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Dhampus and Australian Camp Day Hike from Pokhara

A day walk from Pokhara up through the Gurung village of Dhampus to Australian Camp at 2,060 m, with Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre in front of you, for 2027

Duration
1 days
Grade
Moderate
Highest point
2,060 m / 6,759 ft (Australian Camp)
Group size
1 to 20
Starts and ends
Pokhara hotel
Best time
Oct to Apr

Govt RegdTAAN #1586300+ ★ reviews

  • Three generations of family guides in the Himalayas, independent since 2016
  • Government-licensed Nepal trekking company (Reg 147653)
  • TAAN Member #1586
  • 300+ reviews
  • Secure payment via Himalayan Bank
  • Four-time TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024)

Overview

From US$135Updated Oct 16, 2026

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 135 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

Duration1 day from your Pokhara hotel and back, about 4 to 5 hours of walking
Maximum altitude2,060 m / 6,759 ft (Australian Camp)
GradeModerate. A steady uphill walk. No technical skill
Best monthsOctober to April. Clearest in October and November
Group size1 to 20, always private
PermitsAnnapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card, included
Start datesAny day
From priceUSD 135 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 175, Luxury USD 195

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.

MonthWhat it is likeMy verdict
JanuaryClear mornings and cold starts. Sharp mountain views.Good
FebruaryClear and dry.Good
MarchWarmer, rhododendrons starting, haze by midday.Good, start early
AprilRhododendrons in the forest, hazy afternoons.Good, start early
MayHot and hazy, storms in the afternoon.Early starts only
JuneMonsoon: wet paths, leeches and cloud.No
JulyMonsoon.No
AugustMonsoon.No
SeptemberThe rains ease late in the month.Late September only
OctoberClean air after the rains and the clearest views.Best
NovemberDry, clear and cool.Best
DecemberDry 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 2027What to expectMy advice
January to February 2027Clear 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 2027Monsoon: 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 feeCostNotes
Annapurna Conservation Area permitNPR 3,000 (NPR 1,000 SAARC)Included
TIMS cardNPR 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 are our 2027 prices. If we have already quoted you a price in writing, we hold it.

Group sizeBudgetStandardLuxury
1 guest (solo)USD 185USD 230USD 295
2 to 4 guestsUSD 135USD 175USD 195
5 to 8 guestsUSD 80USD 120USD 140
9 to 12 guestsUSD 70USD 105USD 125
13 to 20 guestsUSD 65USD 100USD 120

Not included: international flights, your Nepal visa (USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, paid in cash on arrival), travel insurance, tips and personal spending. You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance in Kathmandu or online. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. We cover the card fee on the deposit. If you pay the balance by card it carries a 3.5% bank charge, and cash has no fee.

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.

BudgetStandardLuxury
VehicleLocal shared vehicleShared tourist vehicleA comfortable private vehicle
LunchNot includedLunch with tea or coffeeLunch, with tea, coffee and soft drinks carried by your guide
GuideLicensed English-speaking guideLicensed English-speaking guideLicensed English-speaking guide

Read before you book

The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.

Why book with The Everest Holiday

  • Three generations of family guidesFamily-run since 2016 with three generations of guiding heritage. Not an agency — the family that runs the company leads your trek personally.
  • Private group, no strangersEvery trek we run is private. Your group only. We never combine bookings or add strangers to your party. If you book solo, you walk with a guide; if you book as four friends, your group stays four.
  • Nagarjun Learning Center givebackA fixed share of every booking funds the Nagarjun Learning Center — 70 children, 7 community centres, 3 full-time teachers, 600+ medical interventions, 275+ women supported. You can visit the centre before or after your trip; we arrange the visit separately.
  • Government registered, TAAN memberGovt Regd. No. 147653/072/073. Trekking Agency Licence 2090/072, Travel Agency Licence 2838/072. TAAN Member #1586. Over 300 reviews on TripAdvisor, Google and Trustpilot. We are a real, audited Nepal company — not a booking-platform middleman.

Day by day

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Prices

The Dhampus and Australian Camp Day Hike from Pokhara with The Everest Holiday costs $135 (Budget), $175 (Standard), or $195 (Luxury) per person for the 1-day trip. Book with a 10% deposit; the balance is payable in Kathmandu.

Budget price by group size
Travellers in your groupPrice per person
1US$185
2 to 4US$135
5 to 8US$80
9 to 12US$70
13 to 20US$65

Discounts are determined exclusively by the size of your group. We do not add additional members to your group.

Book Budget

Himalayan Bank logoSecure payment by Himalayan Bank.

What is included

On the Budget level.

Included

Transport

  • Local shared vehicle from your Pokhara hotel to Phedi and back from Kande

Guide

  • Licensed English-speaking guide for the day, and a second guide for groups of 9 or more

Food

  • No meals are included: you can buy lunch on the trail
  • Bottled water

Permits and taxes

  • Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card
  • Government taxes and our service charge

Complimentary

  • First aid kit with pulse oximeter

Not included

Not included

  • Lunch and drinks
  • Getting to Pokhara (we can book the flight or the tourist bus)
  • International flights
  • Nepal visa: USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, paid in cash on arrival
  • Pokhara hotel nights (see the add-ons)
  • Travel insurance. Buy it at home and check it covers day hikes up to 2,500 m
  • Tips for the guide and driver
  • Personal spending
  • Wifi, hot showers, charging, heated blankets and anything else outside the room price, paid by you directly to the teahouse or hotel.

