Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary

Morning briefing in Pokhara, then a 90-minute drive on the Baglung Highway to the trailhead at Kande. The first hour is a steady climb on stone steps through small farms and goat pasture to Australian Camp at 2,060 metres, where Annapurna South and Hiunchuli open up across the valley for the first time.

From there a forest trail dips and rises to the Gurung village of Pothana (1,890 m), where the ACAP permit is checked at the conservation post. Stop for a tea or a hot lunch in one of the family-run lodges. The trail then drops briefly to a saddle, joins the older Annapurna circuit path for ten minutes, and climbs again into oak and rhododendron forest.

By mid-afternoon you reach Pitam Deurali at roughly 2,100 metres, the quiet junction where the dedicated Mardi Himal route branches off. Two teahouses run here. The dining hall at Forest Camp Lodge is glass-fronted and faces north, the easiest sunset spot on the lower trail. Most groups arrive with two hours of daylight to spare, time enough for a short scout up through the forest behind the lodges.

Who it suitsA gentle warm-up day on stone steps and forest path. Comfortable for any trekker in reasonable health, including first-timers and families with active teenagers. No prior trekking experience needed.

A full day inside the rhododendron and oak cloud forest. The trail is largely shaded under a mossy canopy, with brief openings where you cross small streams and clearings. Langur monkey troops are common in the upper canopy and are usually heard before they are seen.

In April the rhododendrons bloom red, pink, and white for hours of trail at a stretch, the most photographed stretch of the entire route. Small tea shacks at Banthanti Pati and again at Rest Stop give you reasons to break the climb.

Forest Camp at 2,550 metres is a cluster of five teahouses sitting in a clearing where the trees briefly give way. WiFi is patchy and electricity is on a small solar bank, so charge devices over dinner rather than during the day. The newest lodge, Trekkers Inn, has the best kitchen on the lower route and serves dal bhat with home-grown greens.

Who it suitsA steady, continuous forest climb of four to five hours. Suited to anyone with everyday fitness who can walk uphill for a few hours. Still well within reach of motivated first-time trekkers.

A deliberately shorter day to support acclimatisation. The forest thins as you climb. First glimpses of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli appear at the small clearing called Rest Camp at 2,600 metres, about an hour from Forest Camp.

The trail then climbs more steeply for ninety minutes through stunted rhododendron and dwarf bamboo to Low Camp at 2,985 metres, the first overnight stop with full, uninterrupted mountain views. Most teahouses here face the Annapurna massif directly. Rooms are simple twin-share with shared bathrooms.

Afternoons here are for slow tea, journals, and watching Machhapuchhre rotate out of cloud. Many trekkers report this as the day they remember the most clearly, partly because of the views, partly because the body is finally adjusting to the altitude. If you have a flexible itinerary, an extra acclimatisation night at Low Camp is the single best optional addition for sleep quality and summit-day legs.

Who it suitsA deliberately short day built around acclimatisation, the easiest day above Forest Camp. Suited to all levels. The afternoon rest is part of the plan, not lost time, and it makes summit day safer for everyone.

The first proper ridge day, and the one most photographs are taken on. The treeline is crossed within the first hour. From here the trail rides an open spine past Badal Danda, the Cloud Ridge, at 3,210 metres, where Machhapuchhre stands directly ahead at 6,993 metres and Annapurna South sits to the west.

The wind picks up in the afternoons. Layers on, sun cream reapplied, and pace slowed to match breathing. The ridge has occasional shelter in small dips but is otherwise exposed. Lunch is taken at Badal Danda or at one of the smaller teahouses just above it, with the entire Annapurna sanctuary spread out below.

High Camp at 3,580 metres is the final overnight before the summit push. Rooms are basic plywood, shared bathrooms, and nights drop well below freezing even in autumn. The dining hall sunset, with the Annapurna massif glowing pink and the cloud sea filling the valleys below, is the moment most trekkers remember as the reason they came.

Who it suitsThe first exposed ridge day, with wind, altitude, and roughly 595 metres of ascent. Suited to trekkers comfortable walking four to five hours on open, uneven ground. No technical skill needed, but a head for mild exposure helps.

The big day. A pre-dawn start, headtorches on, climbing the narrowing ridge above High Camp. The terrain is gradient stone and earth, never technical, but altitude makes every breath count. Most trekkers reach the Lower Viewpoint at 3,900 metres in 90 minutes and the Upper Viewpoint at 4,200 metres in another hour. Faster groups push on to the moraine ledge at 4,250 metres.

On a clear morning, Dhaulagiri at 8,167 metres appears far to the west, the Annapurna massif sits close enough to see avalanche paths on the south face, and Machhapuchhre fills the eastern view. Sunrise from this ridge is the photograph people travel for. Plan to arrive 20 minutes before first light. Bring a thermos of tea.

After photos, the descent retraces the ridge to High Camp for a hot breakfast. The day continues through Low Camp, drops sharply off the ridge, and follows a steep forest path to the Gurung village of Sidhing at 1,860 metres. The descent is the longest of the trek and is hard on the knees. Trekking poles are strongly recommended. Most groups reach Sidhing by late afternoon, where homestays serve dal bhat, masala tea, and a hot bucket shower.

Who it suitsThe hardest day by a clear margin: a pre-dawn climb of 620 metres at altitude, then a knee-punishing descent of over 2,300 metres in one afternoon. Suited to trekkers with good general fitness and sound knees. Trekking poles, broken-in boots, and a headtorch are non-negotiable here.

Final walking day, mostly downhill through terraced rice fields, millet farms, and traditional Gurung settlements. The path is well shaded and the gradient is forgiving. Lwang village is reached by midday, where a private jeep is waiting in the small bazaar.

The road back to Pokhara takes roughly two hours along a recently improved track. Lakeside, the tourist quarter of Pokhara, has been your base hotel and your bag is waiting. The afternoon is free for a hot shower, laundry, and a long sit by Phewa Lake. A celebration dinner is included on the included package.

Who it suitsAn easy, mostly downhill walk through farmland and Gurung villages, then a jeep to Pokhara. Suited to all levels and a gentle way to let tired legs recover after the descent.

A buffer day in Pokhara to absorb the trek and handle weather contingencies. Most trekkers spend the morning at Phewa Lake, the World Peace Pagoda, or paragliding from Sarangkot. A quieter option is the International Mountain Museum, which has a strong section on the Annapurna sanctuary and on the indigenous Gurung and Magar communities you walked through.

Late-afternoon transfer to Kathmandu by tourist bus or domestic flight, with airport drop arranged on request. We hold this day for trekkers who want the security of an extra buffer. If you exit on Day 6 and need an early flight, we can arrange that without rebooking the whole package.

Who it suitsNo walking required. A contingency and recovery day in Pokhara, useful insurance against a weather delay higher up. Optional sightseeing or paragliding for those with energy left.