Annapurna
Mardi Himal
A direct climb through rhododendron forest, then along a grassy ridge to the foot of Mardi Himal and Machapuchare.
- Walking days 5–6 days
- Highest point 4,500 m
- Level Challenging
- Permits 5,000 NPR (≈ €29)
- Start Pokhara
- Mandatory guide, checks vary
At a glance
You leave the road at Kande, an hour from Pokhara, walk through a long rhododendron forest, then the trail comes out onto a ridge that climbs straight towards Machapuchare (6,993 m). From High Camp (3,580 m), you climb, ideally before dawn, to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500 m), facing “Fishtail” and Annapurna South.
Short, with no pass and no flight, it is a good four- to six-day trek from Pokhara. Nights stay below 3,600 m; only the climb to base camp, done as a day trip, goes above 4,000 m.
Highlights
- Machapuchare up close, from a side rarely seen
- The ridge above Low Camp, often above a sea of clouds
- The rhododendron forest, in bloom in March and April
- Short and easy to reach: there and back by road from Pokhara
Drawbacks
- Few lodges at the camps: Low Camp and High Camp fill up fast in October
- A long base camp day: 6 to 8 hours return from High Camp, leaving before dawn for the sunrise
- A very steep descent from High Camp to Siding (1,800 m in one day)
In pictures
Route
Up the ridge from Kande, base camp as a day trip from High Camp, then down via Siding and the Mardi Khola valley.
- Road (bus)
- Track (jeep)
- Chosen route
- Other possible trails
- Possible start or finish
Drag the “Start” and “Finish” labels to another served point, or tap a point. The “+” buttons add a side trip. Zoom with + and − (or Ctrl + scroll wheel), then drag the map to move around.
How do I use it in a hiking app?
The file contains the route you chose on the map (start, finish, side trips), with altitude, and a marker for each night, pass and viewpoint.
- Organic Maps or Maps.me (free, offline): download the Nepal map before you leave, then open the GPX file from your phone and choose the app.
- OsmAnd: menu “My places” → “Tracks” → “Import”.
- Komoot, Gaia GPS, Wikiloc, Garmin: use the app's or website's “Import a GPX file” feature.
With no signal, your phone's GPS still works: you can see your position on the track. The track is indicative: on the ground, waymarks and advice from the lodges come first.
Itinerary
- D 0Kande1,770 m
- D 1Pitam Deurali via Pothana2,100 m+330 m5 km490 m50 m
- D 2Low Camp via Forest Camp, Rest Camp2,990 m+890 m12 km1,050 m210 m
- D 3High Camp via Badal Danda3,580 m+590 m4 km480 m0 m
- D 4High Camp via Mardi Himal Base Camp 4,500 m3,580 m±0 m12 km950 m950 m
- D 5Siding1,750 m−1,830 m8 km0 m1,630 m
- Kande — Local bus from the Baglung bus park in Pokhara or taxi (about 1,000 to 2,000 NPR (≈ €6 to €12)), 1 to 1.5 hrs on the paved Baglung road. You climb via Australian Camp and Pothana.
- Siding — Descent from High Camp to Siding (5 to 6 hrs), then jeep to Pokhara via Lumre: 2 to 4 hrs on a dirt track, about 10 USD (≈ €9) per person by shared jeep, 6,000 to 8,000 NPR (≈ €35 to €46) by private jeep. If the track is cut (monsoon), 3 to 4 hrs on foot to Lumre.
Elevation
Permits
The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). The TIMS card is the responsibility of the agency providing the guide; in practice, checkpoints in the region only check the ACAP.
Conservation area
ACAP permit (Annapurna)
3,000 NPR (≈ €17)
At the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu (Bhrikutimandap) or Pokhara (Damside), in cash, with your passport and 2 photos. Or online at epermit.ntnc.org.np (card, +2.9%). Bought at the checkpoint, it costs double.
Trekker card
TIMS card
2,000 NPR (≈ €12)
Issued only by a licensed agency since April 2023: it goes hand in hand with hiring a guide. See the Guide and porter page.
Guide
Mandatory guide, checks vary
Mardi Himal is in the Annapurna Conservation Area: licensed guide mandatory in theory since April 2023, but the rule is not systematically enforced there.
The trail is straightforward up to High Camp. Above it, the ridge to base camp is narrow and sometimes snowy: a guide is useful, especially if you leave before dawn or go out of season. See Guide and porter.
A guide for this trek? The Guides Nepal directory lists guides, porters and agencies who know this trek, with their licence checked, the languages they speak and traveller reviews.
Transport
Getting to the start
Pokhara → Kande
Local buses from the Baglung bus park in the morning; taxi or shared jeep. Kande is right on the Baglung road.
Pokhara → Phedi
Bus or taxi; you can also drive up to Dhampus.
Getting back
Siding → Pokhara
Dirt track via Kalimati and Lumre to the road. Private jeep 6,000 to 8,000 NPR (≈ €35 to €46); book through your lodge the day before.
When to go
IdealPossibleNot advised
October–November: clear skies, the best time, but the camps are full. March–April: rhododendrons in bloom, a bit more haze.
December to February: clear skies but frequent snow at High Camp and above, very cold nights. Monsoon: rain, leeches in the forest, peaks hidden.
On the trail
| Accommodation | A few lodges at each camp (5 to 10 at Forest Camp and High Camp), basic rooms from 4 to 10 USD (≈ €4 to €9). Several teahouses at Upper Viewpoint and one at base camp, for a hot drink on the way. |
| Meals | Meals 4 to 6 USD (≈ €4 to €5), more expensive at High Camp. |
| Budget | About 25 to 40 USD (≈ €22 to €36) a day, excluding guide and transport. |
| Money | No ATM after Pokhara. |
| Signal | Nepal Telecom and Ncell, with gaps; paid wifi in most lodges. |
Good to know before you go
What about the visa? A two-week trek plus a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara quickly adds up to more than 15 days: get the 30-day visa. The calculator on our sister site Visa Nepal shows the cheapest length.
Which visa length?Comments
A question, recent news from the trail, your own experience? Share it here.
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