Dhorpatan Trek with Gurja Khani: A Perfect Place for Hunting

FLIGHT 25 min

HIGHEST ALT. 1400 m

DURATION 7-8 hours drive

DISTANCE 200.9 km

Our third day is filled with beautiful scenic views from the ride to Pokhara, we will take a tourist bus to get to Pokhara from Kathmandu. Sit back and enjoy the beautiful surrounding views of the landscapes and the mountains. We will stop on the way for lunch and reach Pokhara in around 6-7 hours. We will have dinner in Pokhara and stay at a hotel in Pokhara.

Also 25 min. flight from Kathmandu Domestic terminal drops you to Pokhara. Quick & Comfort.

HIGHEST ALT. 1,070 m

You will reach Takam village in 4-5 hours covering around 67 mi (107 km) distance on Darbang-Beni Road. Darbang-Beni Road plays an important role in connecting the Dhaulagiri region with Pokhara. The road to Takam follows two major towns settled on two major rivers of Nepal. One is Baglung settled on the riverside of Kali Gandaki River. Another is Beni which sits by the confluence of Kali Gandaki River and Myagdi Khola.

Takam Village is located at an elevation of 1,672 m (5,485 ft) in the Myagdi district of Gandaki Province. Sitting on the lap of the Dhaulagiri mountain ranges, Takam is home to Magar, Chhetri, Kami, and Hill Brahmin people. The majority of people are engaged in agriculture and service sectors. With the flow of tourists at Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek, the socioeconomic status of people has also changed. People are involved in Trekking Guide and Teahouse/Lodge operations.

HIGHEST ALT. 2,687 m/8 816 ft

DURATION 6-7 hrs

DISTANCE ~ 13 km

A moderate 6–7 hour day with a consistent uphill push. Begin with a 2-hour climb to Takam Kot Mandir, a hilltop temple at roughly 1,900m with open sightlines to Dhaulagiri and Gurja Himal. From there the trail threads through oak and rhododendron forest past the hamlets of Sibang and Machhim before dropping into Muna at 1,850m.

Muna is a small Magar village where a handful of families run basic homestays. The settlement sits on a ridge above the Dar Khola valley with views down the drainage toward Myagdi. Expect dal bhat or buckwheat dishes for meals. Phone signals can be unreliable here. The village is quieter than Takam and noticeably cooler after sundown.

HIGHEST ALT. 3250 m / 10680 ft

DURATION 8-9 hrs

DISTANCE ~ 13 km

A demanding 5–6 hour day with a sustained climb from 1,850m toward the Deurali ridge. The trail pushes steadily into dense forest of pine, oak, and rhododendron with few flat breaks. You cross several small streams and pass seasonal herder shelters along the way. The path narrows noticeably above Muna, and trees cover things as you gain altitude.

Deurali is a simple staging point at roughly 2,400m used by herders and trekking parties moving between Muna and Deurali. Accommodation is basic — a local shelter or tented camp depending on season. Your guide will arrange meals on site. Temperatures at this elevation drop sharply after dark, so have warm layers accessible before you arrive rather than buried in your pack.

DURATION 5-6 hrs

The hardest day so far. The 5–6 hour route climbs to Deurali Pass, where there is no teashop, then descends to Gurjakhani at 2,620m. Pack enough food before leaving camp. Above the treeline near the pass, Gurja Himal's 7,193m north face appears for the first time, sitting almost directly above the valley you are descending into.

Gurjakhani is a Chhantyal village and the highest permanently inhabited settlement in this corridor of the Dhaulagiri region. Around 30–40 households stay year-round, with more families returning for summer grazing. Trekkers sleep in simple family homestays. Gurja Himal fills the entire northern skyline from the village. On clear mornings, Dhaulagiri is visible to the northeast as well.

HIGHEST ALT. 3850 m

DURATION 2 hrs

DISTANCE ~5 km

Light day after the climb to Gurjakhani. The morning hike to the viewpoint takes 2 hours up, climbing through an old Apple orchard and Rhododendron before the path opens into meadow directly below Gurja Himal's 7,193m face. Afternoon options include the old copper mines east of the village, a walk through the tight stone alleyways, or simply sitting with the mountain in front of you.