Add-ons and trip extensions

Pokhara hotel night (3-star)US$100 per room-night

Per room per night, twin-sharing, breakfast usually included, for example a night before or after the programme. Two guests sharing one room choose 1 per night. A solo traveller pays for a whole room. Hotel names are confirmed after booking.

Additional vehicle transferUS$15 per vehicle transfer

One extra vehicle transfer in Kathmandu or Pokhara, for example a late arrival or a change of hotel. Choose the number of transfers.

Dates

Your trek, your choice, your price. Choose the style that suits you. Book a private departure on any date with just your party, or join a fixed group departure and trek with fellow adventurers from around the world. Same routes, same guides, same quality — 3 comfort tiers on both options. Per-person price follows our group-discount tiers based on YOUR party size (a couple pays less per pax than a solo trekker, 5+ pays less again) — the same tiers apply on both booking types.

Private departure

  • Any date you choose
  • Just your party + dedicated guide
  • 3 comfort tiers (Budget, Standard, Luxury)
  • Per-pax price tier set by YOUR party size

Fixed group departure

  • Scheduled dates (see below)
  • Join other trekkers from around the world
  • 3 comfort tiers (Budget, Standard, Luxury)
  • Per-pax price tier set by YOUR party size (same tier as Private)
Book private departureView group departures
Prefer email? Send a question and we will reply within a few hours.

Peak season (Sep–Nov) — our guides book up fast. Get in touch 6–8 weeks ahead to secure your preferred dates.

Other dates

Need a different date? Other dates are available on request. Contact us or message Shreejan on WhatsApp.

Fixed departures are dates we have already committed to run. Your party still treks as its own private group with its own guide; we never merge bookings or add strangers, and solo trekkers are welcome on any date. Private departures on any other date you choose are also available. On both, the per-person price is set by the size of your own party.

Shreejan Simkhada, Director of The Everest HolidayShamjhana Basukala, Co-founder of The Everest Holiday

Shreejan and Shamjhana plan every trek personally

Your hosts since 2016. Ask us anything; we reply within hours.

Ask Shreejan on WhatsApp

Essential information

Before you go

  • Fitness: you climb about 1,000 m and walk for four to five hours. If you are not used to hills, ask us for the Sarangkot sunrise by car instead.
  • Start: we leave early, because the mountains are clearest in the morning.
  • Permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card are needed and included. Bring your passport.
  • Insurance: buy it at home. It must cover day hikes.
  • Hotels: your Pokhara hotel is not included. We can book it for you.

Questions people ask

How hard is the Dhampus and Australian Camp hike?
It is graded Moderate. You climb about 1,000 m on village paths and forest trail, and walk for about four to five hours in all. No technical skill is needed, but you should be happy walking uphill for a couple of hours.
How much does it cost?
For a couple, the price per person is USD 135 Budget, USD 175 Standard and USD 195 Luxury. A solo traveller pays USD 185, USD 230 and USD 295. The price falls for larger groups, down to USD 65, USD 100 and USD 120 for 13 to 20 guests. These are our 2027 prices. If we have already quoted you a price in writing, we hold it.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. Dhampus and Australian Camp are inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need the conservation area permit and a TIMS card. Both are included and we arrange them. Bring your passport.
How far is it from Pokhara?
Phedi, where the walk starts, is a short drive from Pokhara, and we finish at Kande, also a short drive back. You are back at your hotel by late afternoon.
What will I see?
Dhampus, a Gurung village of terraced fields at about 1,680 m, and from Australian Camp at 2,060 m a close view of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. On a clear morning the range seems close enough to touch.
Is Dhampus the same as Kande?
No. Both are roadside starts above Pokhara at about 1,700 m and both lead to Australian Camp. We walk up from Phedi through Dhampus and come down to Kande.
When is the best time to go in 2027?
October to April. October and November give the clearest air, and March and April bring rhododendrons. June to mid September is monsoon: slippery paths, leeches and cloud.
Can I stay the night at Australian Camp?
Yes. Our Australian Camp trek, 2 days from Pokhara, spends the night there for the sunset and the sunrise.
Is it a good warm-up before a trek?
Yes. It tests your boots and your legs without any altitude risk, before Poon Hill, Mardi Himal or the Annapurna Base Camp trek.
Can children or older people do it?
If they are used to walking uphill for a couple of hours, yes. A child pays the same as an adult. Tell us everyone's age and fitness when you book.
Can I do it alone?
Yes, with your own guide. A solo traveller has the guide to themselves, which is why the solo price is higher.
How do I pay?
You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance in Kathmandu or online. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. We cover the card fee on the deposit. If you pay the balance by card it carries a 3.5% bank charge. Cash carries none. We cannot take Nepali rupees from foreign guests.
What happens if I need to cancel, or you cannot run the trip?
If we cannot run your trip, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank or card charges and any money already spent on your behalf, or move you to another date. If you cancel yourself, the deposit is not refundable, but you can reschedule free to any date within one year with at least 72 hours' notice.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Buy travel insurance at home, before you travel, and check that it covers day hikes up to 2,500 m. We do not recommend insurance bought in Nepal.
From, per personUS$135