Plan my trek
Plan my trek
c. 4,500 m (base camp)
4–7 days from Pokhara
Moderate
Kande / Siding
ACAP + licensed guide
Oct–Dec, Mar–May
The Mardi Himal trek follows a long grassy ridge that runs straight at the south face of Machhapuchhre (6,993 m), the “Fishtail” mountain that dominates the skyline above Pokhara. In four to six days you climb from farmland and rhododendron forest to a high ridge camp at roughly 3,550–3,600 m, then make a pre-dawn push to an upper viewpoint at about 4,200 m and, if conditions allow, Mardi Himal Base Camp at around 4,500 m.
Mardi Himal itself is a 5,587 m peak that sits beneath Machhapuchhre, separated from it by a col. It was first climbed in 1961, but the trekking route along its ridge only opened to commercial teahouse trekking around 2012. That is why it still feels younger and simpler than the classic Annapurna region trails, although it is no longer the quiet secret it was a decade ago.
Mardi Himal suits fit walkers who want a big-mountain reward in under a week, people adding a trek to a wider Nepal holiday, and trekkers who have already done Poon Hill and want something higher and wilder. It is a reasonable first Himalayan trek for active people, but it is steeper and higher than Poon Hill, and the ridge above High Camp is more serious in snow than it looks in summer photos. If you have never trekked before, read our guide to trekking for beginners first.
| Mardi Himal | Poon Hill | Annapurna Base Camp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical length | 4–7 days | 3–5 days | 7–12 days |
| High point | c. 4,200 m viewpoint / 4,500 m base camp | 3,210 m | 4,130 m |
| Character | Ridge walk, open views from day 3 | Villages and forest, one famous sunrise | Deep valley into a mountain amphitheatre |
| Difficulty | Moderate, steep, fast ascent | Easy to moderate | Moderate, long stone staircases |
| Lodges | Fewer, simpler, can fill at High Camp | Plentiful and well developed | Plentiful; limited beds at MBC/ABC in peak season |
| Crowds | Moderate, busy with domestic trekkers at holidays | Busy | Busy in peak season |
In short: Poon Hill is the gentle classic, Annapurna Base Camp is the longer, more immersive trek into the Sanctuary, and Mardi Himal is the short, high, view-heavy option in between. Many people combine Mardi Himal with ABC, since the two routes meet near Landruk and the Modi Khola valley.
There is no single official route. Most itineraries share the same core, Forest Camp to Low Camp to High Camp to the viewpoint, and differ mainly in where they start and finish. The standard five-day version below starts at Kande, passes Australian Camp, and descends to Siding. Walking times are for a steady pace without long stops.
A note on altitudes: published figures vary by 50–150 m between maps, operators and GPS tracks. We give the most commonly cited figures with ranges where sources disagree. Treat them as approximate.
| Day | Route | Overnight altitude | Walking time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive Pokhara to Kande (about 1–1.5 hrs), walk via Australian Camp and Pothana to Deurali or Forest Camp | 2,100 m (Deurali) or c. 2,500–2,600 m (Forest Camp) | 3–6 hrs |
| 2 | Forest Camp to Low Camp through rhododendron forest; first close views of Machhapuchhre | c. 2,970–3,150 m | 3–4 hrs |
| 3 | Low Camp to High Camp via Badal Danda (c. 3,210–3,300 m), leaving the trees behind | c. 3,550–3,600 m | 2.5–4 hrs |
| 4 | Pre-dawn walk to the Upper Viewpoint (c. 4,200 m) and on to Mardi Himal Base Camp (c. 4,500 m) if conditions allow; return to High Camp, then descend to Low Camp or Badal Danda | c. 3,000–3,300 m | 7–9 hrs |
| 5 | Descend to Siding village (c. 1,750–1,880 m) and drive back to Pokhara (about 2–3 hrs by jeep) | Pokhara (c. 820 m) | 4–5 hrs walking |
Total walking distance is roughly 40–55 km depending on where you start and finish. Sources disagree here too, partly because jeep tracks keep extending further up the hills.
Drive to Kande or Dhampus, walk to Forest Camp on day 1, High Camp on day 2, viewpoint and descent to Low Camp on day 3, then Siding and a jeep to Pokhara on day 4. It works for fit, experienced trekkers, but it takes you from about 2,500 m to 4,200 m or more in roughly 24 hours. That is faster than standard acclimatisation guidance, so we only suggest it for people who have recently been at altitude.
