The Mardi Himal Trek is short, but it packs a lot of change into a few days. You leave the warm terraced hills above Pokhara, climb through rhododendron and oak forest, break out onto a grassy ridge, and finish at the foot of Mardi Himal with Machapuchare towering overhead. Because the route is compact, the itinerary you choose makes a real difference to how the trek feels: whether you arrive at High Camp tired and rushed or rested and ready for a pre-dawn start.
This guide explains the Mardi Himal itinerary day by day. It covers the trekking days that every version shares, then shows how our 3, 5, 7 and 9-day trips wrap those days in different amounts of travel and buffer time. If you already know roughly how long you have, jump to the section comparing versions; if you are still deciding, read from the top.
The Itinerary at a Glance
Whatever the total length, every Mardi Himal itinerary follows the same basic shape: a drive from Pokhara to the trailhead, two to four days of climbing along the forested ridge, a morning hike to Base Camp, and a one or two-day descent to the road.
| Stage | Typical altitude | Walking time | Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokhara to Kande (drive) | 822 m to 1,770 m | About 1 hour by road | Paved then rough road |
| Kande to Pitam Deurali | 2,100 m | 3 to 4 hours | Stone steps, village trail |
| Pitam Deurali to Forest Camp | 2,600 m | 4 to 5 hours | Dense rhododendron and oak forest |
| Forest Camp to Low Camp | 2,970 m | 2 to 3 hours | Mossy forest, steady climb |
| Low Camp to High Camp | 3,580 m | 3 to 4 hours | Open ridge above the treeline |
| High Camp to Base Camp and back | 4,500 m | 5 to 7 hours round trip | Steep grassy ridge, sometimes snow |
| Descent to Siding and drive | 1,750 m | 5 to 6 hours plus drive | Steep forest and farmland |
Walking times are for an average trekker with short breaks. Your guide will adjust the pace to the group, and you can read more about realistic timings in our guide to daily walking hours on the Mardi Himal Trek.
Day by Day: The Trekking Days Every Itinerary Shares
The core of the trek is the same no matter which package you book. What changes is how many of these stages you combine into one day. Here is what each section involves.
Drive from Pokhara to Kande and Walk to Pitam Deurali
The morning starts with a drive west out of Pokhara along the Baglung highway. After roughly an hour you reach Kande, a small roadside settlement where the trail begins with a steady staircase up through farmland. The first climb is short but steep, and it gives your legs an honest preview of what Nepali trails feel like.
From Kande the trail joins the ridge at Australian Camp, a grassy clearing with one of the first proper views of the Annapurna range. On clear mornings Machapuchare, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli line up across the horizon. The path then drops gently to Pothana, where you show your permits at the conservation area checkpoint, and continues through forest to Pitam Deurali. Most people arrive by early afternoon, which leaves time to rest and watch the light change on the peaks.
Pitam Deurali to Forest Camp
This is the longest day in the forest. The trail leaves the last farmland behind and climbs gradually through thick rhododendron, oak and maple woodland. In spring the rhododendrons bloom red and pink along the whole section; in autumn the forest is green, cool and quiet. There are few big views here because the canopy is dense, but the forest itself is one of the highlights of the route.
Forest Camp, sometimes called Kokar, sits in a clearing at around 2,600 meters with a small cluster of tea houses. It is sheltered and noticeably cooler than Pitam Deurali. Our Pitam Deurali to Forest Camp guide breaks the day into sections if you want more detail.
Forest Camp to Low Camp
The climb to Low Camp is shorter. You pass Rest Camp, a quieter lodge stop, and continue through moss-draped trees that often sit in mist by late morning. As you gain height the forest thins and the first glimpses of Machapuchare appear through gaps in the trees. Low Camp, at roughly 2,970 meters, has one of the best sunset views on the trek, with the Fishtail peak directly ahead.
On shorter itineraries, Low Camp is where you spend the first or second night. On longer ones, some groups continue the same afternoon to Badal Danda.
