Nepal Mardi Himal Trek

Annapurna Region, Nepal · Nepal

Moderate7 daysAsia~£700 est.

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Overview

Mardi Himal is the Annapurna region's quiet ridge: a trail that climbs out of the Pokhara foothills through oak and rhododendron forest, breaks the treeline at High Camp (3,580m), and walks a grassy crest with the entire Annapurna wall unrolling to the north. The prize is Machhapuchhre. The sacred Fishtail - closed to climbers for ever - fills the eastern sky closer here than on any other permitted trail, near enough at dawn to watch the light slide down both summits of the fork. The classic move is a pre-dawn push from High Camp to the Base Camp viewpoint at roughly 4,500m, sunrise on Annapurna South and Hiunchuli, and back down for a late breakfast. Exposure is the variable: the ridge catches full weather, and afternoon cloud swallows the views by mid-morning, so walk early and treat the altitude gain seriously - it is quick for Nepal. Teahouses run the whole route but are small; book ahead in high season. March-April wraps the lower trail in pink and scarlet rhododendron bloom, October-November gives the glassiest air. Around £700 covers ACAP and TIMS permits, lodges and meals for the week - one of the best value-to-view ratios in the Himalaya.