Annapurna region
Mardi Himal Trek
A quiet ridgeline week beneath the fishtail peak of Machapuchare
The trek
Overview
Mardi Himal is the trail the guides walk on their days off: a single forested ridge climbing between the Modi Khola and Mardi Khola valleys to a base camp at 4,500 m, directly beneath the unclimbable fishtail of Machapuchare. Lodges only arrived here in 2012, and the path still carries a fraction of the traffic on the routes either side.
The shape of the week is simple — three days up the ridge through rhododendron cloud forest to High Camp at 3,580 m, then one pre-dawn push along the open crest to the upper viewpoint at Base Camp. You climb high and sleep low in a single morning, which keeps a 4,500 m summit honest on a seven-day trip.
The descent breaks new ground rather than retracing the ridge, dropping steeply to the farming village of Siding and a jeep back to Pokhara. It is the best week-long trek in the Annapurna region for anyone who wants big mountains without the crowds.
Highlights
- Pre-dawn push to Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 m
- The fishtail face of Machapuchare filling the sky above High Camp
- Sunrise over the Annapurna wall from Badal Danda, the 'cloud ridge'
- Rhododendron cloud forest between Forest Camp and Low Camp
- A ridgeline trail with a fraction of the traffic of neighbouring routes
- Descent through Siding, a farming village still off the main circuits
Trip facts
- Group size
- 2–10 trekkers
- Meals
- All meals on trek; breakfast in Pokhara
- Accommodation
- Teahouse lodges on trail; 3-star hotel in Pokhara
- Transport
- Kathmandu–Pokhara tourist coach both ways and trailhead jeeps
Itinerary
Day by day
The morning tourist coach follows the Trisuli river west to Pokhara (820 m) in about seven hours; a 25-minute flight upgrade is available. Evening trip briefing and gear check by the lakeside.
820 m
Cost
What it costs
Group prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 trekker | US$ 695 |
| 2–4 trekkers | US$ 595 |
| 5–8 trekkers | US$ 565 |
| 9+ trekkers | US$ 545 |
What's included
- Kathmandu–Pokhara tourist coach both ways
- 2 nights' 3-star hotel in Pokhara with breakfast
- Private jeep Pokhara–Kande and Siding–Pokhara
- Teahouse accommodation for all nights on trek
- All meals on trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner) with tea or coffee
- Licensed, English-speaking trek guide, insured and equipped
- One porter between two trekkers (max 18 kg shared load)
- ACAP and TIMS permits
- First-aid kit, pulse oximeter checks above 3,000 m
- NTP duffel bag, route map and trek completion certificate
Not included
- International flights and Nepal entry visa
- Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover (mandatory)
- Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Drinks, snacks, hot showers, Wi-Fi and device charging on trek
- Personal trekking gear and sleeping bag (rentable in Kathmandu)
- Tips for guide and porters
Optional add-ons
Private porter
Your own porter for the full trek (max 18 kg)
US$ 120
per person
Kathmandu–Pokhara flight upgrade
Swap both seven-hour coach legs for 25-minute flights
US$ 180
per person
Single room supplement
Private rooms in Pokhara and on trek where available
US$ 70
per person
Sleeping bag & down jacket rental
Four-season bag and 800-fill jacket for the full trip
US$ 30
per person
Extra night in Pokhara
3-star lakeside hotel with breakfast, before or after the trek
US$ 40
per room per night
Route map
The route
Detailed route map in production — every itinerary stage above is GPS-logged.
Dates & availability
Departures
| Start | End | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Sep 2026 | 3 Oct 2026 | US$ 595 | Open |
| 11 Oct 2026 | 17 Oct 2026 | US$ 595 | Guaranteed |
| 25 Oct 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | US$ 595 | 3 spots left |
| 8 Nov 2026 | 14 Nov 2026 | US$ 595 | Open |
| 20 Dec 2026 | 26 Dec 2026 | US$ 595 | Open |
| 10 Jan 2027 | 16 Jan 2027 | US$ 595 | Open |
| 21 Feb 2027 | 27 Feb 2027 | US$ 595 | Open |
| 14 Mar 2027 | 20 Mar 2027 | US$ 595 | Guaranteed |
| 4 Apr 2027 | 10 Apr 2027 | US$ 595 | Open |
| 18 Apr 2027 | 24 Apr 2027 | US$ 595 | Open |
- Open
27 Sep 2026 – 3 Oct 2026
US$ 595
- Guaranteed
11 Oct 2026 – 17 Oct 2026
US$ 595
- 3 spots left
25 Oct 2026 – 31 Oct 2026
US$ 595
- Open
8 Nov 2026 – 14 Nov 2026
US$ 595
- Open
20 Dec 2026 – 26 Dec 2026
US$ 595
- Open
10 Jan 2027 – 16 Jan 2027
US$ 595
- Open
21 Feb 2027 – 27 Feb 2027
US$ 595
- Guaranteed
14 Mar 2027 – 20 Mar 2027
US$ 595
- Open
4 Apr 2027 – 10 Apr 2027
US$ 595
- Open
18 Apr 2027 – 24 Apr 2027
US$ 595
Every departure runs with a minimum of 2 trekkers — or book it as a private trip.
Before you go
Essential information
Permits
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
NPR 3,000, checked at Pothana — included in the trip price
US$ 23
TIMS card
NPR 2,000, arranged by us before departure — included
US$ 15
Permits are included in the trip price.
Best seasons
Departure dates above keep to these windows.
FAQs
Questions, answered
Trusted by trekkers
Walked with us
4.9
out of 5, average rating
111
traveler reviews
15
years in the Himalaya
“Mardi Himal packs a lot into five days: rhododendron forest in full April bloom, then a narrowing ridge where Machapuchare fills the sky ahead of you. Sunrise above High Camp, with a cloud sea flooding the valleys below, justified every early start. The guide's pacing and teahouse choices were spot on. Four stars only because spring is popular and High Camp's lodges are basic and full — go expecting a bunkhouse atmosphere and you will love all of it.”
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