Australian Camp Trek, Nepal: 2 Day Itinerary
Planning to trek to the Australian Camp, Nepal?
The Australian Camp is near Pokhara and I recommend this trek if you are looking for a short trek to see the Himalayas. I enjoyed this trek as it is good for beginners and you can complete it in 2 days.
The Australian Camp is 30 km from Pokhara and you can get there by taking a bus to Phedi and then trek from Phedi to Australian Camp in about 4 hours. Another way to go is to take a bus from Pokhara to Kande and then trek for 1 hour 15 minutes to the Australian Camp.
The Australian Camp is a popular short trek to see the sunrise over the Himalayas. Most people complete the Australian Camp 2 two day, with one night at the Australian Camp to see the sunrise the next morning. Then, return back to Pokhara the next day.
Australian Camp, Nepal: Information for Trekkers
Permits
No permit or guide is needed for the Australian Camp in Nepal. It is a short trek can be done both in groups or solo.
Altitude
The altitude of Australian Camp is 2,065 meters (6,775 ft).
Difficulty Level
The difficulty level of the Australian Camp Trek is easy and can be done by beginners.
It is a short trek, and can feel more like a hike, so it is definitely a good choice if you are short on time and just want to go on a short trek.
Best Time to Trek
The best time to trek to the Australian Camp is between October to Mid-December and March to May, which are the best times to trek in Nepal in general.
Generally, these times are considered the best for trekking, however, still sometimes the weather patterns can be unpredictable.
However, sometimes in the Spring they burn the fields near Pokhara which creates smoke and unclear visibility around Pokhara. If you plan to trek in the spring, you may not have good views, depending on the weather and the burning of fields.
The trail is generally an easy hike. There are some sections where you will have to go up on some stairs but not for too long. The whole hike is about 3.5 – 4 hours to the Australian Camp and there are tea houses in Dhampus to take a break and recharge.
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Australian Camp Trek Map: 2 Days
There are two options to reach the Australian Camp. You can either start at Phedi and finish at Kande, or start at Kande and finish the trek in Phedi.
Route 1. Pokhara → Phedi → Dhampus → Australian Camp → Kande → Pokhara
or through the opposite direction:
Route 2. Pokhara → Kande → Australian Camp → Dhampus → Phedi → Pokhara
Australian Camp Trek Itinerary: 2 Days
Australian Camp Trek Itinerary
Day 1: Pokhara → Phedi → Dhampus → Australian Camp
- Pokhara to Phedi by bus: 1 hour drive
- Trek from Phedi to Dhampus: 2.2 km, 2.5 hours walk
- Trek from Dhampus to Australian Camp: 3.9 km, 1.5 hours walk
The buses leave from Hari Chowk in Pokhara to Phedi. The best is to take a bus early morning around 7 am to Phedi and start the trek early before it gets very hot.
When you get to Phedi, there are some restaurants where you can stop to have breakfast before you start the hike to Dhampus.
The first section of the hike will take you uphill, taking stairs up. There is not much shade while going up the stairs, so it can get very hot and sunny on the way up. Make sure you have sunscreen with you and a sunhat.
It takes about 2.5 hours to reach Dhampus from Phedi. Dhampus is a nice place to stop for lunch and to take a break. Lunch costs around Rs. 400-500.
From Dhampus to Australian Camp, the trail is even shorter and it takes maximum 1.5 hours to reach the Australian Camp.
Day 2: Australian Camp to Kande to Pokhara
- Sunrise view at Australian Camp
- Trek from Australian Camp to Kande: 2.7 km, 30-40 minutes walk
- Bus from Kande to Pokhara: 1 hour, costs Rs. 150
On Day 2, it is great to wake up for sunrise at the Australian Camp. Luckily, there is no need to hike hours in the dark for a sunrise view point, basically, the view is right as you step out from your teahouse.
After sunrise, you can have a quick breakfast, and then trek down to Kande, from where there are buses that go back to Pokhara.
The trek from the Australian Camp to Kande is a really easy one. It is mostly downhill and you can get to Kande in about 30-40 minutes.
How to Get to Phedi (Trek Star Point)
How to Get from Pokhara to Phedi
By Bus: Take the bus from Hari Chowk (Pokhara) to Phedi. The road from Pokhara to Phedi is pretty good, and it takes less than an hour to get to Phedi. The bus ticket costs Rs. 60.
By Taxi: It is also possible to get a taxi to take you to Phedi. If you decide to go by taxi, make sure to arrange it the day before so that you can start your trip early.
How to Get from Kande to Pokhara (Trek End Point)
If you finish the trek in Kande, then once you get to the end of the trail, you find the buses going back to Pokhara right by the main road.
