Australian Base Camp Trek
6 spring departures left
-
Kaski District, Annapurna Region, Nepal
Sunrise over Machhapuchhre & Annapurna South
Ridge-top lodge night at 2,060 m
Traditional village life in Dhampus
Short, easy walk from Pokhara
If you have only a couple of days in Pokhara but want to wake up facing the Annapurna range, this is the trek for you. A short drive takes you to the trailhead at Kande, and a gentle climb through oak and rhododendron forest brings you to Australian Camp, a grassy ridge-top clearing at about 2,060 m with some of the widest mountain views you can reach in a single afternoon from Pokhara.
From the camp the skyline stretches from Annapurna South and Hiunchuli to the sharp fishtail summit of Machhapuchhre, with Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal further east on clear days. Evenings are quiet, and the real reward comes at dawn when the first light turns the snow peaks gold while the valleys below are still in shadow.
On the second morning our team leads you down through Pothana and the Gurung and Brahmin village of Dhampus, with its terraced fields and stone houses, before the final descent to Phedi and the drive back to Pokhara, usually in time for a late lunch by Phewa Lake.
There is no high altitude, no long days and no technical ground, so this short trek suits families, first-time trekkers and anyone wanting a taste of the Annapurna foothills. You still walk inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, stay in a simple mountain lodge and travel with a licensed local guide, just on a much smaller scale than the big Himalayan treks.
-
Duration 2 Days
-
Nights
1 Night
-
Difficulty Easy
-
Max.Elevation 2,060 m (6,759 ft)
-
Accomodation Mountain Lodge
-
Meals Lunch & Dinner on Day 1, Breakfast & Lunch on Day 2
-
Group Size 1 - 12 Travelers
-
Best Season Mar - May, Sep - Nov
-
Starting Point Pokhara
-
Ending Point Pokhara
-
Permit Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
-
Trip Type Private or Group
If you have only a couple of days in Pokhara but want to wake up facing the Annapurna range, this is the trek for you. A short drive takes you to the trailhead at Kande, and a gentle climb through oak and rhododendron forest brings you to Australian Camp, a grassy ridge-top clearing at about 2,060 m with some of the widest mountain views you can reach in a single afternoon from Pokhara.
From the camp the skyline stretches from Annapurna South and Hiunchuli to the sharp fishtail summit of Machhapuchhre, with Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal further east on clear days. Evenings are quiet, and the real reward comes at dawn when the first light turns the snow peaks gold while the valleys below are still in shadow.
On the second morning our team leads you down through Pothana and the Gurung and Brahmin village of Dhampus, with its terraced fields and stone houses, before the final descent to Phedi and the drive back to Pokhara, usually in time for a late lunch by Phewa Lake.
There is no high altitude, no long days and no technical ground, so this short trek suits families, first-time trekkers and anyone wanting a taste of the Annapurna foothills. You still walk inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, stay in a simple mountain lodge and travel with a licensed local guide, just on a much smaller scale than the big Himalayan treks.
Itinerary
A two-day loop from Pokhara: up from Kande to Australian Camp for sunset and sunrise, then down through Pothana and Dhampus to Phedi.
Drive Pokhara to Kande, hike to Australian Camp
-
Max Altitude
2,060 m
-
Accommodation
Guesthouse (Basic Lodge/Community Lodge)
-
Meals
Dinner Included
After breakfast at your hotel, our guide collects you in Pokhara for the roughly one-hour drive along the Baglung road to Kande, the trailhead at around 1,770 m. The walk up is short but steady, climbing stone steps and a forest path shaded by oak and rhododendron. In about two hours you come out onto the open meadow of Australian Camp, where a handful of lodges look straight across to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre. Check in, have lunch, then spend the afternoon relaxing on the grass, strolling along the ridge or watching the clouds lift off the peaks. Sunset colours on the mountains are often the best of the day. Dinner and overnight at a lodge at Australian Camp.
Day highlights
-
Forest climb from Kande -
Sunset over the Annapurna range
Sunrise, trek via Dhampus to Phedi, drive to Pokhara
-
Max Altitude
2,060 m
-
Meals
Breakfast and Lunch Included
- Trekking 3-4 hrs, Australian Camp to Phedi
Wake early for sunrise, when the first light catches Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna peaks one after another. After breakfast we walk along the ridge to Pothana, then descend gently to Dhampus, a spread-out village of Gurung and Brahmin families with stone houses, terraced fields and more views back to the mountains. We stop here for lunch and a look around the village before the steeper stone-staircase descent through farmland to Phedi on the Baglung road. A short drive of 30 to 45 minutes brings you back to Pokhara in the afternoon, where the trek ends at your hotel or Lakeside.
Day highlights
-
Himalayan sunrise from the camp
-
Dhampus village
-
Pothana forest trail
Maps
Where this trip takes you.
Fixed Departures
Set group departures below. Private dates can be arranged on any day that suits you.
Oct 20 - Oct 21, 2026
-
Group Joining -
Guaranteed
From $180 /Person
Book nowNov 5 - Nov 6, 2026
-
Group Joining
-
Guaranteed
From $180 /Person
Book nowNov 20 - Nov 21, 2026
-
Group Joining
-
Guaranteed
From $180 /Person
Book nowMar 5 - Mar 6, 2027
-
Group Joining
-
Available
From $180 /Person
Book nowMar 20 - Mar 21, 2027
-
Group Joining
-
Available
From $180 /Person
Book nowApr 5 - Apr 6, 2027
-
Group Joining
-
Available
From $180 /Person
Book nowApr 20 - Apr 21, 2027
-
Group Joining
-
Available
From $180 /Person
Book nowMay 5 - May 6, 2027
-
Group Joining
-
Available
From $180 /Person
Book nowMay 20 - May 21, 2027
-
Group Joining
-
Available
From $180 /Person
Book nowSep 5 - Sep 6, 2027
-
Group Joining
-
Available
From $180 /Person
Book nowSep 20 - Sep 21, 2027
-
Group Joining
-
Available
From $180 /Person
Book nowAvailability
Join a set group departure, or ask us for a private date that suits you.
