18 daysExtreme6,189 mIsland Peak Climbing — 18 Days
From / person
$3,600
Trek
Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek — 13 Days
13 days4,750 mFrom Beni / Darbang (drive from Pokhara)Best: Oct–Nov, Apr–May
Photo by Drift Shutterbug on Pexels
01 / 08
Duration
13 days
From
$2,790/person
Max Altitude
4,750 m
Difficulty
Strenuous
Starts
Beni / Darbang (drive from Pokhara)
Group Size
2–10 People
Stay
Tea House / Camp
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Best Season
Oct–Nov, Apr–May
4.9 NMA-licensed guides Secure Stripe checkout Reserve now, pay later
Trip Highlights
Stand at Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,750 m) beneath the north face of the world's 7th-highest peak
A genuine tented wilderness expedition up the wild Myagdi Khola gorge
Walk the edge of the dramatic Chhonbardan Glacier and its tumbling icefall
Shorter, less technical alternative to the full circuit — no French or Dhampus Pass
Trek through remote Magar villages — Babichaur, Dharapani, Muri and Boghara
Full camping crew with cook, kitchen and porters carrying all equipment
One of Nepal's most spectacular and least-crowded base camps
Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m) — the only 8,000er entirely within Nepal
A 13-day wilderness camping trek up the Myagdi Khola to Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,750 m) beneath the world's 7th-highest peak — no high-pass crossing.
Day-by-Day Itinerary(13 days)
Altitude Profile
Peak: 4,750 m · Day 10Arrive in Kathmandu, transfer to your hotel and meet your guide for a full trek briefing and equipment check. The Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek is a camping trek above Italian Base Camp, so we confirm gear, permits and crew arrangements this evening.
1,400 m––DHotel
The Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek is the shorter, more direct way to stand beneath the towering north face of Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m) — the seventh-highest mountain on Earth and the only 8,000-metre peak that lies entirely within Nepal. Unlike the full 18-day Dhaulagiri Circuit, this 13-day route is an out-and-back wilderness trek: you follow the wild Myagdi Khola gorge up to Dhaulagiri Base Camp at 4,750 m, soak in the glacier amphitheatre, then retrace your steps down the same valley. There is no French Pass and no Dhampus Pass, which makes it less technical and a few days shorter — but it is still a serious, committing camping trek through some of the most remote country in the Annapurna region.
Starting with a scenic drive from Pokhara to Beni and on to Darbang, you climb through terraced Magar villages — Babichaur, Dharapani, Muri — before the trail narrows into the dramatic Myagdi gorge at Boghara and Dobang. Above Italian Base Camp the tea houses end and the trek becomes a fully tented expedition: your crew of cook, kitchen helpers and porters carries everything, setting up camp at Glacier Camp and finally at Dhaulagiri Base Camp itself, hard against the Chhonbardan Glacier.
Why trek to Dhaulagiri Base Camp
This is wilderness trekking in its purest form — no lodges, no crowds, no Wi-Fi, just you, your crew and one of the great mountain faces of the Himalaya. Because it avoids the 5,200 m-plus passes of the full circuit, it is achievable for fit trekkers who want a genuine high-altitude camping experience without glacier travel over a pass.
Who this trek is for
You need to be genuinely fit and comfortable with long days, basic camping and altitude up to 4,750 m. Prior multi-day trekking experience is strongly recommended. In return you get one of Nepal's most spectacular and least-visited base camps, on a route that still feels like a real expedition.
What's Included
Included
- ACAP permit and TIMS card
- Licensed, experienced English-speaking trekking guide
- Full camping crew — cook, kitchen helpers and porters
- All camping equipment — tents, dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent, mattresses
- All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) on the trek prepared by the trek cook
- All ground transport: Pokhara–Beni–Darbang drive and return
- Pokhara–Kathmandu flight at the end of the trek
- Airport and hotel transfers in Kathmandu
- Guide and porter insurance, wages, food and equipment
- First-aid kit, pulse oximeter and emergency oxygen
- All government taxes and official paperwork
Not Included
- International airfare to/from Nepal
- Nepal entry visa fee
- Travel and high-altitude rescue insurance (mandatory, must cover helicopter evacuation)
- Accommodation and meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Personal trekking gear and clothing (sleeping bag, down jacket can be hired)
- Tips for guide, cook and porters
- Drinks, snacks, hot showers and personal expenses
- Costs arising from early exit, flight delays or itinerary changes due to weather
- Anything not listed under Included
Pickup
Pokhara or Kathmandu: where should we pick you up?
