Mardi Himal is a 5–7 day, easy-to-moderate trek to a 4,500m viewpoint below Machapuchare, reachable from Pokhara without technical skill. It suits first-time high-altitude trekkers wanting big Annapurna views on a short timeline, best walked March–May or October–December.
I'd never trekked above 2,000 metres before Mardi Himal. This is the honest, day-by-day account of what surprised me, what hurt, and why — a year and a dozen treks later — I still send beginners here first.
Mardi Himal is graded easy-to-moderate. There's no glacier travel, no fixed ropes, no scrambling — just steep forest trail for two days, then open ridge walking above the treeline. The altitude is the only real variable: at 4,500m most first-timers feel some breathlessness and a mild headache that clears with hydration and pacing. My rule with beginners: walk slow enough to hold a conversation on the steepest sections.
The one honest warning — Day 3 to High Camp is the hardest push of the trek, roughly 5 hours with a 900m gain on a narrow ridge trail. Take it in short stages and it's manageable for anyone who walks regularly at home.
Kande to Australian Camp / Pothana
Drive from Pokhara to Kande (1hr), trek 3–4 hrs through forest to Pothana (1,890m).
Pothana to Forest Camp
5–6 hrs through dense rhododendron and oak forest, gaining to 2,550m.
Forest Camp to Low Camp / High Camp
6–7 hrs, steep ridge trail above the treeline, reaching High Camp at 3,580m.
High Camp to Mardi Himal Viewpoint and back to Low Camp
Pre-dawn start, 2.5 hrs up to the 4,500m viewpoint for sunrise, then descend to Low Camp.
Low Camp to Siding village to Pokhara
Descend through Siding village, drive back to Pokhara by afternoon.
Budget $450–650 per person for a guided 5-day trip including guide, porter, teahouse accommodation, and permits — meals are typically extra ($20–25/day). Solo trekkers without a guide can do it cheaper, though ACAP rules require most visitors to trek with a licensed guide as of recent regulation updates, so check current requirements before planning independently.
| Mardi Himal Trek | Poon Hill Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 5–7 days | 3–5 days |
| Max altitude | 4,500m | 3,210m |
| Difficulty | Easy–Moderate | Easy |
| Crowd level | Low | High (most popular short trek) |
| Best for | First high-altitude experience with fewer people | Very first trek, families, tight schedules |
| Mardi Himal Trek | Annapurna Base Camp | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 5–7 days | 7–12 days |
| Max altitude | 4,500m | 4,130m |
| Views | Machapuchare close-up, side profile of Annapurna range | 360° sanctuary view — Annapurna I, Hiunchuli, Machapuchare |
| Crowd level | Low | Moderate–High |
| Best for | Shorter trip, quieter trail | Trekkers wanting the full Annapurna Sanctuary experience |
Layered clothing is non-negotiable — you'll be in humid forest at 1,900m and near-freezing wind at 4,500m within the same 48 hours. Bring a 4-season sleeping bag liner (teahouse blankets thin out above Low Camp), solid ankle-support boots for the loose scree near the summit ridge, and a headlamp for the pre-dawn summit push.
Yes. It's one of the most beginner-friendly high-altitude treks in Nepal — no technical sections, a short itinerary, and gradual altitude gain that's manageable for anyone reasonably fit.
Most itineraries run 4–5 trekking days, or 5–7 days door-to-door from Pokhara including transfers. It can be shortened to 3 nights or extended with extra acclimatisation.
March–May (spring, rhododendron bloom) and October–December (autumn, clearest skies) are ideal. Monsoon and deep winter are possible but bring cloud, leeches, or snow at High Camp.
Yes — an ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) and a TIMS card. Both are arranged in Pokhara or Kathmandu, and your agency handles them if you book a guided trip.
Mardi Himal is shorter and slightly higher at its peak viewpoint, but ABC involves more consecutive walking days. Fitness-wise they're comparable; Mardi Himal simply asks for less time.
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