Machhapuchhre's fishtail summit seen through bare rhododendron branches on the Mardi Himal ridge

Mardi Himal Trek

A ridge-walk to 4,200 m for a face-to-face view of Machhapuchhre.

6 Days / 5 Nights Moderate 4,200 m (Mardi Himal View Point; optional extension to ~4,500 m) Annapurna Region, Nepal

Starting from $650 per person

Overview

The Mardi Himal Trek is the connoisseur's short trek in the Annapurna region: a single airy ridgeline climbing from mossy rhododendron forest to alpine viewpoints face-to-face with Machhapuchhre. It is quieter than Poon Hill and wilder than its short length suggests.

Highlights include a long tunnel of rhododendron, oak, and moss-hung forest, the open ridgeline panorama at Badal Danda ('cloud hill'), and a sunrise climb to the Mardi Himal View Point at 4,200 m with Machhapuchhre's fishtail summit almost within touching distance.

The route runs from Pokhara via Kande, Deurali, Forest Camp, Low Camp, Badal Danda, and High Camp, with a descent through the quieter village of Siding before driving back to Pokhara.

Highlights

Ridge-walk climbing to 4,200 m (optional extension to ~4,500 m)
Close-up sunrise views of Machhapuchhre's fishtail summit
A long tunnel of rhododendron, oak, and moss-hung forest, spectacular in March–April bloom
The cloud-sea panorama at Badal Danda, with Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and the Mardi ridge
Quieter than the Poon Hill circuit, with small rustic teahouses
Descent through the little-visited traditional village of Siding

Photos

The Shape of the Trek

Sleep altitude each night — the acclimatization pattern at a glance.

2,100 m · Day 1 · Deurali

2,970 m · Day 2 · Low Camp

3,580 m · Day 3 · High Camp

3,580 m · Day 4 · High Camp

1,750 m · Day 5 · Siding

Departure Dates

No scheduled dates for this trek yet — we run it on the dates that suit you. If you’re planning a trek for a group of friends or family, talk to our specialist and we’ll build it around you.

Talk to our specialist

The route

Route Map

3 stops · 2 trekking sections

By road On foot

Day-by-Day Itinerary

6 days on the trail, mapped one by one — no need to expand anything.

Day of 6

Day 1

Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Deurali

Day 1

Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Deurali

Pokhara → Kande (drive) → Australian Camp → Pothana → Deurali

Overnight: Deurali (2,100 m)

A short drive west of Pokhara reaches the trailhead at Kande, from where the trail climbs about an hour through forest to Australian Camp, a meadow with a famous panorama of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli. The route continues through Pothana, where the ACAP permit is checked, and gently up the ridge to Deurali, a small lodge cluster at the junction where the Mardi trail leaves the busier Poon Hill routes.

Day 2

Deurali to Low Camp

Day 2

Deurali to Low Camp

Deurali → Forest Camp (Kokar) → Rest Camp → Low Camp

Overnight: Low Camp (2,970 m)

From Deurali the route turns onto the Mardi Himal ridge proper and enters a long, enchanted tunnel of rhododendron, oak, and moss-hung forest, with occasional glimpses of Machhapuchhre through the canopy. Forest Camp (2,520 m), locally called Kokar, makes the natural lunch stop. The trail keeps climbing, steeply in stretches, past Rest Camp to Low Camp (2,970 m), where the forest thins and Machhapuchhre's fishtail appears startlingly close above the lodge roofs.

Day 3

Low Camp to High Camp

Day 3

Low Camp to High Camp

Low Camp → Badal Danda → High Camp

Overnight: High Camp (3,580 m)

The day the trek changes character: within an hour the trees give way to rhododendron shrub and open ridgeline at Badal Danda (3,210 m), meaning 'cloud hill,' where the panorama explodes into views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre, and the Mardi ridge stretching ahead. The trail follows the airy crest to High Camp (3,580 m) — the biggest sleeping-altitude jump of the trek, so the plan is to arrive by early afternoon, rest, and hydrate ahead of the pre-dawn start.