Low Camp to High Camp
Above Low Camp the character of the trek changes completely. You leave the forest and step onto an open ridge covered in grass and dwarf rhododendron. Badal Danda, whose name means "cloud hill", is a small lodge stop about an hour above Low Camp and often sits right at the cloud line. From there the ridge narrows and climbs steadily to High Camp at 3,580 meters.
This is the most scenic walking of the trek. The drop-offs on either side are dramatic, but the path is wide enough for comfortable walking in good weather. High Camp itself has several lodges, a dining hall that becomes the social centre of the evening, and views that make most people stop and stare. Read more in our complete Mardi Himal High Camp guide.
High Camp to Mardi Himal Base Camp and Descent
Summit day starts in the dark, usually between 4 and 5 a.m., so you can reach the viewpoints before clouds build. The trail climbs a steep grassy ridge to the Upper View Point at around 4,200 meters, where many trekkers watch sunrise, and continues to Mardi Himal Base Camp at roughly 4,500 meters. The final stretch is exposed and can be icy from December to March, which is when your guide may decide the Upper View Point is the sensible turnaround.
After the views you return to High Camp for a late breakfast and then descend to Badal Danda or Low Camp for the night, depending on your itinerary. Our guide to the High Camp to Base Camp hike covers timing, clothing and turnaround points in detail.
Descent to Siding and Drive to Pokhara
The final trekking day drops steeply from the ridge through forest to Siding, a Gurung village surrounded by terraced fields at around 1,750 meters. It is hard on the knees, so trekking poles are worth using. From Siding a jeep carries you back to Pokhara along a rough road, usually arriving in the afternoon. Some groups exit via Lwang instead, which is covered in our Mardi Himal map and route guide.
How the 3, 5, 7 and 9-Day Versions Compare
We run four versions of the trek. They share the same trail but differ in pace and in how much travel is included.
| Version | Start and end | Nights on the trail | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | Pokhara | 2 (Low Camp, High Camp) | Fit trekkers with very little time |
| 5 days | Pokhara | 4 (Pitam Deurali, Low Camp, High Camp, Low Camp) | Most people already in Pokhara |
| 7 days | Pokhara airport | 4 (Pitam Deurali, Forest Camp, High Camp, Badal Danda) | International visitors flying straight into Pokhara |
| 9 days | Kathmandu | 4 (Pitam Deurali, Forest Camp, High Camp, Badal Danda) | First-time visitors who want the full trip arranged |
The 9-Day Itinerary from Kathmandu
The 9-day Mardi Himal Trek is the complete package. You arrive in Kathmandu on day one, travel to Pokhara on day two, and start walking on day three. The trekking days follow the gentler pattern, with nights at Pitam Deurali, Forest Camp and High Camp before the Base Camp hike, then a descent to Badal Danda and Siding. Day eight returns you to Kathmandu and day nine is departure. The extra days in the cities give you time to adjust to the time zone and handle any delays. We break down every day of this version in our 9-day Mardi Himal itinerary.
The 7-Day Itinerary with a Direct Flight to Pokhara
Pokhara International Airport opened in 2023, and for travelers who can reach it directly, the 7-day Mardi Himal Trek with a direct flight to Pokhara removes the Kathmandu legs entirely. You land, rest a night by the lake, and follow the same trail pattern as the 9-day version. See the 7-day itinerary for flight timing and arrival tips.
The 5-Day Itinerary from Pokhara
The 5-day Mardi Himal Trek from Pokhara is our most popular trekking-only option. It sleeps at Pitam Deurali, Low Camp and High Camp, hikes to Base Camp on day four, and returns to Low Camp that night before descending to Siding on day five. The pace is moderate and the days are well balanced. Our 5-day itinerary guide goes into each day.
The 3-Day Short Trek
The Short Mardi Himal Trek compresses everything into three days: Kande to Low Camp on day one, Low Camp to High Camp on day two, and Base Camp plus the full descent to Siding on day three. It is achievable for strong walkers, but day one gains more than 1,200 meters and day three is long. Read the 3-day itinerary before choosing it.
