Trip Highlights
- Safe and secure online booking system
- A 5-day full package along with 3 times meals at a reasonable price
- An experienced guide with fluent English
- Accommodation in lodges/ hotels during the trek
- Rare flora and fauna along with the beautiful green forest of Rhododendron, Mongolia, pine, and oak during your trek
- Amazing views of mountains like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and Mardi Himal
- A memorable experience in Mardi Himal base camp, high camp, and forest camp
- Knowledge about the local people and their tradition, culture, norms, values, and daily lifestyle
Mardi Himal Trek Overview
Mardi Himal trek is getting famous day by day because of its shorter distance with the magnificent view. At an elevation of 5587m, it is situated in the Annapurna region of Nepal. If you are time-bound and cannot go for a long trek to ABC or EBC, then Mardi Himal 5 days trek can be the best alternative trekking journey for you.
The high camp of Mardi Himal is located at an altitude of 3850 meters which is the highest point of the trek. Annapurna is close enough to hit the southern rock, and the Machhapuchhre is close enough to touch itself.
The five-day trek begins and ends in Pokhara. You will start the day by boating in Phewa Lake, which is followed by a drive to Kande. On the trail, you will reach Pothana with breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains. From there, the trail goes back to Pokhara on the last day via the road after conquering the high camp through forest camp, Badal Danda, and high camp.
5 days Mardi Himal trek facts
- Trekking destination: Nepal
- Starting point: Pokhara
- Ending point: Pokhara
- Trek duration: 5 days
- Maximum altitude: 4500 meters / 3850 meters (Mardi Himal base camp / Mardi Himal high camp)
- Minimum altitude: 822 meters (Pokhara)
- Meals: Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) throughout trek in Himalayas
- Accommodation: Tea houses/lodges during the trek
- Best months for the trek: March, April, May, September, October, and November
- Mountains viewed during the trek: Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Mardi Himal
Within this 5 day trek to Mardi, you'll encounter lush green hills, snow-capped mountains, and walk through beautiful rhododendron and oak forests. It will be a pleasant moment to see the range of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre Himal, and Manaslu Himal on the way. The 5-day Mardi Himal trek is the shortest trek to reach an altitude of 4500 meters (base camp) or 3850 meters (high camp). This trek is one of the best alternative treks in the Annapurna region so we recommend it to every traveler.
Trip Outline
Day 01: Drive to Kande and trek to Deurali
Day 02: Trek to Low camp
Day 03: Trek to high camp
Day 04: Trek to Mardi Himal base camp
Day 05: Drive back to Pokhara
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 01: Drive to Kande and trek to Deurali
The journey starts from Pokhara with driving for about 40 minutes to Kande on Pokhara-Baglung Highway. The trail climbs 2,060 meters for about one and a half hours. The settlement after clearing the forest is called the 'Australian Camp'. The place is delightful with the panoramic view of the Annapurna range and the valley of Pokhara. This trail winds further through the rhododendron forest to the hill fort called 'Deurali'. The Modi River valley can be seen from Deurali which is between Annapurna South and Mardi Himal. Stay overnight at a well-maintained and accommodated hotel in Deurali.
Day 02: Trek to Low camp
Following the ridge, the path slowly climbs through rhododendron trees and stone-paved ways. In the lower camp, there are some tea houses after clearing the forest. It seems much closer to Mount Machhapuchhre and Mardi Himal. You are close to the clear blue sky at the foothills of the Himalayas and a glimpse of the clear southern valley. If you want to explore then after consulting with the guide, you can walk 1 more hour to Badal Danda (Cloud Hill) above the treeline. From Badal Danda, you will feel yourself above the clouds as you can see floating clouds just below the point you stand.
Day 03: Trek to High camp
At the top of the hill, the trail climbs towards Mardi Himal and Machhapuchhre Himal. We leave the tree line from Badal danda and come to the alpine forest. Above the deep valley, you can see both sides of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchchhre snow-capped peaks. After the climb, the high camp is small pasture land with three lodges. You are here above the clouds and close to the snow-capped peaks. Stay overnight at Mardi high camp.
Day 04: Trek to Mardi Himal base camp
With vertical climbing and hiking, day trips are more challenging than other days. Since there are rough and steep rocky steps in some steps, the trail becomes steeper. The first vertical ascent to the top of the ridge, marked as MHBC (Mardi Himal base camp), will take about 2 hours. The actual base camp, however, will take another 2 hours along the mountain. The view along the mountain is incredible. Mardi Himal and Machhapuchhre can be seen just above us, Annapurna I, Gangapur, and Annapurna III can be seen from afar. After spending some time on the hill-top, you will descend back to Low camp and stay overnight.
Day 05: Drive back to Pokhara
Today you will hike down to reach Sidding. At Sidding, you will have lunch and walk further to Lumre. The walking time of the day is around 3 to 4 hours. From Lumre, you will take a bus and return back to Pokhara. It takes about an hour and a half to reach Pokhara.
What's included?
- Three meals a day throughout the whole trek
- Accommodation in tea houses or lodges during the trek
- Road transportation in a private vehicle / public vehicle
- Guides and porters for the trek
- First aid kits
- Trekking permits/conservation area entry fees
- TIMS (Trekker's Information Management System) Card
- Local government charges
What's not included?
- International visa fee
- Travel insurance (for both medical and emergency rescue)
- Nepal visa fee
- Any kind of drinks (hard or soft drinks) during the trek
- Hotel accommodation in Pokhara
- Gratitude to guide and porters
- Expenses for adventure activities in Pokhara like boating, cycling, etc
- Extra expenses like shopping, laundry, etc
Essential Information
Mardi Himal trek difficulty and risk
The difficulty level of the Mardi Himal 5 days trek is moderate and is not risky at all. Even though it is not a difficult trek, the traveler should be physically fit and also be aware that the trekking activities may cause personal injury. Sometimes weather might get bad so one must accept the fact and be responsible for all the actions during the trek.
Accommodation for Mardi Himal 5 days trek
The accommodation during the whole trek is on hotels, lodges, and tea houses which will provide you with all the basic day-to-day facilities. Apart from that, you will easily get a room but you might have to share the bathroom. Every room has two single beds with thin mattresses. Hot showers are not available but on your demand, they will provide you with a bucket of hot water with extra charges.
Packing list for Mardi Himal 5 days trek
The packing list depends on your choices and the weather conditions. So wisely pack your bags and only pack necessary things. some of the general packing lists is mentioned below:
- A pair of comfortable shoes and a few pairs of socks
- Jacket, windcheater, warm fleece for cold
- few t-shirts/ shirts and pants
- lotion, a hat, sunglasses, lip balm
- personal toiletries like tissue paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, and soap
- sleeping bags and gloves
- thermal wears and backpack cover
- water bottle