Mardi Himal Yoga Trek
- Duration
- 5–7 days
- Max altitude
- 4,500 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate to challenging
- Best season
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- From
- –
What is the Mardi Himal Yoga Trek?
The Mardi Himal yoga trek is a guided ridge walk east of the Annapurna Base Camp trail that climbs to a viewpoint at about 4,500 metres over five to seven days, with yoga and meditation sessions built into most mornings and evenings. The route follows a single forested ridge from Kande through Forest Camp, Low Camp, and High Camp, and it stays quiet: the trail opened as a teahouse route in 2012 and still carries a fraction of the foot traffic of the neighbouring valleys.
The reward is proximity. Machhapuchhre, the fishtail peak, stands almost within reach across the valley, and the final morning walk puts Annapurna South and Hiunchuli in front of you at sunrise. Practice on this route happens at small teahouses on open ridgeline, which is why teachers who know Nepal often pick Mardi for meditation-forward groups.
Day-by-day itinerary
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Pokhara to Deurali. Morning drive to Kande (1,770 m), then a forest climb past Australian Camp to Deurali (2,100 m). Evening restorative practice on the teahouse terrace. |
| Day 2 | Deurali to Forest Camp. A quiet day inside rhododendron and oak forest to Forest Camp (2,520 m). Morning mobility session before walking; guided sitting after dinner. |
| Day 3 | Forest Camp to Low Camp. The trees begin to thin toward Low Camp (2,970 m), with the first close view of Machhapuchhre. Breath-led practice as the air cools. |
| Day 4 | Low Camp to High Camp. Out of the treeline and onto open ridge to High Camp (3,580 m). Short acclimatization walk above camp, then an early night. |
| Day 5 | Viewpoint morning, descend to Siding. Pre-dawn round trip to the Mardi viewpoint (about 4,500 m) for sunrise over Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre, meditation at the top, then a long descent to Siding village. |
| Day 6 | Siding to Pokhara. Gentle village-trail walking, a closing practice, and the drive back to Pokhara Lakeside. |
This is the typical shape of the route. Exact days vary by departure; each bookable listing shows its final itinerary before you request dates.
How hard is it, and how high?
This route is graded moderate to challenging and tops out at 4,500 m. Reasonable fitness and a little preparation go a long way.
What fitness do you need?
- Can you walk five to six hours on steep forest trails for several days in a row?
- Are you comfortable with an early, cold summit morning of around four hours' walking before breakfast?
- Can you manage sustained stone-step climbs with a light daypack?
- Do you have no heart, lung, or blood-pressure condition that a doctor has flagged for altitude?
Give yourself four to six weeks of regular hill or stair walking if any of these feel uncertain. The ridge is steady rather than technical: consistent walking fitness matters more than speed.
How is altitude managed?
The itinerary gains sleeping altitude gradually along the ridge: nights at Forest Camp (2,520 metres), Low Camp (2,970 metres), and High Camp (3,580 metres) before the viewpoint morning. The highest point is visited on a same-day round trip, so you sleep well below your daily maximum, which is exactly the pattern acclimatization guidelines ask for.
Everyone on the trail should know the early signs of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Tell your guide as soon as you notice any of them. The safe response is to stop climbing, rest, and descend if they do not settle:
- A headache that does not ease with rest and water
- Nausea or a loss of appetite
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Unusual tiredness or weakness on easy ground
- Broken or difficult sleep
- Feeling more breathless than the effort warrants
How acclimatization schedules work, what AMS symptoms mean, and what breath work can and cannot do for you: our guide to altitude on yoga treks covers every route's numbers in one place.
For the full picture, read our month-by-month season guide and the deposit-after-confirmation booking model.
What the yoga is actually like
Practice on Mardi is meditation-forward: the teahouses are small and the ridge is quiet, so morning sessions are short and mobilizing, and the longer sits happen at viewpoints with the fishtail peak in front of you. Above High Camp the yoga stays gentle by design; at 3,500 metres, slow breath work earns its place.
When to go
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the reliable windows, with the clearest skies in October–November. Spring adds flowering rhododendron through the forest sections. Monsoon (June–August) hides the peaks and makes the ridge slick; deep winter brings snow above Low Camp, so the upper route depends on conditions.
What to pack
- Layered clothing: base layers, a warm mid-layer, and a windproof shell
- A warm sleeping-bag liner for teahouse nights
- Broken-in trekking boots and trail socks
- Head torch for the pre-dawn viewpoint walk
- Sun hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen
- Refillable water bottle and purification tablets or a filter
- A light daypack; your yoga mat and duffel are usually carried for you
- Warm hat, gloves, and a down jacket for the summit morning
The full layer system, what operators provide, and the leave-at-home list live in our guide to what to pack for a yoga trek.
Which trek should you pick?
Mardi Himal sits between the two classic choices. The Poon Hill yoga trek is shorter and lower (3,210 metres in 3–5 days) and suits first treks; the Annapurna Base Camp yoga trek goes deeper into the sanctuary over 7–11 days. Pick Mardi if you want real altitude and empty trails in under a week, and you are happy trading teahouse variety for ridgeline quiet.