Annapurna Base Camp with Mardi Himal Trek- 12 days

The Annapurna Base Camp with Mardi Himal Trek is one of Nepal’s most rewarding Himalayan journeys, combining two very different but beautifully connected trekking routes.

Overview
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Duration

12 Days

Max Alitiude

4,500 meters at Mardi Himal Base Camp

Transportation

Tourist Bus & Shared Jeep

Trip Grade

Moderate to Challenging

Activity

Trekking

Start/End Point

Dhampus/Jhinu Danda

Best Season

Spring (March–May) & Autumn (September–November)

Meals

Full board during trek (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Accommodation

Hotels (Kathmandu & Pokhara), Teahouses during trek

Trip Overview

The Annapurna Base Camp with Mardi Himal Trek is one of Nepal’s most rewarding Himalayan journeys, combining two very different but beautifully connected trekking routes. The Mardi Himal section offers quiet ridgelines, forest trails, and close-up mountain views. In contrast, the Annapurna Base Camp trail takes you deep into the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary, surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the region. Together, they create an 12-day trek that feels varied, balanced, and visually rich from start to finish.

The trip starts in Kathmandu, travels to Pokhara, and then progressively enters the Annapurna region’s highlands and villages. You go past terraced farmlands, lush rhododendron and bamboo woods, and traditional Gurung communities. Warm green lowlands give way to alpine ridges, and finally to high-altitude landscapes dominated by snow, rock, and glaciers as the route ascends. Important highlights are Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m) and Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500 m), both of which provide radically different but no less potent mountain experiences.

The climb to Mardi Himal Base Camp is the kind of memory that stays with you long after the trek is over. You leave sunrise before, moving quietly through the cold, half-awake darkness with only the sound of boots against the trail. At first, everything feels still and distant. But little by little, the sky begins to change.

As you climb higher, the first sunlight slowly touches Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range. The snowy peaks change color little by little, from dull grey to golden, then soft orange as the morning light spreads across the mountains. The air is cold, the wind cuts through your jacket, and the trail keeps rising, but somehow none of it matters when you look around. There’s a calmness up there that’s hard to explain, no traffic, no noise, no distractions. You will witness the mountains opening up in front of you and the quiet feeling of watching a new day begin in the Himalayas.

Later, you will head towards the Annapurna Base Camp. The trip to Annapurna Base Camp significantly alters the environment. The trail goes into a huge glacier basin surrounded by towering Himalayan giants rather than ridgelines and far-off vistas. Peaks like Annapurna South, Machapuchare, Hiunchuli, and Annapurna I rise sharply from all sides, giving the impression that you are in the middle of the Himalayas.

Jhinu Danda is an important stop on the trek because it gives trekkers a chance to rest after long days of walking. The natural hot springs beside the Modi Khola River help relax tired muscles and offer a peaceful break before continuing the journey.

This trek is considered moderately challenging and is suitable for trekkers with a reasonable level of fitness and a love for mountain landscapes. It’s not just about reaching the base camps, but it’s everything that happens along the way.

The combination of Mardi Himal’s ridge walking and Annapurna Base Camp’s dramatic glacier basin makes this itinerary especially unique. It offers both isolation and grandeur, challenge and comfort, cultural encounters and pure wilderness. Few treks in Nepal manage to bring so many contrasts together in such a natural flow. Whether you’re there for photography, adventure, or to experience life in the mountains of Nepal, the journey feels full at every step. It’s the kind of trek that stays with you long after you’ve left the trail behind.

When you are ready, this trail is waiting, offering not just a destination, but a full journey through some of the most beautiful mountains in the world.

Trip Highlights

  • Summit the Mardi Himal High Camp ridge at 3,580m and hike to the Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500m.
  • Relax at the Jhinu Danda natural hot springs on the descent.
  • Walk through dense rhododendron forests that explode with pink and red blossoms in spring.
  • Witness sunrise views over Machapuchare, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Mardi Himal.

Outline Itinerary

  • Day 01: Arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport and transfer to the hotel.
  • Day 02: Drive to Pokhara by tourist bus.
  • Day 03: Drive to Dhampus and trek to Forest camp.
  • Day 04: Trek to High Camp.
  • Day 05: Early in the morning, hike to View point- 4,200 meters (13,779 feet), Mardi Base Camp 4,500 meters (14,764 feet), and trek back to Forest Camp 2,150m (7,054 feet).
  • Day 06: Trek to Chhomrong.
  • Day 07: Trek to the Himalaya.
  • Day 08: Trek to Annapurna Base Camp.
  • Day 09: Trek down to Dovan.
  • Day 10: Trek to Jhinu Danda and drive to Pokhara.
  • Day 11: Drive to Kathmandu by tourist bus
  • Day 12: Departure

Trip Itinerary

  • Day 01 Arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport and transfer to the hotel.

