Mardi Himal Nepal Trek starts from Pokhara, and reaching the trailhead is straightforward. You take a jeep or local bus from Pokhara to Kande (roughly 1.5 hours), which is the most common starting point. From Kande, the trail climbs steadily through forests and ridgelines toward Mardi Himal Base Camp.
This guide covers everything you need to plan your trek, from transport and cost to itinerary and difficulty.
From Pokhara, you reach the Mardi Himal trek starting point at Kande by hiring a private jeep or taking a local bus from the Baglung Bus Park. The drive covers around 18 km and takes 1 to 1.5 hours. Alternatively, some trekkers start from Phedi, which is slightly closer but less common in recent years. Once you arrive at Kande, the trail begins immediately, passing through Australian Camp before climbing toward the Mardi Himal ridge.
Before leaving Pokhara, you must collect two permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the TIMS card (Trekkers’ Information Management System). Both are issued at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Pokhara’s Lakeside area. SAARC nationals pay lower rates. Without these permits, you will not pass the checkpoints along the trail.
Mardi Himal is famous for its unobstructed, close-up view of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain), Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Mardi Himal peak itself, which stands at 5,587 m. What makes this trail truly special is that it remained off the radar for decades, meaning the teahouses are smaller, the crowds are thinner, and the landscape feels genuinely raw. The Mardi Himal Base Camp trek takes you to 4,500 m, where you stand directly beneath the southern face of Machhapuchhre with no obstruction in sight.
Trekkers also love this route because it connects well with neighboring trails. The Mardi Himal and Poon Hill trek combination is particularly popular, allowing trekkers to cover two iconic viewpoints on a single trip. Similarly, the Mardi Himal and Khopra Danda trek is gaining traction as a longer, more immersive experience through the Annapurna region.
The standard Mardi Himal trek length is 7 to 10 days, covering approximately 45 to 55 km in total depending on the route variation you choose. The classic route starts at Kande and ends at Siding Village or loops back to Pokhara via a different trail.
The Mardi Himal trek map clearly shows two ridgeline trails running parallel, one through Low Camp and one through High Camp, eventually merging near the upper sections before reaching base camp.
Mardi Himal trek falls under the moderate difficulty category. Most physically active adults with no prior trekking experience complete it successfully. The trail gains significant elevation in short stretches, particularly between Forest Camp and High Camp, which can feel demanding if you are not used to uphill walking for extended hours.
Despite these points, Mardi Himal Base Camp trek remains one of the more accessible high-altitude treks in Nepal, especially compared to Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit.
Mardi Himal lies in Kaski District, Gandaki Province, in the northeastern part of the Pokhara Metropolitan area. The peak and the surrounding trail fall within the Annapurna Conservation Area, which is managed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).
The administrative positioning of Mardi Himal within Kaski District means that all permits are processed through the Pokhara office, making the pre-trek process convenient for trekkers already staying in Pokhara.
The best time to trek Mardi Himal is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). During these windows, the sky stays clear, mountain views are sharp, and trail conditions are safe and walkable.
Mardi Himal trek 2026 bookings are already filling up for the October and November window, so early planning is strongly recommended.
The total Mardi Himal trek cost for an independent trekker ranges from USD 500 to USD 800 for a 5 to 7-day trip. This includes permits, accommodation, food, and transport. If you book through a trekking agency like Trexmount Ventures with a guide and porter, the package cost typically ranges from USD 790 to USD 1000 per person, depending on group size and services included.
The 10-day Mardi Himal trek itinerary by Trexmount Ventures is the most complete and comfortable way to experience this trail. It starts and ends in Kathmandu, covers all core trekking sections between Kande and Siding, and builds in enough buffer time so that you never feel rushed. Below is a full day-by-day breakdown with altitude, walking time, and what to expect at each stage.
For trekkers with more time, combining the Mardi Himal and Khopra Danda trek adds extra days and covers the Khopra Ridge, which offers views of Dhaulagiri alongside the Annapurna range. The Mardi Himal and Poon Hill trek combination is a 12 to 14-day circuit that remains one of the best value-for-time treks in the Annapurna region.
