| Day |
Route |
Duration |
Highest Point/m |
Grade |
| 1 |
Arrival Kathmandu transfer to Hotel |
All day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Meet with our representative at the
airport. Drive to hotel. |
| 2 |
Kathmandu |
All day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Sightseeing Day see Kathmandu Day Trips for ideas
of what to do. |
| 3 |
Kathmandu – Pokhara |
Drive 6 hours |
960 |
Easy |
| |
Private or public
transport to Pokhara.
Note that if you fly the afternoon is spent sightseeing. O/N
at hotel.
|
| 4 |
Pokhara – Beni - Shinga |
2 hours |
1100 |
Easy |
| |
Drive after breakfast to Beni and
start trek. We soon begin to feel the world disappear behind
our backs as we follow dirt trails to the village of Shinga
and camp on the school ground beside the Myagdi Khola. For those
who feel like a quick hike, there is a hot-spring next to the
river below. |
| 5 |
Shinga - Durbang |
5 hours |
|
Easy |
| |
At first we criss-cross the Myagdi
Khola on suspension bridges which combine to form a trading
lifeline for the small villages that we pass on the trail.
After the villages of Shisman and Talkot we begin a slight
climb to Babichor with its shops and teahouses surrounded
by terraced paddy fields. Our day ends at Dur bang where we
once again camp in the school grounds. |
| 6 |
Dharbang – Shibang |
6 hours |
|
Easy |
| |
We follow the river for a while this
morning and let it carry away the memories of our day-to-day
lives. Now we begin to enter the hills with a climb up the valley
side to the large village of Dharapani where we can grab a brief
rest. Then we climb up and over the hill behind Dharapani to
the village of Shibang and our camp. |
| 7 |
Shibang - Muri |
6 hours |
|
Easy |
| |
We are now into our trekking routine,
after breakfast we pass through forest, gradually climbing to
a point where Dhaulagiri is just visible. Stone pathways lead
us through terraced fields and over suspension bridges to once
again bring us back to the bank of the Myagdi Khola. We continue
to climb uphill, when suddenly, there stands Dhaulagiri 1 (8167m)
and Gurja himal (7193m) in front of us. It's not far now to
our camp site at the village of Muri. |
| 8 |
Muri – Bagar |
7 hours |
|
Moderate |
| |
The gentle downward slope that we
first negotiate today is a precursor to a long climb up to the
Ghorban Dhara - our first formal pass of the trip. The mountain
view seems to call us onward, and we go, up a steep section
of zigzag pathways. Not long now and we find ourselves on a
relaxing decent to our campsite where we can swap stories about
memorable hills!. |
| 9 |
Bagar - Dovan |
6 hours |
|
Hard |
| |
Already prepared for the
alpine vastness that awaits us, we happily leave the last
permanent habitation behind us. Some solid hill climbing fills
our day with hard breathing, sublime views, and accomplishment-filled
satisfaction. Now the trek becomes more challenging.
|
| 10 |
Dovan – Sallaghari or Upper Vungini
(Italian Base Camp) |
7 hours |
|
Hard |
| |
An alpine paradise waits!
Meadows, fine snow-covered peaks, running streams of crystal
water, and the passing of the tree line. Today we gain altitude
and leave the world behind. |
| 11 |
Upper Vungini (Italian Base Camp) - Glacier
Camp |
4 hours |
|
Hard |
| |
Crossing glaciers is potentially
dangerous and we shall probably rope up at least once today.
But the views and remoteness make it no inconvenience, just
another excuse to take in the view! We follow the main Vungini
glacier, taking our time to maintain safety before reaching
our campsite on the moraine.
|
| 12 |
Glacier Camp - Dhaulagiri Base Camp I |
4 hours |
|
Moderate |
| |
One of our main goals is
in site, Dhaulagiri Base Camp. As we ascend the glacier the
moraine reduces and blue and white ice begins to emerge like
marble. It is cold and unforbidden at DBC, but our camaraderie
and a good meal lift any flagging spirits. |
| 13 |
Dhaulagiri Base Camp - French Col - Hidden
Valley |
5 hours |
|
Hard |
| |
After breakfast we rope
up to get off the glacier and then begin a steep climb to
French Col. As the glacier falls behind our eyes are filled
with views of the famous Hidden Valley. Although this is not
Shangri La, it is more like Tibet or Ladakh, an arid, cold,
spectacular place where only a few dare to tread. |
| 14 |
Hidden Valley camp |
all day |
|
Easy |
| |
Not really a rest day as
such, more an exploration day! After a large breakfast to
warm us up, off we go to scale the minor peaks and passes
that surround Hidden Valley, and of course take in the magnificent
views.
|
| 15 |
Hidden Valley - Yak Kharka |
5 hours |
|
Hard |
| |
Our arms and legs soon warm up as
we climb Dhampus Pass after a very cold night. On the pass we
peer down the steep slopes of the Kali Gandaki valley - the
deepest river gorge in the world. A rapid and steep decent follows
to Yak Kharka, and our camp. |
| 16 |
Yak Kharka – Marpha |
4 hours |
|
Hard |
| |
The noises of the mountains fill
our ears again; it seems that wind has been the only music for
some time. Our decent is full of excitement as it leads to Marpha
- the cider and apple brandy capital of the Annapurna! And maybe
a hot shower too!! |
| 17 |
Marpha – Kalopani |
7 hours |
2530 |
Easy |
| |
Our trek along the Kali Gandaki river
bed takes us through many villages which used to thrive on the
trade of salt from Tibet. The trail undulates at first and then
heads down to our scenic overnight stop at Kalopani. |
| 18 |
Kalopani - Tatopani |
8 hours |
1120 |
Easy |
| |
It seems as if we are in a different
world compared to two days ago as we walk beside the Kali Gandaki
rumbling away. Our destination is the village of Tatopani, a
sub-tropical oasis of orange gardens and a great hot springs
where you can relax and unwind. |
| 19 |
Tatopani – Ghorepani |
8 hours |
2850 |
Moderate |
| |
At first we descend a little further
along the Kali Gandaki to Bega Khola. Then we have a long, slow
climb up through the villages of Ghara and Shika to our destination
of Ghorepani. |
| 20 |
Ghorepani - Ghandrung |
7 hours |
1950 |
Easy |
| |
Fabulous panoramic views will delight
us today, stretching away to the distant plains of India and
up to the massive bulk of the Annapurnas. We wake up in the
early morning to climb Poon Hill from where we will see the
Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Mustang Ranges. Then we set off after
breakfast towards Tadapani, as we trek our minds will be full
of the memories of Hidden Valley and what lies on the far side
of Dhaulagiri. The busy trail seems like another world compared
to where we have just been. |
| 21 |
Ghandrung - Birethanti – Pokhara |
4 hours |
960 |
Easy |
| |
Today is an easy walk down flag-stone
steps through numerous villages all the way to Syaulibazaar.
Our trek ends at Birethanti where we then drive back to Pokhara. |
| 22 |
Pokhara - Kathmandu |
Drive 6 hours |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Final Day end of trek debrief and
departure. |
| |
|
