Pokhara Panchase Trek (5 Days)

Pokhara to Panchase Danda Trek (9 Days)

This is a delightful trek if you have only a week or so and want to get into the Himalayan mountains from the wonderful Pokhara.

Pokhara itself is exciting and a walk around the lake on a rest day will deliver sights and sounds that you’ll enjoy. But to the mountains! The trek to Australian Camp (2,250m) is well within the capability of a regular walker and you stay below the height of altitude sickness. However, the views of Dhaulagiri (8,167m). Macchapuchre (6,993m), Annapurna (8,091m) and Mardi (5,587m) are breath-taking.

Day 1 Kathmandu Arrival in Kathmandu and check-in at the hotel.

Day 2 Kathmandu Breakfast briefing and preparation for the trek. Enjoy a few hours touring Kathmandu. Welcome Nepali dinner.

Day 3 Flight to Pokhara and drive to Khara

Flight to Pokhara and then about an hour’s drive to Khara, the scene of a battle during the Nepalese civil war on 7 and 8 April 2005. The Royal Nepalese Army repulsed an attack by the People’s Liberation Army which suffered heavy casualties. The battle was the defining end of the war. The PLA joined the political system in November 2005.

We’ll trek from Khara to Pumdi Bhumdi (1,400m) which takes about 4 hours. Watch out for wild animals: spotted leopards and Himalayan black bears if you’re really lucky and you should see porcupines, monkeys, and pheasants. It’s also a popular place for bird watching. Some popular birds in the area are the bulbul, magpie, and woodpeckers. The area also has wild orchids growing in the jungle.

Day 4 Khopra Danda Hill (2,500m)

Today we’ll trek around 6 hours. Today you’ll see the amazing Macchapuchre (6,993m), Annapurna (8,091m) and Mardi (5,587m).

Day 5 Bhadoure Deurali (1,800m)

Trek downhill for about 5 hour’s walk and enjoy views of Dhaulagiri (8,167m) on the way. The south face of the mountain has never been climbed. The famous climbers under Maurice Hertzog tried to climb the mountain in 1950, unsuccessfully, and diverted to Annapurna where they were the first team to climb a 8,000m mountain. Dhaulagiri was first climbed on 13 May 1960 by a Swiss-Austrian team.

Day 6 Australian Camp (2,250m)

It’s a comfortable walk of 5 to 6 hours today with magnificent colours on the mountains, changing throughout the day. You’ll trek through dense forests, along the hillsides and rice fields. Get used to saying namaste on the way!

The real name of Australian Camp is actually “Thulo Kharka” meaning big pasture. It used to be seasonal herding place of buffalo and cow herders from the villages bellow Dhampus and other.

The apocryphal story is that people from Austria found it so beautiful in the 1980s that they camped there for several days year on year. People started to call it Austrian camp but the local people found it difficult to say and it became Australian camp.

This beautiful overnight camp is surrounded by awesome peaks in a peaceful and pristine setting. Get up early and enjoy the sunrise if you can.

Day 7 Phedi (1,135m)

It’s about 3 hours walk to Phedi and then we’ll drive back to Pokhara and your hotel.

Day 8 Flight to Kathmandu

Today we fly from the modern airport in Pokhara to Kathmandu.

Enoyj the sights and sounds of the big city, and maybe keep a few hours for shopping.

Day 9 Kathmandu and flight home

You may have time for final sightseeing and, if so, The Garden of Dreams is within walking distance of the hotel and the perfect quiet place to reflect. Today we transfer to Kathmandu airport and fly home.