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Machapuchare (Fishtail) towering over the lodges at Mardi Himal High Camp, Nepal

Home › Treks › Mardi Himal Base Camp

Annapurna, Nepal · Nepal

Mardi Himal Base Camp trek: grade, cost & permits

Everyone chases Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Base Camp; Mardi Himal gets a fraction of the crowds but the same close-up wall of Machapuchare and Annapurna South, in half the days and cost — the ridge-top base camp view rivals ABC's.

Photo: Aasish Shah · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

GradeMedium
Duration5 days
Highest point4,500 m
SeasonOct–Dec, Mar–Apr
Cost from base₹26,000per person
BasePokhara, ~1-1.5 hr drive to Kande trailhead

Everyone chases Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Base Camp; Mardi Himal gets a fraction of the crowds but the same close-up wall of Machapuchare and Annapurna South, in half the days and cost — the ridge-top base camp view rivals ABC's.

Good for soloGood for couplesGood for groups
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Forecast for the trek's map point. It is usually colder and windier at the top.

Step 2 of 6Next: Route
Your trip plan · PDF

Mardi Himal Base Camp, planned for you

Day-by-day timings, the route, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.

  1. Day 1 Mardi Himal Base Camp: the trek
    • TravelBase: Pokhara, ~1-1.5 hr drive to Kande trailhead
    • PermitPermits and entry
    • On the trailMedium trek to 4,500 m₹26,000

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The route

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On the map

Mardi Himal Base Camp · Open in Google Maps ↗

The climb

822 m1770 m2550 m2970 m3580 m4500 m822 m Start · 822 mEnd · 822 m 4,500 m

How to reach the start

From Pokhara, taxi or local bus (~45 min–1.5 hr) along the Baglung Highway to Kande; the trail starts right off the road, climbing through rhododendron forest via Australian Camp and Forest Camp toward the ridge.

Directions to the trailhead ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Step 3 of 6Next: Permits

Permits and rules

Permit: ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) and TIMS card required for all trekkers, checked en route — arrange both in Pokhara before starting; fees are revised periodically so confirm current rates.

Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.

Step 4 of 6Next: Gear

What to carry

Step 5 of 6Next: Cost

Altitude safety

Mardi Himal Base Camp reaches 4,500 m, high enough for acute mountain sickness (AMS). Climb slowly, drink water, and tell your guide about headache, nausea, dizziness or breathlessness. If symptoms get worse, go down: descent is the treatment. Take travel insurance that covers trekking at this altitude and rescue.

What it costs

Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.

Your group, from the base₹52,000
Couple · from Pokhara, ~1-1.5 hr drive to Kande trailhead
Per person₹26,000

Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Pokhara is extra.

Step 6 of 6Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How hard is the Mardi Himal Base Camp trek?

Medium grade. It takes 5 days and climbs to about 4,500 m. Everyone chases Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Base Camp; Mardi Himal gets a fraction of the crowds but the same close-up wall of Machapuchare and Annapurna South, in half the days and cost — the ridge-top base camp view rivals ABC's.

Do I need a permit for Mardi Himal Base Camp?

ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) and TIMS card required for all trekkers, checked en route — arrange both in Pokhara before starting; fees are revised periodically so confirm current rates.

How do I reach the Mardi Himal Base Camp trek?

From Pokhara, taxi or local bus (~45 min–1.5 hr) along the Baglung Highway to Kande; the trail starts right off the road, climbing through rhododendron forest via Australian Camp and Forest Camp toward the ridge. Base: Pokhara, ~1-1.5 hr drive to Kande trailhead.

What is the best season for Mardi Himal Base Camp?

Oct–Dec, Mar–Apr.

How much does the Mardi Himal Base Camp trek cost?

From about ₹26,000 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.

What should I carry?

Down jacket, sturdy trekking boots, trekking poles and a headlamp for the cold ridge camps; jackets and sleeping bags are cheaply rentable in Pokhara.

Nearby treks

Kanchenjunga range glowing at sunrise above forested ridges, seen from SandakphuSandakphuMedium · 6 days · up to 3,636 mFrom ₹11,000Snow peaks above golden alpine slopes at Dzongri La under a deep blue skyDzongriHard · 6 days · up to 4,200 mFrom ₹14,000Still blue waters of Samiti Lake reflecting the mountains on the Goecha La trailGoecha LaHard · 10 days · up to 4,940 mFrom ₹22,000

Places to stay near by

Phewa Lake and Pokhara below the snowy Annapurna range, seen from the Peace PagodaPokhara & the Annapurna FoothillsReal Himalaya views, a fraction of the trek, a fraction of the price.From ₹1,200/dayHouses and terraces on the edge of Bandipur with the snowy Annapurna range behindBandipur, NepalAn 18th-century Newar trading street on a ridge 700 m above the highway, with the Himalaya lined…From ₹1,300/dayPanchachuli II peak seen from MunsiyariMunsiyariThe five Panchachuli peaks filling the window of a ₹900 homestay, at the end of a ten-hour…From ₹1,000/day

Sacred places near by

The white Mayadevi Temple reflected in the sacred pond at Lumbini, with the Ashoka Pillar to the leftLumbini (Mayadevi Temple and Sacred Garden)2 days · 1 night · from Kathmandu (flight or tourist bus to Bhairahawa)From ₹4,500Carved sandstone entrance gate of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex in Ayodhya under a blue skyShri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir1 day · from Ayodhya Dham Junction (rail) or Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya (AYJ)From ₹200

Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.

By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Aasish Shah · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Regmis680 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Wojciech Kocot · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

From the base · —
Cost