Overview
Many people have never trekked, and while the idea of trekking in the mighty Himalayas is intriguing, it is also a big scary. They may wonder “Can I do It?” They may also not have much time, or maybe they have young children and are not sure that they can handle a long trek in the mountains. Let us assure you, if you would like to try a beginners trek that has plenty of good scenery and culture, then we at Vertical Expedition invite you to experience the Easy Family Trek of Dhampus/Australian Camp! It is just eight days in length, with only four days of trekking.
This trek is good for a number of reasons. The Gurung village of Dhampus is a beautiful village with great views of the Annapurna Mountain Range. Dhampus is the entry point for the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, which protects the uniqueness of the land and its culture.
The trek brings you in touch with nature. It is ideal for small children, first time trekkers, or older people with artificial joints who still want to get into the out of doors.
From here are exception views of the famed Machhapuchhre (also known as Fishtail Mountain). Rising majestically 6,990 m, it looks like an upended fish with its tail flapping in the breeze. There are a number of other snowcapped peaks to see, including Dhampus Peak, Dhaulagiri, and Annapurna I.
Sunset is beautiful from Dhampus as the white snowcapped peaks change colors as the rays of the setting sun sink below the horizon.
The village is home of the famed Gurung people. These people are famous as fighters as the Gurkha soldiers. Fierce warriors, they offer incredible hospitality to people who come and visit. Gurung’s make great fighters, but they are also great lovers and they love people. They will be happy to sit down with you, inviting you for a cup of hot tea while sitting on a veranda overlooking the mountains.
Our company is pleased to be able to offer this easy, yet rewarding trek as part of its package deals for its clientele. This is one of our lowest price treks. It may be low in price, but not in beauty in opportunities.
Itinerary
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport where you will be met by your representative of Vertical Expedition. You will be escorted to your hotel where there are complimentary welcome drinks and a short briefing with plenty of time to relax from your flight.
Today is your choice. You can fly to Pokhara or take the scenic bus route through the various canyons and along rushing mountain rivers as you travel to the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara. Nestled in the heart of the Annapurna Mountains, this city is famed for its scenic beauty as it is nestled on the shores of Phewa Lake. If you choose to go by plane, your flight will get you to Pokhara in just 25 minutes as you fly along the backbone of the Himalaya Ranges. In Pokhara, take time to do some boating on Phewa Lake or visit the many interesting sites and attractions in and around the city. We will spend the night at a hotel in Lakeside location.
We leave Pokhara by private vehicle for the village of Phedi, where we take the trail up stone staircases for a pleasant, three hour walk to the village of Dhampus. Along the way, there are great views of the mountains, canyons and traditional farms created in terraces along the mountainsides. Part of the trail will pass through some old growth forests. Dhampus offers some incredible views of Annapurna Massif and Machhapuchhre. It’s a three hour walk today, with plenty of time to enjoy the village and its sights in the afternoon. We will spend the night in the village.
This morning begins with breakfast overlooking the mountains. Today’s journey will take us first to the village of Pothana, which is our halfway mark for the day. We follow stone staircases, which have been laid by the local village development committees in order to facilitate movement of goods in and out of the mountains. Keep in mind that the only way food and supplies comes in and out to the residents is on these footpaths. They are the “highways” of the Himalayas. The trek to Australian Camp is around three hours, and enjoy the day at the hotel here. There are beautiful sunset views from the hotel, where we will spend the night.
On this day, we spend our time doing some exploring around the hotel and the beautiful area around this place. There will be a jungle walk through the rhododendron forests that surround Australian Base Camp. There are great views from here of the mountains, as well as Phewa Lake and the city of Pokhara. From here, we can see Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna mountain ranges. Rest, enjoy a cup of tea or explore to your heart’s content. We will spend one more night here.
Today is a short, two hour trek as we at first walk down a gentle path before descending stone staircases to the village of Kande. This is about a two hour walk. From here, we take a private vehicle to the Resort where you can relax your body and mind as you get in touch with nature. The Resort is a great place to experience true Nepali hospitality as you relax and enjoy the incredible views. We will spend the night at the Resort.
