Mardi Himal is the name of the long raising ridge and its summit (5,588m) that forms the southwesterly slope of Mount Machhapuchhre, immediately below its sheer south face. Machhapuchhre, which towers majestically over the Pokhara Valley, is best known as Fishtail Mountain because of its twin peaks that mirror the image of a fish tail. It is superbly beautiful and is considered sacred, permission to climb it has, so far, always been denied. This trek climbs through forests, and above the tree lines to follow the ridge that takes us up to ‘High camp’, 3,620m where time is spent acclimatizing while being awestruck by the views. Annapurna South seems near enough to throw a rock at and Machhapuchhre close enough to touch. Finally, we enter the wilderness territory as we go beyond 4,500 meters where the great ice fields and blue glaciers of Annapurna Base Camp lie below. Around us, in an arc from east to west, are a dozen or more glistening snowcapped giants, with Annapurna I being the highest of them all – a view that is almost impossible to equal. Conquering this wilderness territory and the incredible proximity of 5 of the highest mountains in the world leaves one feeling they have explored. 

Early in the morning, we will depart from Pokhara and start on a scenic drive to Dhampus, which takes

approximately 2 hours. From Dhampus, our trekking journey begins, leading us through ethnic Brahmin,

Magar, and Gurung villages. En route, we are greeted by panoramic views of the Annapurna peaks.

The trail continues through lush rhododendron forests, eventually bringing us to Pothana and finally to

Deurali at an altitude of 2100m. At Deurali, we are treated to magnificent vistas of the Annapurna South

peak and the surrounding high glaciers.

Overnight stay in a Lodge.

We depart from Deurali early in the morning and set out for Forest Camp. The trail ascends steadily through

rhododendron, birch, oak, maple, and hemlock forests. Along the way, keep an eye out for wildlife such as

leopards, deer, monkeys, and various bird species.

After a trekking duration of 5 to 6 hours, we arrive at Forest Camp situated at an altitude of 2600m. Here,

amidst the tranquility of the forested surroundings, we spend the night in a Lodge.

Today's trekking leg takes us from Forest Camp to High Camp via Low Camp. The trail presents steep

ascents, but the reward is in the breathtaking views of Machhapuchhre (fishtail mountain), the Annapurna

Range, the Annapurna Base Camp valley, and Mardi Himal.

As we ascend, the forest gradually gives way to open meadows, offering panoramic vistas of the

surrounding valleys and peaks. The ridge becomes narrower, providing stunning views of the Modi Khola

and Mardi Khola river valleys.

After 4 to 5 hours of trekking, we reach High Camp at an altitude of 3600m, where we spend the night in a

Lodge.

We begin the day early at High Camp to witness the spectacular sunrise over the Himalayas. From there,

we ascend along a narrow ridge to reach Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4500 meters. The panoramic views

from the base camp are awe-inspiring, with Annapurna South and Fishtail Mountain dominating the

horizon.

After spending some time soaking in the majestic scenery, we descend back to High Camp for lunch.

Continuing our descent, we trek back to Low Camp, where we spend the night in a Lodge.

On the final day of our trek, we bid farewell to Low Camp and commenced our descent towards Siding

Village. The trail winds through lush forests, offering glimpses of local life and scenery along the way.

After approximately 4 hours of trekking, we reach Siding Village, where our trekking journey concludes.

From Siding Village, we embark on a scenic drive back to Pokhara, which takes around 3 hours.