Trip Report -Overnight Stay with families with kids in Summer!
The drive to Dhampus starts from tourist town of Lakeside district of Pokhara valley. It is a beautiful drive in 6 lane viral Beni Baglung highway, one of the few proper highways available in Nepal.
The road passes via Tibetan settlement of Hemja and rice terraces of Suikhet. Past Dhampus Phedi, the Baglung highway forks off at the Ghattekhola, before a bridge that leads to Naudanda, Kande, Nayapul and finally to the Beni Bazaar. However, our fork leads us to the beautiful Gurung village of Dhampus. Phedi always a base of any hills or mountains and the Dhampus Phedi is the base of the Dhampus Hill. Once upon a time, it was the trekking starting point for famous Annapurna Base Camp Trek. The Dhampus road ends at the end of the Dhampus village. After getting off from the jeep, we had warm cup of Masala Chai, family photo and all set for two hours hike up to the Australian Camp.
Dhampus to Australian Camp Climb
The trail to Australian Camp follows the Dhampus -Pothana portion of Annapurna Base Camp Trek till the big and beautiful meadow for half an hour.
It took one hour for our 69 years young lady. It is a perfect picnic spot where kids can play with small stream and adults catch some photos. The trail forks off from here and climbs steeply all the way to Australian Camp. Its half an hour for average trekkers whereas our 69 years young lady took an hour. Arriving at the village, the family were amazed by the view offered by the Australian Camp. View were not as clear as in clear days in Autumn and Spring, but good enough to justify why they had to drive 1.5 hour in bumpy jeep ride and 2 hours steep climb. Everyone were happy and its very important in family travel.
About Australian Camp and View It Offers
Standing at an elevation of 2060m above sea level, the Australian Camp offers a magnificent view of the Mount.
Annapurna South (7219m) and Mount. Hiunchuli (6441m) on the right along-with the majestic Mount Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) on the right dominating the entire landscape as far as the eye could see. The meadow at the edge of the village also offers a wide view of Pokhara Valley and its iconic Phewa Lake and World Peace Stupa.
Australian Camp is more of cluster of guesthouses than a village. The entire village has some 5-7 guesthouses and more are under construction so more guesthouses are coming. Guesthouse in Australian Camp had four cottages, some rooms with attached toilet inside and some had rooms but toilet outside the room. We took rooms with attached toilets. All the rooms were pretty much same. Benefit of taking cottage room is only that you have more privacy than others.
What to do when you are at the Australian Camp?
Get laid, order sweet and spicy masala chai or cup of hot but really coffee and enjoy the view that the Australian Camp offers! Stroll around the cluster of guesthouses, local eateries and village itself. Order a pot of local alcoholic drink, Tongba and enjoy the evening.
Australian Camp to Kande Descend
Morning was just perfect! No rain at all and its very important not to get rain in summer. Mountain view from
Australian Camp was just perfect. We could see all the mountains that Australian Camp offers but half of views were covered by clouds. We could see the Pokhara valley, Phewa Lake and beautiful surroundings. We had several photos from the meadowed hill at the edge of the Australian Camp village. After late breakfast, we descend down to Kande village in two hours. It was the pace of our 69 years young lady. First part of the trail is pretty slippery through the forest and this area never see Sun because of its slope. The trail started to become less slippery as we descended down with warmer temperature. The Australian Camp -Kande village has significant drop with forested walk and descend on the stone-stairs. At Goldanda, the first settlement after the Australian Camp, we cooled ourselves with cold drinks and enjoy the view of Pokhara Valley and Phewa lake as well as green hills standing just in front of us. Arriving at Kande roadside, we caught a jeep drive to Lakeside town of Pokhara.
The Team
We were a group of 5 trekkers. Family of four; Myself and my wife, mother of my wife who was 69 years old, my 8 years young daughter and my 4 years young son.