Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday and third-generation Himalayan guide. TAAN Member #1586.
If the Mardi Himal trek has a single image people carry home, it is Mardi High Camp at dawn: a cluster of small lodges on a grassy shoulder at 3,580 metres, the ground falling away into cloud on both sides, and the Fishtail turning pink above it. This is where you sleep before the climb to Base Camp, and for many trekkers the night at High Camp is the best part of the whole trip.
Mardi High Camp at a glance
| Altitude | 3,580 m (11,745 ft), on the Mardi Himal ridge |
| Region | Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP), above Pokhara |
| What it is | The highest lodges on the trek and the launch point for the climb to Base Camp |
| The views | Machhapuchhre (6,993 m) filling the sky, with Annapurna South and Hiunchuli alongside |
| Next stop | Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500 m), a three to four hour climb up the ridge |
| Trek it on | Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek |
Where is Mardi High Camp and how do you reach it?
High Camp sits near the top of the Mardi Himal ridge, the crest that climbs south-east out of the Annapurna Sanctuary above Pokhara. From the trailhead near Kande the route climbs through Australian Camp and the forested camps, Forest Camp and Low Camp, before the trees give way and the ridge opens out at High Camp. Most itineraries reach it on the second or third day. It is the last accommodation on the trek; Base Camp above has no lodges and is visited as a day walk from here.
Why is High Camp the highlight of the trek?
Because of where it sits and what you can see from it. The lodges perch on a narrow shoulder with big drops on either side, so the sense of being out among the mountains is complete in a way that valley teahouses never manage. Machhapuchhre stands almost directly overhead, close enough to see the light change on it through the evening and again at first light, and Annapurna South and Hiunchuli close off the western sky. Sunset and sunrise from the ridge just above the lodges are the two moments the whole trek is built around.
High Camp to Base Camp: the big morning
The reason you sleep at High Camp is to be in position for the climb to Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 metres. It is a three to four hour walk up a thinning ridge, started before dawn so you are on the top before the cloud builds. Trekkers who are feeling the altitude, or who get a clear early view, often turn at the Lower Viewpoint just below Base Camp, which already gives the full Fishtail panorama. Either way you are back at High Camp for a late breakfast and then on down the ridge.
Altitude at High Camp
At 3,580 metres, High Camp is where the Mardi trek gains its height quickly, having started only a little above Pokhara a day or two earlier. Most people are fine, but it is high enough that a slow, steady approach and an eye on symptoms matter, especially before the higher push to Base Camp. Sleeping at High Camp rather than rushing straight up and down is the single best thing you can do for both safety and the view.
What are the lodges like?
High Camp has a small number of simple, seasonal teahouse lodges built for the trek. Rooms are basic and it gets cold once the sun drops, but the dining halls are warm and the food is the usual hearty trekking fare built around dal bhat. Water, charging and hot showers cost extra and are dearer up here than lower down. Bring enough cash, a warm layer and a head torch. In the high seasons the best lodges fill, so an organised trek with rooms held in advance is worth having.
When is the best time to stay at High Camp?
October and November for the clearest, most stable skies and the sharpest Fishtail, and March to May for warmer days and rhododendron colour lower down. Both seasons are excellent. The monsoon brings cloud that hides the very views you came for, and deep winter can leave snow on the ridge and close some lodges. Aim for a settled spell and give yourself a spare day if you can.
Common questions about Mardi High Camp
How high is Mardi High Camp? It sits at 3,580 metres. Base Camp above it is at about 4,500 metres.
Can you see Machhapuchhre from High Camp? Yes, and closer than almost anywhere else a trekker can stand. The Fishtail dominates the skyline above the lodges.
Do you sleep at High Camp? Yes. It is the highest accommodation on the trek and the base for the morning climb to Base Camp.
Is High Camp busy? Far less than the Annapurna Base Camp or Poon Hill trails. The Mardi ridge is one of the quietest good treks in the region.
A night at Mardi High Camp is the heart of the trek. We run the Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek private and unhurried, with rooms held at High Camp and the summit morning built in, 2026/2027 dates open. WhatsApp us for current departures.
The Mardi Himal ridge lies within the Annapurna Conservation Area, managed by Nepal's National Trust for Nature Conservation.
Shreejan Simkhada is the CEO and co-founder of The Everest Holiday, a family-run trekking company in Kathmandu, and a third-generation Himalayan guide. TAAN Member #1586. Every booking helps fund our Nagarjun Learning Center.
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