Trip Reports
I Trekked Mardi Himal in November: A 5-Day Account
November is the month most trekkers chase on Mardi Himal, and our late-November departure showed exactly why. Stable skies, cold nights, and a sunrise at the Upper Viewpoint that none of the group has stopped talking about.
This is an honest, day-by-day account of how that trip actually went, so you know what to expect rather than just what the brochure promises.
Key takeaways
- November delivered clear, stable weather and sharp mountain views.
- High Camp was genuinely cold at night, around -8C, so warm kit mattered.
- The 5-day pace left the group fresh enough to enjoy the summit morning.
- The Upper Viewpoint sunrise was the highlight, with Machhapuchhre glowing first.
Days 1 to 2: into the forest
We left Pokhara mid-morning, drove to the Dhampus trailhead, and climbed through terraced farmland into pine and rhododendron forest. The first day is short and gentle, a good warm-up that gets you to Pritam Deurali by mid-afternoon.
Day two is where the legs start to notice the trek. The climb to Low Camp is steady and almost entirely under forest canopy, mossy and quiet, with the first glimpses of Annapurna South opening through gaps in the trees.
Day 3: above the treeline
The third day is the one people remember. Within an hour of leaving Low Camp the forest thins and you break onto open ridgeline, with Machhapuchhre standing directly ahead. We reached High Camp by early afternoon with time to rest before the cold set in.
And it did get cold. By evening the temperature at High Camp had dropped to around -8C. The teahouse blankets helped, but the trekkers who had brought a proper sleeping bag and down jacket slept far better.
Day 4: the sunrise, then the long descent
We started for the Upper Viewpoint at 4:30am in the dark. The reward, about two hours later, was the full amphitheatre catching first light: Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Mardi Himal lighting up gold while the valleys stayed in shadow.
After breakfast back at High Camp, the long descent to Sidding village began. It is hard on the knees and the group was grateful for trekking poles. By late afternoon the warm air of the lowlands felt like a different country.
So, is Mardi Himal worth it?
For the views you get relative to the effort and time, yes, clearly. Mardi Himal puts you closer to Machhapuchhre than almost any other trail in the region, and in November the conditions made the most of it. If you can only spare a few days and want a real mountain experience without the crowds of Poon Hill, this is the one.
