Annapurna Base Camp, at 4,130 m, is reached in 7 to 10 days on a tea-house trail and suits fit beginners. Dhaulagiri Base Camp, at 4,740 m, lies on a glacier in a remote valley and is normally reached as part of the camping Dhaulagiri Circuit of 16 to 20 days. They share the words "base camp" and little else.
Dhaulagiri Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp at a glance
- Height. Dhaulagiri Base Camp: 4,740 m. Annapurna Base Camp: 4,130 m.
- Days. Dhaulagiri Base Camp: 16 to 20 as a circuit; about 12 to 14 out and back. Annapurna Base Camp: 7 to 10.
- Style. Dhaulagiri Base Camp: camping. Annapurna Base Camp: tea houses.
- Approach. Dhaulagiri Base Camp: forest gorge, then moraine and glacier. Annapurna Base Camp: stone steps, forest, glacial valley.
- Other trekkers. Dhaulagiri Base Camp: very few. Annapurna Base Camp: many.
- Grade. Dhaulagiri Base Camp: strenuous. Annapurna Base Camp: moderate.
Annapurna Base Camp
The trail climbs the Modi Khola from Gurung villages to a basin ringed by Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare. There is a lodge every hour or two, and you sleep in a bed at base camp itself. See the Annapurna Base Camp guides.
Dhaulagiri Base Camp
To reach it you walk for several days up the Myagdi Khola, through villages and then uninhabited forest, to Italian Base Camp at 3,660 m. From there the route climbs onto the Chhonbardan Glacier, threading between moraine ridges under steep walls, to a camp on the ice at 4,740 m beneath the north-west face. There are no lodges. You are in a place that expeditions use, with avalanches audible on the faces around you.
Out and back, or the circuit?
Most parties continue over French Pass and Dhampus Pass to Jomsom, because the way ahead is shorter than the way back and far more varied. An out-and-back trek to base camp is possible and avoids the passes, but it still needs a full camping crew and acclimatisation days at Italian Base Camp and at the intermediate camp often called Japanese Camp.
Difficulty
Annapurna Base Camp is demanding only in the ordinary sense: long days and a cold night. Dhaulagiri Base Camp involves rough, unstable ground, objective hazards such as rockfall, several nights above 4,000 m and real isolation. It should be attempted only with an experienced crew.
Season
Annapurna: October to November and March to May, with winter possible. Dhaulagiri: late April to May and October to early November only.
Cost
A camping trek to Dhaulagiri costs several times as much as the Annapurna Base Camp trek, because of the crew, the equipment and the days.
Views
At Annapurna you stand in a circle of peaks. At Dhaulagiri you stand under a single enormous mountain, with Tukuche Peak and the Dhaulagiri icefall beside you. Both are unforgettable, in very different moods.
Choose Dhaulagiri Base Camp if
- You are an experienced trekker looking for a serious route.
- You are happy camping on ice.
- You have two to three weeks.
- You want to see almost no one.
Choose Annapurna Base Camp if
- You want a base camp trek you can do in a week or so.
- You prefer lodges.
- It is your first or second trek.
- You are travelling with friends of mixed fitness.
Plan it
See the Dhaulagiri Circuit guides, or ask us which suits your experience.
Common questions
How high is Dhaulagiri Base Camp?
About 4,740 m.
Can beginners trek to Dhaulagiri Base Camp?
It is not a beginner trek. Annapurna Base Camp is the better first choice.
Is there a lodge at Dhaulagiri Base Camp?
No. It is a camping site on the glacier.
Can you see Dhaulagiri from Annapurna Base Camp?
No. Dhaulagiri is best seen from Poon Hill, Khopra Ridge and the Kali Gandaki valley.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
