Dhaulagiri Circuit via the Frenc

Dhaulagiri Circuit via the Frenc Overview

One of the best trekking holidays in Nepal, making a circuit around Dhaulagiri

Amongst the peaks and high valleys of the Nepal Himalaya there are several long and demanding trekking routes and this real adventure holiday tackles one of the best and most challenging of these; the circuit of Dhaulagiri (8167m) via the French Pass (5360m) and the Hidden Valley. This is a classic adventure trekking holiday for those with previous high altitude trekking experience, which includes a taste of all of the trekking environments that Nepal has to offer. After a night in Pokhara and an exciting drive south of Dhaulagiri to the village of Dharapani, this superb trekking route ascends the lovely and unspoiled valley of the Myagdi Khola, which flows southwards from the heart of the Dhaulagiri Himal. We then spend 8 days trekking through an ever-changing landscape, with numerous picturesque villages, to reach Dhaulagiri Basecamp where we have a rest and acclimatisation day in preparation for the crossing of the French Pass. This tough, but technically straightforward pass lies close beneath the northern slopes of Dhaulagiri and the mountain views on our ascent and descent are simply sensational. Our highest camp is in the remarkable Hidden Valley at around 5100 metres and from here we cross the Dhampus Pass with sensational views across the Kali Gandaki Valley to the peaks of the Annapurnas. After a long descent to Marpha, we fly back to Pokhara from the airstrip at Jomsom and have more time to enjoy this laid-back lakeside town, before returning to Kathmandu. This is adventure travel at its best - a brilliant trek in a rarely-visited part of Nepal.