In short: the Mardi Himal trek suits first-timers and walkers who want a quieter ridge than the Annapurna Base Camp trail. It runs 7 days from Kathmandu, reaches Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 m and is graded moderate. Prices start from USD 600 per person on Budget, USD 1,095 on Standard and USD 1,615 on Luxury.
Trek Highlights
- 7-day private trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m), with views of Machapuchare so close you can see seams of ice on its south face.
- One of Nepal’s least crowded popular treks: the trail only opened to trekkers in 2012. Daily traffic is roughly a tenth of the Annapurna Sanctuary route.
- Lower altitude profile: you sleep no higher than 3,580 m at High Camp, and the 4,500 m base camp is a day walk from there. A sensible pick if you struggled at altitude before, though the climb to High Camp is quick.
- A private trek with your own licensed guide. Porters by tier: none on Budget, one for every two trekkers on Standard, one each on Luxury.
- 10% deposit to lock dates, balance paid in person in Kathmandu.
- Every booking helps fund our Nagarjun Learning Center work at Saldum, where 70 children are taught by one dedicated teacher.
Why I built this trek the way I did
I am Shreejan, the founder of The Everest Holiday. Mardi Himal is the trek I send people on when they want Annapurna and Machapuchare views without ABC’s crowds. The trail only opened to trekkers in 2012, and even now the daily traffic is a tenth of the Annapurna Sanctuary route. Many days you can walk a full afternoon without passing anyone.
I run this as 7 days, not 5. The shortened version that most operators sell rushes you to Upper Viewpoint mid-morning, by which time the cloud usually settles 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, which makes Mardi a sensible pick if you struggled at altitude before.
We run this as a private trek by default, and we never add strangers to your booking. If you would rather have company on the trail, you can choose to join one of our fixed departures instead. Either way the price per person is the same. Your guide is with you whether you are one person or twenty. Porters depend on the tier: none on Budget, one for every two trekkers on Standard, one each on Luxury.
Every booking on this trip helps us pay the teacher’s salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum, where 70 children get free education. The salary is currently funded out of my own pocket. Your trek is what makes that sustainable.
The ridge narrows above the clouds. To your left, the world drops away into the Modi Khola gorge, a thousand metres of empty air and morning mist. To your right, rhododendron forest clings to the slope in silence. And straight ahead, filling the sky from one edge of your vision to the other, Machhapuchhre rises. The sacred Fishtail mountain is so close from this angle that you can see individual seams of ice on its south face, its twin summit catching the first light of dawn. At 4,500 metres (14,764ft), Mardi Himal Base Camp is one of the quietest viewpoints in the whole Annapurna region, and you have just walked here in seven days.
The Mardi Himal trek is a quieter trail than the better-known Annapurna routes. While the Annapurna Base Camp trail draws steady traffic and the Poon Hill route fills with sunrise seekers, the Mardi Himal ridge trail remains quiet and uncrowded. Opened as an official trekking route only recently, it follows a steep, forested ridge directly towards the base of Machhapuchhre, passing through Gurung villages and alpine meadows before reaching a high camp on the edge of the Annapurna Sanctuary. You'll sleep in teahouses where the owner knows your name by evening, eat dal bhat and Nepali dishes cooked on wood fires, and watch the Annapurna massif turn crimson at sunset from your lodge doorstep. Seven days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu.
