Mardi Himal Trek
A ridge walk to the foot of Machapuchare
- 11 days
- Moderate
- From $3,800
- Duration
- 11 days
- Walking grade
- Moderate
- Highest point
- 4,200 m
- Best months
- Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov
- Starts and ends
- Kathmandu
For trekkers with a week who want a high ridge and very few people.
- A quiet ridge to the foot of Machapuchare
- Rhododendron forest and small lodges
- Views over the Annapurna range from High Camp
- A week of walking, close to Pokhara
Mardi Himal is a long ridge that climbs from the forest above Pokhara to the foot of Machapuchare. Lodges on the trail are small and simple, and the views are among the best in the Annapurnas.
It suits walkers who want a quieter trail than Poon Hill or Base Camp and are happy to trade comfort for solitude. Above Australian Camp there are few villages, and the lodges are basic teahouses with shared bathrooms. We book the best rooms available, and you return to a comfortable hotel in Pokhara at the end.
The route is simple: up through oak and rhododendron forest to Low Camp, out above the trees onto the open ridge, and on to High Camp at 3,580 metres, with Machapuchare growing closer every day. The walking is steady rather than long, with several short days.
We walk it slowly, with a short day at Badal Danda so the climb to High Camp comes easily. On the last morning you can go on to the upper viewpoint at 4,200 metres, if conditions allow and you feel strong. Your guide checks your oxygen and pulse each morning and evening on the ridge, and the descent to Siding and Pokhara comes straight afterwards.
Mardi Himal Trek: the route
8 places · starts and ends in Kathmandu
Your journey at a glance
Choose a day
Highest night 3,580 m at High Camp · highest point 4,200 m
Way upWay backPositions are approximate; peaks are shown for orientation.
Mardi Himal Trek, day by day
-
Day 1 Kathmandu Luxury hotel Arrival 1,400 m
Your host meets you at arrivals and takes you to your heritage hotel. The afternoon is for rest after the flight. In the evening you meet your guide, check your kit together, and talk through the walk up the ridge.
- Getting there
- Arrival
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,400 m
- Where you stay
- Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 Pokhara Luxury hotel Flight 25 min 820 m
A short morning flight takes you west to Pokhara, with the Annapurnas on the right if the sky is clear. You spend the afternoon by Phewa Lake, on the shore or out on a boat, in a comfortable lakeside or hillside hotel. Machapuchare, the mountain you will walk towards, is visible from the town on a clear morning.
- Getting there
- Flight 25 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 820 m (−580 m)
- Where you stay
- Luxury lakeside or hillside hotel in Pokhara
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 3 Australian Camp Best teahouse 1–2 h · 2 km 2,060 m
A drive of about forty-five minutes brings you to Kande, where the trail begins. A climb of an hour or two through forest and fields leads to Australian Camp, a grassy ridge at 2,060 metres with a wide view of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machapuchare and the Lamjung range. You arrive by lunchtime and have the afternoon to enjoy it. The lodge is simple and friendly.
- Walking
- About 1–2 h, 2 km
- Getting there
- Drive 45 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 2,060 m (+1,240 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 Forest Camp Best teahouse 5 h · 9 km 2,550 m
The trail passes through Pothana and Deurali, then leaves the main route and enters a long stretch of oak and rhododendron forest. There are few villages and few people, only birdsong and the occasional glimpse of the mountains through the trees. After about five hours you reach Forest Camp, a small clearing with a couple of simple lodges.
- Walking
- About 5 h, 9 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 2,550 m (+490 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 Low Camp Best teahouse 4 h · 6 km 2,970 m
The forest grows thicker and mossier as the trail climbs the ridge, with old rhododendron trees that flower in spring. After about four hours you step out of the trees at Low Camp, at 2,970 metres, and Machapuchare appears close and sharp at the head of the ridge. The lodges are small, and the sunset from here is very fine.
- Walking
- About 4 h, 6 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 2,970 m (+420 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 Badal Danda Best teahouse 2 h · 3 km 3,210 m
A deliberately short day of about two hours, up the open ridge above the treeline to Badal Danda, the 'cloud ridge'. Taking it slowly here makes the climb to High Camp easier on the body. On many afternoons the clouds settle in the valleys below you, with the summits standing clear above them. There is time to rest and walk a little higher.
- Walking
- About 2 h, 3 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 3,210 m (+240 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 7 High Camp Best teahouse 3 h · 4 km 3,580 m
The ridge narrows and steepens on the climb of about three hours to High Camp, at 3,580 metres. Mardi Himal and Machapuchare rise ahead, and the Annapurna range stretches out to the west. You arrive by late morning and spend the afternoon resting and acclimatising. The lodges are basic and can be cold, so the warm dining room is the place to be.