Day 4

Sunrise at Mardi Himal View Point, return to High Camp

Day 4

Sunrise at Mardi Himal View Point, return to High Camp

High Camp → Mardi Himal View Point (4,200 m) → back to High Camp

Overnight: High Camp (3,580 m)

The climb up the narrow ridge begins in the dark, steep and exposed in short sections, reaching the Lower View Point (around 4,200 m) for sunrise — one of Nepal's great close-up mountain views, with Machhapuchhre's fishtail summit almost within touching distance, alongside Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Annapurna I, and Mardi Himal itself. Strong groups in good conditions can continue toward the Upper View Point / Mardi Base Camp area (around 4,500 m). The group then descends to High Camp for a late breakfast and a lazy afternoon.

Day 5

High Camp to Siding

Day 5

High Camp to Siding

High Camp → Badal Danda → Low Camp → Siding

Overnight: Siding (approximately 1,750 m)

A big descent day retraces the ridge through Badal Danda and Low Camp, then branches onto the quieter eastern trail, which drops steeply through terraced fields and forest to the traditional village of Siding, a lovely, little-visited settlement with simple, friendly lodges.

Day 6

Drive Siding to Pokhara

Day 6

Drive Siding to Pokhara

Siding → Lumre → Pokhara (drive)

Jeeps run from Siding down the valley to Lumre and onto the sealed road back to Pokhara, arriving by late morning with the whole afternoon free at the lakeside.

Day 1

Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Deurali

Pokhara → Kande (drive) → Australian Camp → Pothana → Deurali

Altitude: Kande ~1,770 m to Deurali 2,100 m

Time: 3–4 hours walking, plus 1–1.5 hours drive from Pokhara

Overnight: Deurali (2,100 m)

A short drive west of Pokhara reaches the trailhead at Kande, from where the trail climbs about an hour through forest to Australian Camp, a meadow with a famous panorama of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli. The route continues through Pothana, where the ACAP permit is checked, and gently up the ridge to Deurali, a small lodge cluster at the junction where the Mardi trail leaves the busier Poon Hill routes.

If your group is fit and starts early, some parties push on to Forest Camp on Day 1, but staying at Deurali keeps the schedule relaxed.

Day 1 of 6

Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Deurali

Pokhara → Kande (drive) → Australian Camp → Pothana → Deurali

Altitude: Kande ~1,770 m to Deurali 2,100 m

Time: 3–4 hours walking, plus 1–1.5 hours drive from Pokhara

Overnight: Deurali (2,100 m)

A short drive west of Pokhara reaches the trailhead at Kande, from where the trail climbs about an hour through forest to Australian Camp, a meadow with a famous panorama of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli. The route continues through Pothana, where the ACAP permit is checked, and gently up the ridge to Deurali, a small lodge cluster at the junction where the Mardi trail leaves the busier Poon Hill routes.

If your group is fit and starts early, some parties push on to Forest Camp on Day 1, but staying at Deurali keeps the schedule relaxed.
Day 2

Deurali to Low Camp

Deurali → Forest Camp (Kokar) → Rest Camp → Low Camp

Altitude: 2,100 m to 2,970 m (+870 m)

Time: 4–6 hours

Overnight: Low Camp (2,970 m)

From Deurali the route turns onto the Mardi Himal ridge proper and enters a long, enchanted tunnel of rhododendron, oak, and moss-hung forest, with occasional glimpses of Machhapuchhre through the canopy. Forest Camp (2,520 m), locally called Kokar, makes the natural lunch stop. The trail keeps climbing, steeply in stretches, past Rest Camp to Low Camp (2,970 m), where the forest thins and Machhapuchhre's fishtail appears startlingly close above the lodge roofs.

In March–April this forest is a rhododendron spectacle to rival Ghorepani, with a fraction of the crowds.

Day 2 of 6

Deurali to Low Camp

Deurali → Forest Camp (Kokar) → Rest Camp → Low Camp

Altitude: 2,100 m to 2,970 m (+870 m)

Time: 4–6 hours

Overnight: Low Camp (2,970 m)

From Deurali the route turns onto the Mardi Himal ridge proper and enters a long, enchanted tunnel of rhododendron, oak, and moss-hung forest, with occasional glimpses of Machhapuchhre through the canopy. Forest Camp (2,520 m), locally called Kokar, makes the natural lunch stop. The trail keeps climbing, steeply in stretches, past Rest Camp to Low Camp (2,970 m), where the forest thins and Machhapuchhre's fishtail appears startlingly close above the lodge roofs.