What Makes This Trek Special
- Stand at Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m / 14,764ft) with Machhapuchhre's (Fishtail) south face rising directly above you, closer than almost any other viewpoint in Nepal
- Trek one of Nepal's quietest Annapurna routes. While nearby trails see hundreds of trekkers daily, the Mardi Himal ridge often has fewer than a dozen walkers on the entire path
- Walk through dense rhododendron and oak forest that flowers crimson, pink and white in March and April
- See Annapurna South (7,219m), Hiunchuli (6,441m), Annapurna I (8,091m), and the full sweep of the Annapurna range from High Camp, with unobstructed views in every direction
- Camp at High Camp (3,580m), a small cluster of lodges perched on a grassy ridge above the clouds, with sunset over the Annapurna range from the lodge door
- Experience genuine Gurung village culture in the lower sections, passing through settlements where traditional stone houses sit among terraced fields and prayer flags flutter between rooftops
- Complete a high-altitude trek in just 7 days, making it ideal for those with limited holiday time who still want to reach above 4,000 metres
- All permits included (ACAP and TIMS), so you don't need to spend a day in Kathmandu queuing at government offices
- Small groups of 1 to 20, always with a Nepal government-well-trained guide who knows this trail intimately
- Every booking supports education for 70 children in rural Nepal through the Nagarjun Learning Center
7-Day Overview
Your journey begins and ends in Kathmandu, but the trek itself starts from Pokhara, reached by a scenic drive through the middle hills. From Pokhara, you drive to Kande, a small trailhead on the ridge above Fewa Lake, where the walking begins. The first day climbs through terraced hillsides and forest to Forest Camp, where the canopy thickens and mountain views start to open up. From Forest Camp, the trail ascends steeply along a forested ridge through Low Camp to High Camp (3,580m), a tiny settlement of lodges perched on a grassy shelf with views of the Annapurna range at sunset and sunrise.
From High Camp, the route pushes above the treeline across exposed alpine terrain to Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 metres (14,764ft). This is the culmination of the trek: Machhapuchhre's south face fills the sky, Annapurna South towers to the west, and on clear days the panorama extends from Dhaulagiri to Manaslu. The descent follows a different line down to Siding, passing through Gurung villages and terraced farmland before returning to Pokhara and then Kathmandu. The circular route means you never retrace your steps on the way down.
Before You Arrive
Please arrive in Kathmandu the day before your trek starts. This gives you time to recover from your flight, meet your guide, and do any last-minute gear shopping in Thamel if needed. We arrange your hotel and airport transfer. Make sure your Nepal visa and trekking insurance are in order before you fly.
Online Briefing
After you book, we schedule a video call to walk you through everything: what to wear, what to pack, what the teahouses are really like, how acclimatisation works on this route, and anything else on your mind. The call is also when you share your hotel preferences in Kathmandu and Pokhara so we can match the right accommodation to you.
Transport
All three tiers travel the same route: Kathmandu to Pokhara by road (usually 7 to 8 hours), then Pokhara to Kande (1 to 1.5 hours) to reach the trailhead. The return follows the same route in reverse, with pick-up from Siding. Budget trekkers travel by local tourist bus or shared vehicle. Standard trekkers ride in a shared tourist vehicle with air conditioning. Luxury trekkers get a premium private vehicle with extra comfort. There are no flights on this itinerary; everything is by road, which keeps costs down and gives you more of Nepal's countryside. For a full breakdown, see our complete cost guide.
Your Trek, Your Way
Every trek we run is arranged privately for your group. You won't be paired with strangers unless you choose to join a public departure. Whether you book as a solo trekker, a couple, or a group of friends, this itinerary is yours. Want to add a rest day? Extend to include Poon Hill? Combine with Annapurna Base Camp? We can adjust. Our three tiers (Budget, Standard, and Luxury) give you genuine choice over accommodation, meals, porter support, and transport without affecting the route. Same guides. Same safety standards. Three comfort levels. Read more about luxury trekking or explore our budget trekking guide.
Difficulty
We rate this trek Moderate. The maximum altitude is 4,500 metres (14,764ft) at Mardi Himal Base Camp, high enough for altitude sickness to be a genuine concern. The ascent from Forest Camp to High Camp is steep in places, climbing through dense forest on narrow trails. From High Camp to Base Camp, you're walking on exposed alpine terrain above the treeline, where the trail can be icy in the early morning. Daily walking ranges from 4 to 7 hours. The route gains altitude quickly on trekking days 2 and 3, so good cardiovascular fitness and proper acclimatisation habits matter. Our guides carry a pulse oximeter and monitor your oxygen levels daily. If you can comfortably walk 5-6 hours a day on hilly terrain, you can do this trek. For those with concerns, we recommend reading our beginner's guide.
