Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1300m)
Depending on the arrival time, Thamserku representative will be at the airport to receive you and transfer you to your booked hotel.
Evening dinner at the Hotel
Meals: D
Hotel:
Gokarna Forest Resort
Day 2: Free day in Kathmandu
Today, we will have a free day. Our guide can check our gears if we are not sure we have everything for the trek. We can rent or buy anything more we want today.
Meals: BD
Day 3: Kathmandu - Baglung
An early morning starts by bus to Pokhara which takes about 8 hrs drive and then Baglung (1250m) with our Nepalese staffs (cook, kitchen boys, Sherpas, Sirdar). A quite 9h long way in total but the sceneries are great where we get to view big commercial villages, small typical villages, and terraced fields.
Meals: BLD
Day 4: Trek to Beni (900m) – 6 Hrs walk
Today we walk alongside the Kali Gandaki on a small path crossing villages. At the bottom of that valley, the scenery is very quiet; Dhaulagiri appears, but little far away.
Meals: BLD
Day 5: Trek to Babichor (1000m) – 6 Hrs walk
Leaving the Kali Gandaki valley, we go now alongside the Myagdi Khola crossing 3 suspension bridges along the way. At Tatopani, the sulfurous hot springs allow us the last bath before we return back to Pokhara. As we arrive in a very little busy trekking area, we notice the busy shops which are also the last as they start getting lesser along the way.
Meals: BLD
Day 6: Trek to Dharapani (1500m) – 5 Hrs walk
We cross Darbang, a very nice village where we find a post office and some shops. At Phedi, the valley narrows for a long and steep climb on beautiful pine trees covered hilltop. We discover Dharapani and around full of villages scattered on the hillsides and surrounded by terrace fields. Here, house roofs are covered with pumpkins and millet is crushed in mortars.
Meals: BLD
Day 7: Trek to Mudi (1940m) – 6 Hrs walk
As we trek from Dharapani, the trail offers an excellent panorama of the surrounding mountains, Gurja Himal (7193m), Dhaulagiri III (7715m), V (7618m). From the path which crosses Takum and Mattim, small villages, we can view the yellow, ochre, green terrace fields. A good balcony path goes on till Mudi. Its settlement unity and concentration make it a very nice village. We might encounter children singing and dancing to collect money for the school.
Meals: BLD
Day 8: Trek to Boghara (2100m) – 6/7 Hrs walk
On a little-marked path through the crop fields, we go down in the narrow valley and reach Jugapani. Very nice and sudden 900m height difference climb above the river; a narrow and aerial path allows having a view of Dhaulagiri I along with Myagdi Khola that is sinking into a canyon with big waterfalls. At Boghara, the last village we cross, the settlement is scattered: despite austere surroundings and very hard life here, there are about 250 inhabitants living in autarky. We camp in the much frequented but really destitute school playground.
Meals: BLD
Day 9: Trek to Dolang (2600m) – 6 Hrs walk
We will enjoy the sunrise on Jokang today. The trekking path goes through a dense forest where we can see very typical and isolated huts of the last autochthones breeding buffaloes and big waterfalls.
Meals: BLD
Day 10: Dolang - Pine Trees Camp (3200m) – 6/7 Hrs walk
We will enjoy the sunrise on Dhaulagiri IV early morning. After a steep and sometimes slippery way down towards Konaban Khola, we will notice the first river after which we cross the Myagdi Khola on a small risky bridge. Humid and dense vegetation disappears for leaving the place to high pines.
Meals: BLD
Day 11: Trek to Italian Base Camp (3700m) – 3/4 Hrs walk
Way out of the forest is followed by a moraine crossing before entering again pines forest, after a steep climb to the foot of Manapati. We camp at west face foot, last vegetation line. The sunny spot is comfortable for acclimatization facing a beautiful mountain panorama.
Meals: BLD
Day 12: Dhaulagiri I Base Camp Climbing (4700m) – 9 Hrs Trek
Today we will experience the Glacier crossing before entering a deep gorge, the old Chhonbardan glacier bed where we can easily walk although the trails is a very long and rocky route. We will have our eyes constantly looking at the Sita Chuchura (Blumlisalp at 6600m). The last moment seeing pass is facing Dhaulagiri north face.
Meals: BLD
Day 13: Rest day at Dhaulagiri Base Camp
Rest day or walking around Base Camp.
Meals: BLD
Day 14: Dhaulagiri BC - French Pass - Tukuche Bc (5200m) – 6 Hrs walk
We quickly leave the glacier to reach a crest and continue towards the French Pass (5360m). From that pass, the way goes down towards the Hidden Valley where it is generally settled Tukuche Base Camp, a wide and open place amidst pleasant green places. Panorama of Sita Chu Chura (6611m) and Tukuche (6920m).
Meals: BLD
Day 15: Tukuche Base Camp - Thapa Peak (6012m) - Tukuche Basecamp.
Today we can take on the optional climb on Thapa Peak. That day is devoted to Thapa Peak south face optional climbing (6012m). Members who are too tired can rest or enjoy walking around the base camp.
Meals: BLD
Day 16: Exploration at Tukuche Base Camp
We can use this day as a contingency day in case the weather is not good the other day. If the weather is good then this day can be used as a second climbing (there are many possible peaks around), or to a rest day for those who have climbed Thapa Peak on the previous day.
Meals: BLD
Day 17: Tukuche BC - Thapa Pass - Yak Kharka (4850m) – 6 Hrs walk
Leaving Tukuche BC, we ascend towards the Thapa Pass or Dhampus Pass (5250m). Along hillside crossing till the 5092m point where we have a wonderful panorama over Annapurna range and Nilgiri massif. That crossing day may be delicate in case of bad weather, with possible use of crampons.
Meals: BLD
Day 18: Yak Kharka - Marpha (2700m) – 5 Hrs Trek
A steep way down on a small path, with that little and pleasant feeling of a bird gliding! We reach Marpha, a very nice Tibetan village that is well known for its apple brandy.
Meals: BLD
Day 19: Marpha - Jomosom (2710m) – 2 Hrs Trek
Through a wide valley, we go up alongside the Kali Gandaki river, before arriving at Jomsom, the main village of that valley with many shops. Here is the small airport allowing going to lower valleys.
Meals: BLD
Day 20: Jomsom – Pokhara – Kathmandu
We take an early flight from Jomsom to Pokhara and then take a connecting flight to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu, we’ll transfer to hotel. We will have free time to relax or head into the city.
Meals: B
Day 21: Kathmandu
Today after the breakfast we’ll be touring around the Kathmandu valley. The Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath Stupa are the major sight-seeing areas around the Kathmandu valley. These all are listed in a world heritage sites. The Durbar square shows us the real life of ancient periods. Pashupatinath temple is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimages. Swoyambhunath temple and Boudhanath stupa is the Buddhist temple which is very popular around the globe. Swoyambhunath is also known as money temple stands on the hilltop west of the Kathmandu valley. It can also be known as the viewpoint of Kathmandu valley. Boudhanath temple is the biggest Chorten ever made around the world.
Later on, after the sight-seeing, we will introduce to our fellow participants and discuss our trip preparations.
Meals: B
Day 22: International Departure
Depending on your flight time you will be transferred to the airport. The airport check-in is 3 hours prior to the departure time and the hotel checkout time is 12 PM.