In March–April this forest is a rhododendron spectacle to rival Ghorepani, with a fraction of the crowds.
Day 3

Low Camp to High Camp

Low Camp → Badal Danda → High Camp

Altitude: 2,970 m to 3,580 m (+610 m)

Time: 4–5 hours

Overnight: High Camp (3,580 m)

The day the trek changes character: within an hour the trees give way to rhododendron shrub and open ridgeline at Badal Danda (3,210 m), meaning 'cloud hill,' where the panorama explodes into views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre, and the Mardi ridge stretching ahead. The trail follows the airy crest to High Camp (3,580 m) — the biggest sleeping-altitude jump of the trek, so the plan is to arrive by early afternoon, rest, and hydrate ahead of the pre-dawn start.

Watch the evening cloud sea from the dining room; Badal Danda earns its name most afternoons. Lodges at High Camp are limited and fill fast in season — book ahead through your guide.

Day 3 of 6

Low Camp to High Camp

Low Camp → Badal Danda → High Camp

Altitude: 2,970 m to 3,580 m (+610 m)

Time: 4–5 hours

Overnight: High Camp (3,580 m)

The day the trek changes character: within an hour the trees give way to rhododendron shrub and open ridgeline at Badal Danda (3,210 m), meaning 'cloud hill,' where the panorama explodes into views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre, and the Mardi ridge stretching ahead. The trail follows the airy crest to High Camp (3,580 m) — the biggest sleeping-altitude jump of the trek, so the plan is to arrive by early afternoon, rest, and hydrate ahead of the pre-dawn start.

Watch the evening cloud sea from the dining room; Badal Danda earns its name most afternoons. Lodges at High Camp are limited and fill fast in season — book ahead through your guide.
Day 4

Sunrise at Mardi Himal View Point, return to High Camp

High Camp → Mardi Himal View Point (4,200 m) → back to High Camp

Altitude: 3,580 m to 4,200 m and back to 3,580 m

Time: 4–5 hours round trip; start around 4:00–5:00 am with headlamps

Overnight: High Camp (3,580 m)

The climb up the narrow ridge begins in the dark, steep and exposed in short sections, reaching the Lower View Point (around 4,200 m) for sunrise — one of Nepal's great close-up mountain views, with Machhapuchhre's fishtail summit almost within touching distance, alongside Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Annapurna I, and Mardi Himal itself. Strong groups in good conditions can continue toward the Upper View Point / Mardi Base Camp area (around 4,500 m). The group then descends to High Camp for a late breakfast and a lazy afternoon.

The ridge is icy from late autumn through spring; microspikes turn a nervous scramble into an easy walk.

Day 4 of 6

Sunrise at Mardi Himal View Point, return to High Camp

High Camp → Mardi Himal View Point (4,200 m) → back to High Camp

Altitude: 3,580 m to 4,200 m and back to 3,580 m

Time: 4–5 hours round trip; start around 4:00–5:00 am with headlamps

Overnight: High Camp (3,580 m)

The climb up the narrow ridge begins in the dark, steep and exposed in short sections, reaching the Lower View Point (around 4,200 m) for sunrise — one of Nepal's great close-up mountain views, with Machhapuchhre's fishtail summit almost within touching distance, alongside Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Annapurna I, and Mardi Himal itself. Strong groups in good conditions can continue toward the Upper View Point / Mardi Base Camp area (around 4,500 m). The group then descends to High Camp for a late breakfast and a lazy afternoon.

The ridge is icy from late autumn through spring; microspikes turn a nervous scramble into an easy walk.
Day 5

High Camp to Siding

High Camp → Badal Danda → Low Camp → Siding

Altitude: 3,580 m to approximately 1,750 m (−1,830 m)

Time: 6–7 hours

Overnight: Siding (approximately 1,750 m)

A big descent day retraces the ridge through Badal Danda and Low Camp, then branches onto the quieter eastern trail, which drops steeply through terraced fields and forest to the traditional village of Siding, a lovely, little-visited settlement with simple, friendly lodges.

Nearly 1,900 m of downhill punishes the knees — trekking poles are recommended.

