Trip Facts

• Location / Mountain: Dhaulagiri Himal, North-Central Nepal / Dhaulagiri (8,167m)
• Transportation: Private Car/Van/Hiace/Plane
• Starting / Ending Point: Kathmandu, Nepal
• Accommodation:
  • Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara
  • Tea Houses and Tents during trek and climb
• Activity / Expedition Days: Trekking, Climbing, and Expedition / 42 (KTM-KTM) Days.
• Grade: Strenuous and Technical
• Guide-to-Client Ratio: 1:3  (3 Member 1 Climbing Sherpa Guide)
• Base Camp / Highest Camp Altitude: 4,650 meters / 7,200 meters (Camp III)
• Climbing Route / Summit Altitude: Northeast Spur, French Ridge / 8,167 meters
• Technical Skills Required: High-altitude climbing, crevasse navigation, ice climbing, advanced skiing
• Environmental Considerations: Adhere to Leave No Trace principles, carry out all waste
• Cultural Experience: Trek through traditional Nepali villages, experience local hospitality
• Safety Measures: Satellite communications, high-quality climbing and skiing equipment, experienced guides
• Preparation: Rigorous physical training, high-altitude climbing, and skiing experience required
• Group Size: 2-12 members
• Best Season: April to May and September to October

Trip Highlights

• Remote and Isolated Climb: Explore one of the less-traveled 8,000-meter peaks, providing a serene and isolated climbing experience.
• Technical Climbing Challenge: Engage in demanding technical climbing involving icefalls, steep snow slopes, and crevasse navigation.
• Summit Achievement: Conquer the seventh-highest mountain in the world at 8,167 meters, a significant milestone in high-altitude mountaineering.
• Unique Ski Descent: Experience the rare thrill of skiing from one of the highest peaks globally, navigating challenging and exhilarating snow conditions.
• Stunning Himalayan Views: Enjoy breathtaking panoramic vistas of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, as well as the dramatic Kali Gandaki Gorge.
• Cultural Immersion: Trek through traditional Nepali villages, offering an authentic cultural experience and the opportunity to interact with local communities.
• Acclimatization and Preparation: Benefit from a well-structured acclimatization process, ensuring better adaptation to high-altitude conditions.
• High-Quality Support: Receive guidance from experienced professionals and support staff, equipped with top-tier climbing and skiing gear.
• Environmental Awareness: Contribute to the preservation of pristine environments by following Leave No Trace principles throughout the expedition.

The Dhaulagiri Expedition Camp details:

Mt. Dhaulagiri, the seventh-highest peak in the world, presents a challenging and rewarding expedition for mountaineers. The ascent involves a series of camps strategically placed to ensure proper acclimatization and safety. Here are the details of the camps typically used on the Dhaulagiri expedition:

Base Camp (4,750m / 15,580ft):

• Located at the glacier's edge, Dhaulagiri Base Camp is the main hub for the expedition.
• It is equipped with tents for accommodation, dining, and medical facilities.
• Climbers spend several days here for acclimatization and preparation.

Base Camp: Location / Elevation: Situated on the glacier, the base camp serves as the main staging area for the climb. It is well-equipped with tents for dining, sleeping, and medical facilities the base camp is Approximately 4,750 meters (15,580 feet)

Camp I (5,850m / 19,193ft):

• Situated on a glacier, Camp I is the first acclimatization stop above Base Camp.
• The route to Camp I involves traversing the glacier and negotiating crevasses.
• This camp provides an initial elevation gain to help climbers acclimatize to higher altitudes.

Camp 1: Location / Elevation: Positioned on a flat section of the glacier. The route to C1 involves traversing crevasses and seracs which are situated around 5,900 meters (19,356 feet)

Camp II (6,400m / 21,000ft):

• Located at the base of the northwest ridge, Camp II is a crucial acclimatization point.
• The route to Camp II includes technical ice climbing and steep snow slopes.
• Fixed ropes are set up for safety on the challenging sections of the climb.

Camp 2: Location / Elevation: Situated at the base of the northwest ridge. The climb from Camp 1 to Camp 2 involves steep ice and snow slopes, often requiring fixed ropes the C2 is approximately 6,400 meters (20,998 feet)

Camp III (7,250m / 23,790ft):

• Perched on a steep snow slope, Camp III offers stunning views but is exposed to high winds.
• This camp serves as an essential acclimatization stop before the final summit push.
• The route from Camp II to Camp III involves navigating steep and exposed terrain.

