Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary: 3, 4 & 5 Days (+Map)

Mardi Himal Trek Information

Mardi Himal Trek Difficulty

The Mardi Trek is easy to moderate. Overall, the Mardi trek is not too difficult and is good for beginners.

Some sections of the trail is a bit hard as it goes up on stairs, but it doesn’t have as many stairs as the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.

Also, many sections of the trail go through a forest and the ascend is more gradual, rather than constant up and down on stairs.

Mardi Himal Altitude

The Mardi Himal Base Camp is at 4,500 m (14,800 ft) altitude. 

From High Camp, you have the option to walk to the Mardi Viewpoint at 4,200 m (13,800 ft), which takes around 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can go to the Mardi Himal Base Camp which takes around 3 hours from High Camp.

Mardi Himal Trek Permits

Foreigners have to get the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) for the Mardi Trek. It costs Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) and you can get it at the Tourism Board in Kathmandu, the permit office in Pokhara or online.

The online system was recently introduced, and you can get permits only for treks in the Annapurna, Manaslu, and Gaurishankar regions.

Once you are on the Mardi trek, there is a checkpoint in Pothana where you have to show your permit.

Mardi Himal Trekking Guide Rules

It is not mandatory to have a trekking guide for Mardi Himal and if you prefer, you can trek it solo or in a group without a guide.

In 2023, Nepal tried to implement a rule to make it mandatory for foreigners to trek with a guide. However, in reality it was never enforced, and you can trek solo in most trekking routes in Nepal (except for restricted areas like Manaslu or Upper Mustang).

However, if it is your first time trekking in Nepal, it is recommended to go with a guide for safety reasons. Additionally, you can also learn more about Nepali culture from your guide which can further enhance your experience.

I trekked Mardi Himal solo and I found it to be an easy trek. The trail is easy to follow and there are other solo trekkers and groups you meet on the way, so you never really feel alone.

Network Coverage

Nepal Telecom seemed to have some coverage all the way up to High Camp. However, there was no network coverage for NCell from Forest Camp onwards.

If you are getting a Nepali SIM card, it is better to go for Nepal Telecom as they have better coverage in the mountains.

Best Time for Mardi Himal Trek

Traditionally, the best time to trek Mardi Himal is in the Autumn and Spring, however, weather patterns can be unpredictable, and the view is not always guaranteed. Especially, in the last few years, Spring has had very bad views due to smog and haze.

I would say the best time to trek Mardi is from mid-November to mid-December. During this time, the views should be clear, and the trails not too busy.

Usually, the trail is busy during the main autumn trekking season, but it gets quieter towards the end of November.

The beginning of Spring (mid-February to early March) is also a good option for trekking as the views should be likely clear and still not that many trekkers on the trail.

I trekked Mardi Himal in April, which supposed to have clear views. However, it was raining almost every day, it was foggy, and we barely got to see any mountains. It just shows that weather patterns are unpredictable, and views are never 100% guaranteed.

Mardi Himal Trek Map

The Mardi Himal trek route follows the villages of Kande, Australian Camp, Pothana, Pittam Deurali, Forest Camp, Low Camp, High Camp, and ending in Sidhing.

From High Camp, you have the option to go for a sunrise hike to the Mardi Himal Viewpoint 4,200 m (13,800 ft), or continue all the way to the Mardi Himal Base Camp 4,500 m (14,800 ft).

Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary: 3, 4 & 5 Days

Mardi Himal Trek 3 Days

The shortest time Mardi Himal can be completed is in 3 days, however, it is very rushed and I don’t recommend it. I only met Nepali trekkers who were doing a 3-day Mardi trek as they only had a short time to complete it.

However, doing Mardi in 3 days is not only rushed, but due to the quick altitude gain, you are also more at risk of altitude sickness.

If you have more time, even just adding 1 extra day (making it a 4-day trek), can make the Mardi trek more enjoyable.

I happened to also complete Mardi in 3 days, but it was only possible as I connected the ABC trek to Mardi Himal. As I just did ABC prior, I was already acclimatized and after I joined the Mardi trekking route in Forest Camp, it was fast and easy.

