Price per person

Usefull Information

Difficulty

Dhaulagiri circuit trek or Dhaulagiri round trek is a challenging trek reaching up to a maximum elevation of 5360m at French pass and a maximum overnight elevation of 5050m at the Hidden Valley. This two weeks trek includes crossing two high passes above 5000m and is a fully camping based trek. Physically challenging due to the higher elevation, involves daily trekking of approximately 6–8 hours.

Prerequisites

No previous trekking experience is required but you should be moderately fit and must enjoy walking and adaptable to high altitude conditions.

Meals

All meals are included during the trekking period (Day 02 to Day 18 Breakfast).

We will provide three meals a day (B,L,D) during the trek. Since this is a full camping trek, our kitchen crew will serve freshly prepared meals during the trek. We consider hearty and delicious meals as a key component to the overall success of our trip. You can and is encouraged to bring along comfort food which you enjoy eating – chocolates, power bars, dry fruits, candies, other snacks etc.

If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know in advance and we will be sure to pass your message to your guide. For a gluten-free diet, we highly recommend you bring extra foods especially for breakfast as your options for the breakfast will be limited.

In Kathmandu, only breakfast will be provided to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where what and with whom to eat for lunch and dinner.

Accommodation

Hotel: 5 Nights & Camping: 14 Nights

Kathmandu: Kathmandu Arts Hotel or similar Hotel. In Kathmandu, we stay at Kathmandu Arts hotel, centrally located in Thamel, the hotel also boasts of a beautiful garden where you can relax and enjoy the greenery. Breakfast will be provided in the hotel and your accommodation will be on a twin sharing basis and if you would like to have a single room, upon request you are required to pay a single supplement price as stated in the trip costing. If in case of a single by default, we will arrange a single tent for you at no additional cost.

Regardless of whether you’re coming back from the mountains or touching base from the airport, come and unwind at the hotel, request some fine Italian espresso or a chilled Beer, and escape in the memorable surroundings of Kathmandu’s most adored guesthouse.

Pokhara: 3-star hotel

In Pokhara, your accommodation will be at a 3-star hotel located in the lakeside area. Your accommodation will be on a twin sharing basis and if you would like to have a single room, upon request you are required to pay a single supplement price as stated in the trip costing. If in case of a single by default, we will arrange a single tent for you at no additional cost.

Trekking: Camping your accommodation during the trekking period will be fully tented camping. A tent will be provided for every 2 travelers with a foam mattress. If in case of a single by default, we will arrange a single tent for you at no additional cost. There will also be a kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent, table, chairs and more for your comfort.

Best season

The best seasons to trek the Dhaulagiri circuit are Autumn (from October till November) and Spring (April until May). The weather during these months tends to be clear and nice allowing us to enjoy the trekking to the fullest. Since this trip includes high mountain passes exceeding 5000m and remote location, we strictly do not recommend going during poor weather conditions.

Temperatures will drop considerably as you ascend higher every day. The nights are cold (between -10C to 5C) and the days are sunny and hot (between 10C to 20C).  Mornings are usually clear, with clouds building up in the afternoon and disappearing at night.

Guides

We possess a deep passion for alpine adventure & the outdoors, and with the small professional group we have on board, we’ve notched up experience that spans almost 3 decades on some of the most isolated trails and highest peaks.

We take great pride in calling ourselves a ‘high-altitude adventure specialist’ and all this is due to our diverse and qualified team of guides. Most of our guides were born in the Himalayan regions of Nepal & have relatives living in other parts of the regions where they were born in. We know that locally born staffs are a vital cog in that wheel of sometimes dangerous adventure where anything can happen.

Group size

Our emphasis is always on maintaining the small group so that it will be easy to coordinate and cooperate with each other. Our group size is small and we only take up to 15 pax in one group. If you opt to join our ‘fixed departure trip’, you are likely to be joining people from different countries of any age group except minors. The size of the group varies, the minimum no of persons required to operate a trip is 2 the maximum is 12 people.

Travel Insurance

It’s mandatory and highly recommended to get travel insurance before embarking on any adventurous trips in Nepal. We advise all our clients to get travel insurance that covers up emergency helicopter evacuation that may be needed in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or any other reasons in high altitudes where there are no other means of transportation available. It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision. Carry proof of your insurance with you on the holiday and leave a copy next to your kin. You must ensure that your insurance provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved.