Mardi Himal at a glance
| Duration | 7 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu |
|---|---|
| Highest point | Mardi Himal Base Camp, 4,500 m |
| Highest night | High Camp, 3,580 m |
| Region | Annapurna Conservation Area |
| Difficulty | Moderate, no technical climbing |
| Permits | Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) and TIMS card |
| Best months | October to November and March to April |
| Group size | 1 to 20 people. Solo is welcome, and every trek is private |
| Starts and ends | Kathmandu, with the drive to Pokhara, the walk from Kande, and the drive back from Siding |
| Walking per day | 4 to 6 hours, with a steep climb from Forest Camp to High Camp |
| From price | USD 600 Budget, USD 1,095 Standard, USD 1,615 Luxury (1 to 4 people) |
Best time to trek Mardi Himal
| Season | Months | What it is like | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn | October to November | Clearest and most reliable; the main season | Best overall |
| Spring | March to April | Warm, with rhododendron on the ridge and clear mornings | Great, second season |
| Winter | December to February | Cold and clear; the high camp is properly cold at night but the trail stays open | Cold but often clear |
| Monsoon | June to mid-September | Rain, leeches and cloud on the view | Avoid |
Month by month: when to go
| Month | Rain at Pokhara (mm) | On the ridge, from our guides | Our view |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.6 | Clear, very cold, snow possible high up, and few trekkers | Only if cold and quiet are the point |
| February | 35.1 | Clear and cold, snow can linger, and it is quiet | Only if cold and quiet are the point |
| March | 63.7 | Spring begins. Rhododendron starts below Low Camp, and mornings are clear | Yes, from the second half of the month |
| April | 141.7 | Warm, with flowers, more afternoon cloud, and busier | Yes |
| May | 354.7 | Hot low down, with cloud and storms building. Views are a morning gamble | Early May only |
| June | 648.2 | Monsoon: cloud, rain, leeches and a slippery trail | No |
| July | 941.0 | Monsoon, the wettest month | No |
| August | 839.4 | Monsoon, with the views mostly lost | No |
| September | 635.0 | Rains easing, but the trail is still wet and leechy | No |
| October | 159.2 | Drying out and clearer each week. Busy around Dashain | Yes, late October |
| November | 17.2 | The best of the year for clear skies, with cold nights at High Camp | Best |
| December | 11.5 | Clear and cold, and first snow is possible on the upper ridge | Yes, early December |
There is no weather station on the Mardi ridge, so the rain column is the Pokhara record (1991 to 2020), which shows which months are wet. What I say about the ridge comes from our guides, not from a measured number. If I had to pick one month, it would be November. More in Mardi Himal best time, month by month.
Permits
Mardi Himal is an ordinary Annapurna route, so there is no restricted-area permit. You need the two below, and we arrange both and include them in your trek price.
| Permit | Foreigner | SAARC |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) | NPR 3,000 | NPR 1,000 |
| TIMS card | NPR 2,000 | NPR 1,000 |
What the price covers, and what it does not
You need two permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP, NPR 3,000) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000), so NPR 5,000 per foreign trekker. Mardi Himal is not a restricted area. We arrange both and include them in your price.
Not in the price: your international flights, your Nepal visa (USD 50 for 30 days on arrival), travel insurance bought at home with helicopter cover, your Kathmandu hotel, tips for your team, and on Budget your meals (about USD 15 to 25 a day, with supplies carried up by porter).
A 10% deposit (USD 60 on Budget for 2 to 4 people) confirms your dates. You pay it by card through Himalayan Bank's secure gateway, and you pay the balance when you arrive in Kathmandu, in US dollars or euros, in cash or by card (card payments carry a 3.5% bank charge). If your plans change we move your trip to any date within a year, free, with 72 hours' notice. The deposit itself is not refunded if you cancel. If we cannot run the trip ourselves, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank and card charges and any money already spent for you on permits and flights.