Mardi Himal Trek 3 Days Itinerary

• Day 1: Bus from Pokhara to Kande (1,720 m/ 5,640 ft), trek to Forest Camp (2,572 m/8,400 ft): 14 km, 5.5 hours walking
• Day 2: Forest Camp to High Camp (3,550 m/ 11,650 ft): 7.5 km, 5.5 hours walking
• Day 3: Sunrise hike to Mardi Himal Viewpoint/Base Camp, then trek down to Sidhing (1,888 m/ 6,200 ft), then jeep back to Pokhara (1.5 hours walk from High Camp to Mardi Himal View Point, 3 h 45 mins walk from High Camp to Sidhing, 2 hours jeep from Sidhing to Pokhara).

Mardi Himal Trek 4 Days

Completing Mardi Himal in 4 days is pretty ideal, and most people I met on the trail were following this itinerary.

Trekking Mardi Himal in 4 days is a good option as it keeps it challenging enough but you are not totally exhausted at the end of each day.

Nevertheless, you should watch out for altitude sickness, as the villages along the Mardi trek are somewhat close to each other, you get to your destination fast, but you also gain a lot of altitude.

The trek itself is not too strenuous. There are parts where you have to go up on stairs but there are also many sections of the trail where you just walk through forests. Having just completed ABC beforehand, to me, Mardi Himal felt like a walk through the forest.

Once you get to High Camp, it is popular the next day to walk up to the Mardi Viewpoint for sunrise views. To get to the viewpoint for sunrise, you have to leave at around 3:45 am. It is totally dark, so take a headlamp with you.

From High Camp there are two routes to the Viewpoint: one is a dangerous shortcut, and the other a longer but safer route. It is best to take the longer route as the shortcut is a narrow path on a steep hillside – you don’t want to go here even in daylight, let alone in the dark.

The last day when you go up from High Camp to the Mardi HImal Viewpoint or Base Camp is a long day, but if you have the energy, you can make it to Mardi Himal Base Camp, come back down to High Camp for breakfast, and then trek down to Sidhing in one day. Then from Sidhing, you can get a jeep back to Pokhara.

Mardi Himal Trek 4 Days Itinerary

• Day 1: Bus from Pokhara to Kande (1,720 m/ 5,640 ft), trek to Pittam Deurali (2,170 m/ 7,120 ft), 5.7 km, 2.5 hours walking
• Day 2: Pittam Deurali to Forest Camp (2,570 m/ 8,430 ft): 8.1 km, 3 hours walking
• Day 3: Forest Camp to High Camp (3,550 m/ 11,650 ft): 7.5 km, 5.5 hours walking
• Day 4: Sunrise hike to Mardi Himal Viewpoint/Base Camp, then trek down to Sidhing (1,888 m/ 6,200 ft), then jeep back to Pokhara (1.5 hours walk from High Camp to Mardi Himal View Point, 3 h 45 mins walk from High Camp to Sidhing, 2 hours jeep from Sidhing to Pokhara).

Mardi Himal Trek 5 Days

Trekking Mardi Himal in 5 days can feel a bit drown out as it has days when you walk for only 2 hours. It is a good option if you want to go slow and enjoy your time on the trek.

However, if you are generally a fit trekker and feel good at high altitude, a 4-day itinerary may be a better fit.

You can always just start the trek and see how you feel during the trek, and adjust your itinerary accordingly. So, you can go faster if you feel fine, or slower if the trek feels difficult.

Mardi Himal Trek 5 Days Itinerary

• Day 1: Bus from Pokhara to Kande (1,720 m/ 5,640 ft), trek to Pittam Deurali (2,170 m/ 7,120 ft), 5.7 km, 2.5 hours walking
• Day 2: Pittam Deurali to Forest Camp (2,570 m/ 8,430 ft): 8.1 km, 3 hours walking
• Day 3: Forest Camp to Low Camp (3,000 m/ 9,840 ft): 3 km, 2 hours walking
• Day 4: Low Camp to High Camp (3,550 m/ 11,650 ft): 4.2 km, 3 hours walking
• Day 5: Sunrise hike to Mardi Himal Viewpoint/Base Camp, then trek down to Sidhing (1,888 m/ 6,200 ft), then jeep back to Pokhara (1.5 hours walk from High Camp to Mardi Himal View Point, 3 h 45 mins walk from High Camp to Sidhing, 2 hours jeep from Sidhing to Pokhara).

