Route Overview
Australian Camp Trek begins with an initial journey from Pokhara to Kande, which is a tiny village located right at the foot of the trekking trail. Then the trail goes on rising from the valley and up into the hills above.
The trekking route takes you through lush forest and the majority of the journey is shaded by oak and rhododendron trees. On your way you can see small teahouses along the path, occasionally some mule trains and some terraces carved into the hillsides.
The higher up you climb, the more views of the Annapurna range you can catch. There are many local Gurung villages along the way for you to get a taste of what life is like up here.
Getting to Australian Camp seems to be something like reaching a natural viewing point. The mountain range of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre can be seen stretching out far on the horizon, sometimes covered in clouds of early morning that enhance the beauty of the view.
Further on, the track descends back to Dhampus Phedi, passing through the fields and small stretches of forests. The descent is not difficult for the joints due to its gradual incline, but it provides enough fresh mountain air and beautiful scenery to enjoy.
It makes a great choice for a trek to Australian Camp, because the terrain does not require any additional efforts from trekkers. All parts of this Australian Camp Itinerary include the nature, cultural values, and comfortable trekking experience in one.
Australian Camp Trek Difficulty
Australian Camp Trek classifies as one of the easiest treks that you will find in the whole Annapurna region. People who have basic fitness can easily complete this trek, even if it is their first time experience.
There is no need of intensive preparation when it comes to this trek. About two weeks of steady walking, or some jogging/cardio exercise, will help prepare the body well enough for the trip. The trail itself is quite east, and hence an average level of fitness is enough.
The distance of walking per day is relatively short. On average, you may have to walk for around 4 to 6 hours per day, with easy uphill’s and downhills. There’s nothing difficult about this trek, and hence you can take a leisurely pace throughout.
The altitude sickness won’t be an issue during this trek since the highest point in the entire trail is only 2,060 meter high. With such a low altitude, you can undertake this trek without any problem throughout the year because of no altitude sickness worries.
This trek is best suited for those who are beginners in trekking, families with kids will not have any problems in walking this distance while even old people will do this easily. This short duration and easy trail are what makes it one of the easiest treks to be undertaken close to Pokhara.
Due to its simplicity, Australian Camp 2 Days Trek attracts almost everybody right from a beginner in trekking to people with experience and want a short trek.
Best Time for Australian Camp Trek
Timing does play an important role when it comes to enjoying the Australian Camp Trek. Every season is different from each other and adds its own unique characteristic to this trail.
Sprin (March to May)
Spring is the best season of the year, where rhododendron forests are in full bloom and everything around seem very colorful with red, white and pink color which make the pathways very beautiful to walk. Also, this time has a clear sky, which means that there will be excellent mountain visibility.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn is another excellent season. During this time all the dust and clouds are cleared by the monsoon rain, and you can enjoy crystal clear mountain views with mild temperatures for your day trek.
Winter (December to February)
The weather in winter is very cold, especially in the early morning and may have a slight touch of forest around the upper trail. But the daytime will mostly be sunny, and if you wear warmer clothes, you will be able to have great view of mountain.
Monsoon (June to August)
When it comes to monsoon, there are mostly rainy days with slippery trails. The cloud covers the view of mountains and there will be leeches in the forest area as well. This is not the best time for trekking unless you are okay with being wet.
In summary, the best times for trekking in Australian Camp 2 Days are spring and autumn because there are clear skies, safe trails, and good temperatures for this wonderful adventure.
Permit Required
There are mainly two important permits that you will need to start your Australian Camp Trek. This permit not only ensure the safety of trekkers, but this also helps maintain the trail and support local conservation.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) is your major permit. It is the main requisite for the trek, and it provides you entry to the Annapurna Conservation Area that comprises the entire trekking area.
TIMS Card (Trekkers’ Information Management System) may also be required, based on the latest requirements set by the regulations. This is basically used for tracking the movements of trekkers and ensures security on the way.
Both require your passport information along with two passport-sized photos. The process is quite fast, taking few days because Epic Trek Nepal manage everything.
Accommodation and Meals
Australian Camp Trek doesn’t mean you have sacrifice comforts like those in remote area trekking. There are some very comfortable teahouses along the trek route that make it easy for you.
Teahouse experience
All the teahouses along this route provide very basic but comfortable accommodation facilities. Most the rooms have twin bed facilities with warm blankets and shared bathroom facilities. There are also some teahouses offering more luxury comfort with private rooms having bathrooms attached to them as well as the view of the mountains through the windows.
Food facilities on the trek
The food on this trek remains quite fulfilling and hearty. The local teahouses offer traditional Nepali Dal Bhat meals along with noodles, soups, momos, and continental foods such as pancakes or porridge. Tea and coffee are always available throughout the day.
For drinking water, you can obtain from pretty much any teahouses. The prices gradually increase the higher you go. But you can bring a reusable water bottle that uses either purification tablets or filter for less expense and less plastic waste produced on the way.
In general, the accommodation and meals on the Australian Camp itinerary remain fairly comfortable and clean. This allows trekkers to feel comfortable during the trekking trip to the Australian Camp.
Mobile Network, Internet and Charging Facilities
It is easy to maintain contact during Australian Camp Trek than other high altitude and remote trekking area as the signal varies slightly from one point to another.
Mobile Network
The telecom companies operating in Nepal such as NTC and NCELL provide reasonable coverage almost throughout the entire journey. The signal is slightly weaker around the Australian Camp but it’s possible to send a message or make a brief call from most areas.
Internet
Many teahouses offer Wi-Fi access for a small fee. The speed remains relatively low and unstable, so video calling or large file downloads cannot be expected. In addition, having a SIM card with mobile data becomes more practical than using teahouse Wi-Fi.
Charging Option
There are charging ports in teahouses usually situated in the dining room or by reception. Some of the teahouses may charge extra money for each charged device depending on the altitude of location. A power bank is a good option to consider for emergencies.
Travel Insurance
While the Australian Camp Trek may be relatively short and easy compared to the many other Himalayan trek out there, travel insurance is still one item you should not leave out on your list. Accident can happen anytime without any warning and having insurance make things so much easier in terms of dealing with them.
To start with, make sure that your insurance provides coverage for trekking up to an elevation of at least 3,000 meters, as some providers actually exclude it from the list of activities covered. However, as the highest point of this particular Australian Camp Trek Itinerary only reaches an elevation of 2,060 meters, your typical trekking insurance should cover you easily enough.
Medical insurance is very important. Make sure to get a plan which covers your evacuation costs since helicopter rescue will be very costly if something happens at higher elevations in the surrounding area.
Cancellations and delays are good too since the flights to Pokhara may be delayed because of weather conditions and insurance will cover the costs associated with such delays.
Make sure to carry both a soft and paper copy of your insurance policy since guides and agencies will require it before the trekking begins.
Insurance doesn’t cost much yet helps to avoid significant expenses. This will give you peace of mind during the Australian Camp Trek.
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