Getting there
No flights are needed. Day 1 is the drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (820 m). On day 2 you drive to Kande, 1 to 1.5 hours, and walk to Forest Camp. You finish at Siding, drive back to Pokhara on day 6 and to Kathmandu on day 7. Budget travels by local vehicle, Standard by shared tourist vehicle and Luxury by private vehicle. If you are already in Pokhara, our 5-day Mardi Himal trek from Pokhara skips the two long drives. See the Dhampus and Kande guide and the Siding guide.
Safety and altitude
The ridge climbs fast: Forest Camp is 2,520 m, High Camp is 3,580 m, and day 4 takes you to Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 m and back to sleep at High Camp, so you walk high and sleep low. That is about 1,060 m of climbing from Forest Camp to High Camp. Your guide carries a pulse oximeter, and if you get a headache or feel unwell we do not go higher. The ridge is narrow and fog can hide the trail, so stay with your guide and use poles on the steep sections. Nights at High Camp are properly cold. Your insurance should cover trekking to 4,500 m and helicopter evacuation. See the Mardi Himal complete guide.
Packing basics
Warm layers, a down jacket and a waterproof shell, a sleeping bag or a good liner for High Camp, gloves, a warm hat, sturdy boots, poles and a head torch. If you do not own a sleeping bag or down jacket, tell us at your online briefing and we will lend you ones. Pack light, because Standard has one porter between two trekkers and Budget has none. We send the full list when you book.
Budget, Standard or Luxury: what actually changes
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porter | None. You carry your own bag | 1 porter for every 2 trekkers | 1 dedicated porter for every trekker |
| Meals on the trek | Not included, you pay at the teahouse | All meals | All meals, fruit and nuts, and unlimited soft drinks |
| Rooms | Shared | Private | Private deluxe with ensuite bathroom |
| Transport | Local vehicle | Shared tourist vehicle | Private vehicle |
If you are going alone, Luxury still gives you your own dedicated porter. On Standard there is no porter, because porters are shared one between two trekkers, so your guide carries up to 10 kg of your bag instead. Budget never has a porter. You can add a porter of your own on any tier for USD 25 per day, plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge on top.
Kathmandu hotel nights are not included in any trek tier, so tell us your budget at the online briefing and we will book them for you. We name your guide once you have booked.
Trekking as a group?
Bring your own group — friends, family, a club, a university society, your workplace, or a cause you are raising money for — and any of the three comfort levels can run as a private group on your own dates. Private or group, the price per person is the same; we never put strangers in your group. The more of you there are, the less each person pays:
| Group size | Budget (per person) | Standard (per person) | Luxury (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | US$1,005 | US$1,425 | US$2,680 |
| 2-4 people | US$600 | US$1,095 | US$1,615 |
| 5-8 people | US$560 | US$1,020 | US$1,505 |
| 9-12 people | US$530 | US$965 | US$1,425 |
| 13-20 people | US$505 | US$920 | US$1,360 |
The organiser treks free. Get fourteen or more paying trekkers together and whoever organised the group joins the trek free. The one thing the organiser still pays is their own flights and permits, since those are fixed costs we pay out for every person and cannot absorb, and we cover the rest. Your departure is guaranteed on your own dates — from a solo traveller up to a group of twenty, and we never merge you into another trip.
Planning a group? Message me on WhatsApp with the trek, roughly when, and how many of you, and I will send you a price and a plan.
Book your 2027 trek early: a free Kathmandu night
Pay the 10% deposit between 21 October and 31 December 2026 and I will add one night in a Kathmandu hotel to your trek, free. It is a twin room with breakfast, in a Thamel-area 3-star hotel that we choose. You pick which night: the night you arrive, or the night after the trek.
Two more things come with it:
- Your 2027 price is held. If the government changes a permit or park fee, we pass on only that change, at cost.
- Free rescheduling, as always: tell us at least 72 hours before (7 days for restricted areas) and move to any date within one year.
Airport pickup, a sleeping bag and a down jacket are already part of every trek, so there is nothing to add there.
