Trekking
Australian Camp and Dhampus Day Hike
Australian Camp and Dhampus village offer the closest full Annapurna panorama to Pokhara, reachable in a single day with no permits required.
Australian Camp (2,060m) and neighbouring Dhampus village sit on a ridge above Pokhara with an unobstructed view of the Annapurna massif from Dhaulagiri to Machhapuchhre.
Overview
The standard circuit from Pokhara: taxi to Phedi or Kande (30-45 min), hike to Dhampus (1.5 hours), continue to Australian Camp (30 min), return via different trail to Naudanda or back to Kande (1.5 hours). Total walking time is 4-5 hours with 600m ascent. No permits required. The village of Dhampus is inhabited by Gurung families and has good teahouses for lunch. This is the most popular half-day trek from Pokhara and genuinely delivers on its promise of Himalayan views. Combine with a Sajilo ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara the previous day for a perfectly timed mountain morning.
FAQ
Do I need a guide? No — the trail is obvious and well used by day trippers from Pokhara.
What is the best time of day to visit? Morning — Annapurna and Machhapuchhre cloud over by early afternoon. Aim to reach Australian Camp by 9:00am.
Planning this trip? 🎒
Don't stress about transport or guides. Sajilo offers verified cabs, luxury tourist buses, and expert guides across Nepal.
Can I combine this with a longer trek? Yes — Dhampus is the starting point for the Dhampus-Pothana-Forest Camp route that connects to the Mardi Himal trek.
