Drive from Pokhara to Phedi, about an hour, passing a Tibetan camp at Hyanjha on the way, according to an operator. From the road end at Phedi, at about 1,160 m, climb the stone staircase through terraced rice fields and Gurung hamlets to Dhampus, about 2.1 km and 520 m, in two to three hours. Dhampus is at about 1,690 m on the elevation model, and operators give 1,650 to 1,770 m. Stay in a lodge or tea house with views of Annapurna South, and watch the light change over the range in the evening.
Australian Camp and Dhampus Trek
An easy three-day trek from Pokhara: a drive to Phedi, the stone steps to Dhampus, a walk through Pothana to Australian Camp at about 2,050 m, and a descent to Kande.
- Days3
- Max altitude2,050 m
- Distance10.8 km
- Ascent1,013 m
- DifficultyEasy
- Best monthsOct–Nov, Mar–Apr
- Permits2
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Photo: Pitambergrg · CC BY-SA 4.0
This itinerary is a draft and hasn't been verified yet. Always confirm stages with your guide.
Written by FindTrekkingPartner teamReviewed by FindTrekkingPartner teamHow we reviewFindTrekkingPartner
Australian Camp and Dhampus Trek is a 3-day trek in the Pokhara region of Nepal that climbs to 2,050 m. Foreign trekkers can find a partner for it on FindTrekkingPartner by posting a trip with their dates, budget and pace. Matches stay private until both trekkers agree, and the service is free. At mid-range rates a licensed guide costs about USD 28 per person over 3 days when four trekkers share, against USD 112 for one trekker alone. The best seasons are Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr. The Nepal Tourism Board April 2023 rule requires a licensed guide in national parks and conservation areas. Local practice differs (checked 19 October 2026): the Khumbu municipality opted out and issues its own trek card, and day hikes are rarely checked, but follow the rule and hire a guide; confirm with your agency. Last verified: October 19, 2026. Sources: Nepal Tourism Board, DNPWC, Department of Immigration.
Sources:Department of Immigration, NepalNepal Tourism BoardDepartment of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
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Overview
Starts from Pokhara3 days · max 2,050 m
Best seasons: Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr · Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area entry permit (NPR 3,000 for foreigners); confirm with your agency, TIMS card where required
The Australian Camp and Dhampus trek is an easy three-day walk from Pokhara through villages and forest to a meadow viewpoint on the ridge above the city. A drive of about an hour reaches Phedi, a stone staircase climbs to the Gurung village of Dhampus, a ridge path leads through Pothana to Australian Camp, at about 2,050 m, where Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and the rest of the range fill the horizon, and the third morning walks down to Kande for the drive back. On our map the walking is about 11 km with 1,010 m of climbing over three days, so it suits families and first-time trekkers. It needs no flight and no gear beyond a rain jacket and sturdy shoes, the best months are October to November and March to April, and the Annapurna Conservation Area permit of NPR 3,000 may apply, so confirm with your agency.
The plan follows operator itineraries from Explore-Share, Trekking in Nepal and Lokalee, which agree on the Phedi start, the night at Dhampus and the stop at Pothana. Operator heights differ for the camp, from 2,045 to 2,232 m, and the elevation model gives about 2,060 m, so we use 2,050 m. The best months are October to November and March to April.
What the trek is like
The first day is a short climb up stone steps. The second is a longer ridge walk with forest and views, and the camp is a grassy ridge with lodges and tents. The last morning is a short descent to Kande. The Mardi Himal trek follows the same path on its first day.
Permits and rules
Dhampus and Australian Camp lie in Kaski District, which is part of the Annapurna Conservation Area, and the NTNC entry permit costs NPR 3,000 for foreigners. Operators we read do not always mention it, so confirm with your agency.
Best season
October to November and March to April. The monsoon brings leeches and cloud.
Getting there and away
Pokhara to Phedi is about an hour by road, and Kande to Pokhara is about an hour.
Difficulty and fitness
The trek is easy. The steepest part is the stone staircase from Phedi to Dhampus, about 520 m in 2.1 km, and the other days are short. Children and older walkers manage it with a day pack and a guide or porter. It makes a good first trek and a good warm-up before the Mardi Himal or Annapurna routes.
Budget notes
The costs section uses Nepal-wide lodge and meal ranges for low-altitude nights, the Annapurna Conservation Area permit of NPR 3,000 and transport lines that we show as items to check, since we found no published fares for the Phedi and Kande transfers.
