| 1 People (per pax) | 2-7 People (per pax) | 8+ People (per pax) |
|---|---|---|
| $1092 | $1030 | $ 988 |
| Pay $219 Now & $874 on arrival | Pay $206 Now & $824 On arrival | Pay $197 Now & $791 on arrival |
Out of the many trekking options offered by the Annapurna region in Nepal, one that has been in the limelight recently is Mardi Himal trek. This trek takes you to the base camp (4,500m) of Mardi Himal - a 5,587m peak that lies beneath Machhapuchhre (66993m), separated by a 5200 m col.
Located south-east of the Annapurna Base Camp, the Mardi Himal trekking trail starts from Kande, which is an-hour-drive north-west of the city of Pokhara. The trail is divided into 6 sections - Kande to Pitam Deurali, Pitam Deurali to Forest Camp, Forest Camp to Badal Danda, Badal Danda to High Camp, High Camp to Base Camp and back to High Camp and High Camp to Siding. From Kande to Pitam Deurali, the trail goes through small settlements, mostly inhabited by the Gurung (ethnic group in Nepal) people, giving you insights into their lifestyle and culture. From Pitam Deurali to Badal Danda, the trail mostly goes through the dense forest of Rhododendron, Oak, Birch and Hemlock, presenting you the magnificent views of Machhapuchhre, Mardi and Annapurna South towards the end. From Badal Danda, all the way up to Base Camp, you will be hiking above treeline and mostly on an exposed ridgeline, but you will be rewarded with magical views of Annapurna South, Tent Peak, Gangapurna, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre, Mardi Himal, Annapurna I and Lamjung Himal. After four and a half days of mostly uphill and occasional downhill hike the trek culminates at the base camp of Mardi Himal. The remaining one and a half days will bring you to the vehicle station (Siding), from where you will catch a vehicle back to Pokhara.
Mardi Himal base camp hike makes one of the best hikes for people who are searching for a short, easy and affordable trek in the Annapurna region. The 10-day Mardi Himal trek itinerary crafted by Amigo Treks and Expedition ensures that the elevation gain does not exceed 1000 meters and the walking hours 5-6 hours every day, which makes it a perfect choice, even for people with no prior trekking experience as well as adventurous children and senior citizens. This trek can be planned any time of the year, however, if you are looking for a perfect time, plan sometime around March-May, or late September to early December.
This trip with Amigo Treks and Expedition starts with your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and ends with your departure to your next destination from the same airport. The second day will be Kathmandu Valley sightseeing tour day, in which you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu. Since the highway to Pokhara is under construction, the drive is very long and unpleasant, therefore, the package includes flights both-ways, which saves your time and energy. The trek, however, starts with an hour drive to Kande from Pokhara and ends with approximately 2-3 hour drive from Siding to Pokhara. Nevertheless, both the itinerary and the package is fully customizable and can be customized to meet your requirements and budget.
Moreover, if you are already in Pokhara and are looking for Pokhara-Pokhara Mardi Himal trek, please follow this link 6 Days Mardi Himal Trek from Pokhara.
Additionally, if you are planning to hike a bit higher and get much closer to the mountains in the Annapurna region, our 10 days Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek or even our 12 days Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Ghorepani and Poon Hill will be the perfect options for you. But if you are only looking for a week long holiday with short trek Ghorepani-Poon Hill trek will be the best option for you.This is also suitable for groups with children and elderly and students.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu.
Day 02: Kathmandu Valley sightseeing tour and trek preparation
Day 03: Fly to Pokhara (820m), (25-30m), drive to Kande (1706m), (1h) and trek to Pitam Deurail (2142m),(5km), (4h)
Day 04: Trek to Forest Camp (Kokar) (2600m),(7.5km), (5h)
Day 05: Trek to Badal Danda (3250m),(4.5km),(5-6h)
Day 06: Trek to High Camp (3550m), (3.5km), (2-3h)
Day 07: Trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4500m), (4.5km),(2-3h) and back to High Camp (3550m),(4.5km), (2-3h)
Day 08: Trek to Siding (5-6h),(8.5km) and drive to Pokhara (2-3h)
Day 09: Fly to Kathmandu
Day 10: Departure day
Package includes:
Package excludes:
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu Welcome to Nepal. Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, one of the company representatives will meet and greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Kathmandu. After check-in and short rest at the hotel, one of the company representatives will conduct a short meeting at your hotel to brief you about the trek, introduce you to your guide, check your equipment and settle the final payment. After the meeting, you can spend the remaining time at leisure. Overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu. If your flight is scheduled to arrive in the afternoon, evening or even late night, the meeting will be held the following day after the sightseeing tour.
