and we have experienced that they provide the service very fast and efficiently.

Environmental Concerns:

First and foremost, we would like to thank each one who visits the Himalayan region of Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and India. These regions in the Himalaya may seem eternal, but it is one of the most fragile ecosystems on earth. Preserving and protecting this beautiful world of ours for the better tomorrow has become mandatory for every one of us. With this understanding we at FAR OUT NEPAL since its establishment have been committed and sticking to the practice of responsible tourism. We therefore kindly request you all to cooperate, understand and let’s travel responsibly by preserving our environment.

Health, Vaccinations and Medical:

This is a strenuous trek as it spends many days/nights in an elevation higher than 5,000 m crosses two 5,000+ passes in a snow, glaciers and remote trail.  A person who having medical problems should first consult your physician before joining the trip. You need to be perfectly well to undertake this trek.

You should also obtain professional advice from a travel clinic or your local GP, about the right vaccine to take before you arrive in Nepal. Although officially you don’t need a vaccine certificate to enter Nepal.

In the mountain in many trek routes there are no health care facilities. A dental check-up is a good idea. While trekking one need to maintain bit of hygiene like washing hands before eating or you can use anti bacteria gel, avoid uncooked food, eat mostly vegetarian food, boiled water added with purifying tablets.  Don’t stress up walk slowly, avoid smoking, drink plenty of fluid so that your body don’t get dehydrated.

While trekking one needs to maintain a bit of hygiene like washing hands before eating or you can use anti bacteria gel, avoid uncooked food, eat mostly vegetarian food, boiled water added with purifying tablets.  Don’t stress up, walk slowly, avoid smoking, drink plenty of fluid so that your body doesn’t get dehydrated.

First Aid Kit:

We provide basic medical kit, but it is always safer to arrange your own medical kit as suggested by your physicians/doctor.

Visa Requirements:

All foreigners require a visa for entry into Nepal. You can get from a Nepalese embassy overseas or on arrival in Nepal. Most people will obtain their visa on arrival to Kathmandu airport.  For obtaining the visa your passport should have atleast 6 months validity on the day of departure and the visa fee on US $ cash.

Pre-Application via Embassy or Online:

• Online Application: Fill out the visa application form at the Nepal Immigration Department’s official website.
• Submit your form with the required documents at the embassy/consulate of Nepal in your country or at the visa counter upon arrival.

Trekking Permits:

You will require two different permits — TIMS Card and Annapurna Park Permit.

1. TIMS card (acts like a trekking permit)
2. Annapurna Conservation Park Ticket

For organizing these permits initially, we will need to have a digital passport size photograph along with scan copy of passport where all details are mentioned i.e. NAME AS IN THE TRAVELLING PASSPORT, NATIONALITY WITH PASSPORT NO, DATE OF BIRTH, SEX, VALIDITY OF THE PASSPORT)

Important Note:

Your safety is of utmost concern whilst traveling with Far Out Trekking.  Please be advised that your trip leader has the right to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. You must be aware that this is an adventure trip in a remote mountainous region where things are unpredictable.  One needs to be cooperative and flexible in this regard.

About Adventure Travel:

The concept of mountain trekking is ‘adventure traveling’, which can be unpredictable most of the time. While traveling through the remote mountainous regions of Nepal, please do not expect standards you are used to at home, since these areas are still underdeveloped.

The posted trek itinerary should be seen as a guide only. Situations like inclement weather, forces of nature and circumstances beyond our control may convince us to alter the itinerary. Therefore, you are advised to be flexible, positive and eager to take on the challenge if the need arises. In case of uncertainty regarding the suitability of this trek for you, please do speak with your trekking agent.

Note:

The trip notes posted on this page indicate in its entirety the most current information for this itinerary. Thus, they may supersede any or all existing information printed in our brochures and other forms of advertisements including the media.