Day 1: Arrive in Pokhara (822 m), welcome and trip briefing
Lakeside hotel · Gear check
Arrival · 822 m
Fly or drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. In the evening your guide checks your gear and permits and talks you through the route.
2026/2027 season open · start on any date you choose
Mardi Himal Trek 7 Days (Itinerary, Cost, Complete Guide)
- 8 days (Pokhara return)
- Moderate (grade 3 of 5)
- Max altitude: 4,500 m (Mardi Himal Base Camp)
- Best window: Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Close to Pokhara
- Local guide-led
- Machapuchare views
Introduction
The Mardi Himal Trek follows a narrow ridge from the forests above Pokhara straight towards Machapuchare (6,993 m), the sacred Fishtail peak that is closed to climbers. The trail opened to teahouse trekking only in the 2010s, so it is still quiet compared with Poon Hill or Annapurna Base Camp.
You climb through moss-covered rhododendron forest to Forest Camp and Low Camp, then above the trees to High Camp and the Mardi Himal Base Camp viewpoint (about 4,500 m), with Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Mardi Himal around you. Trailheads are an hour from Pokhara, so the whole trek fits into a week.
Trip overview and key specifications
Verified route 2026/2027
- Start / finish
- Pokhara / Kande and Siding
- Total distance
- ~45 km / 28 miles
- Daily walking
- 4 to 7 hours a day
- Region
- Annapurna Region
- Country
- Nepal
- Duration
- 8 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Max. altitude
- 4,500 m / 14,764 ft
- Best season
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Accommodation
- Teahouse and hotel
- Transport
- Jeep from Pokhara
- Activity
- Trekking / hiking
Our heritage and roots
Our story
Born and raised in the mountains of Nepal, our founder grew up walking Himalayan trails with the elders of his village. That lifelong respect for the mountains became the foundation of Travel To Nepal.
Sandip KshetriFounder and lead trek director
Read our storyDo you have any specific questions that you want to ask us personally?
Message us on WhatsApp or send us an email. Either I or my team will personally answer your questions and make sure all your doubts are answered properly.
- Prompt 1-to-1 local advice
- Free itinerary discussion
- Fast reply on WhatsApp
Trek milestones
Mardi Himal Trek highlights and why you will love this trek
Machapuchare up close (6,993 m)
The Fishtail fills the sky from High Camp, closer than from almost anywhere else on a teahouse trek.
Mardi Himal Base Camp viewpoint (about 4,500 m)
A dawn climb along the ridge to a view of Mardi Himal, Machapuchare and Annapurna South.
A sea of clouds below the ridge
On clear mornings the valleys around Pokhara lie under the clouds while you stand above them.
Moss-covered rhododendron forest
Quiet forest between Pothana and Low Camp, red with flowers in spring.
Quieter than its neighbours
Small family teahouses and far fewer trekkers than the classic Annapurna routes.
Fits in a week from Pokhara
Short drives to the trailhead and back, with no domestic flight needed.
Trekker suitability guide
Is this trek for you?
An honest checklist from our guides to help you decide if the Mardi Himal ridge suits you.
Suitability checklist
Physical demands and fitness: 4 to 7 hours of walking a day with steep stone steps and ridge climbs. Moderate fitness is enough.
Altitude and acclimatization: You sleep no higher than High Camp (3,580 m) and day hike to about 4,500 m. Fine for anyone in good health.
Technical skill required: None. The upper ridge is narrow and can be icy in winter, but needs no ropes or climbing gear.
Trail comfort and accommodation: Small family teahouses with simple twin rooms. Rooms at High Camp are basic and fill up in October.
Mental resilience: Be ready for an early, cold start on the Base Camp day and for cloud that can hide the views.
Medical conditions: With heart or lung conditions or severe asthma, speak to your doctor before booking.
Unsure about your fitness or readiness?Our lead trek director gives a free, no-obligation preparation check.
Step-by-step route
8-day day-by-day itinerary
Seven unhurried days from Pokhara to the foot of Machapuchare and back. You drive to Kande, walk up through Pothana and the rhododendron forest to Low Camp and High Camp, climb to the Mardi Himal Base Camp viewpoint at dawn, and come down through Siding village to the road. Every night on the trail is in a family-run teahouse.