    Upon arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, you will be welcomed by our representative and taken to your hotel. After checking in and freshening up at the hotel, the evening is yours to explore the colorful alleyways of Thamel, browse trekking gear shops, and enjoy your welcome dinner at a Nepali or international restaurant.

    If time permits, you can do a short walk to Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and living monument to the city’s medieval past. Tonight, after dinner, you will have a pre-trek briefing from your guide, who will walk you through the itinerary, permits, and any final preparations for the days ahead.

    Overnight in Kathmandu.

    • Max. Altitude: 1,400m (4,600 feet)

    • Accommodation: Standard Hotel

    • Meals: Dinner

  • Day 02 Drive to Pokhara by tourist bus.

    After an early breakfast, you will leave Kathmandu for the city of lakes. You will take a tourist bus and travel about 6-7 hours to reach Pokhara. Pokhara is Nepal’s adventure capital and a city of remarkable beauty. You will pass through the Trisuli and Marsyangdi river valleys, terraced rice fields, and roadside villages.

    Once you reach Pokhara in the afternoon, you will check into your lakeside hotel and rest for the remainder of the day. In the evening, you can also stroll along the Lakeside.

    Overnight in Pokhara.

    • Max. Altitude: 822m (2,697 feet)

    • Accommodation: Standard Hotel

    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    • Drive duration: 6-7 hours’ drive

  • Day 03 Drive to Dhampus and trek to Forest camp.

    After breakfast, you will take a short drive from Pokhara to Dhampus, a beautiful Gurung village situated on the hills overlooking the Annapurna range. From Dhampus, you will start the trek, and the panoramic mountain views are truly spectacular, making for a perfect start.

    As you start trekking, the trail gradually ascends through dense forests of rhododendron, oak, and bamboo. In spring, the forests bloom with vibrant red and pink rhododendron flowers, creating one of Nepal’s most beautiful trekking trails.

    As you continue ascending deeper into the forest, the atmosphere becomes peaceful and distant. The sounds of birds, flowing streams, and rustling leaves accompany your journey toward Forest Camp.

    Forest Camp, also called Kokar, is a quiet settlement surrounded by dense woodland. This spot is perfect for a relaxing stop during the trek and also has the thali-style food.

    Overnight in Forest Camp.

    • Max. Altitude: 2,150m (7,054 feet)

    • Accommodation: Teahouse or Lodge

    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    • Drive duration: 2 hours’ drive

    • Trek Duration: 4-5 hours trek

  • Day 04 Trek to High Camp.

    Today’s journey is one of the most scenic sections of the Mardi Himal Trek. After breakfast, you will continue trekking uphill through dense rhododendron and moss-covered forests toward Low Camp and Badal Danda. The peaceful forest trail gradually opens up as the elevation increases, revealing wider views of the surrounding Himalayan landscape. Along the way, the striking pyramid-shaped Machhapuchhre dominates the skyline, while Annapurna South and Hiunchuli rise prominently in the distance.

    The trail feels entirely different after passing Badal Danda. The trail opens onto long mountain ranges with limitless vistas on both sides as the trees gradually fade into the distance behind you. There are moments when the clouds are well below the route, giving the impression that you are traveling above the actual world. With rocky slopes, alpine pastures, and the snow-covered Himalayas extending over the horizon, the scenery grows more untamed and expansive with each step up.

    The walk toward High Camp is one of those sections you do not want to end. The trail follows narrow ridges with huge mountain views in every direction, and the closer you get, the more dramatic the scenery becomes. By the time you finally arrive at High Camp, surrounded by towering peaks and cold mountain air, the place feels isolated in the best possible way.

    As evening approaches, the mountains slowly change color. Warm golden light touches Machapuchare and the Annapurna range while the sky begins to darken behind them. Sitting there and watching the sunset from High Camp feels less like a stop on a trek and more like a moment you will remember long after the journey ends.

    Overnight in High Camp.

    • Max. Altitude: 2,600m (8,530 feet)

    • Accommodation: Teahouse or Lodge

    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    • Trek Duration: 5-6 hours trek

  • Day 05 Early in the morning, hike to View point- 4,200 meters (13,779 feet), Mardi Base Camp 4,500 meters (14,764 feet), and trek back to Forest Camp 2,150m (7,054 feet).

