Celebrate Tihar and Trek Mardi Himal

Welcome to Nepal! Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, a Himalayan Dream Team representative will meet you and welcome you to Nepal before transferring you by private vehicle to your hotel.

After check-in, the rest of the day is free to relax and recover from your journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may also enjoy a gentle walk around the neighbourhood and get your first impression of Kathmandu.

In the evening, we invite you to a welcome dinner at a traditional Nepali restaurant, where you can enjoy local cuisine and meet your Himalayan Dream Team representative. We will also introduce you to the journey ahead and answer any questions about your Tihar Festival and Mardi Himal Trek.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel for a cultural sightseeing tour of some of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley.

We begin at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), one of Nepal's oldest Buddhist sites. Located on a hill overlooking Kathmandu, the stupa is sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus and offers panoramic views across the valley.

We then continue to Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal's most important Hindu temple complex, situated on the banks of the Bagmati River. Here you can observe temples, shrines, pilgrims, sadhus and traditional Hindu cremation ceremonies.

Our next visit is Kathmandu Durbar Square, the historic royal heart of the old city. The square is filled with ancient temples, courtyards, palaces and beautifully carved Newari architecture that reflect Kathmandu's rich cultural heritage.

As this journey takes place during Tihar, Nepal's Festival of Lights, you may also see local markets filled with flowers, colourful decorations and festival items as families prepare for the celebrations.

Later in the day, you will meet your trekking guide for a Mardi Himal Trek briefing and equipment check. If you need any additional trekking gear, there will be time to purchase or rent it in Kathmandu.

After breakfast, we leave Kathmandu and begin the scenic drive west to Pokhara, Nepal's beautiful lakeside city and the gateway to the Annapurna region.

The journey follows the highway through the hills of central Nepal, passing rivers, terraced farmland, small towns and rural villages. On clear days, you may also catch distant views of the Himalayan ranges along the way. We make convenient stops for refreshments and lunch during the journey.

Upon arrival in Pokhara, we transfer you to your hotel in the Lakeside area. The remainder of the day is free to relax, walk beside Phewa Lake, explore the nearby shops and cafés or simply enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Pokhara.

On a clear evening, you may have your first beautiful views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and the Annapurna Himalayas, the mountains that will dominate the scenery during the coming trek.

After breakfast, we leave Pokhara and drive to Kande (1,770 m), where our Mardi Himal Trek begins.

From Kande, we start walking uphill through forest and hillside settlements towards Australian Camp. On a clear day, this scenic ridge offers beautiful views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and the surrounding Annapurna Himalayas.

We continue through Pothana, following a pleasant trail surrounded by rhododendron and oak forest. From here, the trail gradually climbs towards Pitam Deurali (2,100 m), our destination for the day.

After arriving at the lodge, you can relax with a cup of tea and enjoy the peaceful mountain surroundings. This first trekking day provides a good introduction to the trail before we gradually move towards the higher elevations of the Mardi Himal route.

After breakfast, we leave Pitam Deurali and follow the trail deeper into the beautiful forests of the Mardi Himal trekking route.

The path climbs steadily through rhododendron, oak and maple forest. This section of the trek is peaceful and atmospheric, with occasional openings between the trees providing views towards Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

We reach Forest Camp (approx. 2,550 m), also known locally as Kokar, where we stop for lunch and a rest before continuing towards Rest Camp.

After lunch, a shorter uphill walk takes us through the forest to Rest Camp (2,600 m). From here, the mountain views begin to open up and Machhapuchhre appears increasingly close above the surrounding ridges.

After checking into the lodge, the remainder of the afternoon is free to rest, enjoy the mountain atmosphere and prepare for tomorrow's climb towards High Camp.

After breakfast, we leave Rest Camp and continue climbing through beautiful rhododendron forest towards the higher sections of the Mardi Himal Trek.
The trail first leads towards Low Camp (approx. 3,050 m), where the forest gradually begins to thin and the mountain views become increasingly impressive. From here, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) dominates the skyline, with Annapurna South and Hiunchuli rising nearby.

Continuing above Low Camp, we gradually leave the dense forest behind and follow the ridge towards High Camp (3,550 m). As we gain altitude, the landscape becomes more open and the views across the Annapurna region become wider and more dramatic.

Upon reaching High Camp, we check into our lodge and spend the remainder of the afternoon resting and adjusting to the higher altitude. If the weather is clear, the surrounding ridge provides a wonderful place to enjoy the late-afternoon light over the mountains.