Add a night at Deurali or Australian Camp at the start and split the climb so you sleep at Low Camp before High Camp. A spare day at High Camp gives you a second chance at the viewpoint if cloud or snow spoils the first morning. On the way down, you can descend to Landruk and walk out via Tolka, or continue to Jhinu Danda and its hot springs. Most first-timers enjoy the trek far more at this pace.
The older approach climbs a steep stone staircase from Phedi (about 30–40 minutes from Pokhara) to Dhampus, a Gurung village at about 1,650 m, then joins the main trail at Pothana. It is a little longer than starting at Kande, but Dhampus is a pleasant first night with views back to the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre on clear mornings.
The usual descent leaves the ridge below Low Camp or Badal Danda and drops steeply to Siding, a farming village where jeeps wait. Rough jeep tracks also reach Kalimati and Lumre lower down the valley. How far a jeep can get depends on the season and road condition, so confirm the pickup point with your guide or agency. After monsoon rain, these roads can be slow or blocked.
Many trekkers turn round at the Upper Viewpoint (c. 4,200 m), about 2–3 hours above High Camp. It gives the classic panorama of Machhapuchhre, Mardi Himal and Annapurna South. Base Camp (c. 4,500 m) is another 1–1.5 hours along a rougher, less defined ridge. It adds closer views of the Annapurna Sanctuary peaks and a sense of real remoteness, but it is often impractical in snow or cloud. Some lodge owners also mention a lower viewpoint about an hour above High Camp, which is a good fallback in poor weather.
From Siding or Low Camp you can drop to Landruk, then cross the Modi Khola to join the Annapurna Base Camp trail at Jhinu Danda or Chhomrong. A combined trek takes around 10–13 days and gives you both the ridge and the Sanctuary. Because Mardi Himal reaches a similar altitude, it also helps with acclimatisation before ABC. We can arrange this as a tailor-made trip.
Avoid unmarked shortcuts. Informal paths branch off the ridge, including routes from High Camp that drop directly towards Siding and lines that cut corners on the way to Base Camp. Several accidents have been reported on these, especially in snow. Stay on the main trail and follow your guide.
Mardi Himal is usually graded moderate. No technical skills are needed, but don’t let the short duration fool you. The trail is steep for most of its length, the ascent is fast, and the final ridge is high and exposed to the weather. In good conditions, a reasonably fit walker will find it hard but very manageable.
The summit day is the crux. You start around 4–5 am in the dark and cold, climb 600–950 m in thin air, then lose most of it again on tired legs. Sunrise views are usually clearest early, and cloud often builds by late morning. If you feel unwell, the viewpoint at about 4,200 m is a perfectly good place to stop.
The main risk on Mardi Himal is the speed of ascent. On a four-day itinerary you can sleep at about 2,500 m one night and stand at 4,200–4,500 m less than 36 hours later. Standard guidance above 3,000 m is to increase sleeping altitude by no more than about 300–500 m per day, which this trek cannot always meet. To reduce the risk:
You should be comfortable walking 5–6 hours with a daypack on hilly ground, two days in a row. Over 6–8 weeks before the trek, aim for weekly long hill walks, stair or step sessions with a loaded pack, and two or three cardio sessions a week. Strengthening quads and calves pays off on the long descent. If you can manage a full day in the British fells, the Alps or similar hills without trouble, you are in good shape.
Mardi Himal lies within the Annapurna Conservation Area, so it follows Annapurna permit rules. There is no separate Mardi Himal permit.
| Item | Cost / rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACAP entry permit | NPR 3,000 (about £15) for foreign nationals; NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals | Tax included. Online at the NTNC e-permit site (2.9% card fee) or at counters in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Permits issued at a trail checkpoint cost double. Children under 10 are exempt. |
| Licensed guide | Required for foreign trekkers since 1 April 2023 | Nepal’s rule requires foreign trekkers to hire a government-licensed guide through a registered agency. It applies to Annapurna; the Khumbu (Everest) local government did not adopt it. |
| TIMS card | Status unclear | Some sources say a TIMS card (formerly NPR 2,000) is still needed alongside ACAP; others say checkpoints only check ACAP. Agencies normally handle this. Check before you go. |
About the guide rule: enforcement on the Mardi Himal ridge has been patchy since 2023, and some independent trekkers still walk it. We don’t recommend relying on that. The rule is the law, checkpoint practice can change at any time, and the fast ascent and snow risk on the ridge are good reasons to have a local guide anyway. Your guide will also carry your permits through the ACAP checkpoint, usually around Pothana.
