Australian Base Camp Hiking

We have been running Australian Base Camp Hiking for years — and honestly, it never gets old. Every single time we reach that ridgeline and the mountains reveal themselves, we watch our guests go completely quiet. Not because they are tired. Because Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) is standing right there in front of them, close enough that it feels almost unreal. That moment of awe feels like our true purpose.

The Australian Base Camp day hike — also known as the Pothana viewpoint trek — is one of the most rewarding short treks you can do from Pokhara. At roughly 2,100 metres above sea level, the viewpoint sits right in the lap of the Annapurna foothills. The panorama from the top stretches across Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Dhaulagiri, and the iconic Fishtail peak — a view that usually takes trekkers three or four days to reach on a standard Annapurna circuit. Here, you get it in a single day.

What makes this trek special is the two distinct routes that connect to the base camp. You can approach from Dhampus village, a beautifully preserved Gurung settlement with stone-paved lanes and warm teahouse owners who will insist you sit down for a cup of chiya. Or you can start from Kande (Kaski) — the same trailhead where Mardi Himal trekkers begin their multi-day adventure — climbing through dense rhododendron and oak forest before breaking out onto the open ridgeline. Both routes are stunning. We recommend combining them into a loop. You will thank us later.

This is also one of the few Pokhara day hikes that does not require lengthy logistics. No camping gear. No multiple permit offices. No long mountain drives. Just a 45-minute pickup from your lakeside hotel, a well-marked trail, a proper dal bhat lunch at the top, and a return to Pokhara in time for sunset over Phewa Lake. We have had guests in their sixties complete this hike comfortably. We have also had honeymooners, solo backpackers, and family groups with teenagers. It genuinely works for everyone.

Highlights of Australian Base Camp Hiking

• 180° Himalayan Panorama: Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Dhaulagiri — all visible from a single ridgeline viewpoint at 2,100 m. This is the view that usually takes days to reach. You get it in one morning.
• Living Gurung Culture: Dhampus is not a museum — it is a working village. Walking through it with a local guide is a genuinely warm cultural experience. Expect chiya (tea), conversation, and the occasional curious child.
• Two Routes, One Loop: Ascend through the Mardi Himal trailhead forest (Kande) and descend through Dhampus village. Two completely different trail personalities in a single day — forest wilderness up, cultural immersion down.
• Photographer’s Dream: From dawn alpenglow on Fishtail to blooming rhododendrons in spring, to terraced village lanes and golden afternoon light over Pokhara valley. Every hour of this hike offers something worth photographing.
• Just 45 Minutes from Pokhara: You do not need a full day of travel before the trekking even starts. We pick you up from your hotel and you are on the trail within the hour. It is the kind of efficiency that makes even a two-day Pokhara stopover feel complete.
• Real Dal Bhat at the Summit: Not a packed sandwich or a protein bar — a proper hot Nepali meal at a family teahouse with Himalayan views from the window. This detail alone is worth the trek.