Our trek has come to an end, and it is time to return to Kathmandu. We drive from the Resort to the airport in Pokhara to catch a short flight back to the capital city. Be sure to sit on the left-hand side of the plane for incredible views of the Annapurnas, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Langtang Mountain Ranges as the plane returns to Tribhuvan International Airport. You will be transferred to your hotel by our private car. In the evening, there will be a special farewell dinner organized by Vertical Expedition.
All good things must come to an end, and your trip to Nepal is no exception. Before leaving, why not talk to your representative at Vertical Expedition about returning to Nepal for your next holiday. The vast majority of people make a return trip to Nepal because they are impressed by not only the beauty, but also the local people. Vertical Expedition offers trips into neighboring Tibet, Bhutan and India. Be sure to discuss your interests and plans with them today.
Trip Information
- All airport/hotel transfers
- 2 nights in 3-Star Hotel in Kathmandu
- 1 night in 3-Star Hotel in Pokhara
- During the trek, double occupancy in tea houses/local lodges is all that is available.
- All accommodations and meals during the trek.
- One day of guided sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley, along with tour guide and entrance fees.
- Domestic flights (Kathmandu to Pokhara and back)
- An experienced, English speaking trekking leader/guide. All guides, porters and Sherpas are government licensed and experienced. There will be one porter provided for two trekkers to carry luggage. Your fees cover their salaries, insurance, equipment, flight, food and lodging. We take good care of our trekking guides, Sherpas and porters, as well as giving them additional training that is not required by the Government of Nepal.
- Vertical Expedition will provide free of charge a sleeping bag, duffle bag, t-shirt and trekking map (sleeping bags & duffle bags are to be returned after trip completion.)
- Farewell Dinner along with one cultural show.
- A comprehensive medical kit
- All government and local taxes
- Nepal Visa (bring US currency along with four passport size photographs. You can buy visa upon arrival at airport.)
- International airline ticket to and from Nepal.
- Excess luggage charge
- Personal clothing and gear
- Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara (and also in the case of early return from the mountains that the scheduled itinerary.)
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara because of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountains (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary.
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, hot shower in mountains, etc.)
- Cost raised by cancellation, landslide, weather, political unrest and illness will not be our responsibility as these are factors out of our control.
- Tips for driver, guide and porters.
Extras
FAQS
What will be the crew and group size during this trip?
For this trek there will be one team leader/guide. We also provide an assistant leader (1 assistant per six trekkers), and Sherpa porters for carrying luggage (usual compliment is one porter for two trekkers). This arrangement ensures that anybody in the group gets sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned. Vertical Expedition can run this trek for any size group, but the maximum size is 12 people in order to make it a pleasant and enjoyable trip. However, if you would like to have a larger group, Vertical Expedition can make the appropriate arrangements as well.
Where will you be staying during the trip?
All accommodations for Easy Family Trek Dhampus-Australian Camp are on twin sharing basis with inclusive trip costs and are chosen based on standard hygiene, standard of service and food, location and more. There are two styles of accommodations during the trip. We will spend two nights in 3-Star Hotels in Kathmandu and and one night in Pokhara. For the remaining four nights, we will stay at local tea houses or local lodges. Some of these places have shared toilets and washing facilities. Solo travelers may share a room with someone of the same sex, or if requested, we can arrange for a private room for an additional fee, which will be available only during the trekking. However, please understand that in some remote places single rooms might not be feasible, even if the extra fee is paid. These are remote villages that we are dealing with. We at Vertical Expedition will do all we can to make your trip as pleasant and enjoyable as possible.
What Will Be the Meals Arrangements During This Trip?
During the trek, we can enjoy typical Nepali food, different ethnic cuisines as well as all types of international cuisine (Tibetan, Continental, Italian, Indian, etc.) from pizza and chips to apple pie. We can even enjoy hot chocolates, variety of breads, drinks and snacks. Breakfast will be served from the tea house or lodge menu where we spend our night. Lunch will be served on the way to our destination and usually along the trail. Dinner and breakfast will be served at the tea houses where we will spend the night. Note that at the tea houses and lodges, the food is good, although the menus will be limited. A farewell dinner with cultural show and breakfast will be served in our stay in Kathmandu as well as breakfast served in Pokhara.
