Everything You Need to Know About the Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Imagine standing at two base camps in a single journey where one trek is intimate and the other vast and legendary. That’s what the Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek provides trekkers with.

Mardi Himal Trek was opened to trekkers around 2012 and leads to the base camp at 4,500m, where Machapuchare (6,993m) feels so close that you can almost touch it.

Whereas the Annapurna Base Camp has been walked by trekkers since the late 1970s and has the highest elevation at 4,130m. In the ABC amphitheater, you’ll be surrounded by Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South (7,219m), Hiunchuli (6,441m), and Gangapurna (7,455m), and experience something you’ll never forget in your entire life.

If you want to try something different and combine these two treks, you’ll get an option to do the Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek. This unique trek gives you a combined feeling of both worlds, including the solitude of a lesser-known trail and the spectacle of one of the Himalayas' most iconic sanctuaries.

In this guide, we'll cover what each trail feels like, who this combination actually suits, the daily itinerary, and the details.

What Exactly is the Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

These two most well-known trekking trails in Nepal are separate trails joined into one. You start at Kande, climb the Mardi ridge to its base camp, come back down to Jhinu Danda, then head back up through Bamboo and Deurali into the Annapurna Sanctuary to reach Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). 

This isn't "ABC through Poon Hill." Poon Hill is a viewpoint detour on the classic ABC route, while Mardi Himal is a completely separate trail on the eastern side of the Annapurna massif. 

Both Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp are in the Annapurna Conservation Area, which keeps the paperwork for joining them simple.

Mardi Himal Trek: Nepal's Newest Ridge Walk

Before 2012, this land was mostly yak pasture. Trekkers only started using it seriously afterward, which is why Mardi Himal still feels uncrowded. It follows a narrow ridge rather than a valley, so the mountains rarely disappear behind a hillside as you walk. 

Mardi Himal Trek rewards you with mesmerizing views of Machapuchare (6,993m), Annapurna South(7,219m), and Hiunchuli (6,441m). Read more in Mardi Himal Trek: Nepal's Most Underrated

Annapurna Base Camp Trek: The Classic Walk Into the Annapurna Sanctuary

Annapurna Base Camp Trek has been walked since the trekking boom of the late 1970s, growing from a bare camping route into one with established teahouses at nearly every stop. 

At 4,130m, you can see Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South (7,219m), Hiunchuli (6,441m) and Gangapurna (7,455m) all rise directly around you, giving you a 360-degree panorama unlike anywhere else on this trip. 

Annapurna I has its own place in mountaineering history too, as the first peak over 8,000m ever climbed, summited by Maurice Herzog's French expedition in 1950, years before Everest. 

Being one of Nepal's most-walked trails also means ABC has the better infrastructure of the two, with more food variety and a well-marked path throughout. See Why Annapurna Base Camp Is One of Nepal's Classic Treks for the full case.

Who Should Choose the Combined Mardi Himal and ABC Trek?

This combination isn't right for everyone, and we'd rather say so upfront. 

You'll get the most out of it if you fit one of these:

• You're visiting Nepal for the first time and want maximum variety from a single trip.
• You've already done ABC and want a fresh angle on the range through Mardi's quieter ridge.
• You're a photographer chasing two genuinely different views of Machapuchare in one week.
• You're fit but time-limited and can't justify two separate trips to Nepal even though you'd like to do both treks.

It's not a suitable option for you if you want a fast 7-day ABC trip, or if you're a complete beginner with no multi-day hiking behind you. This combined 15-day trek has back-to-back climbs and asks a lot of your legs.

Real Benefit of Combining Both Treks Instead of Doing Them Separately

Most trip pages compare Mardi Himal against ABC like they're rivals. What they don't tell you is why doing both together beats booking them as two separate holidays.

With Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek combined:

• You get one trip to Nepal instead of two, months apart. 
• You file one ACAP and TIMS application instead of two. 
• You build one relationship with your guide and porter across 15 continuous days instead of starting over with a new team each time.
• Your nights at High Camp (3,540m) and Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m) help condition your body before the Sanctuary climb to ABC.

When you compare that to two standalone bookings, you get roughly 7 days for Mardi Himal on its own plus 9 to 10 days for ABC on its own. Each of these treks has its own transfers and hotel nights, and the combined route wins on time, money, and preparation.

Route and Terrain

Mardi Himal and ABC Trek combined has three major routes and terrain as follows:

Mardi Himal Days (Deurali to High Camp)

You'll climb through rhododendron and oak forest before the trail narrows into Mardi's signature exposed ridge. By High Camp, the tree line is behind you, replaced by alpine shrub and rock, and your final pre-dawn walk to the viewpoint is short but steep.

