Complete Guide to Mardi Himal Trek Itineraries (4 to 7 Days)

10/Jun/2026

The Mardi Himal Trek has one genuine planning challenge: you can do it in 4 days, 5 days, or stretch it across 7!

You pick the wrong length, and you are either rushing through one of the finest ridge trails in the Annapurna region or add an extra day that you never needed. Both mistakes happen more often than they should.

The good news is that comparing these Mardi Himal Trek itinerary options is actually straightforward once you lay them out side by side. The route is the same in all three versions.

What changes is your pacing, which camps you spend the night in, and how gradually your body gains altitude before the viewpoint or base camp push.

At Everest Trekking Routes, our standard Mardi Himal Trek package runs 7 days from Kathmandu, or 9 days with arrival/departure. The trek itself is 5 days Pokhara to Pokhara!

This guide covers all three Mardi Himal itineraries with full day-by-day details, walking hours, distances, elevation data, and a clear recommendation for who should choose each one!

Mardi Himal Trek Route and Starting Points

The Mardi Himal Trek falls entirely within the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) in Kaski district, Gandaki Province. It’s without a doubt one of the best short treks here in Nepal.

The trail follows the southeast ridge of the Mardi Himal, climbing steadily from the lower Gurung village belt up to High Camp and then to the viewpoint (with option to reach Base Camp).

The most popular starting point is Kande (1,770 m), about 1 hour by road from Pokhara. For a faster start at higher elevation, Pittam Deurali (2,100 m) is the better option.

The lower sections of the trail wind through dense rhododendron and pine forest. Above Forest Camp, the route opens onto an exposed ridge with clear views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail, 6,993 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), and Mardi Himal peak (5,587 m) itself.

The descent from High Camp typically ends at Sidhing village on the western side of the ridge, from where it is a short drive back to Pokhara.

Total round-trip trekking distance, from Pittam Deurali up to High Camp and back down to Sidhing, is roughly 40 to 45 km depending on starting point and route variation.

Comparing the 4, 5, and 7-Day Mardi Himal Trek Itineraries

Before going into each option, here is a quick breakdown of how the three Mardi Himal itinerary versions compare:

Itinerary	Best For	Daily Walking Hours	Pacing
4 Days	Fit trekkers, limited time	6 to 8 hours	Fast
5 Days	Most trekkers, Pokhara-based	5 to 7 hours	Balanced
7 Days	Nepal visitors from Kathmandu	4 to 7 hours	Comfortable

Note that the 7-day count includes Kathmandu arrival and departure. The actual Pokhara-based trek remains 5 days!

If you count Kathmandu arrival and departure, the full trip becomes 9 days. Our 7-day and 9-day Mardi Himal Trek packages at Everest Trekking Routes both use the same trekking structure!

4-Day Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary

The 4-day version compresses the standard route into a fast schedule. You drive past Kande and continue by jeep to Pittam Deurali on Day 1, then trek from there directly to Forest Camp on the same day!

The result is that the total vertical gain of the trek gets distributed over just 3 active trekking days, which means each day carries more load than the 5-day trek version.

This works well for experienced trekkers who are comfortable walking 7 to 8 hours. Beginners can still attempt it, but the Day 2 push from Forest Camp all the way to High Camp, which skips an overnight at Low Camp entirely, is going to test both legs and lungs!

If Mardi Himal is your first high-altitude trek, think carefully before committing to this itinerary:

Drive to Pittam Deurali, Trek to Forest Camp (2,550 m):

Drive Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
Total Drive Distance: 30 km
Trek Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Total Trek Distance: 8 km
Elevation gain: 450 m approx.

Forest Camp to High Camp (3,550 m)

Trek Duration: 7 to 8 hours
Total Trek Distance: 7.5 km
Elevation gain: 1,000 m approx.

High Camp to Mardi Himal Viewpoint (4,200 m) and Return to Low Camp (2,970 m)

Trek Duration: 7 to 8 hours
Total Trek Distance: 12 km
Elevation gain/loss: +650 m followed by -1,580 m

Low Camp to Sidhing and Drive Back to Pokhara

Trek Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Total Trek Distance: 4.5 km
Drive Duration: approx. 2 hours
Total Drive Distance: 30 km

Our 4-day Mardi Himal Trek at Everest Trekking Routes starts from USD 360 per person.

5-Day Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary

Five days is the most popular Mardi Himal Trek itinerary for a good reason. The elevation gain distributes evenly across the days. You sleep at both Low Camp and High Camp before the viewpoint push, which means you arrive on summit day rested rather than depleted!

This is also the most flexible version. Even solo trekkers do it comfortably!

Those booking a premium or luxury experience also typically use this same 5-day structure, with the main difference being accommodation quality and optional porter support, not the itinerary itself.

If you are already in Pokhara and want a straightforward, well-paced trek without the need to factor in Kathmandu connections, here’s how your plan should be:

Pokhara to Pittam Deurali (2,100 m):

Drive + light trekking: 4 hours total
Drive from Pokhara to Kande, then trek to Pittam Deurali (same as earlier)

Pittam Deurali to Low Camp or Badal Danda (2,970 m):

Trek Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Total Trek Distance: 12 to 13 km
Elevation gain: 870 m approx.

Low Camp to High Camp (3,550 m):

Trek Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Total Trek Distance: 3 to 4.5 km
Elevation gain: 580 m approx.

High Camp to Mardi Himal Viewpoint (4,200 m), Return to Low Camp

Trek Duration: 7 to 8 hours
Elevation gain/loss: +650, -1,580 m

Low Camp to Sidhing, Drive to Pokhara

Trek Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Drive Duration: approx. 2 hours

Our 5-day Mardi Himal Trek at Everest Trekking Routes starts from USD 390 per person. This is one of the very popular trekking itineraries from multiple other travel agencies too.