    This is the most exciting and physically demanding day of the trek. Before sunrise, you will begin the steep ascent toward Mardi Himal Viewpoint. Once you reach the viewpoint, you will wait for the sunrise with patience and excitement.

    As the first golden light slowly illuminates Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and the surrounding snow-covered peaks, you will witness one of the most spectacular Himalayan sunrises in Nepal. The panoramic mountain scenery from the viewpoint feels incredibly stunning.

    At around 4,500 meters, you will resume the slow ascent toward Mardi Himal Base Camp after enjoying the dawn and capturing the moments. The path offers amazing up-close views of Mardi Himal, Annapurna I, and the famous fishtail-shaped Machhapuchhre as it winds through a steep, high-altitude trail.

    The mountain scenery near base camp is raw, vast, and unforgettable, with rocky ridges, high-altitude landscapes, and glaciers surrounding the area. After spending some time at base camp for rest and photography, you will descend carefully back to High Camp before continuing downhill toward Forest Camp.

    Overnight in Forest Camp.

    • Max. Altitude: 4,500m (14,764 feet)

    • Accommodation: Teahouse or Lodge

    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    • Trek Duration: 5-6 hours trek

  • Day 06 Trek to Chhomrong.

    Today’s route connects the Mardi Himal trail with the classic Annapurna Base Camp trail. The trail descends steadily through dense rhododendron and bamboo forests, then passes traditional villages and terraced agricultural landscapes.

    As you descend more, the scenery changes from isolated forest trails to more populated villages with terraced farmland, stone pathways, and small local tea houses scattered along the route.

    The journey passes through several rural settlements where daily mountain life can be observed up close, with farmers working the terraces and traditional stone houses lining the hillsides. The route offers occasional mountain views, especially of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South, which remain visible throughout much of the day.

    By afternoon, you will arrive at Chhomrong, one of the largest and most important villages along the Annapurna Sanctuary route. The village sits beautifully on a hillside facing Annapurna South and Machapuchare.

    The Gurung community of Chhomrong is known for warm hospitality and strong cultural traditions. The village offers spectacular sunset views and an authentic Himalayan atmosphere.

    Overnight at Chhomrong.

    • Max. Altitude: 2,170 meters (7,120 feet)

    • Accommodation: Teahouse or Lodge

    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    • Trek Duration: 6-7 hours trek

  • Day 07 Trek to the Himalaya.

    After breakfast, you will trek towards the Himalaya. From Chhomrong, the trail descends steeply via long stone staircases to the Chhomrong Khola, then crosses and begins a steady uphill climb toward Sinuwa. This part of the trek is physically demanding, with a continuous up-and-down trail that quickly transitions from open hillside villages into dense forested slopes.

    After leaving Sinuwa behind, the trail slowly pulls you away from the busy villages and into a quieter part of the mountains. The sound of the river follows beside you as the path winds through thick bamboo and rhododendron forests, where the air feels cooler, and the sunlight only occasionally breaks through the trees. Wooden bridges sway over fast-moving streams, waterfalls spill down the cliffs around you, and some sections of the trail cling tightly to the mountainside, making the walk feel both peaceful and adventurous at the same time.

    You start to notice how the valley is changing as you pass by little stops like Bamboo, Dovan, and Himalaya. The route becomes more obscure deep in the forest as the mountains grow closer and the cliffs grow steeper. You get a stronger sense that you are moving deeper into the Annapurna Sanctuary and away from the outer world with each step.

    Overnight at Himalaya.

    • Max. Altitude: 2,920 meters (9,580 feet)

    • Accommodation: Teahouse or Lodge

    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    • Trek Duration: 6-7 hours trek

  • Day 08 Trek to Annapurna Base Camp.

    Today is another unforgettable highlight of the entire journey. From Himalaya, the trail climbs steadily through Deurali and the Hinku Cave area, following the narrow Modi Khola valley deeper into the Annapurna Sanctuary. The forest gradually fades away, and the scenery becomes more open, with rocky slopes, river crossings, and cliffs on both sides of the trail.

    You will first arrive at Machapuchare Base Camp, where the views suddenly open up in every direction. From here, the surrounding peaks feel much closer, with Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range dominating the skyline. After a short break, the trail continues gently upward toward Annapurna Base Camp.

