6 Days Mardi Himal Trek

Autumn (October to November) and spring (March to May) are the two main windows for the Mardi Himal Trek. Autumn delivers the clearest skies and sharpest mountain views after the monsoon clears, and the rhododendron forest is russet-gold. Spring brings warmer daytime temperatures at altitude, rhododendron in full bloom between Forest Camp and High Camp, and longer daylight for the base camp push.

Winter trekking (December to February) is possible, and the trail stays open, but High Camp and the ridge above it can carry snow, the nights drop well below freezing and fewer lodges stay open. The monsoon (June to September) brings heavy rain, leeches in the lower forest and reduced visibility at altitude, making base camp mornings cloudy. The season cards above give the month-by-month breakdown.

The 6 Days Mardi Himal Trek requires two permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the Trekkers' Information Management System card (TIMS). The ACAP costs NPR 3,000 for non-SAARC nationals and covers entry to the Annapurna Conservation Area, which encompasses the entire Mardi Himal route. The TIMS card costs NPR 2,000 for organised trekkers or NPR 3,000 for independent trekkers.

Neither permit is a restricted-area permit, which means there is no minimum group size, no licensed-guide requirement by law, and no separate quota. Both permits are obtainable in Pokhara or Kathmandu through a registered trekking agency. Swotah handles both as part of the package once you provide a passport copy and a photo. Permit rates above are 2025 figures; Swotah confirms current rates before departure.

Accommodation on the 6 Days Mardi Himal Trek is community teahouse lodges, built and run by local families in Kande, Australian Base Camp, Forest Camp, High Camp and Sidhing. These are simpler and quieter than Annapurna Base Camp lodges because Mardi sees far fewer trekkers, but they are clean, welcoming and well-stocked for the altitude. Most offer hot showers at the lower elevations; High Camp lodges rely on solar-heated water and can be cold at night.

A three-season sleeping bag is adequate for most of the year, though a four-season bag is worth packing for a High Camp night in winter or early spring when temperatures drop sharply. Swotah books rooms in advance in peak season when lodges fill. Pokhara, the end point, has a full range of hotels.

Food at the Mardi Himal lodges is straightforward teahouse cooking, with dal bhat (lentil soup, rice and vegetable curry) as the staple because it is substantial and lodges offer free refills. Noodles, pasta, Tibetan bread, eggs, porridge, soups and seasonal vegetables round out most menus. Lodges at High Camp have the narrowest selection, so eat a large meal the evening before the base camp push.

Swotah includes three meals a day on the trek. For water, target 3 to 4 litres a day above 3,000 m to reduce AMS risk. Boiled water is sold at all lodges and is the simplest option; purification tablets, a filter bottle or a UV pen all work for stream water. Avoid untreated stream water and single-use plastic bottles where possible. Carry a reusable one-litre bottle as a minimum.

The 6 Days Mardi Himal Trek starts with a short drive from Pokhara to Kande (1,770 m), roughly 30 minutes by jeep up the switchbacks above the city. Kande is the official trailhead and the point where the ACAP checkpoint records your permit. The route does not retrace itself: after the base camp and descent to Sidhing (1,700 m), a jeep picks trekkers up for the drive back to Pokhara, around 1 to 1.5 hours depending on road conditions.

Swotah runs both road legs in a private jeep or van, which is faster and more flexible than the local bus. From Pokhara, the return trip to Kathmandu is by tourist bus (roughly 6 to 7 hours on the Prithvi Highway) or a 30-minute domestic flight. The bus departs Pokhara in the morning, and Swotah times the Sidhing pickup to connect with the afternoon service if needed.

Mardi Himal at 5,587 m is the sixth-highest peak in the Annapurna range and the smallest of the classically climbed Annapurna group. Its name means in Nepali the mountain above the Mardi Khola, the river that drains its southern face. For decades it was overshadowed by the Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill circuits, and the official Mardi Himal trekking route was only gazetted in 2012, keeping crowds low by Annapurna standards.

The views from High Camp and Mardi Base Camp take in Machhapuchhre (6,993 m) less than four kilometres away, Annapurna South (7,219 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m) and Annapurna I (8,091 m) further along the massif. Machhapuchhre, the fishtail peak, is sacred to the god Shiva and has never been climbed; all permits to summit it have been withheld since a 1957 British expedition. Its presence at close range is one of the defining features of the Mardi route.

A licensed guide is not legally required for the Mardi Himal Trek because it is not a restricted area, but Swotah includes one as standard for navigation, safety and local knowledge. Guides hold Ministry of Tourism licences and know the lodge network, the route variations between Forest Camp and High Camp, and the early-morning base camp approach. They carry a pulse oximeter and a first-aid kit.

A porter is recommended for trekkers who prefer to walk with a light daypack. One porter carries 20 to 25 kg, and Swotah caps loads at that weight because porters climb to the same altitude as trekkers. A free duffel bag is provided so your main luggage travels separately and you carry only a day layer and snacks on the trail. Tipping at the end is customary: a standard guideline is 10 to 15% of the trip cost, paid directly to the guide and porter.

Mobile coverage on the Mardi Himal trail is better than on the remote circuits, but it is not consistent. Nepal Telecom (NTC) gives signal at Kande and in Pokhara; coverage in the forest between Australian Base Camp and Forest Camp is patchy, and High Camp can be dead. Ncell signal is variable on the upper ridge. Swotah provides a tourist SIM if required.

Wi-Fi is available at Forest Camp and High Camp lodges for a small fee, though bandwidth is low. Charging costs NPR 200 to 400 per device at lodges above Australian Base Camp, rising with altitude. A power bank with at least 10,000 mAh covers two days of phone and camera use. Cold nights at High Camp drain batteries fast, so keep your devices warm in your sleeping bag.

The Mardi Himal Conservation Area is fragile: the trail to base camp has accumulated litter as its popularity has grown since 2012. Swotah's basic rules are to carry a reusable water bottle, avoid single-use plastic, pack out all personal waste, stay on the marked trail near High Camp where vegetation is slow to recover, and ask before photographing villagers in Sidhing and Lumre.

Tipping the guide and porter at the end of the trek is the norm and makes a direct difference to seasonal workers who have no off-season income. A common guideline is 10 to 15% of the trek cost, but any amount is appreciated and given directly. Booking through a registered operator like Swotah also ensures that ACAP and TIMS permits are legitimate, porter loads are capped and staff are insured.