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Annapurna Regionधम्पुस

Dhampus

A Gurung hill village above Phedi with views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurnas, close to Pokhara.

The Gurung village above Phedi in Kaski, not Dhampus Peak (Thapa Peak) in the Dhaulagiri range.

Plan a trip here
Altitude
1,650 m*
Best months
Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
Type
Trek stop
District
Kaski, Gandaki
Permit
Permit required

Why go

Dhampus is a spread-out Gurung village on a ridge at about 1,650 m, a 1.5-2 hour climb on stone steps from Phedi on the Pokhara-Baglung road. It looks north to Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and Annapurna II, and south over terraced hills towards Pokhara.

It is a starting point for the Annapurna Base Camp and Mardi Himal treks and a destination in its own right for a one- or two-night walk from Pokhara, often combined with Australian Camp about an hour above. Homestays and lodges let visitors spend a night in the village.

History and culture

Most families in Dhampus are Gurung, with some Brahmin and Chhetri households, and the village keeps traditional stone houses with slate or tin roofs, terraced fields of rice and millet, and village groups that host cultural evenings for visitors. Like many Gurung villages, it has a long connection with Gurkha service abroad. A road now reaches the village from the Pokhara side.

Things to do in Dhampus

  • Sunrise viewpoint

    Walk to the viewpoint above the village at dawn for the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre.

  • Homestay evening

    Stay with a family and try local food such as dhido and gundruk.

  • Walk to Australian Camp

    About an hour up through forest to the grassy viewpoint at about 2,060 m.

Weather and the best time to visit Dhampus

Weather in Dhampus

Forecast for 1,650 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.

Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.

Best time to visit

Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec

  1. Jan
  2. Good month: Feb
  3. Good month: Mar
  4. Good month: Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Good month: Oct
  11. Good month: Nov
  12. Good month: Dec
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
October and November bring clear mountain views and dry trails; lodges are busiest in these months.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
December to February is often clear with cold mornings; good for views at this altitude.
Spring (Mar-May)
March to May brings rhododendron flowers in the forest, warmer days and more afternoon cloud.
Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
June to August is wet, with leeches, slippery trails, landslide risk and peaks often hidden by cloud.

Where to stay

HomestaysGuesthousesLodges

Homestays run by village families plus several lodges and guesthouses.

No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.

Getting there

Dhampus is about 20-30 minutes by road from Pokhara to Phedi, then a short climb, or reached directly by jeep.

Nearest hub: Pokhara

  • roadPokhara to Phedi by bus or taxi, roughly 20-40 minutes.
  • walkPhedi to Dhampus, a stone-step climb of about 1.5-2 hours.
  • jeepA road reaches Dhampus from the Pokhara side; about 1-1.5 hours.
Mount Everest 8,848.86Kangchenjunga 8,586Dhaulagiri I 8,167Manaslu 8,163Annapurna I 8,091DhampusKathmandu
Boundary: Government of Nepal, Survey Department (2020). Peak data: Wikidata.

Permits and fees

Permit required

Dhampus lies at the southern edge of the Annapurna Conservation Area. Treks continuing north need an ACAP permit; for a short stay in the village, check locally whether one is asked for.

  • Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): Issued by the National Trust for Nature Conservation in Kathmandu and Pokhara or online; checked on the trail.
  • TIMS card: Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
  • Guide rule: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; check the current rule.

Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against National Trust for Nature Conservation (Annapurna Conservation Area Project, e-permit links).

On the trail

On the Dhampus Village trek, Australian Camp trek, Annapurna Base Camp trek (from Phedi), Mardi Himal trek.

Previous stop:
Phedi
Next stop:
Australian Camp or Pothana
A typical day:
From Phedi, about 1.5-2 hours and 500 m of climbing on stone steps.

Practical tips

  • Mobile signal is generally good.
  • There is no ATM in the village; carry cash.
  • Ask before photographing people and remove shoes when invited into homes.
  • This route stays below about 2,500 m, so altitude illness is unlikely, but insurance that covers trekking and evacuation is still sensible. This is general information, not medical advice.

Treks through Dhampus

Farmhouses and terraced fields spread across the hillside at Dhampus.

Dhampus Village Trek

A short overnight walk from Phedi near Pokhara to the Gurung village of Dhampus (about 1,650 m), with homestays and sunrise views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurnas.

Days
2 days
Maximum altitude
1,650 m
Difficulty
Easy

Questions about Dhampus

How do I get to Dhampus from Pokhara?

Take a bus or taxi to Phedi (about 20-40 minutes) and walk up 1.5-2 hours, or take a jeep to the village.

Do I need a permit for Dhampus?

Treks beyond Dhampus into the Annapurna Conservation Area need an ACAP permit; for a short village stay, check locally.

Can I stay overnight in Dhampus?

Yes, in homestays, guesthouses and lodges.

More in Annapurna Region

All of Annapurna Region
Manang village in the upper Marsyangdi valley with Annapurna III and Gangapurna behind.

Town or village · 3,519 m

Manang

A high stone village in the upper Marsyangdi valley below Annapurna III and Gangapurna, where Circuit trekkers stop to acclimatise.

Snow-covered ground and lodge roofs at Annapurna Base Camp below Annapurna I and its neighbouring peaks under a deep blue sky.

Trek stop · 4,130 m

Annapurna Base Camp

Lodges at about 4,130 m in the glacial basin of the Annapurna Sanctuary, below the south face of Annapurna I.

Prayer flags and a small stone hut at the Thorong La, with patches of snow on grey scree under a blue sky.

Mountain pass · 5,416 m

Thorong La

The 5,416 m pass between Manang and Muktinath, the high point of the Annapurna Circuit.

Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range above forested ridges, seen from Australian Camp.

Trek stop · 2,060 m

Australian Camp

A grassy clearing at about 2,060 m above Kande with a wide view of the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre, an easy walk from the road.

Trek stop · 2,310 m

Bamboo

A group of lodges in the bamboo forest of the Modi Khola gorge, the first overnight stop above Chhomrong on the way to Annapurna Base Camp.

Chhomrong village spread across a steep hillside, seen from Lower Sinuwa across the valley.

Trek stop · 2,170 m

Chhomrong

The last permanent Gurung village before the Annapurna Sanctuary, built on a steep staircase facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.

Trek stop · 3,420 m

Dobato

A small high lodge stop on the ridge between Tadapani and Khopra, the base for sunrise at the Muldai viewpoint.

Nearby

Morning view over Pokhara with Phewa Lake, the city under low cloud and the Annapurna range on the skyline.

Town or village · 822 m

Pokhara

A lakeside city about 200 km west of Kathmandu, with the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre rising close to the north.

The pointed summit of Machhapuchhre against a deep blue pre-dawn sky, seen from Sarangkot.

Viewpoint · 1,600 m

Sarangkot

A ridge-top viewpoint on Pokhara's western edge, known for sunrise over the Annapurnas and as the city's paragliding launch.

Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Annapurna Sanctuary trek, Wikivoyage, Dhampus, Wikipedia, The Dhampus trek in Nepal's Annapurna region, Much Better Adventures