All figures are approximate at the time of writing, per person, starting and ending in Pokhara. We have converted at roughly NPR 200 = £1 and US$1 = £0.75.
| Cost item | Typical range | Approx. GBP |
|---|---|---|
| ACAP permit | NPR 3,000 | £15 |
| Licensed guide | US$25–40 per day (shared by the group) | £19–30 per day |
| Porter (optional) | US$20–25 per day, usually one porter for two trekkers | £15–19 per day |
| Teahouse room | NPR 500–1,000 per night; sometimes cheap or free if you eat there | £2.50–5 |
| Food and drink | NPR 3,000–5,000 per day, rising with altitude | £15–25 per day |
| Jeep to/from trailhead | Shared or local bus from about NPR 250 to Kande; private jeep about US$40–70 each way | £2–50 |
| Extras (showers, charging, wifi, snacks) | NPR 500–1,500 per day | £2.50–7.50 per day |
What drives the cost: group size (guide fees are shared), whether you take a porter, private versus shared transport, the number of days, and how much you spend on extras up high. Budget a cash tip for your guide and porter at the end; around 10–15% of their wages is common practice. Bring enough Nepali rupees from Pokhara, as there are no ATMs on the trail.
The best months are October to mid-December and March to May. Autumn gives the clearest, most reliable mountain views. Spring brings flowering rhododendrons in the forest and warmer nights, though with more afternoon haze and cloud.
| Months | Weather | Views | Crowds and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Sept – Nov | Dry, stable; cold nights at High Camp (often below freezing by November) | Best of the year | Peak season; High Camp lodges can fill, especially during Dashain and Tihar holidays |
| Dec – Feb | Cold and mostly dry; snow common above High Camp | Often very clear | Quiet; Base Camp may be unreachable in snow, some lodges close, microspikes recommended |
| Mar – May | Warming; afternoon cloud and occasional storms | Good mornings, hazier later | Second peak; rhododendrons flower in March–April; late snow possible in March |
| June – mid-Sept | Monsoon: daily rain, mud, leeches, landslides on roads | Often hidden by cloud | Very quiet; lush forest but frequent whiteouts on the ridge |
Mardi Himal is very popular with Nepali trekkers, particularly students and young people from Pokhara and Kathmandu. During Dashain and Tihar, the country’s biggest festivals (usually in October and early November, with dates set by the lunar calendar), and on long weekends, High Camp can be full. In these periods it is wise to start early each day, book through an agency, or plan a night at Badal Danda or Low Camp as a backup.
In the monsoon, leeches are common in the lower forest. Our guide on protecting yourself from leeches covers what works.
Mardi Himal is a teahouse trek: you sleep and eat in small family-run lodges and don’t need a tent. Lodges are simpler than on the Poon Hill or ABC trails. Expect twin rooms with thin plywood walls, foam mattresses and a blanket or two, shared squat or Western toilets, and a warm dining room heated by a stove in the evening.
There are lodges at Kande, Australian Camp, Pothana, Deurali, Forest Camp (also called Kokar), Rest Camp, Low Camp, Badal Danda and High Camp, with homestays and lodges at Siding on the way down. Above High Camp there are no permanent lodges. Base Camp has at most occasional seasonal tents, so plan to return to High Camp.
High Camp, at roughly 3,550–3,600 m, is the critical stop and has a limited number of beds. Counts in recent reports vary widely, from a handful of lodges to over a dozen, and the number keeps growing. In October, November and spring holidays, late arrivals sometimes end up sleeping in the dining room. Guides usually phone ahead. Independent walkers should arrive by early afternoon or stay lower at Badal Danda.
