Mount Dhawalagiri is located west of Annapurna it is 40 mile wide. Dhawalagiri is eight highest tallest peak of the world, towers high above the well-trekked Muktinath pilgrim trail up the Kali Gandaki Valley. The vast massif screens the hidden lands of Dolpo to its north, and to the west of it are Nepal's far western hills.

Only to the east along the Kali Gandaki Valley can we easily view the mountain close up, so massive Dhaulagiri with its symmetrical peak and four major outliners remains an enigma along much of its perimeter. Like fabled but restricted Dolpo, the complete month-long trek around Dhaulagiri is only for a handful of hikers.  The trek goes through big challenging mountain passes, crossing over French pass (5300 m.) and Thapa Pass (5200 m.);  it is a challenging walk on an icy track.