Mardi Himal Trek — Annapurna’s Best-Kept Secret - 9 days

Welcome to the bustling city of Kathmandu. Upon arriving at the Tribhuvan International Airport, the official representative of Tour Fun Nepal will welcome you at the arrival gate, then escort you to the hotel. After reaching your respective hotel, he will help you through the check-in process. 
Later that day, there will be a scheduled trip briefing where your trekking guide will provide you all the information regarding the Mardi Himal Trek. It is also advisable to go through your gears and equipment on this day. If there is anything you would like to buy or hire, our trekking guide will help you find the right gear shops around Thamel. 
Overnight at the hotel.

On this day, we catch an early morning flight to Pokhara, the city of lakes. During the half-an-hour flight, we get to savor the beauty of the rugged hills and saw-tooth mountains. Upon landing at the domestic airport in Pokhara, we take an hour-long drive to Kande, the starting point of our trek. 
We begin the trek with a steep ascent on well-laid stone stairs. After walking for about an hour, we will reach the beautiful hamlet of Australian Camp. On a cloudless day, this hilltop offers a magnificent panorama of Annapurna Massif, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Lamjung Himal, and Mt. Manaslu. 
After spending some time at the Australian Camp, we continue our walk downhill towards Pothana, a small Gurung village at the elevation of 1,990 meters. 
Overnight at the local teahouse.

On this day, we leave the touristy village of Pothana behind and take on the solitary trail to Forest Camp. We walk through a densely forested path under the shades of oak, rhododendron, and birch trees. The trail is relatively pleasant, with occasional ups and downs. If you do this trek during spring, you’ll get to witness the grace of rhododendrons in full bloom. 
After walking for about four to five hours from Pothana, we emerge from the steep forested trail into an extensive village at Forest Camp. Located in the middle of dense woodland, Forest Camp offers a sense of calmness and tranquility. We will take a well-deserved rest in the teahouse for the rest of the evening. 
Overnight at the local teahouse.

The day begins with a steep climb along the narrow pathway into the jungle. As we walk uphill, the vegetation changes to the classic ‘cloud forest’ enclosed with lichen, mosses, and tree ferns.  
Occasionally, you’ll come across small openings in the thick woods that peeks onto the spectacular glimpses of Hiunchuli and Annapurna South. Down towards the left, we’ll see the distant sight of Modi Khola Valley spreading towards the Annapurna Sanctuary. Since this will be a relatively short day, we’ll reach Badal Danda by lunchtime. 
Although enclosed by forest, Badal Danda is considered as the best place to relish the northerly sight of the ever-closer Machhapuchhre. We spend the rest of the day relaxing and acclimatizing at the altitude. 
Overnight at the local teahouse.

After breakfast, we start the day with a steep climb on a forest trail. After ascending for about an hour, the path opens to a grassy ridge above the treeline. Here, we get to marvel at the incredible sight of Machhapuchhre. 
We walk through a narrow path on to a ridgeline overlooking at a splendid view of the valleys below, along with the towering peaks above the clouds. Since we’ll reach over 3,500 meters on this day, we might slightly feel the altitude and change in the atmosphere. It is advisable to drink a lot of fluids and not to rush while walking. 
Furthermore, we continue walking through the narrow ridgeline, directly facing Mt. Machhapuchhre, until we reach High Camp. Stretching down the Himalayas, High Camp is the highest sleepover point on this trek. Since we’ll reach High Camp by lunchtime, we relax the rest of the day and relish the grandiose view of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre. 
Overnight at the local teahouse.

Massive day! We begin the day before dawn and set off for the Mardi Himal Base Camp via the Upper View Point (4,200m). The first couple hours of the hike is challenging as we have to ascend over a steep ridge. We reach the Upper View Point to witness the epic sunrise over the soaring Machhapuchhre. On the left, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli appear just a stone’s throw away. 
If the conditions are favorable, we’ll continue the adventure towards the Mardi Himal Base Camp. As we walk further from the Upper View Point, the path becomes progressively narrower. Upon reaching the base camp, the view of Machhapuchhre becomes even more substantial. In fact, it is only the crest of Mardi Himal that separates us from the south face of Machhapuchhre. Just below lie the huge ice fields and blue glaciers tumbling down the wall of the Annapurna Sanctuary. 
After enjoying our time at the base camp and gawking at the breathtaking sight of the mountains, we’ll retrace the route back to Low Camp. Making our way down from High Camp and then Badal Danda, we’ll reach Low Camp by the afternoon. Upon arriving, we can enjoy some hot drinks and warm foods at the teahouse. 
Overnight at the local teahouse.

We wake up early to enjoy a hearty breakfast with an incredible sight of the Himalayas. After breakfast, we head downhill towards the village of Siding, following an entirely different route. The walk is relatively gentle under the shade of the forest. As we descend further away from the Himalayas, the path emerges out of the treeline onto terraced fields and broad valleys. 
We will follow an alternative route towards the upper Mardi Khola. We walk along the rift valley, passing several small villages to reach Siding. At Siding, we’ll catch a jeep and head back to Pokhara. Although the road is rough and bumpy, it is filled with a delightful view of the valleys, rivers, hills, and mountains. Upon reaching Pokhara, we’ll take a well-deserved rest. Late in the evening, we can also stroll around the Lakeside and enjoy the relaxing vibe of the city. 
Overnight at the hotel.

Since we will have an afternoon flight back to Kathmandu, we can spend the first half of the day exploring Pokhara. We can explore the lakeside and ride a boat across the Phewa Lake to the island temple of Tal Barahi. We can also visit a few important sites of Pokhara, including Davis Falls and Gupteshwar Cave. 
According to the flight time, we’ll set off for the airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu. The half-an-hour flight from Pokhara to the Capital City offers a fascinating sight of the surrounding hills and mountains. Upon reaching Kathmandu, we’ll drive to the hotel and relax for the rest of the evening. We can also stroll around the colorful alleyways of Thamel and buy some souvenir to take home. Late in the evening, the representative of Tour Fun Nepal will pick you up from the hotel for the celebration dinner. 
Overnight at the hotel.

Time to bid farewell to Nepal! On the farewell day, the representative of Tour Fun Nepal will pick you up from your hotel as per your flight schedule and escort you to the airport for the final departure.