Mardi Himal Packing List

Mardi Himal is a short trek, so you don’t have to pack a lot of things. It is best if you just take the most essential items and keep your backpack as light as possible.

I trekked with my 28L backpack and could fit all items in there that I needed. In fact, that’s all I had for 10 days of trekking in the Annapurna, as I joined ABC and Mardi Himal into one trek.

One thing to keep in mind is that weather can be unpredictable in the mountains, so it is good if you pack clothes both for sunny and rainy weather.

When it rains, it is best if you have a poncho that also covers your backpack. In April, we had really heavy rain showers every day, which was quite unexpected as April is not monsoon season yet.

➡️ Check out my complete packing list for Mardi Himal here!

Mardi Himal Cost

On average, the Mardi Himal Trek costs around Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) per day, which includes food, accommodation, tea, hot drinking water, hot shower, wifi, and charging.

I completed Mardi Himal in 3 days, so in total I spent around Rs. 9,000 (USD 65). I trekked solo, so it does not include costs for guide or porter.

For hiring a guide, you should budget an additional USD 30/day, and USD 20/day for a porter. Additionally, if you want to have a beer in the evenings or more snacks, than budget an additional Rs. 1,500 (USD 10) per day.

I found the room prices are more expensive on the Mardi Trek than on other treks but you can negotiate the prices a little bit.

The room prices are around Rs. 1,000-2,000 per night, while on the ABC trek it is around Rs. 300-500. It is likely due to that there are many trekking groups doing ABC so the prices naturally decreased for accommodation, while Mardi Himal doesn’t have that many trekking groups, so they are keeping the room prices higher.

Nevertheless, it is possible to negotiate the room prices, and I managed to make it around Rs. 500 in every teahouse.

Teahouses on the Mardi Himal Trek

The teahouses on the Mardi Himal Trek are similar like on other treks in Nepal.

The best thing is that they have a fireplace in the dining halls (as opposed to the teahouses on the ABC trek), so you can warm up by the fire in the evenings.

If you are trekking solo without a guide, it is not necessary to pre-book teahouses. You can just turn up in the village and ask for a room on the spot.

I found it easy to find rooms even though I was trekking Mardi during the Spring high season. Mardi Himal is not yet as popular as EBC or ABC, so there are not that many trekking groups pre-booking teahouses.

High Camp was the only place which was a bit more difficult to find a room available. I asked around a few places, and in the end, I found a place that had rooms available. So, in case it happens to you, just keep asking around.

How to Get from Pokhara to Kande (Start Point)

Kande is the starting point to the Mardi Himal Trek and there are regular buses that go from Pokhara to Kande.

The buses go from Hari Chowk and Baglung Bus Park in Pokhara, and it takes around 1 hour to get to Kande. The buses start at 7 am from Hari Chowk, and 6:30 am at Baglung Bus Park.

My recommendation is to take the bus to Kande at 7 am in the morning, so you can start the trek early.

The beginning of the trail from Kande goes up on stairs and it is on a hillside where the sun shines on you directly, so it is good to get done with this part before it gets really hot.

How to Get Back to Pokhara from Sidhing (End Point)

Sidhing village is where most people finish their trek, and you can get sharing jeeps from Sidhing to Pokhara.

The sharing jeeps cost Rs. 7,000 (USD 51) and it is split between the passengers. Once you get to Sidhing, you may have to wait a bit until other trekkers show up to share the jeep with.

Alternatively, you can also just hire the jeep by yourself, then, you pay for the full price of the jeep ride.

Tips for Trekking Mardi Himal

✔️ Pack Clothes for All Types of Weather

Weather can be unpredictable in the mountains, so it is good if you pack clothes both for sunny and rainy weather.