Where to Sleep Each Night
Deciding where to stop is the main choice in any Mardi Himal itinerary. The lodge stops are close together, so there is some flexibility, but a few principles help.
- Pitam Deurali or Forest Camp for the first night. Stopping lower on the first night keeps day one easy and helps with acclimatization.
- Low Camp or Badal Danda before High Camp. Both put you within a comfortable half-day of High Camp. Badal Danda is higher and quieter but has fewer lodges.
- High Camp the night before Base Camp. Starting the summit hike from anywhere lower makes the day too long to reach the viewpoints before clouds build.
- Badal Danda or Low Camp after Base Camp. Descending about 400 to 600 meters after the hike gives better sleep and a shorter final day.
In peak season the High Camp lodges fill up, which is one reason we book rooms ahead for our groups. Our article on choosing between Low Camp, Badal Danda and High Camp weighs the options in more depth.
Acclimatization and Pacing
Mardi Himal is not a very high trek compared with Everest or the Annapurna Circuit, but it gains altitude quickly. You go from around 820 meters in Pokhara to 3,580 meters at High Camp in two to three days, then touch 4,500 meters on the Base Camp hike. That is enough for altitude sickness to be a genuine consideration.
The standard itineraries work because you only visit 4,500 meters briefly and sleep no higher than 3,580 meters. Even so, a few habits make a real difference: walk slowly on the climbs, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol until you are back down, and tell your guide early about headaches or nausea. The 3-day version is the most demanding from an altitude point of view, so it suits people who have trekked at altitude before. Read our guide to acclimatization on Mardi Himal for practical advice.
Adjusting the Itinerary for the Season
The same itinerary can feel very different depending on when you go. In autumn (September to November) the skies are usually clear and the standard pace works well. In spring (March to May) mornings are clear but afternoon cloud is common, so early starts matter more. In winter (December to February) snow can cover the ridge above High Camp, and an extra buffer day protects your chance of a clear Base Camp morning. In the monsoon (June to August) the forest sections are wet and leech-prone, and views come in brief windows.
If you are traveling outside the main seasons, consider the 6-day format with a spare day, described in our 6-day itinerary with a buffer day. For a month-by-month view of conditions, see our guide to the best time for the Mardi Himal Trek.
Extending Your Mardi Himal Itinerary
Because the trek is short, many travelers combine it with something else. A few combinations work especially well:
- Poon Hill. Adding the Ghorepani and Poon Hill loop gives you two contrasting viewpoints of the Annapurna range. See our Mardi Himal and Poon Hill itinerary.
- Chitwan National Park. A few days of jungle safari after the trek makes a well-rounded two-week trip. Our Mardi Himal and Chitwan itinerary shows how to fit it together.
- Annapurna Base Camp. Experienced trekkers can link Mardi Himal with ABC for a longer route through the Annapurna Sanctuary.
- Pokhara activities. Paragliding, boating on Phewa Lake and the Peace Pagoda all fit into a spare day at the end.
Sample Daily Routine on the Trail
Most days follow a similar rhythm. Breakfast is around 7 a.m., you are walking by 8, and you stop for lunch at a tea house on the way. Afternoons are for arriving, washing, resting and watching the mountains. Dinner is usually served around 6:30 p.m. in the dining room, where everyone gathers around the stove. Summit day is the exception, with a very early wake-up and breakfast after the hike. For a fuller picture, read what a typical day looks like on the trek.
Choosing the Right Itinerary for You
If this is your first trip to Nepal, the 9-day version takes care of everything, from the airport pickup to the bus to Pokhara. If you are already in Pokhara, or you are flying straight there, the 5-day or 7-day versions give you the full trek without extra city days. The 3-day version works if you have trekked at altitude before and are happy with long days.
Still unsure? Our comparison of which Mardi Himal trek is right for you matches each version to different travelers. When you are ready, check current dates and prices on the Mardi Himal Trek page, or contact us to adjust any itinerary to your plans.