What to pack
A day pack, a rain jacket, a warm layer for the camp, sun protection, a head torch for the sunrise and sturdy shoes for the stone steps.
Guide rule
This route lies in the Annapurna Conservation Area, so the Nepal Tourism Board April 2023 guide rule applies: 2026 operator reports say the ACAP checkpoint checks for a licensed guide (checked 19 October 2026). See the guide rule by region.
Highlights
- Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range from Australian Camp
- The stone staircase from Phedi to Dhampus through terraced fields
- A Gurung village, Pothana and forest on a ridge path
- An easy first trek within an hour of Pokhara
- The first stage of the Mardi Himal trek
Route map
Route data from OpenStreetMap, not yet checked by our team. Use it for planning, not navigation.
Day by day
Walk from Dhampus through forest to Pothana, a clearing with lodges at about 1,890 m, then on to Australian Camp, a grassy ridge viewpoint at about 2,050 m, about 6.2 km with 470 m of climbing in three to four hours by our estimate, longer than the two hours that one operator gives. Lunch at Pothana is common. The last climb to the viewpoint takes about 45 minutes. Australian Camp has Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range in front of it, and sunset and sunrise here are the highlights of the trek.
Get up for sunrise at the camp, then walk down about 2.5 km and 350 m to Kande, in one to one and a half hours, on the same path that the Mardi Himal trek uses in the other direction. A vehicle meets you at Kande and drives you back to Pokhara in about an hour. Some operators descend to Phedi instead, and others walk on to Sarangkot, about four hours along the ridge. If you want to continue, the Mardi Himal trail starts at Kande.
What it costs
Estimated all-in cost per person: lodge and food by altitude, transport, permits, and the guide and porters. The more trekkers share a guide and porters, the less each person pays. As of October 2026.
| Style | 1 trekker | 2 trekkers sharing | 4 trekkers sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $150–$230* | $110–$160* | $90–$130* |
| Mid-range | $200–$300* | $140–$200* | $110–$170* |
| Comfort | $210–$320* | $170–$250* | $150–$220* |
Share a guide, save money
At mid-range, a solo trekker pays about $200–$300; four trekkers sharing one guide and two porters pay about $110–$170 each (43% less at the top of the range).
Breakdown for 2 trekkers sharing
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodge and food | $30–$60 | $40–$80 | $50–$100 |
| Permits | $30–$40 | $30–$40 | $30–$40 |
| Guide | $40–$70 | $40–$70 | $40–$70 |
| Porters | — | $10–$30 | $30–$60 |
Budget uses public transport and no porter; mid-range shares one porter between two trekkers and a private vehicle; comfort gives each trekker a porter. A guide is included where one is required or the style is mid-range or comfort.
Nightly lodge and food (room and a dal bhat meal)
2 nights Below 2,500 m: room $2–$9, dal bhat $4–$7
Permit fees (official sources)
Not included
No published price found for: Pokhara to Phedi by taxi; Kande to Pokhara by taxi. Totals marked * leave these out; ask your agency. A licensed guide is required in practice: the route is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, where the NTB rule (April 2023) is checked at the ACAP checkpoint (2026 operator reports).
Cost sources
- PriceNepal: Nepal Travel Cost Guide 2026 (2026-05-14)
- Third Rock Adventures: Nepal trek budget planner (2026-05-09)
- Himalayan Partner: Guide and porter price in Nepal 2026 (2026-02-10)
- Shikhar Adventure: Annapurna Circuit trek cost (2026-02-03)
- Nepal Tourism Board: Trekking Permit (2026-10-18)
Estimates from operator guides, not quotes. Tips, insurance, gear and Kathmandu hotels are not included; USD at the platform exchange rate.
Photos
Frequently asked questions
This plan takes three days and two nights from Pokhara to Pokhara. Operators also sell a one-day hike from Kande and a two-day version that drives to Kande, walks about two hours to the camp and descends the next day.
About 2,050 m. OpenStreetMap gives 2,045 m, one operator 2,050 m, and our elevation model about 2,060 m. Other operators give 2,165 and 2,232 m.
Dhampus and Australian Camp are in Kaski, within the Annapurna Conservation Area. The ACAP entry permit is NPR 3,000 for foreigners on the Nepal Tourism Board list. Operator pages do not always mention it, so confirm with your agency.