Limited to the first 30 bookings, counted by deposit received. Treks only, new bookings only. Message me on WhatsApp +977 9810351300 and I will send your deposit link. (Shreejan)
Terms
- Applies to new treks booked for 2027 dates, once the 10% deposit is received between 21 October and 31 December 2026. Not Kailash or Tibet, and not tours (tours already include Kathmandu accommodation).
- Limited to the first 30 bookings, counted by deposit received, not by enquiry.
- One free Kathmandu hotel night per room (one twin room with breakfast, in a Thamel-area 3-star hotel that we choose), on the night before your trek or the night after it, your choice. Extra nights, meals and upgrades are charged separately.
- Not combinable with any other offer. Airport pickup, sleeping bag, down jacket and duffel are already included and are not extra gifts.
- Price hold: the 2027 website price stays. Government permit or park fee changes are passed on at cost.
- The 10% deposit is non-refundable. Free rescheduling at least 72 hours before departure (7 days for restricted areas), to any date within one year. If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you paid less taxes, bank or card charges and money already spent.
Compare Our Three Packages
| Feature | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | USD $600 | USD $1,095 | USD $1,615 |
| Meals | Not included (order and pay at teahouses) | 3 meals daily, tea, fruits, and 2L water | All meals + all drinks (except alcohol) |
| Room | Shared teahouse room | Private twin with attached bathroom | Private deluxe with a bed heater |
| Porter | Not included | 1 porter per 2 trekkers | 1 porter per trekker (carry nothing) |
| Guide | 1 guide up to 8 trekkers (assistant from 9) | 1 guide per 6 trekkers (assistant at 7+) | 1 guide per 2 trekkers, plus an assistant guide for every 2 more |
| Transport | Local vehicle | Shared tourist vehicle | Luxury private vehicle |
| SIM & Data | SIM card only | SIM with limited data | SIM with unlimited data (see our SIM card guide) |
| Best for | Backpackers and independent travellers | Comfort trekkers, couples, families | Premium experience seekers |
Himalayas for Every Budget. Same guides, same safety, and three comfort levels. Every tier includes all permits, a well-trained Nepal government guide, airport transfers, and 24/7 emergency support. The only things that change are the comfort details. Read our full comparison of what trekking actually costs, or explore luxury trekking in Nepal. Note: in Pokhara, only breakfast is included at your hotel across all tiers; other meals in Pokhara are at your own expense and choice, giving you the freedom to explore the city's lakeside restaurants. Check our guide on WiFi and charging on the trail so you know what to expect above Forest Camp.
Difficulty
Moderate. Here is what that means in practical terms for the Mardi Himal Base Camp trek.
The maximum altitude is 4,500 metres (14,764ft) at Mardi Himal Base Camp. This is above the threshold where altitude sickness can occur. The route climbs from Kande (1,770m) to High Camp (3,580m) in just two trekking days, so respect the pace your guide sets and stay well hydrated. We recommend consulting your doctor about Diamox before departure.
The terrain varies along the route. The lower sections pass through well-maintained trails and Gurung villages on gentle gradients. From Forest Camp to High Camp, the trail climbs steeply through dense forest on narrow, root-covered paths that can be slippery after rain. Above High Camp, the view opens into exposed alpine grassland and rocky terrain where the trail is less defined and can be icy in the early morning. Bring your camera, but also trekking poles.
Daily walking hours range from 4 to 7 hours, with the longest day on the push from High Camp to Base Camp and back. You should be comfortable walking uphill for extended periods. No previous trekking experience is required, but reasonable fitness matters. If you're unsure, our beginner's guide covers what fitness level is genuinely needed.
Why we built a quieter trek
We feature Mardi Himal on our site because the Annapurna Base Camp route is overcrowded, and we wanted a location where our guides could take small groups without encountering queues. The price is fair, the trek is excellent, and a fixed slice of it lands in the Nagarjun Learning Center account with every booking. The center, in Saldum village, gives free year-round schooling to seventy local children and feeds them two hot meals a day. It is a registered Nepalese charity, verified and listed on the UN Partner Portal, and run by my mother.
