Dhaulagiri High Trekking

Facts of the Trek:
Activities: Hiking & Trekking.
Start/End: Kathmandu
Destination: Dhaulagiri High Pass Trek
Trip Duration: 16 Days
Max. Altitude: 5360 meters
Group Size : Min. 2 / Max.12 + Above
Best Season: Mid February to May and October to mid-December.
Grade: ^^ (Moderate)
Trekking Type: Lodge & Camping trek.

Dhaulaghiri was climbed first in 1960 by an international team under the leadership of Max Eiselin, Lucerne. Since I happen to know some of the team members personally, my description concentrates mainly on this ascent. But in this Overview chapter, I try to inform about the present situation.

Dhavali Giri is Sanskrit and means white mountain. It is located in the west-central part of Nepal. On the altitude scale, it is number 7 and it is almost the last 8000er to be conquered. The way of the first ascent is the normal route of today. There are however two main possibilities to reach the base camp. Both ways start from the south at the small town of Beni (860 m) which can be reached by bus from Pokhara and Kathmandu.

The eastern valley is called Kali Gandaki and was chosen by the French expedition in 1950. Today there is even an airport at Jomosom (2700 m) in this valley. On the west side of this valley is Dhaulagiri, on the east side is Annapurna. The alternative route is the Mayanghdi valley, which was discovered by a Swiss expedition one year later. Today there are commercial trekking tours that climb on one side, reach the base camp and come back through the opposite valley. But there also organized tours that try to reach the summit.