More information: Travel Insurance

Drinking water

We provide boiled water for drinking purpose on all our treks and climbs. During mealtime, you can ask the boys to fill the hot water for you. We strongly discourage the use of single-use plastic bottles such as mineral water on all our trips. Carrying a hot water bottle is highly recommended.

Safety measures

Safety is always a priority while travelling with Friendship World Treks. Our Dhaulagiri circuit trek itinerary is devised keeping every aspect in mind, allowing proper acclimatization, rest days, and walking hours. On all our high altitude treks including the Dhaulagiri circuit trek, we send a supplementary oxygen system, satellite phone and a comprehensive medical kit be it a group of 2 or 12 for an emergency purpose. Besides, we also have a high staff to client ratio on all our treks.

Typical day on trek

Daily wake up calls will be between 6.00 am to 7.00 am while on the trek. The wake-up time and breakfast time will be decided the night before during the briefing time. The time table for each day will entirely depend on your walking duration for that particular day.

Tea will be served at your tent as a wake-up call. After a hearty breakfast, we set off on the day’s walk. Before breakfast, you are required to pack your duffel bag as it will be loaded by the porter while you are having your breakfast. After 3-4 hours of walk, we stop for lunch mid-day.  The afternoon’s walk is generally shorter and we usually arrive at our destination in time for afternoon tea. On some days, we will arrive at our destination by lunchtime and the entire afternoon will be free. After dinner, the evening will often be spent playing cards and reliving the day’s adventures, before heading off to bed for a well-earned sleep.

Will I have to carry my own stuff?

You will only carry your day pack carrying the essential items (Water, Cameras, Extra Fleece, Rain jacket, Sunscreen, Snacks, Valuable Items etc.) that you may need during the walk. Rest of your stuff will be carried by the porter. We provide 1 porter to every 2 participants and we also provide a duffel bag to put your trekking gears.

Travel Insurance for Nepal

Choosing the right travel insurance for Nepal can be confusing but it’s also an important decision. It’s mandatory and highly recommended to get Travel insurance before embarking on any adventurous trips in Nepal with Friendship World Treks.

We advise all our clients to get travel insurance that covers Medical evacuation insurance and Travel protection.  Medical evacuation insurance is a must when travelling at high altitudes in a remote part of the world where there are no other means of transportation available in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or any other reasons in high altitudes. Similarly, Travel protection is highly recommended to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may occur during or before your trip.

Emergency Medical Evacuation, Travel protection (Cancellation/Interruption), Medical expenses, Baggage loss & delays, and Death & Repatriation are also other important factors to include when purchasing your Insurance. It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision. Carry proof of your insurance with you on the holiday and leave a copy next to your kin. You must ensure that your insurance provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved.

Below you will find some information and recommendation that might help you in getting your insurance sorted before you embark on your adventure.

First thing first:

If you have an annual policy, household insurer or an existing health insurance company, check with them first if they are able to offer you a policy that covers the level of activity that you are undertaking as they are generally cheaper than getting new insurance.

Medical, Rescue and treatment:

Medical evacuation in remote places where there are no other means of transportation available can be really expensive. It’s mandatory for all our clients to have insurance that covers emergency evacuation, medical and treatment. If your own insurance doesn’t provide these coverages, then we strongly urge you to consider it again and get yourself fully insured. It is also important to know how much coverage you have and under what circumstances the medical cover applies.

Travel protection:

Losing the money, you have paid for the trip is worse should you need to cancel the trip after confirmation. Therefore, having Insurance with Travel protection is recommended. Things don’t always go as planned and there may be some unexpected events that require you to cancel or change your trip. All the trip deposits paid are non-refundable in case of any events so having your insurance provide these coverages can be helpful. Similarly, If you miss a flight/connecting flight or your flight is delayed, your policy can help, but only if the delay or missed flight is due to an Insured Event (Severe weather, natural disaster, hijacking, strike). However, this coverage may vary as per the insurance companies so please read the policy wording carefully.