    The last view of Annapurna Base Camp is just amazing. When you get there, the tall peaks of Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre surround you in a natural amphitheater. With no doubt, this is one of Nepal’s most powerful and exquisite Himalaya experiences where the scenery feels vast, silent, and overwhelming.

    Overnight at Annapurna Base Camp.

    • Max. Altitude: 4,130 meters (13,550 feet)

    • Accommodation: Teahouse or Lodge

    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    • Trek Duration: 6-7 hours trek

  • Day 09 Trek down to Dovan.

    You wake early at Annapurna Base Camp to watch the sunrise over Annapurna I and the surrounding peaks, when the entire sanctuary slowly turns golden and bright.

    After breakfast, you begin the descent, retracing the trail back through Machapuchare Base Camp, Deurali, Himalaya, and Dovan.

    By the time you reach Dovan, the air feels warmer and thicker, and the bamboo and rhododendron forests return. The sound of the river grows louder, marking the transition from high-altitude wilderness back into the lower valley.

    Overnight at Dovan.

    • Max. Altitude: 2,505 meters (9,348 feet)

    • Accommodation: Teahouse or Lodge

    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    • Trek Duration: 5-6 hours trek

  • Day 10 Trek to Jhinu Danda and drive to Pokhara.

    The final trekking day continues from the forested trail down toward Chhomrong, followed by a long descent of stone steps to the Modi Khola valley. From Chhomrong, you continue toward Jhinu Danda, a quiet hillside village known for its natural hot springs. After several days on the trail, this is where most trekkers stop to soak their tired legs in warm, mineral-rich water.

    After lunch and some rest, you will drive back to Pokhara by shared jeep. The journey takes you fully out of the mountains and back into the lakeside city. Once you reach Pokhara, you will drive to your hotel, where you will rest for the remainder of the day. Also, if you feel light and fresh, then you can stroll around the lakeside in the evening.

    Overnight at Pokhara.

    • Accommodation: Standard Hotel

    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    • Drive duration: 2.30 hours’ drive

    • Trek Duration: 4-5 hours trek

  • Day 11 Drive to Kathmandu by tourist bus

    After breakfast, you will take a tourist bus back to Kathmandu from Pokhara. The drive passes through winding mountain roads, river valleys, small roadside settlements, terraced hillsides, local villages, and distant mountain glimpses.

    Once you arrive, you will be transferred to your hotel, where you can rest. Also, you can explore nearby cultural sites, shop for souvenirs in Thamel, or enjoy a relaxed evening in the capital.

    Overnight in Kathmandu.

    • Accommodation: Standard Hotel

    • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    • Drive duration: 6-7 hours’ drive

  • Day 12 Departure

    According to your international flight schedule, our representative will pick you up from your hotel in Kathmandu and transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport. At the airport, you will complete your check-in and departure formalities for your international flight.

    This marks the end of your journey in Nepal, after days spent in the Himalayas, moving through remote trails, high mountain passes, forests, and traditional villages. You leave with lasting memories of the Annapurna region.

    • Meals: Breakfast (Lunch depending on the schedule)

Trip notes

Before leaving Pokhara, withdraw enough Nepali cash since there are no ATMs along the trek. Carry a reusable water bottle, as teahouses provide filtered drinking water for a small fee. Mobile networks work in many villages but become weaker at higher altitudes, and some lodges offer Wi-Fi for an extra charge.

The weather in the mountains can change quickly so that guides may adjust the itinerary for safety. As you move through the villages and trails, respecting local culture and keeping the mountains clean becomes part of the experience. Tipping guides and porters is common, though always optional.

Cost Includes

  • Airport picks up and drops off.
  • All necessary trekking permits (ACAP, TIMS, or equivalent).
  • Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara (standard tourist category, twin sharing)
  • Teahouse/Lodge accommodation during the trek.
  • Three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) during the trek.
  • Professional trekking guide and porter (1 porter for two trekkers).
  • Guide and porter insurance, salary, food, and lodging.
  • All government and local taxes.

Cost Excludes

  • International airfares.
  • Nepal entry visa fees.
  • All personal expenses, including alcohol & other beverages, trekking equipment, travel insurance, and more.
  • Extra expenses during the trek, like hot shower charge, battery charging, Wi-Fi, and any others.
  • Tips for the trekking guides and porters.
  • Additional hotel stays in Kathmandu or Pokhara if not on the planned itinerary.
  • Any expenses not mentioned in the “Includes” section.

When to visit

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Bishal Gurung

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