The most well-known treks for many years have been to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). When you consider trekking in Nepal, these two treks immediately come to mind. After it was formally opened for trek in 2012, most people were unaware of the breathtaking Mardi Himal trek for a while. The Mardi Himal trek, a replacement for the Annapurna Circuit, is becoming more and more well-liked for a few years.
The Mardi Himal Trekking excursion brings you to the Mardi Himal base camp, situated between Mardi Himal and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) Mountain.
Short Itinerary of Mardi Himal Base Camp
| Day 1 | Drive from Pokhara to Dhampus and Trek to Deurali | Drive 3 Hours, Trek 3 Hours | Highest Altd: 2100m |
| Day 2 | Trek from Deurali to Forest Camp | Trek 6 Hours | Highest Altd: 2600m |
| Day 3 | Trek from Forest Camp to High Camp | Trek 5 Hours | Highest Altd: 3600m |
| Day 4 | Trek from High Camp to Mardi Himal Base Camp, and to Low Camp | Trek 7 Hours | Highest Altd: 4500m |
| Day 5 | Trek from Low Camp to Jhinu Danda | Trek 7 Hours | Highest Altd: 3050m |
| Day 6 | Trek from Jhinu Danda to Ghandruk and Drive to Pokhara | Trek 3 Hours, Drive 3 Hours | Highest Altd: 1780m |
Detailed Itinerary of Mardi Himal Base Camp
Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to Dhampus and Trek to Deurali
You’ll drive from Pokhara to Dhampus the first morning, then set out on the trekking routes from Dhampus. The hike offers a spectacular view of the Annapurna ranges. The trail goes through a forest of rhododendrons to Pothana and then on to Deurali (2100m). You can see Annapurna South, one of the tallest Himalayan peaks, rising in the distance from Deurali.
Day 2: Trek from Deurali to Forest Camp
The third day, as you make your way to Forest Camp, you will pass through a dense forest filled with oak, birch, and rhododendron. The forest is home to a variety of bird species, deer, and leopards.
Day 3: Trek from Forest Camp to High Camp
The third day’s hike will take you to High Camp. The trails are quite difficult and get narrower and more difficult as you go. The Modi River and Mardi River both flow alongside the path. From Forest Camp, it takes around 5 hours to get to High Camp.
Day 4: Trek from High Camp to Mardi Himal Base Camp, and to Low Camp
Starting at High Camp on your fourth day, you will ascend until you reach Mardi Himal Base Camp, which is at a height of 4500 meters. The Annapurna range can be seen in stunning detail from the Mardi Himal Base Camp.
We will be descending to Low Camp after taking in the views from Base Camp (3,050m). We will be descending, making the trek simpler.
Day 5: Trek from Low Camp to Jhinu Danda
From Low Camp, you take a downhill track through the woods as we descend. You continue to decline to the hillside community of Siding, which is located around 500 meters above the river valley. Trek passes through the Gurung-inhabited village of Landruk as it descends. We go even further to Jhinu Danda.
Day 6: Trek from Jhinu Danda to Ghandruk and Drive to Pokhara
On the last day, you’ll wake at Jhinu Danda, hike to Siwa or Ghardruk Phedi, and then hire a jeep/car via Nayapul to Pokhara.
Best Time to Trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp
The routes are easier to access and offer stunning mountain views in the spring and fall. The magnificent, clear, blue skies offer the most mesmerizing sights. In the winter and summer, the hikes get a little tougher. Winter brings frigid temperatures and snowfall to trekking areas, while summer’s monsoon season brings muddy, dangerous trails.
