Trekking Mardi Himal: Day five (or a recommended day six)

Yak on the Mardi Himal Trek, Nepal
Yak grazing on the Mardi Himal Trek
Yak grazing on the Mardi Himal Trek

Low camp to Sidhing or Pokhara?

Following on from the previous day’s trek I recommend that day five of the Mardi Himal trek takes you from Low Camp to Sidhing. So after base camp on day four go back to Low Camp for the night or even spend the night in High Camp. Then on day five make your way high/ low camp to Sidhing. Then the next day (day six) make your way from Sidhing to Pokhara.

The Sidhing trek down is very reminiscent of a busy village trek. We passed by many villages and rice terraces. It was in many ways one of the more beautiful days of the trek to see such pristine rural farming areas.

Rural farming villages on the Mardi Himal trek
Rural farming villages on the Mardi Himal trek

Nepal’s staple food is rice and although places like The Philippines or Indonesia get rave reviews about rice terraces Nepal’s are equally majestic.

Rice terraces along the Mardi Himal Trek
Rice terraces along the Mardi Himal Trek

Rushing through the Mardi Himal Trek

Many people looking for a 2-3 day trek will try to accomplish the Mardi Himal trek starting in Sidhing and make their way up the very steep forest path to Low Camp. There’s a secondary reason for this and it’s because of a lack of permit inspection.

Permit free trekking along Mardi Himal is no longer possible

This is now not possible as there is a check-point along the way. But people still take this route to cut down on their days trekking. I don’t recommend this as it’s a very hard climb all day.

The point of trekking is to enjoy it and not to rush.

Rural end to the Mardi Himal trek

As we descended into villages and rural farmlands we soon made it to a main road. My guide Narayan bypassed much of this urbanization as we literally just cut across the road and down into more rice terraces to a stream.

Here, there was a small flour mill with children playing. Basket weavers working and the odd buffalo grazing. It truly was a full circle trek in terms of diversity.

For those wondering what ever happened to the rushing Russians on the other trek I did to Mardi Himal. Well, they did make it back to Pokhara one day early.

Though the next day their paragliding trip had to be canceled as they got food poisoning the night before … I’m not one to say “what comes around goes around”, but let’s just say when I heard the news I didn’t shed a tear!

Man weaving baskets along the Mardi Himal Trek
Man weaving baskets along the Mardi Himal Trek

The best part of the Mardi Himal Trek

As you might have guessed from my two Mardi Himal Treks I like this trek a lot. From the gentle start with mountainous views to the wonderful thick forest paths. The lush rhododendron forests to the impressive low camp views of Fishtail.

Then the magnificent mountain views from both sides of the ridge overlooking Annapurna Base Camp to making ones way up a challenging ridge to Mardi Himal Base Camp itself.

On the way back the Mardi Himal trek continues to impress with a steep decent though lush forests before opening up into rural farmlands.

Looking back at the Mardi Himal Trek
From start to finish: on the last day of the Mardi Himal trek you get to look back on where you were the day before – pretty awesome

Not only is the Mardi Himal trek uncrowded, its scenery and challenges change everyday.

If you are looking for a short trek with epic views and great diversity do give the Mardi Himal trek a look.

Here’s my free online trekking guide to Mardi Himal. As always, if you’d like to know my guides details then you can contact me however it would be better if you opted for my find a trekking guide service or if you’d like to get your own guide then my guidebook below which has his and many more details in it.

If you just arrived at this page then here is the full list of the Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek details:


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18 Replies to “Trekking Mardi Himal: Day five (or a recommended day six)”

  1. Exciting and informative stuff. Great way to learn about trekking in Nepal

  2. Always heard about Everest but we don’t have the time so this is a great option for us. Thanks.

  3. Really enjoying your site. Never come across anything like it for practical information like this. We are planning our whole Nepal trip from here and your book!

  4. Is this trek better than ABC in your opinion? We are torn between the two and our guide keeps pushing ABC and is dismissive Mardi Himal?

    1. The reason why your guide is probably pushing ABC is that they are probably able to work in some commision with the tea houses along the way. Whereas with Mardi Himal there are not so many so they probably won’t get that much commision.

      Mardi Himal offers great diversity whereas ABC offers a spectacular end of trek viewing of the Annapurna Base Camp. You can read my guide to Annapurna Base Camp here for more.

  5. It’s so good to get new information like this. Is this the a copy from your book or is your books information on trekking the same?

  6. Great series, thoroughly enjoyed reading about the trek and doing our own preparation.

  7. Impressive information!

    I’m confused about one thing. We were thinking about doing Poon Hill but have five extra days. Is it possible to go from Poon Hill to Mardi Himal? Or even ABC?

  8. Amazing experience! A trek trail that covers different panorama every day, I would love to try it! Great job finishing the trail too.

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