Day 5 of 6

High Camp to Siding

High Camp → Badal Danda → Low Camp → Siding

Altitude: 3,580 m to approximately 1,750 m (−1,830 m)

Time: 6–7 hours

Overnight: Siding (approximately 1,750 m)

A big descent day retraces the ridge through Badal Danda and Low Camp, then branches onto the quieter eastern trail, which drops steeply through terraced fields and forest to the traditional village of Siding, a lovely, little-visited settlement with simple, friendly lodges.

Nearly 1,900 m of downhill punishes the knees — trekking poles are recommended.
Day 6

Drive Siding to Pokhara

Siding → Lumre → Pokhara (drive)

Time: 2.5–3 hours drive on a rough jeep road

Jeeps run from Siding down the valley to Lumre and onto the sealed road back to Pokhara, arriving by late morning with the whole afternoon free at the lakeside.

Day 6 of 6

Drive Siding to Pokhara

Siding → Lumre → Pokhara (drive)

Time: 2.5–3 hours drive on a rough jeep road

Jeeps run from Siding down the valley to Lumre and onto the sealed road back to Pokhara, arriving by late morning with the whole afternoon free at the lakeside.

Essential Gear

Microspikes for the ridge above High Camp whenever ice is possible (roughly November–April)
Warm layers and a down jacket for the pre-dawn viewpoint climb
Sleeping bag rated to about −10 °C for High Camp nights
Headlamp with spare batteries
Trekking poles for the steep Day 5 descent
Water purification tablets or filter
Sun protection for the exposed ridge

Good to Know

A licensed guide is required for trekking in Nepal under current regulations. Carry your passport and a few passport photos for permits.
October–November brings the sharpest views and stable ridge weather, with High Camp lodges at their busiest.
March–April sees the rhododendron forest in full bloom, arguably the trek's finest season, though some haze is possible lower down.
Winter (December–February) is cold and often snowy above Low Camp but gloriously quiet; microspikes are essential for the upper ridge.
Monsoon season (June–September) brings leeches in the forest and clouded views, and is not recommended.
High Camp has the tightest lodge capacity on the route; book ahead or arrive by early afternoon in October–November. Sleeping at Badal Danda instead is a good fallback.
High Camp (3,580 m) and the 4,200 m viewpoint are high enough for AMS; know the symptoms and descend rather than push if they worsen.
The ridge above High Camp is narrow with drop-offs in places; turn back in high wind, whiteout, or ice without traction gear.
Standard trekking insurance covering 4,500 m is sufficient for this route.

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From $650

Plan This Trek WhatsApp a Specialist +977 98-5802-6385

Style: Trekking
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Difficulty: Moderate
Max Altitude: 4,200 m (Mardi Himal View Point; optional extension to ~4,500 m)
Total Distance: ~40–45 km

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Mardi Himal Trek

Overview

Highlights

Photos

The Shape of the Trek

Departure Dates

Route Map

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Deurali

Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Deurali

Deurali to Low Camp

Deurali to Low Camp

Low Camp to High Camp

Low Camp to High Camp

Sunrise at Mardi Himal View Point, return to High Camp

Sunrise at Mardi Himal View Point, return to High Camp

High Camp to Siding

High Camp to Siding

Drive Siding to Pokhara

Drive Siding to Pokhara

Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Deurali

Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Deurali

Deurali to Low Camp

Deurali to Low Camp

Low Camp to High Camp

Low Camp to High Camp

Sunrise at Mardi Himal View Point, return to High Camp

Sunrise at Mardi Himal View Point, return to High Camp

High Camp to Siding

High Camp to Siding

Drive Siding to Pokhara

Drive Siding to Pokhara

Essential Gear

Good to Know

Ready to trek Mardi Himal Trek?

The Khopra Ridge

Annapurna Base Camp Trek

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Mardi Himal Trek

Overview

Highlights

Photos

The Shape of the Trek

Departure Dates

Route Map

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Deurali

Deurali to Low Camp

Low Camp to High Camp

Sunrise at Mardi Himal View Point, return to High Camp

High Camp to Siding

Drive Siding to Pokhara

Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Deurali

Deurali to Low Camp

Low Camp to High Camp

Sunrise at Mardi Himal View Point, return to High Camp

High Camp to Siding

Drive Siding to Pokhara

Essential Gear

Good to Know

Ready to trek Mardi Himal Trek?

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