Mardi Himal Trek is suited on the lap of the world’s most elegant mountain peak Mt. Machhapuchhere (fishtail). In the western ridge of the Annapurna region and the east coast of Modi Khola. And half an hour drive from Pokhara to starting point. This trekking trail is just recently opened trekking trail and offers extraordinary views of the Mountain range.
Mardi Himal Trek is less crowded than the popular Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, and Annapurna Circuit Trek. However, during peak season in spring and autumn, there is full of people and need to share the accommodation. Reasons behind sharing accommodation are not enough infrastructures are built on the trekking route.
Each year the popularity of this trekking route inside the Annapurna Conservation Area is growing. That means tourist infrastructures are also getting ready in the camping places. Trekking trails are also managed properly such as adding marks on the route and building the walking trails. ACAP offices are in the needed place to check the permit and TIMS card.
Outline itinerary of the Mardi Himal Trek.
Day 1 | Drive to Kanda and trek to Australian Camp |
Day 2 | Australian Camp to Forest Camp. |
Day 3 | Forest Camp to High Camp |
Day 4 | Hike to Upper viewpoint or Mardi Himal Base Camp and trek to Badal Danda. |
Day 5 | Badal Danda to Sidding and drive to Pokhara. |
This is the standard Mardi Himal Trekking itinerary. However, there are many options to start and end the trip. Such as starting from Phedi or Dhampus, Continuing trek of Annapurna Base Camp, or Ghorepani Ghandruk Trek, and starting Mardi Trek from Landruk to Forest Camp.
Additionally, if you start this trek from Kathmandu need to add two more traveling days to and from Kathmandu. But if you want to make it a day shorter that is possible by flying to Pokhara early in the morning and then driving to Kande and trek to Australian camp is an option.
Pokhara itself is a beautiful place to spend a couple of days. It’s the base camp of the adventure lovers or also we can call the gateway of the Annapurna region treks.
Best season to do Mardi Himal Trek
As usual, the best seasons to do a trek in Nepal are spring and autumn. But the trek to the Mardi Himal is possible in all seasons. Although, the summer season is not that nice because of the weather conditions up in the Himalayas. The Winter season also offers the best white surrounding because of the snow in the upper region.
Still, some months of autumn are also good to trek there because rain is the biggest issue. If no rain in some months of the autumn season then trekking to Mardi Base Camp is more beautiful. During summertime, the atmosphere is pure greenery and clear weather with snowy mountain scenery. The combination of green and white is absolutely unthinkable.
Details itinerary of the Mardi Himal Base Camp Expedition.
Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to Kanda and trek to Australian Camp.
To drive Kande is an easy option but depends on which you prefer. Take public buses or private vehicles. To take a public bus need to go to the Baglung Bus park and take a bus to Ghandruk, Beni, Jomsom, or Magdi and get off at the Kande. By public vehicle will take around 1 hour to reach Kande.
If you take a private car/jeep/bus it’s very easy just follow the road to Muktinath and stop at Kande. To get to Kande by private transport will take around 30 to 45 minutes. From Kande need to climb up to Australian camp and it will take around 2 hours depending on your walking ability.
From the Australian camp, you can enjoy the panoramic mountain view. So the total duration of the trek will be 3 to 4 hours including a drive and walk.
Day 2: Australian Camp to Forest camp.
Today at first you need to register your trekking permit and Tims card at the ACAP office at Australian Camp and then follow the way to Pritam Deurali. Descend a bit and the climb to Pritam Deurali will take around 1 hour and then need to climb up to the Forest Camp.
The walking trail is indeed inside the forest of Oak, Rhododendron, and other alpine trees. While walking on the stop for lunch at your convenience place and hike to the forest camp. Total time will depend on your walking ability but normally it will take around 6 hours of walk.
Day 3: Forest Camp to High Camp
Today is the longest day of this trek because we need to climb all the way via Low Camp and Badal Dand to reach High Camp. Also, today’s hike to High camp is the most attractive one because of the amazing mountain view and classic walking trail.
Again today’s total period of the walk will be up to your strength to walk in the Mountain. But the normal walking time is around 7 hours to get to High Camp.
While walking up the views of the mountains the landscapes will change. As much as you go high the save of the landscape will change and get a better view of the mountains.
Mardi Himal Trek is a short hike nearby Pokhara just for 4 nights 5 days in the lap of the Annapurna Himalaya. This trek is best for all the people who want to enjoy closely the world’s most attractive Mt. Machhapuchhere (Fishtail)
Day 4: Hike to High Camp or Mardi Himal Base Camp and trek down to Badal Danda.
The high camp itself is a beautiful viewpoint and can have 360 degrees of view. Generally, every trekker hike up to High Camp for
sunrise view; that means needs to walk up early in the morning and walk-up.
The walking trail is a bit scary because need to walk on the edge of the hill. The fascinating scenery from the High Camp will erase all the pain of while ascent. Hike up to Upper viewpoint will take around 2/3 hours and if walk all the way to Mardi Base Camp need to add 1 or one and half hours more.
Then decent to High Camp will take around 2 hours. And around 1 and half hour trek down to Badal Danda. Today is the longest but most beautiful day of the Mardi Trek.
Day 5: Trek Down to Sidding and Drive to Pokhara.
From Badal Danda, we need to walk down the same way till Low camp and from Low Camp, we have to follow the trail to Sidding. Waking down is very tough for some people because some part is steep down. To get down to Sidding will take around 4 hours and Jeep to Pokhara will take around 3/4 hours. Although, if you want you can stay overnight at Sidding, and the next day drive to Pokhara is also doable.
Permits of Mardi Himal Trek
ACAP entry permit (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) can issue to Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu and ACAP office in Pokhara.
TIMS Card (Trekking Information Management System) can purchase in the Nepal Tourism Board for individual trekkers. for the guides trekkers, related trekking companies will organize from TAAN. (Trekking agency association of Nepal)
[…] Mardi Himal Trek is one of the new trekking routes located in the Annapurna region. It is a short and moderate trek that takes you through the beautiful terraced fields, rhododendron jungle, and alpine landscapes, providing stunning views of snow-capped peaks including Mount Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna south, Annapurna three, and Mardi Himal. […]
[…] Base Camp Trek, and Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. And some newly formed trekking trails such as Mardi Himal Trek, Khopra Danda Trek, Khumai Danda Trek, and many more can start and ends from Pokhara. If you are in […]
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[…] tourist who was traveling to the Mardi Himal region missing from 2023/12/30. He was doing the Mardi Himal Trek independently and as locals said he was going alone to the base camp and not back to Mardi High […]
[…] However, the guesthouse in the Mardi Himal region is not as good as the other trekking areas of the Annapurna region treks. Therefore sometimes need to share a room with 5/8 people in a room. But building more and more hotels in every village along the trekking routes will soon solve this problem in the future. Enough hotels are restaurants on this route will be the reason to do the trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp. […]