Australian Camp - Dhampus Trek
Also known as Australian Base Camp Trek / Dhampus Australian Camp Hike.
Australian Camp - Dhampus Trek is a beginner 2-3-day teahouse trek in the Annapurna region of Nepal, reaching 2,060 m. It starts at Kande and ends at Phedi (Dhampus Phedi).
Key facts
- Region
- Annapurna (Kaski)
- Duration
- 2-3 days, 2-4 hours walking per day
- Distance
- 14 km
- Maximum altitude
- 2,060 m
- Difficulty
- Beginner — One of the easiest overnight treks in Nepal: 1-2 short walking days of 2-4 hours on well-made trails, maximum altitude only 2,060 m, road access at both ends, and comfortable teahouses throughout. Ideal first Himalayan hike and for families.
- Trek type
- Teahouse, point-to-point route
- Best season
- Autumn (Oct-Nov) and Spring (Mar-May); feasible year-round
- Guide
- Not mandatory
- Restricted area
- No
- Budget cost
- NPR 10,000–16,000
- Comfortable cost
- NPR 16,000–26,000
- Guided cost
- NPR 26,000–42,000
- Getting there
- Kathmandu → Pokhara (tourist bus, 6-8h) → Kande on the Pokhara-Baglung Highway (local bus ~1h or taxi ~45 min, ~30 km) → trail. Exit at Phedi, 30-40 min drive back to Pokhara.
- Altitude sickness
- Low — maximum altitude 2,060 m is well below the threshold where AMS normally occurs.
Weather
Low altitude keeps the trek open year-round. Best Annapurna/Machhapuchhre panoramas at sunrise Oct-Dec and Mar-Apr. Monsoon brings leeches and cloud; winter nights are cold but days pleasant.
Permits
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) — NPR 3,000 for foreigners. Where to get it: NTB office Pokhara (Damside) or Kathmandu; checked at Australian Camp checkpost
- TIMS Card — NPR 2,000 for foreigners. Where to get it: Through a registered trekking agency; NTB offices
Itinerary
- Day 1: Pokhara to Australian Camp, 1.5-2 h, 2,060 m — Gentle forested climb from Kande; sunset and sunrise panorama of Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Lamjung Himal from the Australian Camp meadow
- Day 2: Australian Camp to Pokhara, 3-4 h, 1,130 m — Ridge walk to Dhampus Gurung village (1,650 m), terraced fields, stone-step descent to Phedi
More Annapurna treks
- Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
- Ghandruk Loop Trek
- Royal Trek
- Mardi Himal Trek
- Khopra Danda Trek
- Mohare Danda Trek
- Panchase Trek
- Sikles Trek
- Jomsom - Muktinath Trek
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake
- Nar Phu Valley Trek
- Upper Mustang Trek
- Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek
- Ghale Gaun - Lamjung Community Trek
- Sirubari Village Trek
- Kori Danda (Kapuche Lake - Kori) Trek
- Annapurna North Base Camp Trek