Choose Mardi Himal if you want big Annapurna views in under a week. The trail climbs a forested ridge from Kande or Dhampus to High Camp at about 3,580 m, and a dawn hike reaches Mardi Himal Base Camp at about 4,500 m, right under Machhapuchhre (6,993 m). Most people need 4 to 7 walking days from Pokhara. You need an ACAP permit, a TIMS card and a licensed guide. It is quieter than Annapurna Base Camp or Poon Hill, though busier than it was ten years ago. Above High Camp it gets steep and cold, so it suits fit beginners better than people who have never walked uphill for a full day.
- Highest pointMardi Himal Base Camp, about 4,500 m (day hike)
- Highest nightHigh Camp, about 3,580 m
- Walking days4 to 7 from Pokhara
- Start and finishKande or Dhampus, out via Siding or Lwang
- PermitsACAP NPR 3,000 + TIMS NPR 2,000, licensed guide
- Swotah trips6 days from USD 550, 11 days from USD 1,050
Mardi Trek is a fairly new route for trekking lovers in Nepal. It can be summarized as a walk through beautiful forested areas to rocky mountain terrain and several camps that get snowfall depending on the season. It has become a go-to name for someone who wants to travel but doesn’t have enough time.
Mardi Himal (5,587 m) rises north of Pokhara at the southern edge of the Annapurna range. It was first climbed in 1961 (Wikipedia credits Basil Goodfellow, while other accounts credit Jimmy Roberts and two Sherpas), and trekkers don't go to the summit. The mountain sits on the south-west flank of Machhapuchhare and is most visible from the south. The southwest wall has three clear rock ridges, separated by hanging glaciers.
If you are tired of regular trekking destinations, then this off the beaten trek is just the escape you are looking for.
Here are the top 8 reasons why you should go on a Mardi Himal Trek.
New Route
The Mardi Himal trail was laid out around 2010 and officially opened in 2012, which is why it is quieter than the older Annapurna routes. The trail goes through forests and is a good short teahouse trek in Nepal. Before the lodges opened, only camping groups used it.
So, if you are looking for a short teahouse trek with big views, this might be the ideal trek for you.
Combine It
If you don’t want to just do one trek, this trek can be combined with a lot of other treks. Mardi Trek lies in the Annapurna region. Trekking in the Annapurna region is famous among trekkers. Thus, there are several options available to combine the Mardi trek with. You can combine your trek with a strenuous Annapurna Base Camp or an easy Poon hill trek. It's up to you to choose!
Many trekkers pair Mardi with the Annapurna Base Camp trek for a longer trip that sees Machhapuchhre from two sides.
Colorful Trek
This trek in the Annapurna region changes colour with the season. If you go during the winter, all you’ll see is white, and if you go in spring, all you see is red. Sounds confusing? It’s because, during the winter, snow covers the trees, and in March and April the forests turn red with rhododendron blossoms.
A Lot Of Camps
The base camps are places where you can enjoy the views. There are a total number of 8 camps in the Mardi Himal Trek route :
1. Australian Camp (about 2,060 meters) – The most tea houses available
2. Pitam Deurali (about 2,100 meters) – enough rooms
3. Forest Camp, also called Kokar (about 2,520 meters) – enough rooms and great food
4. Low Camp (about 2,970 meters) – The first close view of Mt Machhapuchhre
5. Badal Danda (about 3,210 meters) – a few lodges on the open ridge
6. High Camp (about 3,580 meters) – the last lodges, full in peak season, so book ahead
7. Mardi Himal Base Camp (about 4,500 meters) – no lodges, most people hike up and back from High Camp in one day
8. Siding (about 1,750 meters) – village lodges on the way down
Can You Do It Solo?
The Mardi Himal Trek has a fairly simple route, and before 2023 plenty of people walked it on their own. You can still travel as a party of one, with a licensed guide beside you (see the note below).
The food on this trek is simple and fresh. We suggest you try the fresh cornbread in the forest camps.
Note: Since April 2023, solo foreign trekkers need a licensed guide on routes inside conservation areas, Mardi included. At USD 25 to 40 a day, a guide is modest insurance on a trail this quiet. Current rules live in our permits guide.