7-Day Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary (Standard ETR Package)

The 7-day structure is our standard Mardi Himal Trek package at Everest Trekking Routes. It uses the same 5-day Pokhara-to-Pokhara trek but adds a drive from Kathmandu and back. For most trekkers flying in from abroad, this is the version that makes the most sense!

It builds in proper time for the Kathmandu-to-Pokhara connection, which is either a 6 to 7-hour road journey or a 25-minute domestic flight. Both options work well! The domestic flight is faster, but the road is more budget-friendly.

If you also want Kathmandu sightseeing (Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square), the full trip extends even further.

Here’s the breakdown of the 7-day Mardi Himal Trek:

Drive or Fly to Pokhara (822 m)

Drive Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Domestic flight: 25 to 30 minutes

Pokhara to Pitta, Pittam Deurali (2,100 m)

Pittam Deurali to Low Camp or Badal Danda (2,970 m)

Low Camp to High Camp (3,550 m)

High Camp to Mardi Himal Viewpoint (4,200 m), Return to Low Camp

Low Camp to Sidhing, Drive to Pokhara

Drive or Fly Pokhara to Kathmandu, Departure

Drive Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Domestic flight: 25 to 30 minutes

Our classic 7-day Mardi Himal Trek starts from USD 550 per person. The solo version with Kathmandu starts from USD 600 per person, and the luxury one is priced at USD 1,490 per person.

Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Combined Trek (12 Days)

If you want to cover both routes in a single Nepal trip, the Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp combined trek is a well-structured option. You complete the Annapurna Base Camp section first via the classic Ghorepani and Poon Hill route, descend to Landruk, and then cross over to connect with the Mardi Himal ridge for the final 3 days!

The combined trek runs 12 days Pokhara to Pokhara. With Kathmandu arrival and departure, it becomes 14 days.

Full day-by-day for the 12-day combined itinerary, check this out:

Drive to Nayapul, Trek to Ulleri (2,050 m): 1 hour drive + 5 to 6 hours trek
Trek to Ghorepani (2,860 m): 5 to 6 hours
Climb Poon Hill (3,210 m), Trek to Chuile (2,430 m): 6 to 7 hours
Trek to Sinuwa (2,340 m): 6 to 7 hours
Trek to Deurali, ABC route (3,200 m): 6 to 7 hours
Trek to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m): 5 hours
Trek to Sinuwa (2,340 m): 6 to 7 hours
Trek to Landruk (1,800 m): 5 to 6 hours
Trek to Low Camp or Badal Danda (2,970 m): 5 to 6 hours
Trek to High Camp (3,550 m): 5 to 6 hours
Mardi Himal Viewpoint (4,200 m), Return to Low Camp: 6 to 7 hours
Trek to Sidhing, Drive to Pokhara: 4 to 5 hours

This combined route is one of the more complete ways to experience the Annapurna region without splitting it across separate trips.

Daily Walking Hours and Distance on the Mardi Trail

For fitness planning and scheduling, here is a section-by-section breakdown of walking distances and estimated times. These figures apply to the standard ascent Mardi trekking route. Do note that times vary based on fitness level, weather conditions, and trail state on the day.

Section	Distance	Walking Time
Pittam Deurali to Forest Camp	8 to 10 km	3 to 4 hours
Forest Camp to Low Camp	4 to 5 km	3 to 4 hours
Low Camp to High Camp	5 to 6 km	4 to 5 hours
High Camp to Viewpoint and back	5 to 6 km	4 to 5 hours
High Camp to Low Camp (descent only)	5 to 6 km	2 to 3 hours
Low Camp to Sidhing	6 to 7 km	3 to 4 hours

Total one-way trekking distance from Pittam Deurali to Sidhing via High Camp comes out to roughly 28 to 32 km.

Day 4 consistently runs 7 to 8 hours regardless of which itinerary you are on. Most trekkers leave High Camp between 4:30 and 5:00 AM to catch clear mountain views before afternoon clouds move in. So, be sure to plan your Day 4 around this, and resist the temptation to sleep in.

Which Mardi Himal Itinerary Should You Choose?

The honest answer depends on three things:

Your fitness
Your available days
Where you are starting the trip from (trailhead)

If you are already in Pokhara with 5 to 6 days in your hand, then the 5-day itinerary is the right choice! It is the most balanced option, and it works well for both beginners with decent fitness and experienced trekkers who want to enjoy the route without pressure.

If you have only 4 days in Pokhara, the 4-day version is viable, but be honest with yourself first! Day 2 of that plan takes you from Forest Camp to High Camp in a single push, which is 7 to 8 hours of sustained uphill with real elevation gain.

If you have completed similar treks before and managed that kind of day well, proceed only then. But if Mardi Himal is your first high-altitude experience, the 5-day itinerary is the safer and smarter choice.

If you are flying into Nepal from abroad, the 7-day itinerary makes the most sense! It builds in proper transit time and Kathmandu connections.

For first-time visitors to Nepal especially, those extra days also let you land rested and explore Kathmandu before heading into the mountains for scenic highlights.

Honestly, solo trekkers and those after a luxury experience generally fit best in the 7-day plan. The pacing is comfortable, the teahouses are reliable throughout, and there is enough buffer on most days that a slow morning does not compromise the whole trip!

Good news if any of the aforementioned options appeals to you! Our team at Everest Trekking Routes handles all the logistics, from ACAP permits and licensed guide assignments to Kathmandu arrival/departure on both ends.

You can reach us directly on WhatsApp or check our detailed Mardi Himal Trek guide to learn about full cost and inclusion details. All three itineraries above are available as customizable packages, so the schedule you pick here is the one we build the trip around.