Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary 2027: 7 Days Day by Day, Cost and Best Time

Updated 7 November 2026.

Short answer: our Mardi Himal trek is 7 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu. You drive to Pokhara on day 1, walk from Kande to Forest Camp (2,520 m) on day 2, climb to High Camp (3,580 m) on day 3, walk up to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500 m) and back to High Camp on day 4, come down to Siding on day 5, and drive back on days 6 and 7. It costs from USD 545 per person for a group of 2 to 4 on Budget, USD 1,080 on Standard and USD 1,670 on Luxury. A solo traveller pays USD 920, 1,335 or 2,620. Your guide and both permits are included.

You book it as our Mardi Himal Base Camp trek, 7 days. If you only have 5 days and are already in Pokhara, we also run a 5-day version from Pokhara.

Mardi Himal 7-day itinerary at a glance

Why I run it as 7 days, not 5

Most sellers cut this trek to 5 days. That rushes you to the upper viewpoint in the middle of the morning, and by then the cloud has usually settled in and the view is gone. The extra time gives you a night at High Camp, so you can climb at dawn with clear sky. You sleep no higher than 3,580 m and walk up to 4,500 m and back in a day. That is a sensible way to go if altitude worried you before.

Day by day

Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara

A road day. Budget goes by local vehicle, Standard by shared tourist vehicle with air conditioning, and Luxury by private vehicle. Arrive in Kathmandu the day before.

Day 2: Kande to Forest Camp

You drive to Kande, a trailhead on the ridge above Phewa Lake, and start walking through terraced fields and then forest. The canopy gets thicker and the first mountain views open up. You sleep at Forest Camp (2,520 m). Read more about this part in our Dhampus and Kande guide and the Forest Camp guide.

Day 3: Forest Camp to High Camp

This is the hardest walking day. The trail is steep, narrow and in rhododendron and oak forest for most of it. Above the trees the ridge opens up. High Camp (3,580 m) is a small cluster of lodges on a grassy ridge above the clouds. Sunset over the Annapurna range from the lodge door is the reward. More in the High Camp guide.

Day 4: Mardi Himal Base Camp

You start early and walk across open alpine ground to Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 m. Machhapuchhre, the Fishtail, fills the sky, with Annapurna South to the west. On a clear day you can see from Dhaulagiri to Manaslu. Then you walk back to High Camp for the night. Your guide carries a pulse oximeter, and if you have a headache or feel unwell we do not go higher.

Day 5: High Camp to Siding

You come down a different line and finish at Siding (1,885 m), a village on the way out. See the Siding guide.

Days 6 and 7: back to Pokhara and Kathmandu

You drive Siding to Pokhara on day 6 and spend your second night at the Pokhara hotel (breakfast included on every tier; lunch and dinner in Pokhara are yours to choose). On day 7 you drive back to Kathmandu.

How much does the Mardi Himal trek cost in 2027?

Prices are per person, in US dollars, for 2027, from our package page on 6 November 2026. Every trek is private with your own licensed guide.

What changes between the tiers

A solo trekker on Standard has no porter, because porters are shared between two. Your guide carries up to 10 kg of your bag. On Luxury a solo trekker still has a porter. Budget never has one. You can add a porter on any tier for USD 25 a day plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge, USD 29.24 a day in all.

What is not in the price

International flights, your Nepal visa (USD 50 for 30 days on arrival), travel insurance bought at home with helicopter cover, your Kathmandu hotel (quoted separately), tips for your team, and on Budget your meals (about USD 15 to 25 a day, with supplies carried up by porter). For the full cost breakdown see Mardi Himal trek cost.

Permits

Mardi Himal is not a restricted area. You need two permits, and we arrange and include both: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) at NPR 3,000 (SAARC NPR 1,000) and a TIMS card at NPR 2,000 (SAARC NPR 1,000). That is NPR 5,000 for a foreign trekker.

Best time for Mardi Himal, month by month

There is no weather station on the ridge. The rain figures here are for Pokhara, and what I say about the ridge comes from our guides.

If I had to pick one month, it would be November. More in Mardi Himal best time, month by month.

How hard is it?

We rate it moderate. You walk 4 to 7 hours a day, the longest being the walk down to Siding on day 5, and day 3 is steep. The top is 4,500 m, high enough for altitude sickness to be a real concern, so we go slowly and sleep low. There is no technical climbing. For an honest day-by-day rating see how difficult the Mardi Himal trek is. Not sure whether to pick this or Poon Hill? Read Poon Hill or Mardi Himal.

Questions people ask

How many days does the Mardi Himal trek take?

With us, 7 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu, which is 4 days of walking. There is also a 5-day trek from Pokhara.

How much does the Mardi Himal trek cost?

From USD 545 per person on Budget, USD 1,080 on Standard and USD 1,670 on Luxury for a group of 2 to 4. Solo is USD 920, 1,335 and 2,620.

How high is Mardi Himal Base Camp?

4,500 m. Your highest night is High Camp at 3,580 m.

Is the Mardi Himal trek hard?

It is moderate. Day 3 is steep and day 4 is high, but you do not need climbing experience.

What permits do I need?

The ACAP (NPR 3,000) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). We arrange both and include them.

Is Mardi Himal quieter than Annapurna Base Camp?

Yes. The trail only opened to trekkers in 2012, and daily traffic is roughly a tenth of the Annapurna Sanctuary route. See also our Annapurna Sanctuary trek if you want the bigger amphitheatre.

Can I do Mardi Himal alone?

Yes. Solo is welcome, with your own guide. Every trek is private, and we never add strangers to your booking.

How do I book, and what if my plans change?

A 10% deposit confirms your dates (USD 60 on Budget for 2 to 4 people). We cover the 3.5% card charge on it. You pay the balance in Kathmandu in US dollars or euros, cash or card (card carries 3.5%). The deposit is not refunded if you cancel, but you can move your trip free to any date within a year with 72 hours' notice. If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you paid less taxes, bank and card charges and money already spent.

Next step

Message me on WhatsApp, +977 9810351300 with your dates and how many of you are going, and I will send you a plan and a price. We are a family company, independent since 2016, with three generations of family guides behind us, and a four-time TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024). Every booking helps pay the teacher's salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center. The trek page is here: Mardi Himal Base Camp trek, 7 days.