Gurjakhani's Bishwakarma community still forges tools by hand in workshops built into the stone houses. The alleyways between homes are genuinely narrow, adjacent roof slates nearly touching. Homestay meals are simple, usually rice and lentils with whatever the season offers. Chyang, a local fermented beverage prepared from Millet, is often available in the evenings if you want to try the local brew. Call it a local beer that has been relishing the locals for centuries.

HIGHEST ALT. 3900 m

DURATION 6-7 hrs.

DISTANCE ~ 18 km

The longest day of the trek — starts before 7am. The trail climbs from 2,620m to Rugachaur Pass at 3,850m, crossing three suspension bridges on the way up. Above the treeline, Dhaulagiri and Churen Himal (7,371m) open across the western skyline. The pass section is exposed and cold even in autumn. Eight hours total, with most of the elevation gain in the first four.

Rugachaur Dharmashala is a stone shelter at the edge of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, used as a camp for trekking groups. Sleeping here puts you inside reserve territory by morning. Blue sheep, goral, and wolf tracks are common in the frost at this altitude. Wind picks up hard after dark. A sleeping bag rated to at least -10°C is the right call here.

HIGHEST ALT. 3,900 m

DURATION 5-6 hrs

DISTANCE ~10 km

A 5-6 hour descent from 3,850m to the Dhorpatan valley floor. The trail drops through Gurjaghat at 3,015m, then follows the river through pine and fir forest before the valley broadens considerably. Dhorpatan's grasslands are flat and wide — genuinely unusual at this elevation in Nepal. Pass the Bonpo Monastery at Chentung on the final approach to the main settlement.

Gurjaghat is a small waypoint where the descent eases and the trail bends toward the valley. The last section into Dhorpatan is nearly level, a welcome change after days of steep ground. Reserve headquarters is a small building cluster where trekking permits are checked on arrival. A Tibetan refugee settlement has occupied part of the valley floor since the 1960s.

No fixed itinerary today. Two main routes: hike toward Phagune Dhuri at 4,493m for the widest panorama in the reserve, roughly 4 hours up and back — or walk the valley floor to the Bonpo Monastery at Chentung, about 3 km from the main settlement. Local families also offer horse riding across the open grasslands, covering more ground than walking.

Blue sheep are the most visible large animal in Nepal’s only Hunting Reserve. Herds of 20-30 graze on open slopes above the valley and are regularly spotted from the trail. Other resident species include snow leopard, serow, goral, musk deer, and red panda. The reserve records over 137 bird species, including the Impeyan pheasant (Himalayan Monal or Danfe in Nepali), Nepal's national bird. Binoculars are recommended for birdwatchers.

The Tibetan settlement in the valley dates from the 1960s, when families resettled here after leaving Tibet. Residents maintain weaving traditions and run small tea stalls on the valley edge. The Bonpo Monastery at Chentung follows a pre-Buddhist Bon tradition still practiced across western Nepal. It is a working monastery, ask permission before entering the prayer hall.

HIGHEST ALT. ~4,000 m.

DURATION 7-8 hrs

DISTANCE n/a

The journey drops from the high-altitude alpine grasslands of Dhorpatan, where pine forests and distant glimpses of Dhaulagiri give way to a rugged descent. The initial leg to Burtibang consists of dusty dirt tracks carved into cliffside switchbacks, requiring a slow pace and a sturdy 4WD vehicle before transitioning onto the smoother, paved Mid-Hill Highway.

Winding east, the highway follows the roaring Myagdi Khola and Kali Gandaki river valleys, passing through bustling hubs like Beni and Baglung, famous for its massive suspension bridges. After passing Nayapul's bustling trekking trailheads and the vibrant hills of Lumle, the gorges open into Pokhara Valley, welcoming you with a sharp backdrop of Machapuchare.

FLIGHT 25 min.

HIGHEST ALT. 1,324 m.

You will return to Kathmandu either by taking the road or Flight. Flight gives you ample time to tour the historically and culturally rich Kathmandu Valley. You can explore UNESCO heritage sites like Pashupatinath Temple, Patan Durbar Square, and Bauddhanath Stupa. Wrap up your day by exploring local cuisines in the evening.

Your 13 days Dhorpatan Trek via Gurja Khani ends formally after boarding the flight from Kathmandu. A representative from North Nepal Trek will assist you with the necessary airport exit and bid farewell.