Dhampus and Australian Camp Day Hike from Pokhara is a 1-day hike for walkers in Pokhara with one free day who want a real hill walk and a close view of the Annapurna range. It reaches 2,060 m (Australian Camp) and is graded Moderate: a steady climb of about 1,000 m on village paths and forest trail, and a gentler walk down. It costs from USD 150 per person (Budget, couple). The price per person is the same for a private trip and a group of the same size, and it falls as the group grows.
Dhampus and Australian Camp day hike at a glance
| Duration | 1 day from your Pokhara hotel and back, about 4 to 5 hours of walking |
|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | 2,060 m / 6,759 ft (Australian Camp) |
| Grade | Moderate. A steady uphill walk. No technical skill |
| Best months | October to April. Clearest in October and November |
| Group size | 1 to 20, always private |
| Permits | Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card, included |
| Start dates | Any day |
| From price | USD 150 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 180, Luxury USD 200 |
Why I built it this way
If you have a free day in Pokhara and want to walk rather than sightsee, this is the hike I give people. You drive a short way out of town, walk up through Dhampus, a Gurung village of terraced fields, and reach Australian Camp at 2,060 m, where Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre fill the sky in front of you. Then you walk down and are back at your hotel by late afternoon.
It is the first day of our Australian Camp trek, 2 days from Pokhara, done as a day trip. If you would like to see the sunset and the sunrise from up there, the two-day version spends the night at Australian Camp. If you want the sunrise without the walk, our Sarangkot sunrise tour does it by car. Read Dhampus and Kande: The Two Roadside Starts for Mardi Himal and Australian Camp before you choose.
It is a proper uphill walk of about 1,000 m, but it has no altitude risk, and it is a good warm-up before a longer trek. Every booking helps pay the teacher's salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum. The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
Best time to go, month by month
These notes come from our guides on the Pokhara hills. They are not forecasts.
| Month | What it is like | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| January | Clear mornings and cold starts. Sharp mountain views. | Good |
| February | Clear and dry. | Good |
| March | Warmer, rhododendrons starting, haze by midday. | Good, start early |
| April | Rhododendrons in the forest, hazy afternoons. | Good, start early |
| May | Hot and hazy, storms in the afternoon. | Early starts only |
| June | Monsoon: wet paths, leeches and cloud. | No |
| July | Monsoon. | No |
| August | Monsoon. | No |
| September | The rains ease late in the month. | Late September only |
| October | Clean air after the rains and the clearest views. | Best |
| November | Dry, clear and cool. | Best |
| December | Dry and clear, cold mornings. | Good |
October to April is the walking window. Start early in every season, because the mountains are clearest in the morning.
Starting dates for 2027
This is a day trip, so you choose your date. These are the windows I would pick for 2027. Festival dates are the expected ones and are confirmed each year.
| Window in 2027 | What to expect | My advice |
|---|---|---|
| January to February 2027 | Clear and cold, few walkers. | Good |
| March to May 2027 (Holi expected 22 to 23 March) | Rhododendrons in March and April, haze later. | Good in March and April |
| June to mid September 2027 | Monsoon: wet, slippery and cloudy. | No |
| Mid September to December 2027 (Dashain expected 6 to 10 October) | The clearest views of the year. | Best |
We confirm the start time the evening before, according to the weather.
Permits and costs
Dhampus and Australian Camp are inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so a permit and a TIMS card are needed. We arrange both.
| Permit or fee | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area permit | NPR 3,000 (NPR 1,000 SAARC) | Included |
| TIMS card | NPR 2,000 (NPR 1,000 SAARC) | Included, we issue it through our agency |
The price per person falls as the group grows, and a child pays the same as an adult. Private or group, the price per person is the same. Here is the full table. These prices hold for 2027.
| Group size | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 guest (solo) | USD 210 | USD 240 | USD 295 |
| 2 to 4 guests | USD 150 | USD 180 | USD 200 |
| 5 to 8 guests | USD 95 | USD 125 | USD 145 |
| 9 to 12 guests | USD 85 | USD 115 | USD 135 |
| 13 to 20 guests | USD 80 | USD 110 | USD 130 |
Not included: international flights, your Nepal visa (USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, paid in cash on arrival), Kathmandu hotel nights, travel insurance, tips, personal spending and any extra porter (USD 25 per day plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge). You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance in Kathmandu. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card, and card payments carry a 3.5% bank charge.
Getting there and getting back
We collect you from your Pokhara hotel and drive to Phedi, on the road north-west of the city. The walk ends at Kande, where the vehicle meets you for the drive back. Both drives are short. We check road conditions 48 hours before departure. If a road is not open, we move your dates free of charge.
Visa on arrival is USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, and your passport must be valid for at least six months.
Safety and altitude
There is no altitude risk: the highest point is 2,060 m. The risks are steep, uneven ground and the weather. Your guide leads, sets the pace and carries a first aid kit with a pulse oximeter. Wear shoes with a good grip and drink water through the climb.
In the monsoon the paths are slippery and there are leeches. Buy travel insurance at home that covers day hikes.
What to pack
- Trail shoes or light hiking boots with a good grip
- A warm layer for the morning and a sun hat for midday
- SPF 50 sun cream and sunglasses
- A daypack with 2 litres of water and snacks
- A rain jacket in uncertain weather
- Trekking poles if you have them
- A little cash for tea on the trail
Budget, Standard or Luxury
All three tiers do the same walk. What changes is lunch and the vehicle.
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Private car or van sized to your group | Private car or van sized to your group | A comfortable private vehicle |
| Lunch | Not included | Lunch with tea or coffee | Lunch with all non-alcoholic drinks |
| Guide | Licensed English-speaking guide | Licensed English-speaking guide | Licensed English-speaking guide |
Read before you book
- Dhampus and Kande: The Two Roadside Starts for Mardi Himal and Australian Camp
- Panchase Trek Guide: 3 Days from Pokhara with Himalayan Views and No Altitude Worries
- Sarangkot: The Hill Where Dawn Breaks Twice | Pokhara Sunrise Guide
- Things to Do in Pokhara: Nepal's Adventure Capital on the Lake
The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
