The standard Mardi Himal trek, five days flat.
When people ask us how long the Mardi Himal trek takes, the honest answer is that five days is the version we run most often. It walks the same ridge as the 7-day flagship, reaches the same Upper Viewpoint at 4,200 metres, and starts and finishes in Pokhara. What it removes is slack, not scenery. You climb to High Camp on Day 2 instead of Day 4, you stand on the viewpoint at dawn on Day 3, and you are back at the lakeside on Day 4 with a buffer day spare.
That compression is the whole story of this page. The 5-day gains altitude faster than the 7-day trek, and Day 2 in particular asks for roughly a thousand metres of climbing in a single push. For most reasonably fit walkers that is well within reach. For first-time trekkers, for anyone who has felt the effects of altitude before, or for slow acclimatisers, the extra days of the 7-day plan are worth the time. We would rather you arrive at the viewpoint feeling strong than tick a box. If altitude is new to you, read our altitude sickness guide before you commit to the pace.
The 5-day sits in the middle of our three durations. It is slower and safer than the 3-day express version, which combines route stages and adds a helicopter return, and it is a touch faster than the 7-day. If you have a working week to spare in Nepal, this is the itinerary that fits. The full day-by-day plan, the route map, and the variants all live on our itinerary page too.
The full schedule, day by day.
Five days from Pokhara and back, with three days of trekking, a jeep return on Day 4, and a buffer day on Day 5. Altitudes and walking hours are listed for every day. Day 2 is the altitude day; Day 3 is the summit morning and the longest descent.
- Day 1
Pokhara → Kande → Australian Camp → Forest Camp
- Drive
- 1.5 hrs (Pokhara → Kande)
- Trek
- 5 – 6 hrs
- Distance
- ~11 km
- Altitude
- Kande 1,770 m → Forest Camp 2,550 m
- Net change
- +780 m
We leave Pokhara around 07:30 and reach the Kande trailhead by 09:00. Stone steps climb to Australian Camp, where the first wide view of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli opens up, then on through Pothana where the ACAP permit is checked. Lunch is taken near Pitam Deurali at 2,100 m, the junction where the Mardi route leaves the busier Annapurna Base Camp path and turns up its own quiet ridge.
The afternoon climbs through cloud forest of oak, maple, and rhododendron to Forest Camp at 2,550 m. This is the longest of the five days because it covers ground the 7-day plan splits across a day and a half. Langur troops are common in the canopy on this stretch.
Arrive Forest Camp by mid to late afternoon. The teahouses here are simple but warm. Early dinner, early night, because Day 2 is the big altitude day.
- Day 2
Forest Camp → Low Camp → Badal Danda → High Camp
- Drive
- —
- Trek
- 5 – 6 hrs
- Distance
- ~9 km
- Altitude
- 2,550 → 2,985 → 3,580 m
- Net change
- +1,030 m
The day with the most altitude. The trail climbs steadily through the upper forest to Low Camp at 2,985 m, where the trees thin and the full Annapurna massif comes into view. We stop here for an early lunch and a pulse-oximetry check before continuing.
Above Low Camp the route breaks onto the open ridge and crosses Badal Danda (Cloud Ridge) at 3,210 m, then climbs to High Camp at 3,580 m. This is roughly a thousand metres of net gain in one day, which is why the 5-day gains altitude faster than the 7-day. Pace is deliberately slow above Low Camp, and anyone showing early symptoms is held at Low Camp for the night rather than pushed on. If you are new to walking above 3,000 m, read our guide to altitude sickness before you book.
Arrive High Camp in the afternoon with time to rest. Machhapuchhre stands directly ahead across the valley. The sunset from the dining hall is the moment most trekkers remember from the whole trip.
- Day 3
High Camp → Upper Viewpoint → descent to Low Camp / Sidhing
- Drive
- —
- Trek
- 6 – 7 hrs
- Distance
- ~12 km
- Altitude
- 3,580 → 4,200 → 2,150 m
- Net change
- +620 m / -2,050 m
The summit morning. We leave High Camp around 04:30 with headtorches for the pre-dawn ridge climb to the Upper Viewpoint at 4,200 m. On a clear morning the sun lifts over the eastern peaks while Dhaulagiri sits far to the west and the Annapurna wall fills the sky in front of you. This is the highest point of the trek and the reason most people come.
Return to High Camp for a proper breakfast, then begin the long descent. We drop back through Low Camp and take the forest path toward the Gurung village of Sidhing rather than retracing the inbound trail. Trekking poles matter on this stretch; the descent is steep and the knees feel it.
Depending on pace and weather we overnight at Low Camp or push lower toward Sidhing. Either way the hard climbing is now behind you and Day 4 is a short walk and a jeep.
- Day 4
Descent to Sidhing → jeep to Pokhara
- Drive
- 2.5 – 3 hrs (Sidhing → Pokhara)
- Trek
- 3 – 4 hrs (descent)
- Distance
- ~8 km
- Altitude
- 2,150 → 1,860 → 820 m
- Net change
- -1,330 m
A relaxed final walking morning down terraced farmland to Sidhing at 1,860 m, a working Gurung village where the trek properly ends. The jeep meets us here for the rough but scenic road back to Pokhara at 820 m, passing through Lwang and its tea gardens on the way.
We reach the Pokhara lakeside by early to mid afternoon. Hot shower, a real bed, and a celebration dinner by Phewa Lake. After four days on the trail the contrast is the point.
