Australian Camp is an overnight trek from Pokhara to a hilltop meadow at about 2,060 m, with a wide view of the Annapurna range and Machapuchare. Poon Hill is a trek of four to five days to a viewpoint at 3,210 m, with Dhaulagiri as well. Choose Australian Camp if you have a day or two; choose Poon Hill if you have four or more.
Poon Hill and Australian Camp at a glance
- Days from Pokhara. Poon Hill: 4 to 5. Australian Camp: 1 to 2.
- Height. Poon Hill: 3,210 m. Australian Camp: about 2,060 m.
- Walking. Poon Hill: 4 to 6 hours a day, many steps. Australian Camp: 1.5 to 2 hours up from Kande.
- The view. Poon Hill: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machapuchare, Nilgiri. Australian Camp: Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machapuchare, Lamjung Himal.
- Altitude risk. Poon Hill: low. Australian Camp: none.
- Best for. Poon Hill: a first proper trek. Australian Camp: families, short stays, a first taste.
Australian Camp
The walk begins at Kande, less than an hour by road from Pokhara, and climbs through forest to a grassy clearing with lodges and camping lawns. Sunset and sunrise are the main events. Most people stay one night and walk down through Dhampus village the next morning, which makes an easy circuit. It works well for young children and for anyone who has never trekked. See the Australian Camp guides.
Poon Hill
Poon Hill is a real multi-day trek. You climb to Ghorepani at 2,860 m through rhododendron forest, walk up the hill before dawn for sunrise, and return through Tadapani and Ghandruk. The view is bigger, because you are higher and can see Dhaulagiri, and the journey through the villages is half the pleasure. See the Poon Hill guides.
Effort
Australian Camp needs no training. Poon Hill has the famous stone staircase above Tikhedhunga, more than three thousand steps, and several days of up and down. Anyone who walks regularly can do it, but it will be felt in the legs.
Season
Both are open all year. October to December and March to April are clearest. Poon Hill is at its best in late March and April, when the rhododendrons flower. In winter Australian Camp is the safer choice for a guaranteed easy walk, since Poon Hill can have snow and ice on the steps.
Lodges and cost
Australian Camp has a handful of lodges and camping lawns with mountain-facing rooms. Poon Hill's route has dozens of lodges in every village. A night at Australian Camp is one of the cheapest mountain experiences in Nepal; Poon Hill costs more only because it lasts longer. Both need the Annapurna Conservation Area permit.
What sunrise is like at each
At Australian Camp you step out of your room onto the grass and the mountains are there, with Machapuchare the star. At Poon Hill you climb for about 45 minutes by torchlight with a crowd of other trekkers, pay a small entry fee at the top, and watch the light move across Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas from a viewing tower. One is intimate and easy; the other is an event.
Other easy walks nearby
Ghandruk takes two to three days and adds village culture. Dhampus can be reached by road and walked in a morning. Sarangkot, above Pokhara, needs no trekking at all and gives a fine sunrise.
Choose Poon Hill if
- You have four or five days.
- You want a sunrise over Dhaulagiri.
- You want to experience tea-house trekking properly.
- You are happy with long staircases.
Choose Australian Camp if
- You have one or two days.
- You are with small children.
- You want a mountain sunrise with almost no effort.
- You are testing whether you like trekking.
Can you do both?
Yes. Some itineraries finish the Poon Hill loop by walking out through Landruk, Pothana and Australian Camp, adding a day.
Plan it
See treks from Pokhara, or ask us for the short option that fits your stay.
Common questions
Why is it called Australian Camp?
The name is commonly said to come from Australian trekkers who camped there, though it may also be a corruption of a local name. Either way, it stuck.
Can Australian Camp be a day hike?
Yes, in four to five hours return from Kande, though staying for sunset and sunrise is the point.
Which has the better view?
Poon Hill, because it is higher and includes Dhaulagiri.
Is Poon Hill suitable for children?
For active children of about eight and over, with short days.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
