Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara

Activity: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara by tourist bus.
Distance: ~200 km (124 miles)

Duration: 6–7 hours

Highlights: Scenic drive through hills, rivers, and local villages.

Day 2: Pokhara to Dhampus to Deurali

Activity: Drive from Pokhara to Dhampus, then trek to Deurali.

Drive Altitude: Dhampus (1,640m / 5,380ft)

Trek Altitude: Deurali (2,100m / 6,889ft)

Trek Distance: 9 km (5.5 miles)

Trek Duration: 3–4 hours

Highlights: Walk through rhododendron forests and traditional villages.

Day 3: Deurali to Forest Camp

Trek Altitude: Forest Camp (2,600m / 8,530ft)

Trek Distance: 6 km (3.7 miles)

Trek Duration: 5–6 hours

Highlights: Serene forest trails, lush greenery, gradual altitude gain.

Day 4: Forest Camp to High Camp

Trek Altitude: High Camp (3,600m / 11,811ft)

Trek Distance: 8.5 km (5.2 miles)

Trek Duration: 4–5 hours

Highlights: Expansive mountain vistas, transition from forest to alpine landscape.

Day 5: High Camp to Mardi Himal Base Camp and back to Low Camp

Trek Altitude: Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m / 14,763ft), return to Low Camp (3,050m / 10,006ft)

Trek Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)

Trek Duration: 5–7 hours

Highlights: Panoramic views of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South, exhilarating high-altitude trekking.

Day 6: Low Camp to Jhinu Danda

Trek Altitude: Jhinu Danda (1,780m / 5,839ft)

Trek Distance: 12 km (7.4 miles)

Trek Duration: 6–7 hours

Highlights: Forested descent, opportunity to relax in natural hot springs at Jhinu Danda.

Day 7: Jhinu Danda to Siwa/Ghandruk Phedi, drive to Pokhara

Trek Altitude: Siwa/Ghandruk Phedi (1,150m / 3,770ft)

Trek Distance: 4 km (2.4 miles)

Trek Duration: 3–4 hours

Drive: Siwa/Ghandruk Phedi to Nayapul (~30 minutes), then Nayapul to Pokhara (~1.5 hours)

Highlights: Easy descent, beautiful rural scenery, return to Pokhara.

Day 8: Pokhara to Kathmandu

Activity: Drive back to Kathmandu by tourist bus.

Duration: 6–7 hours

Highlights: Final scenic journey, time to explore Kathmandu.

Costing: The cost of the complete 8-day Mardi Himal Trek is around $555. This is the cost of permits, accommodation, meals while trekking, and transportation to and from the trek, which is a lot. What great value for such an amazing Himalayan adventure with beautiful mountain views and local cultural experiences.

Permits and Entry for Mardi Himal Trek

The Mardi Himal Trek in the Annapurna region requires trekkers to obtain two important permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card. The fees for permits are:

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP); For foreigners, NRP 3000.00; USD 28.00 per person. For SAARC Nationals, NRP 1500 (USD 14.00) person. Group TIMS Card; For foreigners, NRP 1000 (USD 10.00) per person. For SAARC Nationals, NRP 600 (USD 6.00) per person.

Tour Highlights

A day in Pokhara - the tourist capital of Nepal

 Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m) 

Relaxing hot springs at Jhinu Danda 

Suitable for all age groups 

Mardi Himal High Camp (3,600m), Low Camp, Forest Camp (2600m)

 First-hand experience of rural Nepali village life