Camp 3: Location / Elevation: Positioned on the northwest ridge, offering panoramic views. This camp is often exposed to strong winds and requires secure tent anchoring C3 is about 7,200 meters (23,622 feet)

Camp IV (7,500m / 24,606ft):

• Known as High Camp, Camp IV is the final staging area for the summit attempt.
• Located on a narrow ridge, it provides minimal shelter from the elements.
• Climbers typically spend a short amount of time here to rest and prepare for the summit push.

Camp 4: Location / Elevation: This is the final high camp before the summit push. Located on the ridge, the camp is often small and precarious C4 is roughly 7,500 meters (24,606 feet)

Summit (8,167m / 26,795ft):

• The final ascent from Camp IV to the summit involves steep snow and ice climbing.
• Climbers aim to reach the summit in the early morning hours to avoid afternoon weather changes.
• After summiting, climbers descend back to Camp IV or lower camps for safety.

Summit: The summit push involves navigating through challenging sections of ice and snow. Climbers usually start the summit push at midnight from Camp 4 to reach the top by early morning. The summit is situated at an Elevation of 8,167 meters (26,795 feet)

General Notes:

• The expedition requires careful planning, acclimatization, and preparation at each camp.
• Weather conditions and individual climber acclimatization can affect the number of days spent at each camp.
• Safety measures include setting fixed ropes, using supplemental oxygen, and having contingency plans for emergencies.

Climbing Mt. Dhaulagiri is a demanding endeavor that requires physical strength, mental resilience, and thorough preparation. The successful ascent rewards climbers with breathtaking views and a sense of accomplishment on one of the world's highest and most challenging peaks.

Additional Considerations

• Weather: Weather conditions in Dhaulagiri can be unpredictable. It's essential to have contingency plans and be prepared for delays.
• Acclimatization: Proper acclimatization is critical. Climbers often make several trips between camps to adapt to the altitude.
• Technical Gear: Fixed ropes, ice axes, crampons, and other technical climbing gear are necessary for the ascent.

This structure provides a general idea, but the specifics can vary based on the expedition leader and the climbing season.

• Climbing any mountain especially 8000m above is tough but highly rewarding as well. So, do prepare yourself Psychologically and Physically to withstand all possible hazards that may come across your path during the mountaineering journey.
• The expedition is EXTREMELY Challenging but worth it.  Before the summit push, we will have enough time at the Base Camp where our supremely talented climbing Sherpa guide will train you very well to be in the Himalayas by providing you with all technical know-how and techniques.
• The summit lies at a higher altitude and can cause altitude sickness to anyone attempting the summit push. But proper acclimatization, enough Oxygen which will be carried and reserved at higher camps for emergency use, and support/assistance by our high altitude climbing Sherpa Guide will help you go through to reach the summit of your dream mountain. Above the higher camps, we will always have extra bottles of oxygen in case of emergencies. This is why one must go on an expedition to any of the 7 thousand before heading to any 8000m. This will not only help you gain experience in the high altitude but also familiarize you with all the gears and equipment while handling extremely cold temperatures, gaining great crampon skills on and on the rock, snow, ice, rappelling with a pack on, and using ascenders and jumars on a fixed-line. Along with tolerance at a high altitude, you need strength, endurance, and strong cardiovascular conditioning.

NOTE: Prioritize your training efforts with the following techniques assuming you are in good health and injury-free;

01. Climbing Conditioning: Uphill climbing with a backpack, walking, and staircase climbing

02. Strength training for lower body and core

03. Cardiovascular Training: Include both aerobic and anaerobic workouts with and without pack-weight

04. Flexibility Training: Include stretches for overall body

General Notes:

• The expedition requires meticulous planning, acclimatization, and preparation at each camp.
• Weather conditions and individual climber acclimatization can affect the number of days spent at each camp.
• Safety measures include setting fixed ropes, using supplemental oxygen, and having contingency plans for emergencies.

The Dhaulagiri expedition is a challenging and rewarding adventure, requiring climbers to be well-prepared for the demands of high-altitude mountaineering.

Required Experience:

Experience in mountaineering (6000 m. / 7000 m.) is recommended and required to sign up for this expedition.