The Mardi Himal Trek is a lesser-known yet spectacular trail in the Annapurna region, offering pristine landscapes, serene forests, and panoramic views of Machapuchare (Fishtail), Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli. This 12-day itinerary ensures a balanced experience of adventure, cultural immersion, and relaxation, with scenic flights, luxury stays in Pokhara and Kathmandu, and guided trekking through some of Nepal’s most untouched trails.
Why Choose This Mardi Himal Trek?
✔ Scenic Ridge Trekking: Unparalleled views of Machapuchare & Annapurna ✔ Hidden Gem: Avoids crowded routes, offering tranquility and exclusivity ✔ Balanced Adventure & Comfort: Luxury hotels + immersive trekking experience ✔ Efficient & Well-Planned: Flights & private transport maximize exploration time ✔ Pokhara’s Relaxation: A perfect blend of trekking, sightseeing, and leisure
Trek Main Attractions
Offers comparatively easier, safer, and more economical (time & money) than Everest Base Camp Trip
Average physical fitness trekkers can easily accomplish
Indulge with 3600 dazzling close views of Annapurna range – Annapurna – I (8,091m/26,454ft), Mt. Machhapuchre (6,997m/22,956ft), Bharha Chuli (7646m/25,085ft), Gandharva Chuli (6,248m/20827), and more
Be with charming local people (mostly Thakalis, Gurungs & Magars), their settlements and culture, fertile farmland, and traditional farming.
Well-experienced licensed guides, strong porters, and support crew members
Physically less challenging journey and heavenly natural pleasure – Collect lifetime experiences
One of the most satisfying treks among all destinations in Nepal.
Itinerary
Day 01 :
Arrival Day and Trek Briefing in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,265ft.)
Accommodation:
At a Luxury Hotel/Guesthouse
Meals:
Breakfast
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, a member of our team will warmly welcome you and provide private transportation to your hotel or accommodation. You can either rest or explore around for the rest of the day. At the end of the day, we’ll have a small meeting with the trek leaders and crews so that you don’t miss any sort of information. Also our team will review your gears and ensure you have everything if not you can purchase or rent on the following day.
Day 02 :
Reserve day in Kathmandu
Accommodation:
At a Luxury Hotel/Guesthouse
Activity Duration:
Full-Day City Excursion
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
On the second day of our journey, you’ll spend your day roaming around some of the popular destinations of Kathmandu such as Pashupatinath Temple, Swyambhunath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and the streets of Thamel. You can also do a last minute shopping for trek before we leave. We also suggest you to have enough rest as we will begin our official journey from tomorrow.
Day 03 :
Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara
Accommodation:
Luxury Hotel in Pokhara
Activity Duration:
25-minute flight
Meals:
Breakfast
Today you will take a short flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, the city of lakes. Upon the arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and enjoy a peaceful walk by Phewa Lake, or visit Davis Falls. Also, don’t forget to get enough rest as we will begin our trek from the following day.
Today we will start our trekking, but before that we will hire a jeep or any other private vehicle from Pokhara to Phedi. Once we arrive in Kande, we will officially begin our actual trekking. We will start with a steady uphill climb through terraced farmlands and traditional Gurung villages. We will go through Dhampus Village and eventually reach Pothana. We will stay in Pothana for the night and prepare for tomorrow.
On the fifth day of the trek, we will move early toward Forest camp. We’ll follow a forest trail with some views of mountains. This route is quiet and peaceful, avoiding busy trekking paths. Throughout the journey we will walk under the canopy of oak, maple, and rhododendron trees before reaching Forest Camp. Once we arrive in Forest Camp, we will feel how peaceful and quiet it is. For the rest of the night we will stay in Forest Camp, either in a tent or in a hotel room.
Today we will ascend toward the High Camp leaving Forest Camp behind. As we start climbing the vegetation with gradually become thin as we will gain more altitude. But as we approach to Low Camp, we will be blessed with the first close up view of Machapucchare. With the availability of an open grassy area, we can capture the perfect sunset photography. We will be spending our night in Low Camp for day six.
Day 07 :
Low Camp (3,050m/10,006ft) – High Camp (3,600m /11,810ft)
Accommodation:
At a Tea House
Activity Duration:
9km, 4-5 Hours Trek
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we’ll start early and head toward the High Camp. We’ll follow the trail climbing through thinning forests and alpine meadows, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks as we climb higher. As we approach High Camp, the landscape opens up to wide grassy slopes with panoramic views of Machapuchare (Fish tail), Annapurna south, and the Himalayan range. Soon we’ll make our way to High Camp and will stay overnight.
Day 08 :
Hike to Upper View (4,500m/14,763ft), and decend to Badal Danda(3,600m/11,810ft)
Accommodation:
At a Tea House
Activity Duration:
5-6 Hours Trek
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The day eight might be a bit challenging for us, as we will ascend to Upper View Point, the highest point of Mardi Himal. We will start early so we don’t miss the mesmerizing sunrise. With the increase in altitude we might find it more challenging with every step we take. However, once we get to the Upper View Point we will be rewarded with the most iconic sunrise view and 360 degree views of Annapurna Sanctuary, Mardi Himal, and surrounding peaks. After enjoying such breathtaking scenarios we will carefully return back to High Camp.And now we’ll once again descend toward Badal Danda. We’ll stay overnight at Badal Danda and prepare ourselves for the journey ahead.
Day 09 :
Badal Danda to Lumre (1400m) to Pokhara.
Accommodation:
At a Tea House
Activity Duration:
7-8 Hours Trek
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We’ll start our day nine with a mesmerizing view at Badal Danda. From here we’ll descend through rhododendron forest and pasturelands to Lumre, passing thorough few traditional Gurung settlement. This route is not too busy and walking through these kinds of routes provides a peaceful atmosphere and chance to experience the authenticity of a village life. After walking for at least four hours we’ll reach Lumre. From Lumre, we’ll now drive back to Pokhara. We’ll stay overnight in Pokhara in a 3 star rated hotel.
Day 10 :
Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu
Accommodation:
At a Tea House
Activity Duration:
3-4 hrs. Trek and 2 hrs. drive to Pokhara
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Today we will bid good bye to Pokhara and take a short domestic flight to Kathmandu. Once you reach Kathmandu, we’ll transfer you to your accommodation. You can take a proper rest as we just completed the challenging journey.
Day 11 :
Extra Day
We have included an extra reserve day in our itinerary. We can use this day anywhere during the trek. The reserve day offers us the flexibility to adjust our schedule in case of unexpected delays due to the weather or slower trekking pace or even because of some minor health issues. In case, we completed our trek on time without using the extra day, then we can spend one more day at Kathmandu, enjoying its attraction spots like Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, and Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Day 12 :
Farewell Day
Meals:
Breakfast
On this final day, offering you a light breakfast, we transfer to the Tribhuvan International airport via our private transportation. We bid you a happy 'Goodbye' and wish you a safe flight.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
Round-trip Flights: Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu
Private Airport Shuttle: Kathmandu & Pokhara
Private Transportation: Pokhara to Phedi & Kalimati to Pokhara
This shortest version of the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek is designed for adventurers seeking a profound Himalayan experience in a limited time. The journey...