Mardi Himal Trek 8 Days: Annapurna Views & Teahouse Lodging

Eight Days to 4,500 Meters: The Quieter Side of the Annapurnas

You arrive in Kathmandu, drive to Pokhara, then trek for five days through quieter Annapurna forests and alpine terrain to a 4,500-meter viewpoint overlooking three major peaks. Teahouse lodging, all transport between cities, and the early-morning hike to the viewpoint are included. You descend on day seven and return to Kathmandu by bus on day eight.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and explore Kathmandu

• Arrive in Kathmandu
• Transfer to hotel
• Explore Thamel streets
• Overnight in Kathmandu

Day 2 — Drive to Pokhara and lakeside walk

• Early morning bus to Pokhara
• Scenic drive along rivers
• Evening walk at Lakeside
• Overnight in Pokhara

Day 3 — Drive to Kande and trek to Deurali

• Drive 1.5 hours to Kande
• Trek through Australian Camp and Pothana
• Enjoy mountain views
• Overnight in Deurali teahouse

Day 4 — Trek from Deurali to Forest Camp

• Hike through rhododendron forest
• Experience quiet trail
• Overnight in Forest Camp teahouse

Day 5 — Trek to High Camp with mountain views

• Gradual ascent to High Camp
• View Mardi Himal and Machhapuchhre
• Overnight in High Camp teahouse

Day 6 — Hike to Mardi Himal viewpoint and return

• Early hike to viewpoint
• Enjoy panoramic mountain views
• Return to High Camp for rest
• Overnight in High Camp teahouse

Day 7 — Descend to Siding and drive to Pokhara

• Descend through forest and settlements
• Drive back to Pokhara
• Relax evening at Lakeside
• Overnight in Pokhara

Day 8 — Return to Kathmandu by bus

• Morning bus to Kathmandu
• Transfer to hotel
• Farewell dinner with Nepalese cuisine
• Overnight in Kathmandu

The Experience

The bus leaves Kathmandu at 6:30 AM and you're half asleep, coffee in hand, watching the city blur into farmland. Six or seven hours later you're in Pokhara, and the plan is to rest, but the lake is right there, so you walk the Lakeside instead and end up eating dinner twice. That's how the Mardi Himal trek starts — not with some grand moment, but with the small chaos of getting from one place to the next. The trek itself doesn't begin until day three, after you've driven another 1.5 hours from Pokhara to Kande and stepped onto a forested trail that climbs toward the Annapurna massif.

What makes this trek different from the crowded main routes is exactly what the name suggests: it's quieter. You'll trek through rhododendron forests on day four, a section so underpacked that you might spend hours without seeing another group. The trail climbs gradually — five to six hours from Deurali to Forest Camp at 2,600 meters, then another five to six hours to High Camp at 3,580 meters — and the pace is built around teahouse stays, not camping. You sleep in small lodges run by local families, eat what they cook, and wake to the sound of the valley instead of a camp alarm. On day six, you hike up to the Mardi Himal viewpoint at 4,500 meters in the early morning, see Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) spread across the horizon, and come back down for breakfast. It's a summit without the summit — the views are there, the altitude is real, but you're not spending the night at the top.

The descent on day seven takes five to six hours through forest and small settlements down to Siding Village at 1,750 meters, then a two-hour drive back to Pokhara. Your legs know they've worked, but you're not destroyed. The final day is the long bus ride back to Kathmandu — another six to seven hours — and you arrive at your hotel in Thamel with the kind of tired that feels earned. The whole thing is eight days door to door, which means you're not committing a month of your life, but you're also not rushing through the mountains in a weekend.

What’s included

Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu (two nights) and Pokhara (two nights), tourist bus transport from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back, vehicle transfer from Pokhara to Kande, teahouse lodging at Deurali, Forest Camp, and High Camp during the trek, and the early-morning hike to Mardi Himal viewpoint on day six.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Amazing Nepal Adventure

Is this one for you?Choose this trek if you want genuine mountain views and solitude without the logistics of arranging your own transport, finding teahouses, or navigating between Kathmandu and the trailhead — the fixed itinerary handles all three, which is what makes eight days in the Annapurnas possible without a guide or group.

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Top questions

How many days is the actual trekking versus travel days?

Five days of trekking (days three through seven). Days one, two, and eight are travel and rest in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

What's the highest altitude on this trek?

The Mardi Himal viewpoint at 4,500 meters (14,764 feet). High Camp, where you sleep, is at 3,580 meters.

Is this trek crowded?

No. Mardi Himal is less popular than the main Annapurna Circuit or Poon Hill routes, so trails are quieter, especially through the rhododendron forest sections.

Do I need mountaineering experience?

No. It's a trekking route, not a technical climb. Moderate fitness is required, but no climbing skills.

Where do you sleep during the trek?

In teahouses run by local families at Deurali (2,100m), Forest Camp (2,600m), and High Camp (3,580m). Kathmandu and Pokhara nights are in hotels.

How long is the drive from Kathmandu to the trek start?

About 7.5 hours total: 6–7 hours by bus to Pokhara, then 1.5 hours by vehicle to Kande where the trek begins.

What's included in the price?

Transport between Kathmandu, Pokhara, and the trek start; teahouse lodging during the trek; and hotel stays in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Is this trek suitable for first-time trekkers?

Yes, if you have moderate fitness. The pace is steady but not extreme, and teahouse trekking is more accessible than high-altitude mountaineering.