Mardi Himal Trek
A quiet ridge walk to a high viewpoint beneath Machhapuchhre.
- Duration
- 5 days
- Max altitude
- 4,500 m
- Distance
- 40 km
- Best season
- October–November, March–April
- Starts
- Kande
- Ends
- Siding
Overview
Mardi Himal climbs a single forested ridge from the Pokhara valley to an alpine viewpoint directly below the fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre. Lodges are simpler than on the main Annapurna routes and the trail is far quieter, yet it starts an hour from Pokhara.
- Forest Camp
- High Camp sunrise
- Mardi Himal viewpoint
- Close-up of Machhapuchhre
Plan this trek
Day-by-day itinerary
Sleeping altitude goes from 2,520 m on day 1 to a high of 3,580 m on day 2, ending at 1,750 m on day 4.
- 1
Drive to Kande, trek to Forest Camp
Via Australian Camp and Pitam Deurali.
Sleep at 2,520 m
- 2
Forest Camp to High Camp
Out of the trees onto the ridge.
Sleep at 3,580 m
- 3
Viewpoint and return to Low Camp
Early climb to the 4,500 m viewpoint, then descend.
Sleep at 2,970 m
- 4
Low Camp to Siding
Steep descent to a farming village.
Sleep at 1,750 m
- 5
Drive Siding to Pokhara
Permits
Permit rules and fees change. We link the official source for each and show when it was last checked.
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals (mid-2026).
TIMS card
NPR 2,000 for foreign nationals (mid-2026).
Safety and altitude
Altitude sickness is the main risk on any trek above 2,500 m. Ascend slowly, sleep no more than 300–500 m higher each night above 3,000 m, drink plenty, and descend immediately if symptoms worsen. Headache, nausea and loss of appetite are early warnings; confusion or breathlessness at rest are emergencies.
Carry travel insurance that explicitly covers trekking to your maximum altitude and helicopter evacuation. Weather can close trails and airports for days; keep buffer days and cash.
Packing list
Essentials are marked; the rest is optional.
- Broken-in trekking boots (essential)
- Four-season sleeping bag (lodge blankets are limited) (essential)
- Down jacket (essential)
- Waterproof shell (essential)
- Sun hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen (essential)
- Water purification tablets or filter (essential)
- Head torch (essential)
- Basic first-aid kit incl. blister care (essential)
- Trekking poles (optional)
- Power bank (optional)
Frequently asked questions
From travellers
Travellers who trekked Mardi Himal Trek
First-hand accounts from people who walked it recently. Read one, then plan a trip like it.
Travel storyDemo storyTraveller story · Lucas Ferreira · 4 Dec 2025
Mardi Himal: a quiet ridge above the cloud
A newer, quieter trek that climbs a long ridge to High Camp at 3,580 metres. Rhododendron forest, a cloud sea at sunrise and a trail we shared with few others.
- Visited
- November 2025
- Places
- Annapurna Region · Pokhara
More treks
Other treks in Annapurna Region
Annapurna Conservation Area
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
The classic short trek: rhododendron forest and a sunrise panorama.
- Duration
- 4 days
- Max altitude
- 3,210 m
Annapurna Conservation Area
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Into the Annapurna Sanctuary, an amphitheatre of 7,000 m peaks.
- Duration
- 10 days
- Max altitude
- 4,130 m
Gorkha (Manaslu) and Manang
Manaslu Circuit Trek
A quieter rival to the Annapurna Circuit around the world’s eighth-highest mountain, over the Larkya La.
- Duration
- 14 days
- Max altitude
- 5,106 m