Day 2: Drive to Kande, trek to Pothana (1,890 m)
Australian Camp · First views of the Annapurnas
1 hr drive · 3–4 hrs · 1,890 m
A short drive to Kande, then a steady climb through villages and forest to Australian Camp and on to Pothana, with Annapurna South and Machapuchare ahead.
Day 3: Pothana to Forest Camp (2,550 m)
Rhododendron and oak forest · Quiet trail
5–6 hrs · 2,550 m
Leave the main Annapurna trail at Deurali and follow the quiet ridge path into thick rhododendron and oak forest to Forest Camp.
Day 4: Forest Camp to Low Camp (2,970 m)
Mossy forest · Machapuchare appears
3–4 hrs · 2,970 m
A shorter day through moss-covered forest to Low Camp, where Machapuchare rises right above the teahouses. A good day to rest and adjust to the height.
Day 5: Low Camp to High Camp (3,580 m) via Badal Danda
Above the tree line · Sunset on the Fishtail
4–5 hrs · 3,580 m
Climb above the trees to Badal Danda, the cloud ridge, and on along open grassland to High Camp for sunset on Machapuchare and Annapurna South.
Day 6: Dawn hike to Mardi Himal Base Camp viewpoint (about 4,500 m), down to Low Camp
The high point of the trek · Ridge walk at sunrise
8–9 hrs · up to 4,500 m · sleep 2,970 m · High point
An early start up the ridge to the viewpoint and on to Base Camp, with Mardi Himal, Machapuchare and Annapurna South around you. Back to High Camp for lunch, then down to Low Camp.
Day 7: Low Camp to Siding (1,750 m), drive back to Pokhara (822 m)
Village descent · Celebrate with your team
4–5 hrs · 2–3 hrs drive · 822 m
A long descent through forest and terraced fields to Siding village, then a jeep back to Pokhara for a lakeside dinner with your guide.
Day 8: Low Camp to Siding (1,750 m), drive back to Pokhara (822 m)
Low Camp to Siding (1,750 m), drive back to Pokhara (822 m)
4–5 hrs · 2–3 hrs drive · 822 m
4–5 hrs · 2–3 hrs drive testing data with image
Unlimited free changes until it is right
Custom itinerary and private changes
Want to match your own pace, fitness, group or holiday dates? Tell us what you have in mind and our Kathmandu team will change the route as many times as you need, until it is the Mardi Himal Trek you want.
- Extra rest day
- Add a side trip
- Private guide and porter
- Slower or faster pace
WhatsApp +977 9847693070 · inquiry@traveltonepal.com · Reply usually within a few hours
Local expertise and safety first
Meet your trek guide
Licensed guides from the Annapurna foothills, trained in first aid, who know every teahouse family on the ridge.
Solo trekkers
First aid
Sushila Gurung
9+ yrs guidingLead guide for solo trekkers
Sikles, Kaski
“Walking alone is fine. Walking with someone who knows the trail and the people is better.”
- Cert:
- First aid, trekking guide training (NATHM), language certificate
- Languages:
- English, Nepali, Gurung
Family treks
First aid
Bikash Gurung
13+ yrs guidingTrek leader, family treks
Ghandruk, Kaski
“With children, the trek is not the destination. A good day is when everyone wants to walk again tomorrow.”
- Cert:
- First aid, trekking guide training (NATHM)
- Languages:
- English, Nepali, Gurung, Hindi
Full disclosure
What’s covered · What’s not included
Included in the price
Ground transport: Pokhara – Kande and Siding – Pokhara by private jeep.
Licensed guide and porters: first-aid trained, insured and fairly paid.
Teahouse lodging: 5 nights on the trek and 2 hotel nights in Pokhara.
Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), and a TIMS card where checkpoints ask for it.
Safety gear: pulse oximeter and first-aid kit.
Pokhara transfers: airport or bus park pickup and drop-off in Pokhara.
