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A 12‑day trek that pairs close-up views of Annapurna and Machapuchare with Gurung villages and high alpine ridgelines. Expect steep single-track, teahouses, and a highest camp near 4,200–4,500 m.
A 12‑day trek that pairs close-up views of Annapurna and Machapuchare with Gurung villages and high alpine ridgelines. Expect steep single-track, teahouses, and a highest camp near 4,200–4,500 m.
The first steps leave the hum of Pokhara behind—temples and lakes shrink, terraced fields rise, and the trail tilts into fir and rhododendron forest. Cold, clean air pushes at your lungs as the massif of Annapurna South and Machapuchare come into view, glaciers and ridgelines pinning the sky.
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The first steps leave the hum of Pokhara behind—temples and lakes shrink, terraced fields rise, and the trail tilts into fir and rhododendron forest. Cold, clean air pushes at your lungs as the massif of Annapurna South and Machapuchare come into view, glaciers and ridgelines pinning the sky.
This 12‑day route blends local culture with high‑altitude alpine scenery: traditional Gurung villages like Ghandruk give a window into mountain life, while the geology is raw—sedimentary valleys carved by monsoon-fed rivers and ancient uplift that lifted these 7,000‑meter giants out of the plain. Mardi Himal itself is a ridge of moraine and shale, offering intimate viewpoints rather than distant panoramas.
Expect teahouse accommodations, single‑track trails, and sections of steep, rocky ascent. The trek covers roughly 70–90 km total with cumulative elevation gain around 2,500–3,000 m; highest nights approach 4,200–4,500 m at High Camp/Base Camp. Typical hiking days run 4–7 hours with one acclimatization day recommended.
Local insights: mornings often offer the clearest views; afternoons bring cloud build and higher winds. Permits (ACAP and TIMS) are required and support conservation.
Practical guidance: train for sustained uphill hiking, bring layered clothing for wide temperature swings, and carry a light first‑aid kit with altitude‑sickness meds. Hydrate frequently and plan to move deliberately on steep sections—your pace, not scenery, protects acclimatization. With planning, this trek rewards with close‑up Himalayan faces, quiet villages, and a clear sense of walking through the geology and culture of the Annapurna range.
The route reaches high camps around 4,200–4,500 m; you should be prepared for thinner air and take time to acclimatize—symptoms of AMS should be taken seriously.
Yes. You need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and a TIMS card; permits are obtained in Pokhara or Kathmandu before the trek.
Teahouse lodges along the route offer basic rooms and meals; facilities become simpler and colder above 3,000 m.
Pre‑monsoon (March–May) and post‑monsoon (late September–November) offer the clearest views and most stable conditions.
The first steps leave the hum of Pokhara behind—temples and lakes shrink, terraced fields rise, and the trail tilts into fir and rhododendron forest. Cold, clean air pushes at your lungs as the massif of Annapurna South and Machapuchare come into view, glaciers and ridgelines pinning the sky.
The first steps leave the hum of Pokhara behind—temples and lakes shrink, terraced fields rise, and the trail tilts into fir and rhododendron forest. Cold, clean air pushes at your lungs as the massif of Annapurna South and Machapuchare come into view, glaciers and ridgelines pinning the sky.
This 12‑day route blends local culture with high‑altitude alpine scenery: traditional Gurung villages like Ghandruk give a window into mountain life, while the geology is raw—sedimentary valleys carved by monsoon-fed rivers and ancient uplift that lifted these 7,000‑meter giants out of the plain. Mardi Himal itself is a ridge of moraine and shale, offering intimate viewpoints rather than distant panoramas.
Expect teahouse accommodations, single‑track trails, and sections of steep, rocky ascent. The trek covers roughly 70–90 km total with cumulative elevation gain around 2,500–3,000 m; highest nights approach 4,200–4,500 m at High Camp/Base Camp. Typical hiking days run 4–7 hours with one acclimatization day recommended.
Local insights: mornings often offer the clearest views; afternoons bring cloud build and higher winds. Permits (ACAP and TIMS) are required and support conservation.
Practical guidance: train for sustained uphill hiking, bring layered clothing for wide temperature swings, and carry a light first‑aid kit with altitude‑sickness meds. Hydrate frequently and plan to move deliberately on steep sections—your pace, not scenery, protects acclimatization. With planning, this trek rewards with close‑up Himalayan faces, quiet villages, and a clear sense of walking through the geology and culture of the Annapurna range.