Bridge Days (Low Camp to Jhinu Danda)

These act as a reset between your two treks. You'll cross the Modi Khola on suspension bridges as the trail drops back toward river level. The hot springs at Jhinu Danda get used twice on this trip: once heading toward ABC, and again on your way back. 

On the walk toward Bamboo, you'll also pass through Chhomrong, a Gurung village famous among trekkers for its long stone staircase. It has roughly 2,500 steps down into the Chhomrong Khola canyon and straight back up the other side.

Annapurna Sanctuary (Bamboo to ABC)

You'll climb back through dense forest before the Sanctuary opens up around you. Machhapuchhre Base Camp marks the halfway point mentally, and from there it's roughly an hour more before the amphitheater at ABC comes into view. 

For a more detailed trail-by-trail breakdown, see Mardi Himal to ABC Itinerary and Route.

Your Everyday Mardi Himal Annapurna Base Camp Itinerary

During this trek, you actually need to trek from day 2 to day 11. The rest of your days are covered with flights, transit, and acclimatization. 

In this table, we have briefly covered each day's activity and overnight stop:

How Difficult is the Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

This combined trek is graded moderate to difficult, where you'll walk 5 to 7 hours most days, covering over 120km. You’ll gain more than 5,000m of cumulative elevation across the whole trip.

Mardi Himal and ABC trek includes the 2,500 stone steps at Chhomrong that trekkers often call the toughest single-day walk on the route. Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500m is actually higher than Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130m, even though ABC gets far more attention. 

We ask trekkers to meet a basic fitness benchmark before joining us, which includes a 5K run in 35 minutes or an equivalent cardio test, because two consecutive high-altitude pushes ask more of you than either trek alone. 

If you're unsure where you stand, our Mountain Fit Assessment Program (MFAP) gives you a free, personal read on your readiness before you commit.

Permits, Guide Requirements and Paperwork

As both trailheads fall inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, you only need one permit for this whole route:

The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), which costs foreign trekkers NPR 3,000 (about $21) (prices may get updated, so always check the corresponding website)

That's a lot simpler than a restricted-area trek like the Manaslu Circuit, which needs three permits. 

A guide isn't legally required on this route, but with how many trail junctions connect the two treks, especially around Chhomrong, it’s safer to have a guide. 

We include an experienced guide, an assistant guide, and a shared porter as standard, and we handle permits for you before you even land in Kathmandu.

Best Time to Trek Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp

Here’s what you can find during each season:

• Spring (March to May) brings rhododendron blooms across Forest Camp and Deurali, with daytime temperatures around 15 to 20°C lower down and generally stable weather.
• Autumn (September to November) gives you the clearest skies of the year and daytime highs similar to spring, which matters most for summit views. 
• Winter (December to February) is possible, but nights at High Camp and ABC can drop to -15°C or colder. 

For a deeper seasonal breakdown of the wider Annapurna region, see the ACT difficulty and best-time guide.

Accommodation and Food: What Changes Above 3,500m

Comfort isn't the same at every stop. Deurali and Jhinu Danda offer attached bathrooms at most teahouses, while High Camp and Low Camp still rely on basic shared facilities. 

Your menu options get a little limited with altitude too. You can expect fewer non-vegetarian choices above Forest Camp, because everything has to be carried in on foot or by mule.

The bamboo forests between Jhinu Danda and Bamboo are also home to langur monkeys and, occasionally, the region's shy red pandas, so keep your camera handy in this area.

Altitude and Acclimatization on a Two-Summit Trek

Unlike a single steady climb, say, the Everest Base Camp Trek, this route has an up-down-up altitude profile. 

You climb to 4,500m at Mardi Himal Base Camp, drop back to 1,780m at Jhinu Danda, then climb again to 4,130m at Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). 

That drop to Jhinu Danda does help you recover, but it doesn't ensure protection for your second climb. You need to treat the walk up to ABC with the same care you gave your first walk to Mardi Himal Base Camp.

What to Pack for a 15-Day, Two-Base-Camp Trek?

Temperature will be around 20°C lower down to -10°C at the high camps, so layering matters more than any single "best" jacket. 

Here are a few things worth knowing before you pack:

• Trekking poles earn their weight on the steep specifically around the narrow Mardi ridge.
• Down jackets and sleeping bags are easy to rent in Pokhara if you don’t wish to fly with bulky gear.
• A headlamp is essential for your pre-dawn walk to Mardi Himal Base Camp.

For a more detailed packing checklist, refer to TrekNomads’ Travel Checklist for International Himalayan Treks, which covers the essential clothing, trekking gear, documents, and other items to carry for a Himalayan trek.