- Walking
- About 3 h, 4 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 3,580 m (+370 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 Mardi viewpoint · Low Camp Best teahouse 7 h · 12 km 2,970 m
You start in the dark for the climb to the upper viewpoint at about 4,200 metres, on a steep, narrow ridge. As the light comes, Machapuchare, Mardi Himal, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli stand very close. Your guide decides how far to go on the day. Then you walk back down past High Camp to Low Camp, a long day of about seven hours.
- Walking
- About 7 h, 12 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 2,970 m (−610 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 9 Pokhara Luxury hotel 4 h · 8 km 820 m
The last walk drops steeply through forest and terraced fields to the village of Siding, about four hours from Low Camp. Your driver meets you there for the rough road down the valley and on to Pokhara, about two hours. You arrive in time for a hot shower and an evening by the lake.
- Walking
- About 4 h, 8 km
- Getting there
- Drive 2 h
- Sleeping altitude
- 820 m (−2,150 m)
- Where you stay
- Luxury lakeside or hillside hotel in Pokhara
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 10 Kathmandu Luxury hotel Flight 25 min 1,400 m
A short morning flight takes you back to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free: your guide can take you to Patan or Boudhanath, or you can stay at the hotel and rest. In the evening there is time for a last dinner in the city.
- Getting there
- Flight 25 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,400 m (+580 m)
- Where you stay
- Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 11 Departure Departure
Your host drives you to the airport in good time for your flight home, after breakfast if the timing allows.
- Getting there
- Departure
- Meals
- Breakfast
Walking times are typical at an unhurried pace and include rests; your guide adjusts each day to the group and the weather.
Is this journey for you?
- Walking
- Five to seven hours a day, sleeping as high as about 4,000 metres.
- Fitness
- Regular exercise and some hill walking before you come.
- Altitude
- You sleep as high as 3,580 m, with acclimatisation built into the route. We send a health questionnaire and talk it through before you book.
- Terrain
- Forest trails that become a narrow, steep ridge path above Low Camp, with a rough final climb to the upper viewpoint.
The practical details
Where you stay
Named lodges or similar, confirmed in your proposal.
- 4 nights
Luxury hotel
Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
Kathmandu · Pokhara
- 6 nights
Best teahouse
Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
Australian Camp · Forest Camp · Low Camp · Badal Danda · High Camp
Best time for the Mardi Himal Trek
- JanJanuary: Possible. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- FebFebruary: Possible. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- MarMarch: Best. Spring begins: clear mornings, rhododendrons in bloom lower down.
- AprApril: Best. Peak spring season: warm days, flowers, busier trails.
- MayMay: Good. Warmer and hazier, with afternoon cloud as the monsoon nears.
- JunJune: Not recommended. Monsoon: rain most afternoons, leeches low down, mountains often hidden.
- JulJuly: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- AugAugust: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- SepSeptember: Good. Monsoon clears late in the month; lush valleys, some cloud.
- OctOctober: Best. Peak autumn season: clear views, festivals, busier trails.
- NovNovember: Best. Clear, stable and cooler; quieter after mid-month.
- DecDecember: Good. Cold, clear and quiet; short days at altitude.
Seasons for this journey: Spring, Autumn. Choose a month for what to expect.
Comparing prices for the Mardi Himal Trek?
Cheaper treks are usually group departures. Ask any operator:
- Is the guide yours alone?
- Yes. Only your own party travels together, never a group departure.
- How many guides and porters?
- A senior guide and a porter for every two guests.
- Are altitude checks written down?
- Twice a day above 3,000 m, with bottled oxygen on every high route.
- What if someone needs evacuating?
- A standing helicopter agreement, and insurance confirmed before you travel.
Included
- Himkora Host, plus a senior guide and a porter for every two guests
- All hotels and lodges as described
- All meals, including dinners in the cities
- Kathmandu–Pokhara flights
- Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area permit
- Porters, private vehicles and every transfer
- Down jacket, sleeping bag and a Himkora duffel on loan
- Treated drinking water every day on the trail
- Twice-daily oxygen and pulse checks, and a full first-aid kit
- Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu as described
- The Himkora Care Standard, in full
Not included
6 items
- International flights
- Nepal visa (US$50 on arrival for 30 days)
- Travel insurance with evacuation cover (required)
- Gratuities and drinks
- Wi-Fi, charging and hot showers where lodges charge for them
- Extra nights or helicopters caused by weather delays (often covered by insurance)
Before you go
Permits we arrange for you
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card
We need a scan of your passport photo page and one passport photo about six weeks before travel. Permit fees are included in your price.
Visa and insurance
- Most nationalities get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, or online in advance. Check the Department of Immigration before you travel.
- Travel insurance is required. It must cover trekking to at least 5,000 m and helicopter evacuation; we check your policy before departure.
How we manage altitude
- Above 3,000 m, sleeping altitude rises by about 500 m a night (never more than 700 m, and then next to a rest day), with acclimatisation days built in.
- Your guide checks blood oxygen and pulse twice a day and carries bottled oxygen and a full medical kit.