Yes, it is one of the easiest treks near Pokhara, with short days, stone steps and lodges at each stop. Operators market it as a trek for families.
Yes. The Mardi Himal trek passes Pothana and Australian Camp on its first day, so the camp is a good first night for that longer route.
Sources
Along the trail
Stays, medical help, water and sights on each day of the route.
1. Pokhara → Dhampus
- Renu Medical · Medical · 1,446 m
- Gaughar Clinic · Medical · 1,436 m
- Raju Lodge & Restaurant · Stays · 1,166 m
- Viewpoint · Viewpoints · 1,376 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 1,410 m
- View top lodge and restaurant · Stays · 1,535 m
- Peace Karma View · Stays · 1,683 m
- Hotel Nana · Stays · 1,683 m
Show all 10 places
- Renu Medical · Medical · 1,446 m
- Gaughar Clinic · Medical · 1,436 m
- Raju Lodge & Restaurant · Stays · 1,166 m
- Dhampus Mahili Hotel and Lodge · Stays · 1,166 m
- Viewpoint · Viewpoints · 1,376 m
- Dhampus Resort · Stays · 1,380 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 1,410 m
- View top lodge and restaurant · Stays · 1,535 m
- Peace Karma View · Stays · 1,683 m
- Hotel Nana · Stays · 1,683 m
2. Dhampus → Australian Camp
- Viewpoint · Viewpoints · 1,725 m
- Health post · Medical · 2,049 m
- Annapurna Guest House and Restaurant · Stays · 1,995 m
- Shangri-la Guest House and Restaurant · Stays · 1,998 m
- Heaven Gate & Restaurant · Stays · 2,001 m
- Diamir - Heaven's Gate - Guest House and Restaurant · Stays · 2,002 m
Show all 22 places
- Anu Guest House & Restaurant · Stays · 1,713 m
- Viewpoint · Viewpoints · 1,725 m
- Ukaab Holiday Home · Stays · 1,735 m
- Laligurash guest house · Stays · 1,738 m
- Basanta Lodge · Stays · 1,741 m
- Panaroma Point Lodge · Stays · 1,743 m
- Green Land Hotel · Stays · 1,751 m
- Yama Sakura Guest House · Stays · 1,753 m
- Sunrise Camp Resort · Stays · 2,041 m
- Australian Camp Guest House and Restaurant · Stays · 2,056 m
- Australian Camp House & Restaurant · Stays · 2,054 m
- Australian Camp Guest House · Stays · 2,054 m
- Angel's Guest House and Restaurant · Stays · 2,062 m
- Health post · Medical · 2,049 m
- Annapurna Guest House and Restaurant · Stays · 1,995 m
- Shangri-la Guest House and Restaurant · Stays · 1,998 m
- Heaven Gate & Restaurant · Stays · 2,001 m
- Diamir - Heaven's Gate - Guest House and Restaurant · Stays · 2,002 m
- Fishtail Guest House and Restaurant · Stays · 2,008 m
- Pothana Guest House · Stays · 2,003 m
- Gurung Guest House · Stays · 2,001 m
- Hotel Vacation Home & Restaurant · Stays · 1,995 m
3. Australian Camp → Pokhara
- Viewpoint · Viewpoints · 2,019 m
- Sunita Hotel · Stays · 1,699 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 1,720 m
- Kande Inn Guest House & Restaurant · Stays · 1,730 m
- Annapurna Lodge & Restaurant · Stays · 1,735 m
- Thakalu Hotel & Restaurant · Stays · 1,735 m
Show all 12 places
- Machhapuchhre Guest House · Stays · 2,062 m
- Purna Home Stay · Stays · 2,046 m
- Viewpoint · Viewpoints · 2,019 m
- Step Up Hotel & Restaurant · Stays · 1,701 m
- Maili Hotel · Stays · 1,703 m
- Hotel Green View Thakali Bhanchha & Lodge · Stays · 1,702 m
- Sunita Hotel · Stays · 1,699 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 1,720 m
- Kande Inn Guest House & Restaurant · Stays · 1,730 m
- Annapurna Lodge & Restaurant · Stays · 1,735 m
- Thakalu Hotel & Restaurant · Stays · 1,735 m
- Manisha Hotel & Restaurant · Stays · 1,719 m