Not included
Meals on the trek: order freely from the menu (about $20–30 a day).
Kathmandu – Pokhara travel: flight or tourist bus, which we can book for you.
Travel insurance: required, with helicopter rescue cover.
Nepal tourist visa: on arrival at the airport.
Lodge extras: hot showers, battery charging and Wi-Fi.
Why don't we include meals in our trekking package?
Trekker-first transparency
Freedom of choice and appetiteAppetite changes with altitude. Order what your body wants, from dal bhat to pasta, porridge or soup.
Direct support for teahouse familiesYou pay the lodges directly, so all food money stays with the local families who run them.
No package markupsAll-inclusive meal packages are often padded. Here you pay real menu prices for what you eat.
Dietary needs and allergiesVegetarian, vegan or gluten-free: order on the spot and get food made the way you need it.
Average daily food budget: plan on about $20–30 USD per day for hearty breakfasts, lunches, hot dinners and boiled drinking water or tea.
Pro tips and important notes
Trail pro tips
“Dal bhat power”: unlimited refills of rice, lentils and vegetable curry. The best fuel for the ridge.
Go vegetarian higher up: meat is carried up without refrigeration, so we suggest vegetarian meals above Forest Camp.
Stay hydrated: drink 3–4 litres a day (ginger-lemon-honey tea, garlic soup, boiled water).
Cash is king: there are no ATMs on the trail. Bring enough Nepali rupees from Pokhara.
Essential teahouse notes
Teahouse rule: eat breakfast and dinner where you sleep. Lodges keep room prices low because of it.
Order early: order dinner around 5 pm; at High Camp breakfast is early on the Base Camp day.
Small extras: showers, charging and Wi-Fi cost a few dollars each higher up.
Acclimatization map
Route and elevation profile
Daily altitude curve
You sleep no higher than 3,580 m and only day hike to the high point.
Peak: 4,500 m
- Trek start · Kande
- 1,890 m / 6,201 ft
- Highest night · High Camp
- 3,580 m / 11,745 ft
- High point
- 4,500 m / 14,764 ft
Route and GPS waypoints
Mardi Himal Trek route map
Google interactive trail and waypoint map
GPS trail route
Interactive Google map
Loading it connects to Google, which can see your IP address and may set cookies.
Stops on the route
Pokhara 822 mStart
Day 1Pothana 1,890 m
Day 2Forest Camp 2,550 m
Day 3Low Camp 2,970 m
Day 4High Camp 3,580 m
Day 5Mardi Base Camp 4,500 mHigh point
Day 6Pokhara 822 m
Day 7
Interactive map by Google Maps. See our privacy policy for how Google handles your data.
Direct operator advantage
Why book your trek with us
Local leadership, honest pricing and careful safety standards, straight from our Kathmandu team.
Built around you
Every trek is private, so the plan fits you. Want an extra rest day, a slower pace or a different route? Just tell us, and we’ll change it at no extra cost.
Honest conversation
We give you the same advice we’d give a friend, even if it means you book less with us. Our prices are transparent and there are no hidden fees.
Guides who call these mountains home
Your guide grew up in these mountains and knows every turn of the trail you’re trekking.
Your safety comes first
We build acclimatization days into every itinerary, check your oxygen levels daily and have a rescue plan ready on every trek. Plans can change, but safety never does.
Local, licensed and fair to our team
We’re registered with the Government of Nepal and TAAN. You book straight with our team in Nepal, with no middleman. Our porters carry limited loads and get warm gear, insurance and fair wages.
More than a trek
Along the trail, your guide takes you into village homes, quiet monasteries and local kitchens. Many guests tell us these moments changed the way they see Nepal.
Official verification
Credentials and government licences
Est. 2025 · Kathmandu
- Govt. reg.
- Tourism Office Kathmandu
- Tourism licence
- 46872/083/084
Nepal Department of Tourism registration certificateRegistration Tourism Office Kathmandu · licensed trekking agency
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Gear and essentials
Mardi Himal Trek packing list
Tested gear for the ridge: frosty mornings at High Camp to warm days in the forest.