This trip begins in Pokhara, Nepal’s lakeside trekking town. Most international flights land in Kathmandu, about 200 km away (25 minutes by plane or 6 to 8 hours by tourist bus), so you can either make your own way to Pokhara or let us collect you in Kathmandu.
Pickup in Pokhara
Trip starts hereAlready in Pokhara? We collect you from your hotel at no charge.
- Pokhara hotel pickupFrom any hotel in Pokhara, Lakeside included.Included
- Pokhara airport pickupWe quote
- Pokhara tourist bus park pickupWe quote
Pickup in Kathmandu
Landing in Kathmandu? We meet you at the airport or your hotel and get you to the start.
- Kathmandu international airport (on arrival)Included
- Kathmandu domestic airportIncluded
- Kathmandu hotel pickupIncluded
- Kathmandu tourist bus park pickupWe quote
Hotel in the city
- No hotel, I will book my own$0
- Pokhara: tourist standard guest houseWe quote
- Pokhara: 3-star hotel (bed & breakfast)We quote
- Pokhara: 4-star hotel (bed & breakfast)We quote
- Pokhara: 5-star hotel (bed & breakfast)We quote
Prices are per person and added to the trip price when you book. “We quote” means the price depends on your flight time and hotel, so our team confirms it with you before the trip. It is never added to your payment without asking.
Best Time to Go
Spring (Mar–May)
The second-best window. Warmer days, longer light and rhododendron blooming in the lower gorge. April–May is stable, though afternoon haze can build later in May and the upper valley may still hold snow early on.
Low: -8°C High: 15°C Lingering snow around Glacier Camp and base camp early in the season
Summer / Monsoon (Jun–Aug)
Not recommended. Heavy monsoon rain brings leeches, slippery trails and a real landslide risk in the steep Myagdi gorge, while cloud cover hides the mountains for days at a time.
Low: 2°C High: 18°C Rain below, wet snow possible at base camp
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
The prime season. Stable, settled weather after the monsoon delivers crystal-clear mountain views, crisp air and the most reliable conditions for the high camps and glacier section.
Low: -10°C High: 12°C Generally clear; light snow possible at base camp later in November
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Very cold and demanding. Deep snow can block the upper valley and base camp, and night-time temperatures at the high camps are brutal. Only for experienced, well-equipped winter trekkers.
Low: -18°C High: 6°C Heavy snow at and above Italian Base Camp; trail often impassable to base camp
Permits Required
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
NPR 3,000 (about US$23)Required for the entire route, which lies within the Annapurna Conservation Area. Single entry; included in your package.
TIMS Card
NPR 2,000 (about US$15)Trekkers' Information Management System card, required for all trekkers. Included in your package.
Licensed guide + camping crew
Included in packageA licensed guide and full camping crew are mandatory above Italian Base Camp, where there are no lodges. No Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is required — Dhaulagiri Base Camp is not a restricted area.
All permits are arranged and included in your package price. Nothing to organise yourself.
What to Pack
Merino or synthetic base layers — two sets, one worn one drying
Fleece or light insulated mid-layer
Waterproof shell jacket
Trekking trousers (not jeans, not cotton)
Sun hat and sunglasses — UV is fierce above the treeline
Warm hat and gloves for early starts and evenings
Down jacket for the evenings — rent one in Kathmandu or Pokhara for a couple of dollars a day rather than buying
Thermal bottoms for sleeping
A detailed packing list will be sent with your booking confirmation. Gear rental available in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Frequently Asked Questions
Free, by email
Get the day-by-day and price for your dates
We email you the full Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek — 13 Days itinerary with our current price per person, then a few useful planning notes. Unsubscribe anytime.
From the trail · Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek
Reels from the trailtap for sound
You might also like
Similar Treks & Tours
On the Trail
See it in motion
Your Himalaya Awaits
Ready to walk Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek?
Private departures on any date, a hand-picked NMA guide, and an itinerary built around you. Tell us your dates — we usually reply within a few hours.
From$2,790/ person
★ 4.8/5Est. 19985,000+ treks ledZero fatalitiesReserve now, pay later
$2,790
/ person · all-inclusive