Mardi Himal Trek

Welcome to Nepal. An AltiPro representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers you to your hotel in Kathmandu (1,400 m). The evening begins with a welcome briefing covering the Mardi Himal Trek itinerary, weather, permits, gear checks and packing essentials. Dinner at the hotel.

Morning flight (25 minutes) or scenic drive (6–7 hours) from Kathmandu to Pokhara (822 m) in the Gandaki Province. Arrive at Pokhara's lakeside district — the base for all Annapurna region treks. The afternoon is free to explore the Phewa Lake area, finalise gear, and collect the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) from the TAAN office. The trail to Kande begins tomorrow. Overnight at the hotel in Pokhara.

One-hour jeep drive from Pokhara lakeside to the Kande trailhead (1,770 m). The trail begins with stone steps climbing through Australian Camp (2,060 m), where the first views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) appear across the valley. Continue through Pitam Deurali (1,990 m) and into the dense hemlock, oak and rhododendron forest to Forest Camp (2,550 m). In spring the forest is alive with rhododendron colour and the Danphe (Himalayan Monal — Nepal's national bird) is frequently spotted on the morning ascent. 4–5 hrs walking / 780 m ascent.

The trail climbs from Forest Camp through transitional forest — rhododendron giving way to mossy, lichen-covered oak and hemlock trees — as altitude increases steadily. The forest opens at the treeline near Low Camp (2,985 m), where the first unobstructed views of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South (7,219 m) and Hiunchuli appear. This is where the Mardi Himal trek transforms from forest walk to high-altitude ridge experience. Langur monkeys and Himalayan tahr are frequently seen on the open slopes above the treeline. 3–4 hrs walking / 435 m ascent.

The ridge opens as the trail reaches Badal Danda (Cloud Ridge) at 3,210 m — a sweeping 270-degree panorama spanning Annapurna I (8,091 m), II (7,937 m), III (7,555 m), South (7,219 m), Machhapuchhre (6,993 m), Gangapurna (7,455 m) and Mardi Himal itself (5,587 m) on a clear morning. Continue up the open ridge to High Camp (3,580 m), the most comfortable and conveniently positioned teahouses on the route. Views extend all the way to Pokhara's Phewa Valley on a clear afternoon. Rest and acclimatise before the summit push. 4–5 hrs walking / 595 m ascent.

An early start (5–6 AM) to beat the clouds is essential on summit day. The ridge narrows dramatically above High Camp as the trail climbs through open rocky terrain. Reach the Upper Viewpoint at 4,200 m — the finest panoramic position on the entire route, with Machhapuchhre filling the skyline directly ahead. A final scramble on loose trail delivers Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500 m), directly beneath the south face of Machhapuchhre and the Mardi Himal massif. The full Annapurna range stretches across the horizon from east to west. Take time to absorb the views, then descend back to High Camp before the afternoon cloud builds. 7–9 hrs total / 920 m ascent + descent.

Begin the descent from High Camp via Low Camp, then branch away from the ascent route to descend toward the Gurung settlement of Siding (1,740 m). The trail drops steeply through increasingly lush vegetation, passing through cardamom plantations and terraced fields as the valley floor approaches. Siding is a warm, traditional Gurung community with excellent local teahouse cooking and a very different atmosphere from the ridge above — a perfect cultural contrast to the high-altitude experience of the previous days. 5–6 hrs walking / 1,840 m descent.

A final morning walk from Siding through the village of Lwang and through lower farmland and forests to the road at Lumre or Lwang (approximately 2 hours). A vehicle collects the group for the drive back to Pokhara lakeside. Afternoon free in Pokhara — boat trip on Phewa Lake, World Peace Pagoda, last lakeside meals and souvenir shopping. The loop circuit — ascending the Mardi Himal ridge and descending via Siding — is the definitive way to complete this trek. Overnight at hotel in Pokhara.

Morning flight (25 minutes) from Pokhara back to Kathmandu. Transfer to your hotel in the Thamel district. The afternoon is free for last-minute shopping, Thamel exploration, Pashupatinath or Boudhanath stupa visit, or simply resting. Kathmandu's dense collection of medieval heritage sites, craft shops and excellent restaurants makes the final evening in Nepal easy to fill. Overnight in Kathmandu.

A free day in Kathmandu for last sightseeing or souvenir shopping. AltiPro recommends visiting Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) for panoramic city views, or Durbar Square in Patan for Newari craftsmanship. In the evening, join your AltiPro guide and team for a farewell dinner at a traditional Nepali restaurant — dal bhat, sekuwa, momo and local raksi. A proper Himalayan send-off after a successful Mardi Himal Trek.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport according to your flight schedule. AltiPro arranges airport transfers for all departure times. Carry your Mardi Himal memories home — the ridge, the Machhapuchhre views from Base Camp, the cardamom forests above Siding, and the teahouse warmth of High Camp at dusk. The Mardi Himal Trek — Nepal's finest short high-altitude experience.