A guide is not legally mandatory for Mardi Himal trek, but it is strongly recommended. The trail above Forest Camp has multiple diverging paths, and visibility can drop suddenly due to fog or snowfall. A licensed guide improves safety, handles permit checks, and helps you negotiate teahouse rates. For solo trekkers especially, hiring a guide through a registered agency like Trexmount Ventures ensures accountability and emergency support if something goes wrong above 3,500 m.
The most common starting point is Kande, reached by local bus from Baglung Bus Park in Pokhara for NPR 100 to 150, or by private jeep for NPR 2,500 to 4,000. The drive takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Some trekkers also start from Phedi, which is slightly closer. Permits must be collected from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Lakeside, Pokhara, before you board the bus.
Mardi Himal Base Camp sits at approximately 4,500 m above sea level. The Mardi Himal peak itself rises to 5,587 m, but climbing the peak requires a separate climbing permit and mountaineering experience. The base camp, however, is accessible to regular trekkers without technical climbing skills, making it a popular high-altitude trekking destination in the Annapurna region.
Yes, Mardi Himal trek is suitable for beginners with a reasonable level of fitness. The trail is rated moderate, meaning it involves long uphill sections but no technical climbing or glacier crossing. Beginners should start training at least 4 to 6 weeks before the trek, focusing on cardio and long-distance walking. Choosing the 10-day itinerary over the 7-day version gives more time for rest and acclimatisation, which reduces the risk of altitude sickness.
For independent trekkers, the total Mardi Himal trek cost in 2026 ranges from USD 500 to USD 700 for 5 to 7 days, covering permits, food, accommodation, and transport. Agency-organised packages that include a guide, porter, and all logistics typically cost between USD 790 and USD 1000 per person. Costs vary based on group size, season, and the level of service included in the package.
Mardi Himal trek is generally considered harder than the standard Poon Hill trek. Poon Hill tops out at 3,210 m, while Mardi Himal Base Camp reaches 4,500 m. The elevation gain per day is steeper on the Mardi Himal trail, and the High Camp to Base Camp push on Day 4 is physically demanding. That said, both treks are rated moderate overall, and most healthy adults complete both without serious difficulty.
Yes, teahouses are available all along the Mardi Himal trail, from Australian Camp up to High Camp. However, the number of teahouses is limited compared to more popular routes like Annapurna Base Camp. Above Forest Camp, there are fewer options and accommodation fills up quickly during peak season. Booking ahead through your trekking agency is advisable for travel between September and November and during the spring months of March to May.
Key items include a down jacket, thermal base layers, waterproof trekking boots, trekking poles, a sleeping bag rated to -10 degrees Celsius, a headlamp, a water purification method, sunscreen, and a first aid kit. Lightweight snacks like energy bars and nuts are helpful above High Camp where food choices narrow. All gear can be rented in Pokhara’s Lakeside area if you prefer not to carry items from home.
You can trek Mardi Himal in winter (December to February), but conditions become significantly colder and snowfall is common above 3,000 m. High Camp and Base Camp can reach -15 degrees Celsius at night. Despite the cold, winter offers clear skies and very few crowds. You need proper cold-weather gear, and the trail above Forest Camp may require microspikes or gaiters after heavy snowfall. Mardi Himal trek 2026 winter slots are available with Trexmount Ventures with customised cold-season gear checklists.
Mardi Himal trek is shorter, less crowded, and more affordable than the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek. ABC takes 12 to 16 days, reaches 4,130 m, and involves a much busier trail with hundreds of trekkers daily. Mardi Himal trek takes 5 to 7 days, reaches 4,500 m at base camp, and sees far fewer trekkers. Views on Mardi Himal, particularly of Machhapuchhre up close, are considered more intimate and raw. Both trails, however, depart from Pokhara and fall within the Annapurna Conservation Area.
At Trexmount Ventures, we have guided trekkers through the Mardi Himal trail across every season, and we know every teahouse, every ridge, and every weather pattern on this route. Whether you are planning a solo 5-day Mardi Himal Base Camp trek, a combined Mardi Himal and Poon Hill trek, or an extended Mardi Himal and Khopra Danda trek, our team builds the itinerary around your fitness, your timeline, and your budget. We handle your ACAP permit, TIMS card, accommodation bookings, licensed guide, and porter so that all you carry is your pack.
Contact Trexmount Ventures today to get a custom itinerary for your Mardi Himal trek and secure your preferred dates before peak season fills up.