If the bus is already there, you will see the bus helper at the end of the trail, already asking the trekkers if you are looking for the bus to Pokhara.
The bus fare from Kande to Pokhara is Rs 150.
Things to Do at the Australian Camp
Watch the Sunrise
Most people come to the Australian Camp to see the sunrise over the Annapurna range. The views are really incredible from here, considering it is so easy to reach from Pokhara.
The views may be cloudy during monsoon, so it is best to plan a trip here off the monsoon season.
Explore the Village
As you reach the Australian Camp fairly early (early afternoon), there are some trails you can discover and walk around the village.
It is nice to walk around, watch the sunset and discover the area a little bit.
Play on the Swing
There is a big swing set up at the Australian Camp. Traditionally, swings are set up in Nepal during the Dashain Festival, however, at the Australian Camp, you will find the swing all year round.
Try Local Alcohol
The guesthouses sell some locally made alcohol which can be fun to try, even if just a little bit to taste.
Continue to Trek to Mardi Himal
If you have another 3-4 days to trek, you can go from the Australian Camp to Mardi Himal.
The Australian Camp is on the trail to Mardi Himal, and most people who do the Mardi Trek pass by the Australian Camp. If you are short on time, just going up till the Australian Camp is fun too.
However, if you plan to continue to Mardi Himal, you have to get the ACAP permit beforehand. You don’t need a permit for Australian Camp, but if you continue on to Mardi, you need to get a permit as there is a checkpoint in Pothana.
Teahouses
Guesthouses: Most of the guesthouses are around the main camping area of the Australian Camp.
I stayed at the Angle’s Guest House which is also at the main ground. The views are really great from here, the food was good and there is also hot water shower. Price of guest house per night: Rs. 1,000 for 2 people
Camping: There are also tents set up if you are up for camping. I did not try the tent when I was there but it seemed really fun. I would be careful about staying in a tent during monsoon as the leeches may be able to come into the tent with you.
Australian Camp Trek Cost and Budget
The Australian Camp Trek can be kept a very low budget. The costs of trekking in Nepal is generally affordable, the most expensive trekking routes being the most popular, e.g. EBC.
Here is the budget for 1 person for a 1 night/2 days trip to the Australian Camp from Pokhara:
| Type | Cost |
| Transportation (bus) | Rs. 260 |
| Accommodation | Rs. 1,000/night (can be split between 2 people if you are sharing the accommodation) |
| Food | Rs. 1,000 (including breakfast, lunch and dinner) |
| Total cost for 1 person | Rs. 2,260 (USD 16.50) |
Nepal Trekking Itineraries
Not sure about the Australian Camp Trek? Check out my itineraries and posts about trekking in Nepal:
FAQs: Australian Camp Nepal
What is the height of the Australian Camp?
The Australian Camp is at the altitude of 2,065 meters (6,775 ft).
How far is Australian Camp from Dhampus?
The Australian Camp is 3.9 km from Dhampus and it takes around 1.5 hours to trek there.
How far is Kande from Australian Camp?
Kande is 2.7 km from the Australian Camp and it takes around 30-40 minutes to trek there.
The bus from Pokhara to Kande takes 1 hour and costs Rs. 150.
How do I get to the Australian Camp from Pokhara?
To get from Pokhara to the Australian Camp, you have two options.
One option is to take a bus to Phedi and then trek to the Australian Camp. The trek from Phedi to Australian Camp takes around 4 hours. You also pass by Dhampus where you can stop by for lunch.
Another option is to take a bus from Pokhara to Kande and trek from Kande to Australian Camp. The trek from Kande to Australian Camp takes around 1 hour 15 minutes.
Why is it called the Australian Camp?
The background story is that there were many Austrian people who used to trek there but it was difficult for locals to pronounce “Austrian”. Due to this, it evolved into being called “Australian Camp”.
How difficult is the Australian Camp Trek in Nepal?
The Australian Camp trek is considered as an easy trek, great for beginners. It is a short 1 night 2 day trek from Pokhara.
It is popular for those that are short on time but still like to do some trekking and seeing the sunrise over the Himalayas.
Conclusion
The Australian Camp is 30 km from Pokhara and you can get there by taking a bus to Phedi and then trek from Phedi to Australian Camp in about 4 hours. Another way to go is to take a bus from Pokhara to Kande and then trek for 1 hour 15 minutes to the Australian Camp.
The Australian Camp is a popular short trek to see the sunrise over the Himalayas. Most people complete the Australian Camp 2 two day, with one night at the Australian Camp to see the sunrise the next morning. Then, return back to Pokhara the next day.
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