Forest Camp: The First Night on the Mardi Himal Trek

Last updated 9 October 2026.

Forest Camp is where most of our Mardi Himal treks spend the first night. It is a small clearing in rhododendron and oak forest at 2,520 m, on the ridge above Kande, with a simple teahouse and a quiet evening. You get there in 4 to 5 hours from Kande, and our Mardi Himal Trek, 5 days from Pokhara sleeps here on day 1.

Short answer: Forest Camp is at 2,520 m (8,268 ft). The walk from Kande takes 4 to 5 hours and passes Australian Camp at 2,060 m. The next day goes up to High Camp at 3,580 m in 5 to 6 hours. It is a low, easy night for the body, and the hard climbing starts the morning after.

Forest Camp at a glance

Where does Forest Camp sit on the Mardi Himal trek?

It is the first night on the ridge. Before it comes a short drive from Pokhara to Kande, a small settlement on the road to Australian Camp. After it comes High Camp, then Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 m, then the long descent to Siding. If you want the start of the route, read my Dhampus and Kande guide.

These treks sleep at Forest Camp:

• Mardi Himal Trek, 5 days from Pokhara: day 1.
• Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek, 7 days: day 2, after the drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
• Poon Hill and Mardi Himal Trek, 9 days: day 5.
• Annapurna Base Camp and Mardi Himal Trek, 12 days: day 8.
• Mardi Himal Trek with Chitwan Jungle Safari, 9 days: day 4.

What is the walk from Kande to Forest Camp like?

The trail starts in terraced farmland and Gurung homesteads, then climbs into thick rhododendron and oak forest on the lower slopes of the Mardi ridge. Australian Camp is the first stop worth a pause. It is a grassy clearing at 2,060 m with a view of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. From there the path follows a forested ridge that separates the Modi Khola valley from the Mardi Khola. Forest Camp sits in a small clearing among old rhododendron trees. In spring, March to May, those trees flower crimson and pink.

The Mardi Himal trail sees far fewer trekkers than the Annapurna Base Camp route on the other side of the valley, and Forest Camp feels it. On some nights you may be the only group in the teahouse. Our Australian Camp guide covers the viewpoint on its own.

What are the lodge, food and facilities like at Forest Camp?

The teahouse is simple but warm. The dining room has a wood-burning stove, and the rooms are basic but comfortable. Nothing more luxurious is on offer, and I would rather tell you that now than have you expect it. What you pay for here is the quiet. How you sleep depends on your tier. Budget means shared rooms and no meals included. Standard means private rooms, all trek meals and one porter for every two trekkers. Luxury means a private deluxe room, all meals plus fruit and nuts, and a dedicated porter for each trekker. For a night-by-night view of the whole ridge, read my Mardi Himal teahouses guide.

Is altitude a problem at Forest Camp?

Not here. At 2,520 m most people sleep normally, and this is the gentle start to the trek. The step that matters comes the next day, when you gain about 1,000 m to sleep at High Camp, 3,580 m. Drink water through the afternoon, eat the full meal in the evening, and tell your guide if you have a headache or feel unusually tired. The guide sets the pace from the first morning. Buy travel insurance at home with helicopter rescue and evacuation cover to 5,000 m, because the base camp is at 4,500 m. We do not recommend buying insurance in Nepal.

What comes before and after Forest Camp?

When is the best time to sleep at Forest Camp?

The clearest months on the ridge are October and November, and my pick is November. March and April are the second season, with rhododendron in bloom and clear mornings. December to February is cold. My Mardi Himal best time guide has the month-by-month detail, and the full route is in the complete Mardi Himal guide.

Questions people ask

How high is Forest Camp on the Mardi Himal trek? Our itineraries give 2,520 m, which is 8,268 ft.

How long does it take to walk from Kande to Forest Camp? 4 to 5 hours, climbing through farmland and forest and passing Australian Camp at 2,060 m.

Is Forest Camp the same as Low Camp? No. Low Camp is higher, at 2,970 m, and we walk past it on the way to High Camp. Forest Camp is the stop below it.

Where do you sleep on the first night of the Mardi Himal trek? In a simple teahouse at Forest Camp. The dining room is heated by a wood-burning stove.

How far is it from Forest Camp to High Camp? About 7 km and 5 to 6 hours, with roughly 1,000 m of climbing, up to 3,580 m.

Do I need a permit for Forest Camp? You need the Annapurna Conservation Area permit (NPR 3,000 for foreigners) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). We arrange both. It is not a restricted area.

Is there a shorter way to do the Mardi Himal trek? Yes. The 5-day trek from Pokhara starts with this night. If you are short of time, it is the one I would start with.

How are the terms for these treks?

Group size is 2 to 20, and you can also trek solo. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice to any date within one year. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients.

How do you plan this with us?

Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates, how many of you there are and which month you have in mind. I will tell you which tier and which route I would choose, and send you the exact quote.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.