Itinerary
- Day 1
Pokhara to Darbang
Your journey begins with breakfast before heading out to drive through the Pokhara valley. The route takes you past views of Annapurna and Machhapuchare peaks while you pass through Beni and several smaller villages. You'll arrive at Darbang, which sits on the Mygdi River, and after settling into your lodge, spend the afternoon walking around the village streets to get a feel for where the Magar people live and work.
- Start point
- Pokhara, Gandaki, Nepal (From Your Pokhara Hotel)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Drive to Darbang trekking point
- Village exploration in Darbang
Landmarks Annapurna Machhapuchare - Day 2
Darbang to Phaliya Gaon
This first trekking day heads north along the Mygdi River upstream. You'll walk through farm villages and terraced fields, and the trail gradually moves into cool forest shade as it enters a gorge. After several hours of walking, you reach Phaliya Gaon, a peaceful farm village right by the river where you'll camp for the night, surrounded by open grazing fields.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea (Tea, Coffee, Boiled water included during camping)
Included Activities
- Trek from Darbang to Phaliya Gaon
- River-side walking trail
Landmarks Mygdi River - Day 3
Phaliya Gaon to Bagar
You'll follow the riverside path to the small farm village of Juge Pani, where you'll stop for lunch. After eating, the afternoon involves a steep uphill climb to reach a ridge top, then the trail descends through cool forest shade before arriving at Bagar, a Magar people village. There's time to walk around this charming village and explore the local area before settling in for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Juge Pani village), Dinner, Tea (Tea, Coffee, Boiled water included during camping)
Included Activities
- Trek from Phaliya Gaon to Bagar
- Steep ridge climb
- Village exploration in Bagar
- Day 4
Bagar to Dovan
Leaving Bagar's farm fields behind, you'll walk into forest for about an hour before facing a steep climb through forested areas filled with bamboo, oaks, and rhododendron trees. After the climb, you descend to reach Dovan, where your overnight camp sits in a lovely forest setting with a small teahouse and local shops nearby.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea (Tea, Coffee, Boiled water included during camping)
Included Activities
- Trek from Bagar to Dovan
- Forest walking and steep climb
- Day 5
Dovan to Chartare
After breakfast at Dovan, you walk to a bridge that crosses a stream at the confluence of the Mygdi River. From there, you're walking into the forest for most of the day before arriving at Chartare, also called Bhainsi Kharka, for your overnight stop. The camp sits in dense forest surrounded by local cattle herders' grazing areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea (Tea, Coffee, Boiled water included during camping)
Included Activities
- Trek from Dovan to Chartare
- River stream crossing
- Forest walking
Landmarks Mygdi River - Day 6
Chartare to Pakhaban
You're leaving the forest completely now and entering wilderness. Walking closer to Mt. Dhaulagiri South Face, you'll see Putha Huinchuli and Manapathi peaks. The trail takes you to Italian Camp in the glaciated area after several hours, and then you continue over glaciers and moraine with rocky ridge climbing to reach Pakhaban, also called Japanese Camp, where Dhaulagiri's South West Face and the ice wall of Tsaurabong Peak come into view.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea (Tea, Coffee, Boiled water included during camping)
Included Activities
- Trek from Chartare to Pakhaban
- Glacier and moraine walking
- Rocky ridge climbing
Landmarks Dhaulagiri Putha Huinchuli Manapathi - Day 7
Pakhaban to Dhaulagiri Base Camp
You'll walk over moraine and glaciers with icebergs scattered along your path. Following your guide through the glaciated section and across a tough glacial crossing, you reach a rocky open area around Dhaulagiri. By afternoon, you arrive at Dhaulagiri Base Camp, one of this trek's highlights, where you get close views of Mt. Dhaulagiri-I (8,167 meters), icefalls, and surrounding peaks including Dhaulagiri II, III, and IV.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea (Tea, Coffee, Boiled water included during camping)
Included Activities
- Trek from Pakhaban to Dhaulagiri Base Camp
- Glacier and moraine crossing
- Base camp arrival
Landmarks Dhaulagiri I Dhaulagiri II Dhaulagiri III Dhaulagiri IV Tukuche Peak 
- Day 8
Dhaulagiri Base Camp to Hidden Valley
You're heading to the trek's highest point to traverse French Pass at above 5,357 meters. After reaching the top, the trail descends into a wide grassy meadow and field at Hidden Valley, where you'll camp for the night. From here, you can see Sita Chuchura, Mukut Himal, Tashi Kang (5,386 meters), Tukche Peak, and Dhaulagiri-I spread out before you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea (Tea, Coffee, Boiled water included during camping)
Included Activities
