Overview
The Mardi Himal trek is a challenging and beautiful 4-day route in the Annapurna region that offers breathtaking views of the Himalayan mountain range. It’s a lesser-known route compared to the famous Everest Base Camp trek or Annapurna Circuit trek.
We started the Mardi Himal trek in Ghandruk after finishing the Poon Hill trek. Mardi Himal used to be the lesser-known trek in Annapurna Sanctuary but it’s getting more and more popular. There are still fewer people on this route than on the Poon Hill, Annapurna Base Camp, or Annapurna Circuit trek but it’s definitely not as off-the-beaten-track as it used to be.
Distance – 40 km/25 mi
Time – 4 days
Permits – TIMS card and Annapurna Sanctuary permit required
Guide – can be done independently, with a guide/porter, or in a group
Main starting points – Kande
Main finishing points – Siding
Highest point – Mardi Himal Base Camp, 4500 m
Total ascent – 3274 m
Total descent – 3731 m
Accommodation – guesthouses, camping (at lower altitudes)
Food – Nepali, Indian, Western, Chinese
*All trekking data is for our trekking route starting in Ghandruk/finishing in Landruk.
Itinerary
How to combine Mardi Himal with the Annapurna Base Camp trek?
Both trekking routes start in Landruk it’s very easy to combine them. You’ll need 10 days to complete the loop. Here is the suggested itinerary;
Day 1. Bus Pokhara – Kande. Trek Kande – Landruk, 16km
Day 2. Landruk – Forest Camp, 5km
Day 3. Forest Camp – High Camp, 8,5km
Day 4. High Camp – Base Camp – High Camp, 9km
Day 5. High Camp – Landruk, 12km
Day 6. Landruk – Sinuwa, 12km. From Landruk you can follow our Annapurna Base Camp trek itinerary.
Day 7. Sinuwa – Deurali, 14km
Day 8. Deurali – ABC, 9km
Day 9. ABC – Bamboo/Sinuwa, 15km/19km
Day 10. Bamboo/Sinuwa – Ghandruk, 14km/10km
How to combine Mardi Himal with the Poon Hill trek?
Another popular option is to combine these two trekking routes. First, you walk on the Poon Hill trek till Ghandruk, from Ghandruk you go to Landruk, and from there start the Mari Himal trek. It’ll take about one week to complete the route. Here is the suggested itinerary;
Day 1. Bus Pokhara – Nayapul. Trek Nayapul – Ulleri, 12km. From Nayapul you can follow our Poon Hill itinerary.
Day 2. Ulleri – Ghorepani, 8km
Day 3. Ghorepani – Poon Hill – Ghorepani – Ghandruk, 19km.
Day 4. Ghandruk – Forest Camp, 9,5km
Day 5. Forest Camp – High Camp, 8,5km
Day 6. High Camp – Base Camp – High Camp, 9km
Day 7. High Camp – Siding/Landruk, 8,5km/12,5km