Didn’t find a suitable date? Contact us with your dates and preferences.
Inclusions & exclusions
What the trip price covers, and what to budget for separately.
What’s included
- Transport – private vehicle Pokhara to Kande and Phedi to Pokhara
- Guide – licensed, English-speaking local trekking guide, with his meals, lodging, salary and insurance
- Accommodation – one night in a mountain lodge at Australian Camp (twin sharing)
- Meals – lunch and dinner on Day 1, breakfast and lunch on Day 2
- Permit – Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Pokhara
- Basic first-aid kit carried by the guide
- Government taxes and service charges
Not included
- Porter – available on request if you prefer not to carry your own daypack and overnight bag
- Hotel in Pokhara – before and after the trek
- Drinks and snacks – bottled water, soft drinks, tea/coffee beyond meals, alcohol
- Travel insurance – strongly recommended
- Personal expenses – hot showers, device charging, Wi-Fi where charged by lodges
- Tips for guide and driver
Why this trip stands out
-
It gives you a proper Himalayan sunrise with only one night away from Pokhara. -
Walking is short and easy, so it suits families, beginners and older travellers.
-
The route passes through real working villages rather than just a viewpoint.
-
There is no altitude risk, making it an easy add-on before or after a longer trek.
-
Our Pokhara-based guides know every lodge and shortcut on this ridge.
Good to know
Practical information to help you prepare for this trip.
Essential Packing Guide
You only need a small overnight pack.
- Footwear: trainers or light trekking shoes with good grip for the stone steps.
- Warm layer: a fleece or light down jacket; mornings at the camp are cold, especially from November to February.
- Essentials: headtorch for sunrise, sunscreen, water bottle, rain jacket and some cash for drinks.
Permits
An Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) is required and included. Bring your passport; we need its details to issue the permit before the trek.
Accommodation and Meals
You stay one night in a simple lodge at Australian Camp. Meals are hearty Nepali and international dishes, with dal bhat the local favourite. Lunch on Day 2 is usually in Dhampus.
Travel Insurance
Even for a short, low trek we recommend travel insurance that covers hiking in Nepal and medical treatment.
FAQs
Answers to the questions travellers ask us most about this trip.
How hard is the Australian Camp trek?
It is one of the easiest overnight treks near Pokhara. Day 1 is about two hours uphill, Day 2 is three to four hours mostly downhill on stone steps. Reasonable fitness and comfortable shoes are enough.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. Australian Camp and Dhampus lie inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so an ACAP permit is required. It is included in the price and we arrange it for you in Pokhara; we just need a copy of your passport.
Can children do this trek?
Yes, it is popular with families. The walking is short and the maximum altitude is only about 2,060 m. Children under 10 do not pay the ACAP fee.
Can it be done as a day hike instead?
Yes, fit walkers can do Kande to Australian Camp and down to Dhampus and Phedi in one long day. You miss sunset and sunrise though, which are the main reason to stay overnight. Ask us for a day-hike price.
What are the lodges like?
Simple mountain lodges with twin rooms, blankets and a shared dining room. Some rooms have attached bathrooms; hot showers and charging may cost a little extra.
Will I definitely see the mountains?
Views are clearest from October to early December and again in spring mornings. During the monsoon (June to August) clouds often hide the peaks, though early mornings can still clear.
Traveller reviews
Read what travellers say about this trip, or share your own experience.
Plan your journey
Price Starts From
$180
$199
-
PAX
COST PER PERSON
- 1 - 1 Traveler $180
- 2 - 5 Travelers $145
- 6 - 12 Travelers $125
**Discounts are solely based on your group size. We do not add anyone to your group.
-
Reserve now and pay later
-
Experienced & Knowledgeable Guides
-
Personalized & Customer-centric Service
-
Sustainable & Environmental Responsibility
Bishal plans these departures and usually replies within four hours.
Free cancellation up to 21 days before departure
Let’s Plan Your Himalayan Journey
Whether it’s a trek, tour, or custom adventure, we’re here to help you plan the perfect experience in Nepal.ss
Send us an Inquiry
Tell us about your dream trip and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
Explore more packages
Carefully designed trekking itineraries led by experienced local guides, from beginner-friendly hikes to legendary Himalayan expeditions.
Explore all treks
Mera Peak Climbing
-
17 Days
-
Hard
-
6,476 m (21,247 ft)
Climb Mera Peak (6,476 m), Nepal's highest trekking peak, via the remote Hinku valley and...
Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Tour 12 Days | 11 Nights
-
12 Days
-
Easy
-
3,840 m (12,598 ft)
Watch three days of sacred masked dances in the royal square of Lo Manthang on...
Pokhara To Upper Mustang Tour 10 Days | 9 Nights
-
10 Days
-
Easy
-
3,840 m (12,598 ft)
A 10-day 4WD journey from Pokhara through the Kali Gandaki gorge to the walled city...
Upper Mustang Circuit Trek
-
18 Days
-
Hard
-
4,280 m (14,042 ft)
A full loop of the old Kingdom of Lo: up the west bank via Dhakmar...
