Trek Guide
A 2026 guide to the Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek: a remote 13-day full-service camping route up the Myagdi Khola to 4,750m, with costs, permits and tips.
By Travel Himalaya Nepal · Jun 14, 2026
A true wilderness camping trek — there are no teahouses above Darbang, so this is a full-service tented expedition with cook, kitchen crew and porters. An out-and-back route up the Myagdi Khola to base camp beneath the world's seventh-highest peak, returning…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Most trekkers in this part of Nepal head for Annapurna, leaving the Dhaulagiri sanctuary almost empty. That is the whole appeal. There are no lodges, no Wi-Fi, no menus and no other tour groups jostling for a window seat — just your own camp under some of the…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The trek is an out-and-back, meaning you walk in and walk out along the same valley — there is no loop and no high-pass crossing. A typical 13-day plan runs roughly like this: Days 1–2: Drive from Pokhara to Beni and on to Darbang, the last road head, then…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
This is the question we are asked most. The full Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek (18 days) uses the same approach up the Myagdi Khola, but instead of turning back at base camp it continues over two serious high passes — the French Pass (5,360 m) and the Dhampus Pass…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Make no mistake — this is a strenuous trek, graded harder than teahouse routes of similar altitude. The trail is rough and unmaintained in places, with steep forest climbs, exposed gorge sections, loose moraine and a glacier crossing near the top. Days can be…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Good news on the paperwork: Dhaulagiri Base Camp is not a restricted area, so you only need the two standard Annapurna-region permits. For 2026 these are the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) at NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals, and a TIMS card at…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The two reliable windows are spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November). Autumn brings the clearest, most stable skies and the sharpest mountain views, which is why it is our most popular season. Spring is warmer lower down and adds blooming…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The trailhead is reached from Pokhara, a short flight or scenic drive from Kathmandu. From Pokhara it is a half-day drive to Beni, the district headquarters of Myagdi, and then a rougher road on to Darbang, where the walking begins. Coming via Pokhara also…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
This is the single most important thing to understand about the trek. Above Darbang there are no lodges or teahouses at all, so the entire upper trek is full-service camping. You sleep in two-person tents; our crew carries and pitches a dining tent, a kitchen…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Because you are camping at altitude with no resupply, your kit matters more than on a teahouse trek. Essentials include a four-season sleeping bag rated to around minus 15°C, an insulated mat, sturdy broken-in boots, layered clothing for a wide temperature…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Topping out near 4,750 m, this trek carries a real risk of altitude sickness, and the remoteness makes prevention non-negotiable — there are no roads or villages to walk out to quickly if something goes wrong. We build in acclimatisation and follow a steady…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek suits fit, experienced walkers who crave solitude and are happy to swap teahouse comforts for a tent and a wild valley. If you loved Annapurna Base Camp but found it busy, this is the natural next step. If you want the same…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
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