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Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek

Just imagine spending more than 10 days in the middle of exotic wildlife can be interesting. Yes, The Trek Nepal has brought in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek package, which allows you to trek off the beaten path and also explore nature.

dhorpatan hunting reserve trek takes 2 weeks to complete

Situated in the southern slope of Dhaulagiri, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is the crown jewel of Nepalese tourism. Not every tourist loves trekking for more than 2 weeks, but some also love to spend their time studying the wild plants and animals.

Being a hunting reserve, the Dhorpatan hunting reserve trek allows you to do controlled hunting while exploring the wildlife. This particular off-beaten trek is famous amongst the hunting individuals, where you can find musk deer, red panda, wolves, etc.

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek Overview

One of the most historically significant conservation areas in Nepal is the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. This particular place was established in 1983, and the illegal poaching activities were brought under control in 1987.

The Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek is spread in the districts like Rukum, Myagdi, Baglung and especially in the Western part of Nepal. The total area of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is 1325 sq km. To the readers unaware, this is the only hunting reserve in the country.

From the variety in alpine meadows, dense forests, and marshlands, there is much more to know and appreciate about the place. 36 plant species, 18 mammal species, and 137  bird species make up the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve.

In total, you will be spending less than two weeks at the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek. You could view the beautiful outlines of Dhaulagiri and Gurja Himal during the journey. The overall trek starts from Kathmandu, takes us to Beni, with the actual trek starting from Darbang.

Eco tourism is a key aspect of The Trek Nepal in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek, so we try and protect nature. Trekkers will get the right mix of adventure and cultural experience when we talk about Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. Being off the beaten path, the surprises are plenty.

Highlights of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek

  • Explore and hunt in the only legal hunting place of Nepal
  • Chance to witness more than 80,000 animals living and grazing in the Dhorpatan region
  • Views of beautiful Dhaulagiri and Gurja mountain
  • Typical selection for bird watchers, with more than 137 species of birds present in the area
  • Witness the rich cultural experience of the nearby villages.

Things To Know Before Performing the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek

There are a lot of trekkers who are keen and willing to know what the key aspects of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek are. Some might feel that every part of the area is accessible to hunt well, but that’s a mistake to make.

There are specific locations selected for shooting by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Meanwhile, you will need to choose the right season and absolutely avoid the monsoon season for this journey.

The Trek Nepal has professional guides who can take you around the area. So and unless you have professional guides, there is hardly any chance for you to shoot around the place. Lastly, always respect the local culture when you are in the area.

Best Season To Do Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek

A lot of the queries keep piling up about what the right time is to do the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek. Well, the right answer to it is during the spring and autumn seasons.

The weather remains crisp and clean during this period. With some chilly nature in the air, the animals come out of their shed looking for some sun too. Besides hunting, you can also enjoy the view of different animals, making this stay worth every penny.

It doesn’t matter which season you choose, but The Trek Nepal advises you to never choose the monsoon season. The weather is damp, and there is hardly any control over shooting during this period.

Permits Required For Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek

Permits are the key when we talk about hunting. Especially in the major region of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek, you will need to get a special hunting license from Kathmandu. It is called the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation permit.

The Trek Nepal will get you this permit without much of the hassle. Besides this, you will also need to have the Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card to make the trekking experience much more worthwhile.

How Hard Is the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek?

To all the interested trekkers who have been asking, the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek isn’t too difficult at all. There are plenty of services at the lodges and great food in the area.

dhorpatan hunting reserve trek is full of wildlife

The maximum altitude that we will be hitting is just above 3000m, so the overall experience shouldn’t be that bad at all. It doesn’t matter if you have prior experience of trekking or not; you can easily perform this trek with ease.

Furthermore, there will be around 5 hours of trek every day in the easy routes, so physical health shouldn’t be a problem at all. In case you have any queries, The Trek Nepal is right around to help you with the answers.

How Would We Reach Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

If you are starting from Kathmandu, the journey will be easier than it seems. You will be taking the road trip from Kathmandu first to reach Pokhara. As you reach there, we will be heading towards Baglung, which is a 10-hour road trip.

Starting from Pokhara, though, it’s much easier. Trekkers will save a day in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek, whereby we will be taking the 180 km route by bus, which will be 8 hours. We start the journey from Darbang, which will be exciting to say the least.

Food and Accommodation During the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek

As simple and easy as it might sound, choosing the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek might be tough during the peak season. Still, there are a limited number of lodges, tea houses, and hotels that tend to get full pretty quickly.

Along with that, you could also have the issue of overpricing at times. But with The Trek Nepal, we will arrange everything within your budget in the best facilities. There are plenty of good hotels in our contact who provide the best services.

From separate rooms to shared rooms, there are a variety of options. You will get hot and cold showers as per your preference. Choosing shared or private services could impact on cost.

Talking about the food, though, you will find authentic Nepali food in the region. Not only that you will also get the Western breakfast. Food will be served 3 times a day as breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Cost of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek

There are a lot of queries about the actual cost of performing the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek. Well, the answer to this question is simple.

The overall cost depends on the time of the trek, along with the number of people. Similarly, the trekkers who are looking for glorified services will have to pay extra.

Whatever the overall cost might be, we are required to have affordable packages that could be accessed by every interested trekker. The best you can do is contact The Trek Nepal, and we can help you with further details.

Why Book With The Trek Nepal?

There are plenty of trekking agencies when we talk about Nepal. They provide high-quality services with the best results. But with The Trek Nepal, things are different.

We are better known for keeping the interest of the client above all others. Having said that, our trekking agency has customised trekking plans which could be useful for you.

Similarly, if you have a bigger group for the trek, we could prepare the group package, making things easier. Furthermore, the eco tourism concept of The Trek Nepal also protects the environment while you are enjoying the journey.