Rooms usually cost NPR 500–1,000 (about £2.50–5) per night, and lower lodges sometimes offer them cheaply if you eat in. A plate of dal bhat with refills runs from about NPR 500–600 low down to NPR 800–1,000 or more at High Camp, because everything is carried up by porters or mules. Tea is NPR 100–200 a cup. Prices are fixed by local lodge committees and rise every year, so treat these as a guide.
Menus are similar along the trail: dal bhat, fried rice and noodles, momos, Tibetan bread, porridge, eggs, pasta and soups. Dal bhat is the best value and the most filling, with free refills. Meat is less reliable up high because it has been carried for days, so many trekkers eat vegetarian above Forest Camp. Snack bars and chocolate cost much more on the trail, so buy them in Pokhara.
Hot showers (solar or gas) cost roughly NPR 200–500 where they are available, and are unreliable at High Camp when pipes freeze. Charging is often charged per device (NPR 100–300) higher up. A power bank is worth carrying. Wifi is patchy and sometimes paid. Mobile data from Nepal Telecom or Ncell works in places along the ridge but not everywhere.
Don’t drink untreated tap or stream water. Most lodges sell boiled or filtered water for NPR 50–150 per litre, which is cheaper and less wasteful than plastic bottles. Bring a filter bottle or purification tablets, and remember that water sources near High Camp can freeze in winter.
Because the trek climbs quickly, altitude sickness is the most important risk, even though the high point is “only” 4,200–4,500 m. Descent is the most effective treatment, and on Mardi Himal you can lose several hundred metres in an hour or two by walking back down the ridge. In a serious emergency, helicopter evacuation to Pokhara is possible from High Camp in good weather. It is expensive, and your insurance needs to cover it.
Weather on the ridge changes fast. Cloud often rolls in by late morning, and whiteouts make the open ground above High Camp disorienting. In winter and early spring, snow and ice can make the final section to Base Camp dangerous without microspikes, and there have been serious falls. Turn back if visibility drops or the path is icy. Stay on the main trail and avoid shortcuts.
Make sure your policy covers trekking up to at least 4,500 m (some insurers set limits at 3,000 or 4,000 m) and includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation. Our guide to travel insurance for trekking explains what to check.
At the time of writing (October 2026), the UK FCDO does not advise against travel to any part of Nepal. Its current advice highlights flood damage from August 2026 in Rasuwa district and the Nepal–China border area, well away from Mardi Himal, and a continuing risk of landslides in the mountains. The country also saw serious unrest in Kathmandu in September 2025. Check the latest FCDO (or your own government’s) advice before you travel.
Book with an agency that pays fair wages, provides insurance and proper clothing and footwear for its staff, and keeps porter loads reasonable (widely recommended guidelines suggest no more than about 20–25 kg). Porters need warm kit and a proper bed at High Camp too. Please tip fairly at the end of the trek.
Every Mardi Himal trek starts from Pokhara, Nepal’s lakeside trekking town. From Kathmandu you can fly (about 25–30 minutes) or take a tourist bus or private car (usually 6–8 hours, longer in monsoon). See our Kathmandu to Pokhara guide for options and prices.
| Trailhead | From Pokhara | Approx. cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kande | About 1–1.5 hrs by road (Baglung highway) | Local bus about NPR 250–400; taxi or jeep about NPR 2,000–3,000 | Most common start; quick climb to Australian Camp |
| Phedi | About 30–40 mins | Local bus about NPR 100–150; taxi a little cheaper than to Kande | Steep stone staircase up to Dhampus |
| Dhampus | About 1–1.5 hrs by jeep | Private jeep about US$30–50 | Skips the Phedi stairs |
| Siding (finish) | About 2–3 hrs back by jeep on a rough road | Shared jeep about NPR 1,000–1,500 per seat; private jeep about US$50–70 | Usual exit; confirm pickup in advance |
| Kalimati / Lumre (finish) | About 1.5–2 hrs by road | Varies | Lower road heads in the Mardi Khola valley; useful if the Siding road is poor |
Local buses to Kande and Phedi leave from Pokhara’s Baglung bus park and are cheap but slow and crowded. Most guided treks use a private car or jeep, often included in the package. Road conditions above Siding and in the Mardi Khola valley get much worse after heavy rain, so allow extra time if you are flying out of Pokhara the same day. We suggest keeping a buffer night in Pokhara.