- Guides always have the authority to descend, and we hold a standing helicopter-evacuation agreement in Kathmandu.
Getting ready
- Walking grade: Moderate. We send a training plan with your proposal.
- Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic about altitude medication and vaccinations at least six weeks before you travel.
- We send a health questionnaire before booking and talk it through with you.
Mountain flights
- Your itinerary ends with a night in Kathmandu. If delays run on, we can arrange a helicopter (at cost).
- Domestic baggage is usually limited to about 15 kg including your cabin bag; extra can stay at your Kathmandu hotel.
Weather
- Days are usually bright and mild in season; nights drop below freezing above about 4,000 m.
- Afternoon cloud is normal; mornings bring the clearest views.
We provide
- A Himkora duffel for your porter to carry (up to 12 kg per guest)
- Down jacket and sleeping bag rated to −20°C, on loan
- Water purification, first-aid and the Care Standard kit
You bring
- Broken-in walking boots and four pairs of trekking socks
- Layers: base layers, fleece, waterproof shell jacket and trousers
- Warm hat, sun hat, gloves, sunglasses (category 3 or 4) and sunscreen
- Daypack (25–30 litres), refillable bottles, headtorch
- Personal medicines, and a copy of your insurance policy
A full packing list comes with your proposal.
Money
- Your journey is paid in advance, so you only need cash for drinks, souvenirs and tips.
- Nepali rupees are best on the trail; there are ATMs in Kathmandu, Pokhara.
Connectivity and tipping
- Most lodges have Wi-Fi, often slow and sometimes paid; mobile data works in many villages. Your guide carries a satellite messenger.
- Gratuities are not included and are always your choice. We send guidance for guides, porters and drivers with your pre-departure notes.
Similar journeys
All journeys
Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek
Mountain lodges in Dhampus, Landruk and Ghandruk, the forest to Ghorepani, and sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna from Poon Hill.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Up the Modi Khola gorge into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a ring of peaks around Base Camp, with an extra night at Machapuchare Base Camp for a safer ascent.
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Through Manang and over Thorong La (5,416 m) to the temple at Muktinath, finishing at a lodge in Jomsom and a flight back to Pokhara.
Questions guests ask
More answers on our questions page, or write to hello@himkora.com.
How much does the Mardi Himal Trek cost?
From $3,800 per person, for two travelling privately, $3,550 per person for four and $5,700 if you travel alone. The price includes guiding, porters, accommodation, meals and permits as listed. Your proposal gives one clear price for your dates.
How many days is the Mardi Himal Trek?
11 days as we have planned it, from your arrival in Nepal to your departure. Because it is private, we can add rest days or extra nights, or shorten it if you have less time.
How difficult is the Mardi Himal Trek?
We grade it moderate. Five to seven hours a day, sleeping as high as about 4,000 metres. Regular exercise and some hill walking before you come.
How high does the Mardi Himal Trek go?
The highest point is 4,200 m, and the highest night is at 3,580 m. The itinerary includes acclimatisation days, and your guide checks your oxygen levels every morning and evening.
When is the best time for the Mardi Himal Trek?
The best months are March, April, October and November. See the month-by-month guide above for the rest of the year.
Which permits do I need for the Mardi Himal Trek?
You will need: Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card. We arrange all of them for you and include the fees in your price.
Is every journey private?
Yes. You travel only with the people you choose, on your dates. Your guide, porters and vehicles are yours alone, and the route can be adjusted before or during the journey.
What is included in the price?
Your Himkora Host and senior guide, porters, every hotel and lodge named in the itinerary, meals as listed, domestic flights, permits, park fees and private transfers. International flights, your Nepal visa, travel insurance, drinks and gratuities are not included.
How do deposits and payment work?
A 30% deposit confirms your journey, and the balance is due 90 days before travel. Your proposal sets out the full price and the cancellation terms before you pay anything. Our full booking terms are on the Booking terms page.
How fit do I need to be?
Each journey has a walking grade, explained on its page. Before you book, we send a short health questionnaire and talk through your walking history. If a route isn't right, we will say so and suggest one that is.
How do you manage altitude?
Above 3,000 metres our itineraries raise sleeping altitude by about 500 metres a night, never more than 700 metres and then only next to a rest day, with acclimatisation days built in. Guides check blood oxygen and pulse twice a day, carry bottled oxygen on high routes, and always have the authority to turn back.
Do I need special travel insurance?
Yes. Your policy must cover trekking to the highest altitude on your route (up to 6,000 metres on our high journeys), emergency medical treatment, helicopter rescue and repatriation. We check it before you travel.
What if flights to Lukla are delayed?
Mountain flights depend on the weather, and in busy months they may leave from Ramechhap rather than Kathmandu. Every Everest itinerary keeps a spare day in Kathmandu after the Lukla flight, so a weather delay doesn't cost you any of the trek. If delays run on longer, a helicopter can be arranged at cost.
Short on time, or a few days spare?
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