A short overnight walk from Phedi near Pokhara to the Gurung village of Dhampus (about 1,650 m), with homestays and sunrise views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurnas.
- Days
- 2 days
- Maximum altitude
- 1,650 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
Pokhara & Annapurna, Annapurna Region
Australian Camp Trek
A one- or two-day walk from Kande near Pokhara to Australian Camp, a grassy viewpoint at about 2,060 m facing the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre, returning via Dhampus and Phedi.
- Days
- 1-2
- Max altitude
- 2,060 m
- Distance
- about 9 km
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Best months
- Oct-Apr
- Start / end
- Kande (by road from Pokhara) / Phedi (by road to Pokhara)
- Sleep in
- Lodges, Teahouses, Camping
- Permits
- 2 required
Overview
Australian Camp is an open meadow at about 2,060 m on the ridge above Kande, about an hour by road from Pokhara. The climb from the road takes 1-2 hours through forest, and from the clearing the view runs from Annapurna South and Hiunchuli to Machhapuchhre, Annapurna IV and Lamjung Himal.
Spending the night lets you see sunset and sunrise on the peaks. The next morning a gentle trail leads east to the Gurung village of Dhampus and down a stone staircase to Phedi on the Pokhara-Baglung road. The same ground is the first stage of the Mardi Himal and some Annapurna Base Camp itineraries.
Sunset and sunrise on the Annapurna rangeMachhapuchhre from an open meadowThe Gurung village of DhampusShort enough for a weekend from Pokhara
Why it is rated easy
- Short walking days of 1-4 hours
- One steady forest climb of about 300 m from Kande
- Stone-step descent from Dhampus to Phedi
Elevation profile
About altitudeSleeping altitude for each night. The dashed lines at 3,000 m and 4,000 m mark heights where altitude illness becomes more common. General information only, not medical advice.
Hover, tap or use the arrow keys to see each day. Shaded columns are acclimatisation days.
Show the profile as a table
| Day | Overnight | Sleeping altitude | High point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australian Camp | 2,060 m | - |
| 2 | Pokhara | 822 m | - |
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Drive to Kande, walk to Australian Campsleep 2,060 m1-2 habout 2.5 km
About 45 minutes to 1.5 hours by road to Kande, then a steady climb through forest to the meadow. Afternoon and sunset views of the Annapurna range.
Lodge or tented camp at Australian CampAbout Australian Camp
Day 2Australian Camp to Dhampus and Phedi, drive to Pokharasleep 822 m3-4 habout 6.5 km
Sunrise from the meadow, then about an hour east and down to Dhampus and another 1.5-2 hours on stone steps to Phedi. From Phedi it is 20-40 minutes by road to Pokhara.
Hotel in Pokhara
Stages, times and altitudes vary by operator, weather and pace. Partner agencies confirm the exact plan.
Route map
Trail geometry from OpenStreetMap.
Permits
ACAP entry permit (Annapurna Conservation Area)Conservation area
Australian Camp and Dhampus are at the southern edge of the conservation area. Sources disagree on whether a permit is checked for this short walk; it is needed if you continue towards Mardi Himal or Landruk. Ask the NTNC/ACAP office in Pokhara.
TIMS cardTrekker card
Check whether a TIMS card is currently required for your route.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against National Trust for Nature Conservation (Annapurna Conservation Area Project, e-permit links). Guide rule: Nepal bans solo trekking for tourists, guides mandatory from April 1 (The National, March 2023).
Nepal trekking permits explainedWhen to go
Best months: Oct-Apr
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- September to November: clear views from October; the meadow is busy at weekends.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February: often the clearest skies, with frosty mornings at the camp.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May: rhododendrons in the forest, with more haze and afternoon cloud.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August: rain and cloud; the forest trail is muddy and leeches are common.
Weather on the route
Forecasts for start (Australian Camp, 2,060 m), end (Pokhara, 822 m). Mountain weather changes fast; check again on the day.
Weather in Australian Camp (start)
Forecast for 2,060 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Weather in Pokhara (end)
Forecast for 822 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Safety
This route stays below about 2,500 m, so altitude illness is unlikely, but insurance that covers trekking and evacuation is still sensible. This is general information, not medical advice.
Stone steps between Dhampus and Phedi are slippery in rain; take the descent slowly.
Carry a headlamp if you walk up late in the day; the forest gets dark early.
What to pack
- Warm layer for the evening and sunrise
- Headlamp
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip
- Rain jacket outside the dry season
- Cash
Side trips and alternatives
Stay a night in a Dhampus homestay instead of returning the same day.
Continue north via Pothana and Forest Camp onto the Mardi Himal ridge.
Continue west from Pothana to the Gurung villages of Tolka and Landruk on the ABC route.
Australian Camp questions
How long is the Australian Camp trek?
One or two days from Pokhara. It can be a day hike, but a night at the camp gives sunset and sunrise views.
How high is Australian Camp?
About 2,060 m; sources range from about 2,000 m to 2,060 m.
Why is it called Australian Camp?
Trekking sources say Austrian visitors camped on the meadow, locally called Thulo Kharka, in the 1980s, and the name changed to Australian Camp over time.
Do I need a permit for Australian Camp?
Sources disagree for the short walk; an ACAP permit is needed if you continue deeper into the Annapurna Conservation Area. Check in Pokhara.
Similar treks
A ridge trek from Kande near Pokhara through rhododendron forest to the open crest below Machhapuchhre, with a day climb to Mardi Himal Base Camp at about 4,500 m.
- Days
- 6 days
- Maximum altitude
- 4,500 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
A two- to three-day walk from Pokhara to Panchase (about 2,517 m), a forested hill with a temple and pond west of Phewa Tal, with views of Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre.
- Days
- 3 days
- Maximum altitude
- 2,517 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
Editorial draft: altitudes, permits and rules are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Mardi Himal trek, Wikivoyage, Australian Camp day hike from Pokhara, North Nepal Trek, The Dhampus trek in Nepal's Annapurna region, Much Better Adventures, National Trust for Nature Conservation (Annapurna Conservation Area Project, e-permit links)
Australian Camp · 2 days