Dhaulagiri I

Overview & Geography

Rising 8,167m above the Kali Gandaki Gorge—the deepest canyon in the world—Dhaulagiri is an immense glaciated fortress of white ice and severe vertical drop.

Dhaulagiri ('Dhavala Giri' in Sanskrit, meaning 'Dazzling White Mountain') is the seventh-highest mountain on Earth. It forms the western wall of the Kali Gandaki river canyon, which drops 6,000 vertical meters between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I, just 34km away. Dhaulagiri's South Face rises 4,000 meters from the valley floor, creating one of the most intimidating cliff faces on the planet.

Ascent History & Heritage

From 1808 until 1838, Dhaulagiri was considered the highest mountain on Earth by western surveyors. In 1960, a joint Swiss-Austrian expedition succeeded in making the first ascent using a Swiss Pilatus Porter aircraft named 'Yeti' to ferry supplies to high altitude.

Standard Route

Severe vertical drop, howling winds, massive avalanche chutes, and unforgettable high-alpine circuit trekking.