- Trek from Dhaulagiri Base Camp to Hidden Valley
- French Pass crossing at 5,357m
- High altitude descent
Landmarks French Pass Sita Chuchura Mukut Himal Tashi Kang - Day 9
Hidden Valley (Rest Day)
This is a spare rest day set aside in case bad weather conditions make trekking difficult. If the weather isn't cooperating, you'll stay at camp and relax while taking in the views of this least-trekked area around Hidden Valley. Should conditions improve, your trek continues to the next camp instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea (Tea, Coffee, Boiled water included during camping)
Included Activities
- Rest and acclimatization at Hidden Valley
Optional Activities
- Exploration of Hidden Valley area
- Photography and wildlife viewing
- Day 10
Hidden Valley to Elevation Camp
After your rest, you start with gradual walks for a few hours to reach Thapa or Dhampus Pass, the last high pass at above 5,250 meters. The views here include Annapurna Himal and Nilgiri peaks before you descend to Elevation Camp, also called Yak Kharka. You'll notice green vegetation returning with Juniper, Burberry, and rhododendron bushes appearing along the trail.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea (Tea, Coffee, Boiled water included during camping)
Included Activities
- Trek from Hidden Valley to Elevation Camp
- Thapa/Dhampus Pass crossing at 5,250m
- High altitude descent to lower elevation
Landmarks Annapurna Nilgiri - Day 11
Elevation Camp to Marpha
After being in complete wilderness for several days, today brings a long descent back to village areas. You'll trek through forested sections of firs, pines, and rhododendron trees to reach Marpha, a charming Himalayan village with white-painted houses and an interesting monastery. Located in the lower Mustang district at the Kaligandaki river valley, Marpha is known for delicious apples and products like cider, brandy, and dried fruits. Spend the afternoon exploring this beautiful village from your lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Elevation Camp to Marpha
- Long descent through forested areas
- Village exploration in Marpha
Landmarks Marpha Monastery Kaligandaki River - Day 12
Marpha to Lete
You'll walk from Marpha following the Kaligandaki river downstream to Tukuche village, which sits beneath Tukuche Peak and Dhaulagiri with Mt. Nilgiri's in view. The trail returns into tree line with pines, oaks, and rhododendron before reaching Kalapani village for a short stop. After that, you continue to another lovely village with grand views of Mt. Annapurna I, Nilgiri's, and Dhaulagiri before descending to Lete village for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Marpha to Lete via Tukuche and Kalapani
- River downstream walking
- Village-to-village hiking
Landmarks Tukuche Peak Dhaulagiri Annapurna I Nilgiri Kaligandaki River - Day 13
Lete to Tatopani
From Lete, the landscape changes dramatically as you walk between the two high peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, which form the world's deepest gorge. You'll pass through Ghasa village, the southern end of Mustang area dominated by Thakali people, and then continue to Tatopani, a hot spring village with subtropical climate. Tatopani has large hot spring pools right by the Kaligandaki River where you can relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Lete to Tatopani
- Gorge hiking between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna
- Visit hot springs at Tatopani
Landmarks Kaligandaki Gorge Dhaulagiri Annapurna Tatopani Hot Springs - Day 14
Tatopani to Ghorepani
After breakfast, you cross a bridge over the Kaligandaki River and your route heads uphill on terraced hillsides dotted with farms and villages. The trail passes through a steep section with dense alpine forest before reaching Chitre, then continues to Ghorepani village. From Ghorepani, you get great views of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and Vara-Shikar, also known as Annapurna Fang.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Tatopani to Ghorepani
- Steep uphill through alpine forest
- Village-to-village walking
- Mountain viewing
Landmarks Dhaulagiri Annapurna South Vara-Shikar - Day 15
Ghorepani to Pokhara
You'll start early with an hour hike up to Poon Hill at 3,210 meters to catch the sunrise views over a chain of mountains including Machhapuchare (Fish Tail). After your time at Poon Hill, you trek through beautiful rhododendron forests on a gradual trail, then descend from Ulleri village all the way to Tirkhedhunga. On this final trekking day, you pass through many farm villages and terraces into warmer areas, ending at Nayapul town on the Baglung-Pokhara road. From there, a few hours' drive brings you to Pokhara after your time in the high mountains.
- End point
- Pokhara, Gandaki, Nepal (To your Pokhara Hotel)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early hike to Poon Hill at 3,210m
- Sunrise viewing at Poon Hill
- Trek from Poon Hill to Tirkhedhunga
- Final descent to Nayapul
- Drive to Pokhara
Landmarks Poon Hill Machhapuchare