How This Trek Compares to Other Annapurna Region Options?

ABC through Poon Hill is longer and stays lower throughout, topping out at Poon Hill's sunrise viewpoint (3,210m).

The Annapurna Circuit Trek, including the extended version with Tilicho Lake, sits in a different valley altogether and crosses the considerably higher Thorong La Pass (5,416m) instead of either base camp covered here.

Why Trek With TrekNomads?

At TrekNomads, we built this itinerary around the acclimatization logic most operators skip. The walk down to Jhinu Danda is a deliberate recovery time before you walk to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). 

Our Premium package pairs an experienced guide and assistant guide with a shared porter for every two trekkers, so you're never carrying more than a day pack. 

We also run the full range of Himalayan treks, from Everest Base Camp and Langtang Valley to our Himalayan Treks collection, plus shorter Weekend Treks if 15 days is more than you can spare right now. 

You can read more about how we operate on our About TrekNomads page.

Is This Combined Annapurna Region Trek Right for You?

If you want more from Nepal than a single trail can give you, and you have 15 days and a reasonable fitness base, the Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek is one of the smarter ways to spend that time in the Annapurna region. 

It gives you a quiet ridge walk most trekkers never see, followed by the classic amphitheater view that put this region on the map. 

Ready to see both? Our Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp package has the full details, or take a look at the ABC trek if 15 days doesn't suit your calendar right now.

Conclusion

Two base camps, one ridge, one amphitheater and a single walk connecting them. That's really what the Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek is all about. 

It asks more of your legs than either trail alone, but it gives you back a fuller picture of the Annapurna region than most trekkers get in one trip. 

Go in with your eyes open about the climbs ahead and let the two summits do the rest of the convincing.

FAQs

What permits do I need, and does TrekNomads arrange them?

Since both trailheads are in the Annapurna Conservation Area, you only need a single Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). We handle this permit for you before you even land in Kathmandu, along with your guide, assistant guide, and shared porter.

When is the best time of year to do this trek?

Autumn (September to November) offers the clearest skies of the year, which matters most for your summit views at both base camps. During Spring (March to May), you’ll get to see rhododendron blooms along Forest Camp and Deurali, with similarly stable weather. Winter is possible but colder, with nights at High Camp and ABC dropping to -15°C or lower, so most trekkers favor spring or autumn.

Is this trek safe and suitable for solo female travelers?

Yes. This route is walked regularly by solo female trekkers, and teahouses along the way are well used to hosting them. Since a guide is included as standard, you'll have that added layer of safety throughout, particularly on the quieter Mardi Himal ridge. Women-only group departures are also worth asking us about if that's your preference.

What kind of accommodation should I expect along the route?

You'll stay in teahouses throughout, with comfort levels dropping as you gain altitude. Deurali and Jhinu Danda offer attached bathrooms at most teahouses, while High Camp and Low Camp rely on basic shared facilities. Food options also narrow above Forest Camp, with fewer non-vegetarian choices since everything is carried in on foot or by mule.

Can teenagers or older trekkers join this combined trek?

Yes. There's no strict age restriction, but the two-summit structure asks more of your stamina than a single shorter trek would. Younger trekkers and older adults in good condition regularly complete it, especially with some prior hiking experience. If you're unsure, a fitness assessment before booking is a smart first step.

What should my travel insurance specifically cover for this route?

Your policy needs to cover high-altitude trekking up to at least 4,500m, the higher of the two summits on this trip. It should also include emergency helicopter evacuation and general medical costs, since these aren't part of the trek package. Check the altitude limits before you buy, since many standard travel policies cap out well below 4,500m.

Is mobile network and Wi-Fi coverage reliable across the 15 days?

Coverage is not so reliable but present at most lower-altitude stops like Deurali, Jhinu Danda, and Bamboo. It becomes unreliable or nonexistent at High Camp, Low Camp, and near both base camps. It's worth telling your family in advance to expect gaps in communication during the higher sections.

Is electricity and device charging reliable at High Camp and Low Camp specifically?

Charging is available at most teahouses along the route but with a per-device fee. Power can be less consistent here than at lower-altitude teahouses, so a power bank is a sensible backup for your higher nights.

What fitness level do I need for the Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp trek?

You should be comfortable walking 5 to 7 hours a day for multiple consecutive days, since this route has two separate high-altitude pushes rather than one steady climb. We ask trekkers to meet a basic benchmark, such as a 5K run in 35 minutes or an equivalent cardio test, before joining. If you're unsure where you stand, our Mountain Fit Assessment Program (MFAP) gives you a free, personal read on your readiness before you commit.