Most travel insurance will cover up to a certain dollar amount. The key lies in knowing how much you are covered for so kindly check with your insurance about the limit.

Level of activities & sports:

It is highly recommended that you check with your insurance if it covers your level of activity, trip style and elevation before purchasing. Kindly ensure that it covers specific activities as per your trip style and the maximum elevation.

Exclusions:

Like most insurance policies, travel insurance has many exceptions. You should make note of any specific events or items that are excluded from your policy.

COVID-19:

We highly recommend purchasing Insurance that covers COVID-19 related expenses too.

Some recommendations:

For worldwide:

1. World Nomads 2. Global Rescue 

For UK Citizens:

1. British Mountaineering Council (BMC) 2. DogTag UK 3. Adventures Insurance 4. Campbell Irvine

For USA/Canada Citizens:

1. Travel Guard 2. IM Global 3. Tugo

For Europe:

1. Europ Assistance 2. IHI Bupa

For Australian/New Zealand citizens:

1. Cover-More Travel Insurance 2. Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance 3. 1 Cover Travel Insurance

For Malaysia/Singapore citizens:

1. AIG Travel Insurance 2. AIA Berhad 3. Alpha Global Solutions 

Important Note: The above-listed Insurance companies are just a recommendation only. We strongly advise you to consult/enquire with the Insurance company before purchasing any policies. Please ensure that your Insurance policy covers your level of activity with emergency evacuation and medical expenses covered.

Equipment List

Equipment list

The gears listed below are required for this trek. We encourage you to get all equipment listed below and kindly ensure you check and try every equipment. You can also buy or hire the same in Kathmandu as they are available in the many trekking shops from branded to local manufacturers in Kathmandu.

Head: – Warm Hat and Bandana/Scarf – Baseball cap – Thermal Balaclava – Sunglasses with UV protection – Headlight with spare batteries

Upper Body: – Long-sleeved shirts – T-Shirts – Baselayers – Warm Jackets/Sweater/Pullover – Waterproof GoreTex Jacket – Down Jacket with hood (800m fill) – Primaloft or light down jacket

Lower Body: – Thermal – Inner-wears / Baselayers – Undergarments – Waterproof Gore-Tex pant – Trekking Trousers/Pants – Down or Primaloft pant

Feet: – Warm socks (4 pair thin socks and 4 pair thick socks) – Trekking Boots (Preferably full to protect/support your ankle) – Camp Shoes – Gaiters – Down shoes (Optional) – Flipflop

Hands – Liner Gloves – Primaloft Mitten – Down Mitten

Others: – Sleeping bag – Backpack 40-50 litres – A pair of trekking poles – Water bottle one (1) litre X 2 – Multi-tool knife – Inflatable sleeping mattress (For additional comfort) – Laundry bag to keep dirty clothes – Large plastic bags to keep the clothes dry – Padlock – Sewing kit – Duct tape – Reading materials notebooks and pens – Extra clothes to wear in Kathmandu when you come back from the trek. – Camera with charger or spare batteries

Documents: – Passport with visa and validity of 6 months after your trip completion – 4 copies of passport size photos for permits and official formalities – Travel Insurance (Please refer to the general information page for more detail about it) – Flight tickets – Credit cards in case of emergencies – Driving ID or any other ID in case of loss of your passport.

(Please carry the photocopy of all the documents along with you and leave a copy to next of kin)

Toiletries and hygiene – Quick-drying towel – Small face towel – Toothbrush &Toothpaste – Deodorants, Soap and Shampoo (Smaller bottle) – Face and body moisturizer, Sunscreen and lip balm – Hand sanitiser/Antiseptic wipes – Hygiene products – Basic first aid kit

Climbing equipment (For Dhampus Peak) – Climbing helmet – Harness – Mountaineering boots (Lightweight and comfortable size) – Ascender/Jumar (Large handle) – Descender – Carabiners (4 screw gate and 4 snap gate) – Prussik cord X 2 – Slings X 2 – Ice Axe – Steel crampons

Additional Information

Other information such as (Insurance, Arrival Instructions, Visa and Passport, etc) required for the trip will be provided after your trip confirmation. Please get in touch with us via email/phone to get more information about the trip.