The complete guide to the quietest ridge in the Annapurna range, and every way to walk it. Choose from a three-day helicopter return, the classic five and seven-day routes, or a combined trek with Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, or Khopra Danda. NTB-licensed local guides, permits, and transport from Pokhara handled.
The Mardi Himal trek is a teahouse walk up a forested ridge on the southern wall of the Annapurna massif, finishing at an upper viewpoint around 4,200 metres directly beneath Machhapuchhre, the Fishtail. It starts with a short drive from Pokhara to Kande, climbs through the Gurung villages of Pothana and Deurali, and follows the dedicated Mardi forest trail through Forest Camp, Low Camp, and High Camp. The route opened to teahouse trekking only in 2012, which is why it stays far quieter than Annapurna Base Camp or Poon Hill.
It works as a short trek or a longer one. The three-day version flies you back by helicopter, the four and five-day versions walk out, the seven-day version adds a comfortable margin for weather and acclimatisation, and longer combined routes link it with Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, or Khopra Danda. Every itinerary below reaches the same viewpoint. A licensed guide and the ACAP permit are mandatory in the Annapurna Conservation Area and are arranged for booked trekkers.
From a three-day helicopter return to a two-week combined expedition, every itinerary reaches the same ridge below Machhapuchhre. Pick by the days you have and the pace you want.
Our standard trek from Pokhara to the Upper Viewpoint at 4,200 m. The comfortable, well-paced version for most first-time trekkers.
The faster, cheaper version for fit walkers with less time. Same Upper Viewpoint, two fewer nights on the trail.
The shortest fully-walked version. A brisk profile with a long summit-and-descent day, best for fit trekkers short on time.
Walk up the ridge, fly back from Sidhing by helicopter. The quickest way to the viewpoint, built for one fair-weather window.
The Mardi ridge first, then down to Landruk and up into the Annapurna Sanctuary for base camp at 4,130 m. Two high points, one trip.
Two sunrises, the wide Poon Hill panorama and the close Mardi viewpoint, through the Gurung villages of Ghorepani and Ghandruk.
The two quietest ridges of the Annapurna region in one trip, Dhaulagiri from Khopra and Machhapuchhre from Mardi.
Every review below is verified on TripAdvisor or Google and links back to the original. Names, dates, and trek lengths are taken directly from the source. Nothing is rewritten.
Our recent trip to Nepal and trek to Mardi Himal turned out to be one of the most memorable adventures of my life. Our guide Max was friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly supportive, especially during the steep sections. The views along the route were breathtaking.
We had an excellent five-day trek on the Mardi Himal trail. It is frequented primarily by Nepali tourists. The views are incredible all along the trail, and many guest houses have spectacular views. Our guide was a joy to be with.
We were considering trekking to Annapurna Base Camp, but changed to the Mardi Himal based on Raj's advice. This was probably the best advice we got in Nepal. Mountains were fully covered in snow, the lower fields were green, and the rhododendron trees were flourishing.
Prakash was our trekking guide for the Mardi Himal trek. Even when we arrived feeling unwell, he showed immediate sympathy and organised a range of Pokhara-based activities for us. We can't recommend him enough — Prakash has completed over 500 trips on this route.
Our Mardi Himal trekking experience was great because of this team. Our guide Gautam was so professional, cordial and hospitable. We enjoyed it a lot. Looking forward to our next adventure with them.
Truly exceeded our expectations and made our trip to the Himalayas absolutely memorable. From the moment we inquired until the day we returned, their professionalism and attention to detail were outstanding.
We answer every WhatsApp message within an hour during Kathmandu office hours (Sun–Fri 9 AM – 10 PM NPT). A USD 100 deposit holds your seat on any 2026 departure; the balance is paid in cash or by card at our Kathmandu office before departure. Free cancellation up to 14 days before the trek.