We have an early dinner and prepare for tomorrow's pre-dawn hike to Mardi Himal Viewpoint.

Today is the most challenging and rewarding day of our Mardi Himal Trek. We start early in the morning and climb gradually along the high ridge towards Mardi Himal Viewpoint (approx. 4,200 m).

As daylight reaches the mountains, the ridge offers spectacular close-up views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Mardi Himal, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. The scenery becomes increasingly dramatic as we move higher above the surrounding valleys.

Our main objective is the Mardi Himal Viewpoint, where we take time to enjoy the Himalayan panorama and take photographs.

For strong and well-acclimatized trekkers, it may be possible to continue towards Mardi Himal Base Camp (approx. 4,500 m). This extension is optional and depends on weather, snow, trail conditions, available time and the fitness of the group. Your guide will assess the conditions and make the final decision with safety as the priority.

After enjoying the high mountain scenery, we descend back to High Camp and continue down the ridge towards Low Camp (3,050 m). Returning to a lower altitude makes for a more comfortable and relaxing evening after a long trekking day.

After breakfast, we leave Low Camp and begin a long but pleasant descent from the high Mardi Himal ridge towards the lower foothills of the Annapurna region.

The trail leads back into dense forest, where the alpine landscape gradually changes to greener hills, farmland and rural settlements as we lose altitude.

We continue towards Lwang Village (1,460 m), a traditional Gurung settlement surrounded by terraced fields, forests and tea gardens. Lwang provides an interesting contrast to the high mountain environment of the previous days and gives us an opportunity to experience everyday village life in the Annapurna foothills.

After reaching the village, we settle into our accommodation and have time to explore the surroundings. Depending on availability and the local program, you may visit the tea gardens, walk through the village or simply relax and enjoy the peaceful rural atmosphere.

In the evening, enjoy a traditional meal and the warm hospitality of the local community.

After breakfast, we enjoy our final morning in the Annapurna foothills before completing the trekking section of our journey.

We walk through the surroundings of Lwang Village, passing terraced farmland, traditional houses and rural landscapes as we make our way towards the road head.

Our vehicle will be waiting to transfer us back to Pokhara (822 m). The drive takes us through the lower hills before returning to the lively Lakeside area.

Upon arrival, we transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax after completing the Mardi Himal Trek. You may enjoy a hot shower, walk beside Phewa Lake, visit the cafés and shops around Lakeside or simply take some well-earned rest.

After breakfast, we begin our return journey from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

Traveling by road, we follow the highway through river valleys, green hills, terraced farmland, towns and rural settlements. We make convenient stops for refreshments and lunch along the way before continuing towards Kathmandu.

Upon arrival, we transfer you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or enjoy some time around Kathmandu.

For travelers who prefer a shorter journey, a Pokhara–Kathmandu domestic flight can be arranged as an optional alternative. The flight takes 25 minutes and, when the weather is clear, can offer beautiful aerial views of the Himalayan ranges.

Today is a free day in Kathmandu, giving you time to relax after the Mardi Himal Trek and enjoy the city at your own pace.

You may explore Thamel for shopping and souvenirs, visit cafés and restaurants, book a traditional massage or spa treatment, or simply enjoy a relaxing day at the hotel.

If you would like to explore more of the Kathmandu Valley, optional sightseeing can also be arranged to places such as Boudhanath Stupa, Patan Durbar Square or Bhaktapur Durbar Square, depending on your interests and the time available.

This free day also provides some flexibility in the itinerary and gives you time to prepare for your international departure.

Your Tihar Festival & Mardi Himal Trek 2026 comes to an end today.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will have some free time depending on the departure time of your international flight. At the appropriate time, a

Himalayan Dream Team representative will meet you at the hotel and transfer you by private vehicle to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey.

We normally arrange the airport transfer with sufficient time for international check-in while taking Kathmandu traffic conditions into consideration.

If your flight departs later in the day, you can leave your luggage at the hotel and enjoy some additional free time for last-minute shopping, sightseeing or relaxing before your airport transfer.

For travelers who would like to spend more time in Nepal, Himalayan Dream Team can also arrange extensions to Chitwan, Bandipur, the Kathmandu Valley or other destinations.

We wish you a safe journey home and hope you leave Nepal with wonderful memories of the Tihar Festival, Mardi Himal and the Himalayas.