Pack light. A porter or your own back will carry it up 2,500 m of steep trail, and a 30–40 litre pack (or a 10 kg duffel for a porter plus a daypack) is plenty. Most gear can be bought or rented cheaply in Pokhara’s Lakeside area. For the full list, download our free printable trek packing checklist.
Mardi Himal fits easily into a wider trip around Pokhara and the Annapurna region. Here are the most popular pairings and alternatives. You can browse more options in our Nepal trekking guide and our round-up of the best treks from Pokhara.
The natural next step: a longer trek into the Annapurna Sanctuary, surrounded by 7,000 and 8,000 m peaks. You can link it to Mardi Himal via Landruk and Jhinu Danda. Read our Annapurna Base Camp guide or see our 15-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
A gentler 3–5 day trek through Ghorepani and Ghandruk with a famous sunrise view from 3,210 m. It is a good choice if Mardi Himal’s altitude or steepness feels like too much, and some people do both. See our Poon Hill trek guide.
Allow a day or two in Pokhara after the trek to rest your legs by Phewa Lake, take a boat out, or go paragliding from Sarangkot, where you can sometimes see the Mardi Himal ridge from the air.
We don’t sell a fixed-date Mardi Himal departure, but we can arrange a private, tailor-made Mardi Himal trek with our licensed Nepali ground partners. That includes the guide, permits, lodges and transport from Pokhara, and you can add it to an Annapurna Base Camp trek or a wider Nepal holiday. Tell us your dates and pace on our plan your trip page and we will put together an itinerary.
Most people take 5–6 days from Pokhara. Fit, acclimatised trekkers can do it in 4 days, but the ascent is very fast. A 6–7 day itinerary allows better acclimatisation and a spare morning for the viewpoint if the weather is poor.
Mardi Himal Base Camp is usually given as about 4,500 m, with the Upper Viewpoint at about 4,200 m and High Camp at about 3,550–3,600 m. Published altitudes vary by up to 100–150 m between sources. Mardi Himal’s summit is 5,587 m.
It is moderate: non-technical, but steep, with a fast gain in altitude and a long summit day of 7–9 hours. In snow, the ridge above High Camp becomes more serious. Reasonably fit walkers with some hill experience manage it well.
Since 1 April 2023, Nepal requires foreign trekkers in the Annapurna region to hire a licensed guide through a registered agency. Enforcement on Mardi Himal has been inconsistent, but the rule applies, and a guide is sensible given the altitude and changeable weather on the ridge.
A guided 5-day trek usually costs about £250–450 per person from Pokhara, depending on group size and inclusions. The ACAP permit is NPR 3,000 (about £15). Food and lodging cost around NPR 3,500–6,000 (£18–30) per day, and a guide is about US$25–40 per day.
You need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), which costs NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals. Sources disagree on whether a TIMS card is still required, so your agency will confirm what is needed when you book.
They suit different trekkers. Poon Hill is easier, lower (3,210 m) and more developed. Mardi Himal is higher, wilder and gives closer views of Machhapuchhre, but it is steeper and colder. If you’re fit and have 5–6 days, Mardi Himal is the more rewarding mountain experience.
Mardi Himal is shorter (4–7 days) and gives panoramic ridge views. ABC takes 7–12 days and leads into a ring of high peaks at 4,130 m. If you have time, ABC is the bigger experience, and many trekkers combine the two.
October to mid-December gives the clearest views, while March to May brings rhododendrons and milder temperatures. Winter is possible but snow may block the route to Base Camp. The June–September monsoon brings rain, leeches and frequent cloud.
Most treks start at Kande, about 1–1.5 hours’ drive from Pokhara, or at Phedi and Dhampus. The usual finish is Siding village, from where a jeep takes about 2–3 hours back to Pokhara. Kalimati and Lumre are alternative road heads.
The route is shown on the standard Annapurna trekking maps sold in Pokhara and Kathmandu, and on apps such as Maps.me and offline OpenStreetMap-based maps. In short, the route climbs from Kande or Dhampus to Forest Camp, Low Camp, Badal Danda and High Camp, then follows the ridge north to the viewpoint and base camp, and descends via Siding.
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By Govind Rai · Updated 23 October 2026The tick-box kit list for Everest Base Camp, Annapurna and every teahouse trek in Nepal.
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