When it rains, it is best if you have a poncho that also covers your backpack. In April, we had really heavy rain showers every day, which was quite unexpected as April is not monsoon season yet.

✔️ Have Travel Insurance

Even if you are an experienced trekker, it is good to be on the safe side and get insurance for trekking in Nepal.

Insurance companies like True Traveller, World Nomads, and the Alpine Club are ones that are recommended for trekking in Nepal. They also include helicopter evacuation in case it is needed.

✔️ Take Enough Cash

There are no ATMs in the villages along the Mardi Trek, so withdraw enough cash in Pokhara beforehand. It is better to take more cash with you than what you budget, so you don’t have to worry about running out of cash.

I spent Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) per day, but I didn’t drink beer in the evenings, and I also didn’t spend extra on snacks. For these, you should budget extra around Rs. 1,500 (USD 10) per day.

❓Do you have any questions about the Mardi Himal Trek? Feel free to email me or reach out on Insta!

Nepali Trekking Itineraries

Not sure about going on the Mardi Himal Trek? Check out my itineraries and posts about trekking in Nepal:

• Annapurna Base Camp Trek
• Langtang Valley Trek
• Australian Camp Trek
• Panchase Trek
• Pikey Peak Trek
• The Best Short Treks in Nepal
• Solo Trekking in Nepal
• Teahouses in Nepal: What Accommodation is Like on Treks

FAQs: Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary: 3, 4 & 5 Days

How difficult is the Mardi Himal Trek?

The Mardi Himal trek is not difficult, and it is good for beginners.

There are some sections where the trail goes up on stairs, however, there are also many parts where it goes through a forest and the ascend is more gradual, rather than steep uphill walk the whole way.

How long is the Mardi Himal Trek?

The Mardi Himal Trek can be completed between 3-5 days.

I recommend going for a 4-day Mardi itinerary, as 3 days are too rushed, and 5 days can feel too long with days you only trek for 2 hours.

Which is better, Annapurna Base Camp Trek or Mardi Himal Trek?

Both Annapurna Base Camp and Mardi Himal are great treks, and to see which one is better, depends on your preferences.

Annapurna Base Camp is more challenging but at the same time also more rewarding. The Annapurna Base Camp trek needs at least 7 days to complete.

If you are looking for an easier, shorter trek, then Mardi Himal is a good option. Mardi Himal is not as difficult as ABC, and you can complete it in 4 days.

Which month is best for the Mardi Himal Trek?

The best time to trek Mardi Himal is in the autumn. Late autumn (mid-November to mid-December) is a great time as the skies are clear and the trails are also less busy with trekkers.

Spring is the second most ideal time for Mardi Himal trekking, however, it has been very cloudy with smog in Spring in Nepal in the last few years, so the views in Spring are not guaranteed anymore.

Can you trek Mardi Himal without a guide?

Yes, you can trek Mardi Himal without a guide.

Nepal tried to implement a mandatory trekking guide rule in 2023, however, it is not enforced. You can trek most trekking routes in Nepal without a guide, expect for restricted areas like Manaslu.

I trekked Mardi Himal solo without a guide and it was totally fine. I also met other solo trekkers and groups of friends who trekked without a guide.

Is Mardi Trek risky?

No, the Mardi Himal trek is not risky and it is good for beginners. The trail is easy to follow and is not too difficult.

There is only one section where it is good to be careful. There are two ways to go from High Camp to the Mardi Himal Viewpoint: a dangerous shortcut, or a longer but safer route.

The shortcut is a narrow path on a steep mountain side, and it is easy to slip. So, it is best to go on the longer route as it is safer. Especially, if you go in the dark, or when it rains or snows.

Can Mardi Trek be completed in 3 days?

Yes, the Mardi Trek can be completed in 3 days, however, it can feel rushed and you are more at risk of altitude sickness due to the quick gain in altitude.

For completing Mardi in 3 days, your itinerary would be on Day 1 taking a bus to Kande and trekking to Forest Camp. On Day 2, you trek from Forest Camp to High Camp. Then on Day 3 you go for the sunrise hike to the Mardi Viewpoint/ Base Camp, then walk down to Sidhing and take a jeep back to Pokhara.