Detailed Itinerary of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu

On the very first day of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek, we arrive in Kathmandu. The guests will be received at the international airport, only to be shifted back to their hotel.
All the guests will be placed at their respective hotels. You have the opportunity to either rest or also spend some time strolling around the city.

Day 2: Drive from Kathmandu to Beni

On the 2nd day of the trek, we will be driving out of the Kathmandu valley. The early morning breakfast gives way to the much-anticipated trekking opportunity. All the trekkers will hop on for the road trip.
It will be a 10-hour ride with some picturesque settings right around. Not only that trekkers will have the option to either stay at the hotel or also the tented camps.

Day 3: Drive to Darbang from Beni

Don’t be surprised, as the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek is more about the bus ride. Well, the 3rd day also starts with breakfast and the journey towards Darbang. Darbang is the exact location where the trek starts for the Trek Nepal team.
A 3-hour road trip will take us to Darbang, and things start to happen. We will start the trek to Dharapani and reach there by the end of 5 hours. Crossing the Khop, we will slowly ride towards Dharapani and spend the night.

Day 4: Trek from Dharapani to Lamsung

We cross only village after another today. This is a remote trek day as we move for more than 6 hours every day. There are plenty of streams and gorges in the area.
Not only that the trekkers will also have the most scenic views that can come along. With greenery all around, the trekking won’t be as difficult as you might be thinking.

Day 5: Trek from Lamsung to Jaljala

The mixed forest route will start the day for us. It will be a pleasant journey as you expect it to be. Rhododendron and the oak forest will help you guide the way. The green jungle, high mountains, and the view will help you adjust better.
Along with that, you will also get mountain views of Dhaulagiri, Gurja Himal, Churen Himal, Putha Himal, etc. A 7-hour non-stop trek will take us to Jaljala, which will be the place of our stay for the night.

Day 6: Trek from Jaljala to Dhorpatan

The day arrives when we will have Dhorpatan on touching distance for the Dhorpatan hunting reserve trek. After completing breakfast, we will be descending towards the Khahare Khola, which is a basic stream. Likewise, crossing this stream will take us to a dense forest.
Pine, oak, and rhododendron will be right along the way with some beauty to say the least. Crossing the dense and thick forest will take us to Dhorpatan. Trekkers will be glorified by the beauty it presents. Placed in the middle of the jungle, the experience is worth your time.

Day 7:Trek to Phagune Phedi from Dhorpatan

As we have spent the night in the Dhorpatan region, the mornings will be guided by the birds’ voices. Early morning breakfast will push the whole team towards Phagune Phedi. This is the highest altitude of the trek, which sits at 4493m.
The main reason to reach Phagune Phedi is to explore the rare animals that are present on show. As the trail ascends steeply, you have the chance to witness the mountains, green jungle, and landscapes. After 4 hours of exploration, we will stay at the tented camps.

Day 8: Morning hike to Phagune Danda and trek back to jungle camp

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek gets exciting as we will be reaching the Phagune Danda to witness birds and other animals in the region. It will be an exciting opportunity as you get to view the Himalayan range, the jungle, and even the landscapes.
As we complete the exploring journey, we will have to return back to the base camp. The jungle camp will be home for the night. The 7 hours of exploring will allow us brilliant opportunities.

Day 9: Trek from Jungle Camp to Gurjaghat

Slowly, we will be leaving behind the traces of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek. Yes, you heard that right. Early morning breakfast on he 9th morning means that we will head back towards Gurjaghat today. The mixture of greenery and open fields will keep the journey interesting.
It is a plain trekking day with 6 hours of trek right ahead of us. We will be hitting the mixed jungle, streams, and barren fields right through the day. At Gurjaghat, we will be reaching by evening and staying at the local teahouses.

Day 10: Trek from Gurjaghat to Patichaur

The journey towards Patichaur starts with an ascent first. Immediately after the ascent, we will be descending to some deep jungles, gorges, and streams. The sounds of the flowing river will make the journey much more serene.
There will be plenty of rhododendron and pine trees along the way. Similar to other days, the trek is easier, with 6 hours being the full time taken. We will be staying at the local teahouses at Patichaur.

Day 11: Trek from Patichaur to Darbang and Beni

A hectic day starts with a carb-healthy breakfast in return for the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve trek. As we wake up in Patichaur, we will start the journey towards Darbang today. Interestingly, the destination won’t be Darbang but Beni for the day.
5 hours of the trek will mean that we will be reaching Darbang by midday. It is an easy trek day. Immediately after reaching Darbang, we get into the road ride of 3 hours. By evening, we will be at Beni ready to call it a day.

Day 12: Drive back from Beni to Pokhara

Today, we will be leaving every trace of Dhorpatan on the Dhorpatan hunting reserve trek. The early morning ride will take us to Pokhara. It will be an easy ride through all the beautiful views, the roads, and other scenic beauties.
As we reach Pokhara, all the trekkers will be placed at their respective hotel rooms. Anyone who is interested can go for the lakeside or city tour to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.

Day 13: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu

The first sunrise of the morning suggests that we have a healthy breakfast and hop onto the ride. We will be reaching Kathmandu today by midday. It will be 7 hour of beautiful ride. Some bumpy roads but beautiful views will take us to Kathmandu.
You can either rest or roam around the city to buy some souvenirs for your loved ones. We will have the farewell dinner with the whole team in the evening.

Day 14: Departure for the home country

It is officially the end of the Dhorpatan hunting reserve trek, as we will drop you off at the airport. A member from The Trek Nepal will drop you off to your destination with the promise to meet again.
Your respective flight will take you back home, and we wish to connect with you in future tours.