- Day 5
Pokhara buffer / contingency day, departure
- Drive
- Airport / bus transfer included
- Trek
- —
- Distance
- —
- Altitude
- Pokhara 820 m
- Net change
- —
Day 5 is a built-in buffer. If the weather closed the viewpoint on Day 3, this is the day we use to retry the schedule or rearrange the descent without anyone missing a flight. If everything ran to plan, it is a free day in Pokhara to rest tired legs, boat on Phewa Lake, or visit the World Peace Pagoda.
We arrange your onward transfer to the airport or tourist bus station whenever your departure is timed. Keeping this day in the plan is the single biggest difference between the 5-day and the rushed 3-day version, and it is why the 5-day is the standard most trekkers choose.
Five days or seven? An honest call.
Both versions walk the same ridge and reach the same 4,200-metre viewpoint. The difference is pace, acclimatisation, and time. Here is who should take which, against the express 3-day for context.
- You are reasonably fit and comfortable on hill terrain.
- You want the trek done inside a working week in Nepal.
- You have walked a few long hill days back to back before.
- You are happy to climb a thousand metres on Day 2.
- This is your first Himalayan or high-altitude trek.
- You are trekking with children or older walkers.
- You acclimatise slowly or have felt altitude before.
- You want unhurried days and more time on the ridge.
3-day
5-day
7-day
In a hurry, fit, and with prior altitude experience? The 3-day express version compresses the climb further and returns by helicopter from Sidhing.
2026 price, per person, by group size.
All prices are per person in USD for the standard 5-day Mardi Himal itinerary departing from Pokhara, valid through 31 December 2026. Full board includes three meals daily on the trail; half board includes breakfast and dinner. Children under 12 receive 30% off. The bigger your group, the lower the per-person rate.
For the full fee breakdown, ACAP and TIMS permit costs, and optional add-ons such as a porter or domestic flight, see our permits and cost page. Fixed group departures with shared rates are listed on fixed departures.
- ACAP entry permit and TIMS card
- Licensed Gurung guide for all 5 days
- Pokhara → Kande transfer and Sidhing → Pokhara jeep
- Teahouse accommodation (Forest Camp, High Camp, descent)
- Meals on the trail per board option
- Pokhara hotel on the buffer night (twin share)
- Celebration dinner on return to Pokhara
- First aid kit, pulse oximeter, and trekking poles on loan
- International flights to Kathmandu or Pokhara
- Nepal entry visa
- Lunches and drinks in Pokhara
- Personal trekking gear and clothing
- Travel insurance (mandatory, must cover heli evacuation)
- Tips for the guide and any porter
- Optional porter (see add-ons on the cost page)
- Any cost arising from weather delays or early exit
Not sure what to bring for a trek that touches 4,200 metres? Our packing list covers layering, footwear, and the kit that matters at High Camp. Pick your window with the best months guide.
Before you book.
- Is 5 days enough for the Mardi Himal trek?
- Yes. Five days is the standard way to do Mardi Himal and the version most trekkers book. It reaches the Upper Viewpoint at 4,200 metres, includes the full ridge sunrise, and keeps a buffer day in Pokhara for weather or rest. The 7-day version only adds a slower acclimatisation profile and an extra walking day, not a higher summit.
- How hard is the 5 day Mardi Himal trek?
- It is a moderate trek with two demanding days. Day 1 is long, and Day 2 gains roughly a thousand metres to High Camp at 3,580 metres, which is the main altitude challenge. Day 3 adds the pre-dawn climb to 4,200 metres followed by a long descent. If you can walk 5 to 7 hours on hill terrain with a daypack, you can do the 5-day trek. No technical climbing or equipment is involved.
- What does the 5 day Mardi Himal trek cost?
- Group rates start from USD 250 per person on half board for a group of 6 to 10, and from USD 300 per person on full board for the same group size. Smaller groups pay more: USD 425 full board or USD 360 half board for a solo private trekker, USD 375 or USD 310 for two. Full board includes three meals daily on the trail; half board covers breakfast and dinner. All prices are valid through 31 December 2026.
- Does the 5 day trek gain altitude too fast?
- It gains altitude faster than the 7-day version but slower than the 3-day. Day 2 is the day to watch, with about 1,030 metres of net gain to High Camp. We pace the climb deliberately, run pulse-oximetry checks at Low Camp, and hold trekkers showing early symptoms rather than push on. If you have never walked above 3,000 metres, read our altitude sickness guide and consider the 7-day version, which spreads the same climb over more days.
- Should I choose the 5 day or the 7 day Mardi Himal trek?
- Choose the 5-day if you are reasonably fit, comfortable on hill terrain, and want the trek done inside a working week. Choose the 7-day if it is your first Himalayan trek, you are travelling with children or older trekkers, you acclimatise slowly, or you simply want more time on the ridge. Both reach the same 4,200-metre viewpoint and both start and finish in Pokhara.
- What permits do I need for the 5 day Mardi Himal trek?
- You need the ACAP entry permit for the Annapurna Conservation Area and the TIMS card. Both are arranged for you and are included in the trek price. You do not need a separate climbing permit because the trek tops out at a viewpoint, not the summit of Mardi Himal itself. See our permits and cost page for the current fees and paperwork.
- When is the best time to do the 5 day Mardi Himal trek?
- Spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November) give the most stable weather and the clearest mountain views. Winter is colder and quieter with a real chance of snow at High Camp. The monsoon (June to August) brings cloud, leeches, and obscured views. Our best months guide breaks the seasons down in detail.