Day 02: Kathmandu Valley sightseeing tour and trek preparation Breakfast at the hotel and you will start your day’s tour. Today, your city tour guide will take you around the city to explore UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu. There are 7, but you will only visit 4 of them, namely, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and the Kathmandu Durbar Square. All of these sites are centuries-old sites and hold great religious, cultural and architectural significance. You will then be dropped back to your hotel after which you can spend the remainder of the time at leisure. Please note: Four city tour, you can also choose alternate sites like Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square and Changu Narayan. Meals: Breakfast
Day 03: Fly to Pokhara (820m), (25-30m), drive to Kande (1706m), (1h) and trek to Pitam Deurali (2142m),(5km), (4h) Breakfast at the hotel and you will be transferred to the airport to take an early morning flight to Pokhara. From Pokhara airport, a short drive (about an hour) will take you to Kande, which is the trailhead of your trek. From Kande, you will first climb to Goldanda. From here onwards, the hike is on a well-laid stone trail. About a 2-hour steep uphill hike will take you to Australian Camp, located approximately 4.5 km from Kande. The trail passes through a few villages and quiet forest. From Australian Camp enjoy a sweeping view of some of the mountains in the Annapurna range and Lamjung Himal. After a short rest at the Australian camp, you will proceed to Pothana, a Gurung Village. It’s about a 45-minute, mostly downhill walk through the lush green quiet forest. As you walk down the forest, enjoy the songs of the insects. Once in Pothana, treat your eyes to the mesmerizing view of Machhapuchhre or Fishtail Peak. A much closer view of this peak will greet you in the coming few days. From Pothana, about a 1 hour hike further will take you to Pitam Deurali, where the trail to Mardi Himal forks east from the Annapurna Base Camp trekking trail. Hiking down to Pitam Deurali makes the next day’s trek short. Enjoying mesmerizing views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli, you will spend your night here in a lodge. Please note: You can also directly drive to Pitam Deurali from Pokhara, which takes about 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 04: Trek to Forest Camp (Kokar) (2600m),(7.5km), (5h) The destination today is Forest Camp (Kokar), which is located approximately 7.5kilometers north-east of Pitam Deurali and the hike time is about 5 hours. After breakfast at the lodge in Pitam Deurali, following the trail that forks east from the Annapurna Base Camp trail, you will start your journey to Forest Camp. Today’s climb is mostly through the forest of Rhododendron, Oak, Birch and Hemlock. Trekkers who choose to do this trek in the Spring can enjoy a very pleasant walk under the canopies of blooming Rhododendron. For most part of the trail, you will stick to the widest and what appears to be the mostly trodden trail, as you will be walking on the ridge of the forest. Additionally, the gnarled roots spread over the trail making the trail very tricky. The trail ascends more and descends only occasionally. Once you reach the Forest Camp, you will check into the lodge booked for you and spend the remaining time at leisure. Since this night’s stay is in the middle of the forest, the chirping of the birds and the songs of the insects make the stay very tranquil. Overnight in a lodge in the Forest Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 05: Trek to Badal Danda (3250m),(4.5km),(5-6h) The destination today is Badal Danda, which is located roughly 4.5km north-east of the forest camp and the journey takes about 5-6 hours. Breakfast at the Forest Camp and the walk further continues up through the beautiful forest of Rhododendron. It’s an arduous climb of about 40 minutes and you will reach the Rest Camp. Enjoy a distant view of the forked tail of Machhapuchhre. From here, a brisk hike for about two hours will take you to the Low Camp, where you will briefly stop for lunch. After lunch, you will further continue your journey to Badal Danda, which takes about 1-2 hours. However, right before arriving Badal Danda the walk is on the ridge that presents magnificent Himalayan Views, especially Machhapuchhre, Mardi Himal and Annapurna South. The words ‘Badal and Danda’ translate to ‘Cloud and Hill’ respectively in English. The top presents a very beautiful view of the sea of clouds and is thus named badal Danda. This is also going to be your first night staying over the treeline. Overnight stay in a lodge in Badal Danda. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 06: Trek to High Camp (3550m), (3.5km), (2-3h) Today, you will trek to the High Camp, located approximately 3.5 kilometers from Badal Danda. It’s a leisurely hike of about 2-3 hours. Breakfast at Badal Danda and following the well-laid stone step trail that gently goes up and down on a ridge, you will walk out of Badal Danda. Slowly leaving the treeline, you will continue along the ridgeline that presents the spectacular views of green valleys to the east and the himalayas (Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and Mardi Himal) to the north. Facing Mardi Himal, as you continue your hike towards the High Camp, the mighty Machhapuchhre towers right above Mardi. Since you are above treeline, small shrubs are the only plants that you will see on your way up to the High Camp and beyond. Soon you will reach a small open pasture with few lodges (the High Camp), which is the last and the highest overnight stop of your trek. You can spend the remaining time at leisure or exploring the ridge to take pictures of the Himalayas. Overnight in a lodge in the High Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 07: Trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4500m), (4.5km),(2-3h) and back to High Camp (3550m),(4.5km), (2-3h) If you want to enjoy the sunrise view, you can wake up early in the morning, before sunrise, and head to the viewpoint that is right above the High Camp. If catching sunrise is not that important to you, you can start this day after breakfast, but a little earlier than other days, like about 7:00am or 7:30am. Start your base camp trek by first hiking up to the ridge. Then following the ridgeline hike further towards the base camp. This part of the Mardi trail is the highlight of the trek as the ridge grows narrower, but the views of Annapurna South, Tent Peak, Gangapurna, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre and Mardi Himal appear closer and grand. You can also see the massive glaciers tumbling down the mountainside. The views are enchanting, but do not get carried away by the view but also focus on treading carefully, while walking along the ridgeline. It takes about 2-3 hours to cover the distance of 4.5 kilometers from the High Camp to the Base Camp. Once you reach the base camp, spend some time taking in and capturing the views in your camera, feeling accomplished you will retrace your steps to the High Camp. Overnight in a lodge in the High Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 08: Trek to Siding (5-6h),(8.5km) and drive to Pokhara (2-3h) The trekking distance for today is about 8.5 kilometers and on an average the hike down to Siding takes about 5-6 hours.The day starts after breakfast in the High Camp. Retracing the trail, bidding farewell to the beautiful Badal Danda on the way, you will first hike down to the Low Camp which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. From the Low Camp, the trail to the Siding Village forks east. From Low Camp, the walk is mostly steep downhill through thick forest. Roughly 3 hours walk from the Low Camp will take you to Siding, where your Mardi Himal Trek comes to an end. From here, you will be transferred to Pokhara in a jeep. It’s a very scenic drive filled with delightful views of lush green hills and staggeringly beautiful mountains. About 2 hours drive from Siding Village will take you to the beautiful valley, Pokhara. Once in Pokhara, you will be transferred to your hotel. You can spend the remaining time exploring the lake area and boating around the Phewa Lake. Overnight in a hotel Pokhara. Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 09: Fly to Kathmandu Breakfast at the hotel and you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kathmandu from Pokhara. You can also choose to explore the attractions in Pokhara and take an afternoon flight to Kathmandu. From the airport you will be transferred to your hotel. In the evening, one of the company representatives will meet you for farewell dinner and feedback. Overnight stay in a hotel in Kathmandu. Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: Departure day Breakfast at the hotel and as per your airport reporting time you will be transferred to the airport to help you catch your onward flight. Meals: Breakfast
I recently went on the Mardi Himal trek with Amigo Treks and Expedition, and I must say it was a phenomenal experience. As someone who loves adventure and enjoys exploring new places, this trek was a perfect choice.
One of the things that stood out to me about the Mardi Himal trek was the lack of crowds. It felt like I was truly experiencing the beauty of the Himalayas in a more authentic and remote way, away from the hustle and bustle of the more popular trekking routes.
Booking my trek with Amigo Treks and Expedition was a decision I was thankful for. Their team offered exceptional guidance and support during the trek, and my guides and porters were well-informed about the local culture, history, and geography. This added an extra layer of depth to my experience, making it all the more fulfilling.
The scenery on the trek was simply breathtaking. From lush forests to charming villages and high-altitude landscapes, every turn offered something new and exciting. The highlight for me was reaching the high camp at 4,500 meters, where I was rewarded with an unforgettable panoramic view of the surrounding peaks.
And, of course, reaching the Mardi Himal Base Camp was an unforgettable experience. The majestic Mardi Himal peak was simply awe-inspiring, and being able to witness it up close was a dream come true.
Overall, I highly recommend the Mardi Himal trek to anyone who loves adventure and wants to experience the beauty of the Himalayas in a more intimate and authentic way. And if you do decide to go, I would definitely recommend booking with Amigo Treks and Expedition - they helped make my trek an unforgettable experience!
After years of exploring various destinations, Everest Base Camp remained on our bucket list as that one intimidating challenge. The logistics alon