Clothing and layering
Base layers: 2–3 merino or synthetic tops and bottoms.
Fleece mid-layer: a warm fleece or softshell.
Down jacket: rated to about −10 °C for the dawn climb from High Camp.
Waterproof shell: jacket and trousers for rain and wind on the ridge.
Footwear and trail care
Trekking boots: waterproof, broken in, with good grip for steep steps.
Camp shoes: light trainers or sandals for the teahouse.
Socks: 4–5 pairs of cushioned trekking socks.
Microspikes: useful in winter or early spring when the upper ridge is icy.
Gear and packs
Daypack (25–35 L): with a rain cover for layers, water and snacks.
Duffel bag: carried by your porter (max 15 kg).
Sleeping bag: comfort to −10 °C (you can rent one in Pokhara).
Trekking poles and headlamp: for the long descent and the dawn hike.
Health, hygiene and water
Water purification: tablets or a UV pen, plus two 1 L bottles.
Medical kit: blister plasters, painkillers, rehydration salts.
Sun protection: SPF 50 sunscreen, sunglasses and lip balm.
Hygiene: wet wipes, hand sanitizer and a quick-dry towel.
Practical field knowledge
Mardi Himal Trek guide: season, teahouses and safety
Essential insights from our local trek leaders.
Best season and weather windows
Spring (March to May): rhododendrons in bloom below High Camp and warm days.
Autumn (October to November): dry trails and the clearest views of Machapuchare.
*Winter is clear but snow can close the ridge above High Camp. The monsoon brings rain, leeches and hidden views.
Teahouse accommodation and facilities
Rooms: small twin rooms with blankets; use your sleeping bag on top.
High Camp: only a few lodges, so rooms are basic and busy in October.
Wi-Fi and power: charging is available in most lodges for a small fee; signal is patchy.
Food, nutrition and safe water
Dal bhat: rice, lentil soup, vegetables and pickle, with free refills.
Trail menus: porridge, Tibetan bread, noodles, fried rice and ginger tea.
Hydration: drink 3–4 litres a day and treat your water; skip single-use plastic.
Emergency plan and helicopter evacuation
Rescue: our office coordinates helicopter evacuation with your insurer if it is ever needed.
On the trail: your guide carries a first-aid kit and pulse oximeter, and Pokhara hospitals are close.
Insurance: travel insurance covering emergency evacuation is required for every trekker.
Frequently asked questions for the Mardi Himal Trek
General information
What are the highlights of the Mardi Himal Trek?
Close views of Machapuchare, the dawn climb to the Mardi Himal Base Camp viewpoint, mossy rhododendron forest, a sea of clouds below the ridge, and quiet family teahouses.
What is the highest altitude on the trek?
Mardi Himal Base Camp at about 4,500 m on day 6. You sleep no higher than High Camp at 3,580 m.
Mardi Himal or Annapurna Base Camp?
Mardi Himal is shorter and quieter, along an open ridge. Annapurna Base Camp takes 7–10 days and brings you inside the Sanctuary. With a week, choose Mardi Himal.
Itinerary and duration
How long does the Mardi Himal Trek take?
Our standard itinerary is 7 days from Pokhara and back, with 5 days on the trail. We can add a day for a slower pace.
How do I get to the start?
Fly or drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara, then it is about an hour by jeep to Kande. The jeep from Siding back to Pokhara is included.
Can I combine Mardi Himal with another trek?
Yes. It links with Poon Hill or Annapurna Base Camp through Landruk and Ghandruk for a 10–14 day trip.
Trek difficulty and fitness
How difficult is the Mardi Himal Trek?
Moderate, grade 3 of 5. The days are short but steep, and the dawn climb from High Camp is the hardest part.
How should I train?
Stair climbing, weekend hikes in your boots with a light pack, and steady cardio for 6–8 weeks before you go.
Altitude and health
Will I get altitude sickness on Mardi Himal?
The risk is low because you sleep no higher than 3,580 m, but we still climb at a steady pace, check oxygen levels each day and turn back if serious symptoms appear.
Fast reply · local operator
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Book the Mardi Himal Trek with us
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