Route Options
Mardi Himal has a number of different trekking routes :
- The first route of the Mardi Himal Trek starts from Dhampus and ends in Mardi Himal Base Camp
- The second route adds an Australian camp in its way
- The third route is from Lwang
- Another route is Ghalel – Kalimati – Forest Camp
- Siding village to Low Camp (still inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so ACAP and TIMS apply)
The Height
Most of the easy treks are easy due to the lack of elevation. However, it’s not true for Mardi Himal Trek. High Camp sits at about 3,580 m and the base camp viewpoint at about 4,500 m, which is high for a short trek. Being shorter than ABC, this trek still packs in proper altitude and big mountain views.
Is the Mardi Himal Trek Right for You?
Most people who ask this have about a week and want proper mountains without the ABC crowds. Here is how the trek lines up against the usual worries.
| Your situation | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You have about a week in Nepal | Good fit | Four to seven walking days from Pokhara fits around a Kathmandu arrival. |
| You're fit but new to altitude | Good fit | One night at about 3,580 m and a day hike higher is a gentle first test. |
| You want quiet trails in October | Good fit | Far fewer people than ABC or Poon Hill, though High Camp lodges still fill up. |
| You want a bed at the highest point | Think twice | There are no lodges at base camp. You sleep at High Camp and hike up before dawn. |
| You plan to go in January or February | Think twice | Snow above High Camp can stop the base camp hike. See the best-time guide. |
| Steep descents hurt your knees | Think twice | The drop from Low Camp to Siding is long and steep. Bring poles. |
Timing matters on a short trek like this. Our best time for the Mardi Himal trek guide covers each month.
Mardi Himal Altitude Profile
The climb is steady through the forest, then steepens above Low Camp. Heights are rounded, and sources differ by up to 100 m for the upper camps.
| Stop | Altitude | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Pokhara | 822 m | |
| Kande | 1,770 m | |
| Australian Camp | 2,060 m | |
| Forest Camp | 2,520 m | |
| Low Camp | 2,970 m | |
| Badal Danda | 3,210 m | |
| High Camp | 3,580 m | |
| Mardi Himal Base Camp | 4,500 m | |
| Siding | 1,750 m |
Mardi Himal vs Poon Hill vs Annapurna Base Camp
All three start near Pokhara. They differ in how high you go and how many people you share the trail with.
| Mardi Himal | Poon Hill | Annapurna Base Camp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking days from Pokhara | 4 to 7 | 3 to 4 | 7 to 10 |
| Highest point | About 4,500 m (day hike) | 3,210 m | 4,130 m |
| Highest night | About 3,580 m | 2,860 m (Ghorepani) | 4,130 m |
| Crowds | Moderate | Busy | Busy |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Easy | Moderate |
For the longer option, read our Annapurna Base Camp trek guide and the ABC difficulty guide.
Save Time
Mardi Himal trek is one of the shortest Annapurna itineraries. Most people walk it in 4 to 7 days from Pokhara, and our standard version takes 11 days door to door from Kathmandu. If you are looking to save time and money, this trip will not let you down. You'll cover roughly 40 to 55 km on foot, depending on where you start and finish.
Plus, you’ll be saving a lot of cash since the trip is short.
So, Have you decided to go on this trip? If so, Remember the most genuine and Responsible trekking agency in Nepal to book this trip.
Ready to walk the ridge? See our 6-day Mardi Himal trek or the standard Mardi Himal itinerary, and compare it with the region's other quiet routes in off-the-beaten-path Annapurna treks.
Mardi Himal Trek: FAQs
How many days does the Mardi Himal trek take?
Four to seven walking days from Pokhara. Our 6-day trip starts with the drive to Kande, and the 11-day version adds Kathmandu days and a slower pace.
Is the Mardi Himal trek hard?
It is moderate. The forest days are steady, but the hike from High Camp to base camp gains about 900 m and starts in the dark, and the descent to Siding is steep.
Do I need a guide for Mardi Himal?
Yes. Since 1 April 2023 foreign trekkers in the Annapurna Conservation Area need a licensed guide, and the TIMS card is issued through an agency. Our permits guide has the details.
Is there a lodge at Mardi Himal Base Camp?
No. The last lodges are at High Camp, about 3,580 m. Most people leave around 4 or 5 am, watch sunrise near base camp and walk back down the same day.
When is the best time to go?
October and November give the clearest views, and March and April bring the rhododendrons. Month by month details are in our Mardi Himal best time guide.
