The Annapurna Circuit is a tea-house trek of 12 to 16 days with one high pass, the Thorong La at 5,416 m, on a clear trail. The Dhaulagiri Circuit is a camping expedition of 16 to 20 days that crosses a glacier and two high passes, French Pass at about 5,360 m and Dhampus Pass at about 5,240 m. Annapurna suits fit trekkers; Dhaulagiri is for experienced ones.
Dhaulagiri Circuit and Annapurna Circuit at a glance
- Days. Dhaulagiri Circuit: 16 to 20. Annapurna Circuit: 12 to 16.
- Style. Dhaulagiri Circuit: camping with full crew. Annapurna Circuit: tea houses.
- High passes. Dhaulagiri Circuit: French Pass about 5,360 m and Dhampus Pass about 5,240 m. Annapurna Circuit: Thorong La, 5,416 m.
- Glacier travel. Dhaulagiri Circuit: yes, on the Chhonbardan Glacier. Annapurna Circuit: none.
- Nights above 4,500 m. Dhaulagiri Circuit: three to five. Annapurna Circuit: one.
- Grade. Dhaulagiri Circuit: strenuous to very strenuous. Annapurna Circuit: moderate to hard.
Two neighbouring giants
Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Annapurna I (8,091 m) face each other across the Kali Gandaki gorge. The treks round them could hardly be more different. One has become the most developed long trek in Nepal. The other remains among the hardest non-technical routes in the country, with no villages for a week in its middle section.
The Dhaulagiri route
From Beni or Darbang the trail follows the Myagdi Khola through farming villages and then dense forest to Italian Base Camp at 3,660 m. Beyond it you climb onto the debris-covered Chhonbardan Glacier, pass beneath the west face to Dhaulagiri Base Camp at 4,740 m, cross French Pass into Hidden Valley, a cold, bare basin at about 5,000 m, and leave by Dhampus Pass for a very long descent to Marpha or Jomsom. See the Dhaulagiri Circuit guides.
Why it is so much harder
Several things add up. You sleep high for many nights in a row with no quick way down. The glacier section has rockfall and unstable moraine. Hidden Valley is extremely cold and exposed, and in bad weather the passes on either side can trap a group. Everything, tents, food, fuel, is carried. A strong crew and a leader experienced on this route are essential.
What Annapurna offers instead
Variety, comfort and culture. The circuit passes through a dozen distinct villages, offers a hot meal and a bed every night and has health posts and vehicle access on both sides of the pass. See the Annapurna Circuit guides.
Season
Dhaulagiri has a narrow window: mid-April to May and October to early November. Outside it, snow on the passes or monsoon conditions in the lower gorge make the route impractical. Annapurna can be walked from late September to early December and March to May.
Cost
Dhaulagiri costs far more per day: a camping crew of guide, cook, kitchen staff and porters, plus equipment and food for the whole party. Annapurna, with lodge meals and one guide and porter, is among the better-value long treks.
Experience needed
Before Dhaulagiri you should have done at least one trek above 5,000 m and be comfortable with basic camping in the cold. Use of an ice axe or crampons is rarely needed in season but may be after snowfall.
Choose Dhaulagiri Circuit if
- You have trekked above 5,000 m before.
- You want real wilderness and a camping expedition.
- You have close to three weeks.
- You are fit, patient and comfortable with cold.
Choose Annapurna Circuit if
- You want lodges every night.
- This is your first high-pass trek.
- You have about two weeks.
- You enjoy villages and people as much as mountains.
Can you do both?
The Dhaulagiri Circuit ends in the Kali Gandaki valley, on the Annapurna Circuit route. Some trekkers finish by walking down to Tatopani or adding Poon Hill.
Plan it
See how hard the Dhaulagiri Circuit is, or talk to us about your experience and dates.
Common questions
Is the Dhaulagiri Circuit harder than the Annapurna Circuit?
Yes, considerably. It is a remote camping trek with glacier travel and two high passes.
Are there tea houses on the Dhaulagiri Circuit?
Only in the lower villages. The high section is camping.
Do I need climbing skills?
No technical climbing in normal conditions, but experience at altitude and on rough ground is needed.
Which has better views of Dhaulagiri?
The Dhaulagiri Circuit takes you beneath its faces. The Annapurna Circuit and Poon Hill show it from a distance.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
