Overview
The Mardi Himal Trek is one of the newer and quieter treks in the Annapurna region, offering views that rival the far more crowded Annapurna Base Camp trail without the crowds. The route climbs through rhododendron and oak forest to a high, narrow ridge directly beneath Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain), ending at Mardi Himal Viewpoint and Base Camp at around 4,500 metres, with Annapurna South and Hiunchuli filling the skyline on either side. The trek begins with a short drive from Pokhara to Kande, then climbs through forest via Australian Camp and Forest Camp before reaching Low Camp and High Camp, where the trees thin out and the ridge narrows dramatically. From High Camp, an early morning walk leads up to the Viewpoint, with Machhapuchhre appearing close enough to touch. The descent then drops back down through Siding village to the roadhead.
What makes the Mardi Himal Trek stand out is how quickly it delivers big mountain views for relatively little effort. Most trekkers reach the View Point and Base Camp within four days of leaving Pokhara, making it one of the shortest routes in Nepal to get this close to an 8,000m-class massif. The narrow ridge above High Camp is unlike anything else in the Annapurna region — a knife-edge trail with Machhapuchhre rising almost directly overhead on one side and the forested Mardi Khola valley dropping away on the other. Because the trek only opened to trekkers in 2012, the trail infrastructure is simpler than on busier routes, which keeps both the crowds and the environmental impact refreshingly low.
Permits for this trek are issued through the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), which manages conservation and tourism across the region.
If you have a few extra days, consider extending your trip with our Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
For another short, accessible trek near Pokhara, see our Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek.
“Trekkers looking for sacred lakes and pilgrimage sites nearby might also like the Tilicho Lake Trek.
Highlights
- Close-up views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain)
- a peak still closed to climbers Mardi Himal Viewpoint and Base Camp at around 4,500m
- A narrow ridge walk with Annapurna South and Hiunchuli filling the skyline
- Thick rhododendron and oak forest, especially colourful in spring
- Traditional Gurung villages on the descent through Siding
- A quieter alternative to the busier Annapurna Base Camp trail Short, accessible, and reachable within a week from Pokhara
