Mardi Himal & Khumai Danda Trek – 7 Days

Pokhara → Kande → Forest Camp → Low Camp → High Camp → Mardi Himal Base Camp → Siding → Mirsa → Khumai Danda → Korchan → Hile Kharka → Ghachok → Pokhara

The Mardi Himal and Khumai Danda Trek covers more ground than the standard route, without repeating the same trail twice. Past Siding, most Mardi Himal itineraries turn back the way they came. This one continues forward through Mirsa to Khumai Danda and the Korchan ridge, terrain that far fewer trekkers ever walk. You still get the same Base Camp sunrise, plus several days of genuinely new trail on the way down.

This route also skips the flight dependency that comes with Everest-region treks. Everything starts and ends in Pokhara by road, so there’s no Lukla weather risk to plan around. At a moderate difficulty and a realistic daily pace, it suits first-time high-altitude trekkers. It also works well for anyone who’s already done Mardi Himal and wants to see the rest of the ridge. We handle the guide, permits, and teahouse logistics for the whole route.

What makes the Mardi Himal and Khumai Danda Trek worth the extra days:

• Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m) — a close-up sunrise view of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range, without the multi-week commitment of a full circuit.
• The Mardi Himal ridge climb (High Camp, 3,580m) — open alpine views build steadily as the trail breaks out of the forest.
• Khumai Danda and Korchan ridge (3,700m) — the extension past Siding that most Mardi Himal itineraries skip entirely.
• Rhododendron and pine forest via Australian Camp and Pothana — dense, shaded trail through the first two days before the terrain opens up.
• A quieter return route — the Siding–Mirsa–Khumai Danda stretch sees far fewer trekkers than the standard out-and-back trail.
• No flight dependency — the whole route runs by road out of Pokhara, unlike Everest-region treks that rely on Lukla flights.
• Moderate difficulty — a realistic daily pace that suits first-time high-altitude trekkers.

• Trekkers who’ve already done the standard Mardi Himal Trek and want to see more of the ridge beyond Base Camp
• First-time high-altitude trekkers based in Pokhara who have a full week and want a quieter route to the same viewpoint
• Anyone who wants close-up views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range without walking the same trail down that they walked up
• Trekkers who prefer a point-to-point route over backtracking the exact path twice

The route is rated moderate, not easy. There’s no technical climbing, but the extra days beyond Siding mean more sustained daily walking than the standard route, on trail with far fewer teahouses and far fewer other trekkers. The push from High Camp to Base Camp is steep, often starts before dawn, and is genuinely cold at 4,500 metres. Water is only available at High Camp, so you carry what you need for the push and back. A few weeks of regular hill walking beforehand makes the difference between enjoying the extension and just enduring it.

• Licensed local guides who know this extended route — not just the standard Mardi Himal trail, but the quieter stretch through Khumai Danda and Korchan too
• Guide included, not optional — Annapurna’s legal guide requirement applies here too, and it’s already built into every tier, no surprise add-on
• Every permit handled before you arrive — ACAP and TIMS both arranged ahead of time, no queuing at checkpoints
• Porter support as standard — one porter per two trekkers, 15kg max, so you’re not carrying full gear on the longer days past Siding
• Straight-line WhatsApp contact — you’re messaging the people actually running your trek, not a call centre or a reseller
• Kathmandu-based operation since 2018 — run by people who know this route, including the extension most companies don’t offer
• Insurance checked before we confirm anything — Base Camp sits at 4,500 metres, so if your policy doesn’t cover that altitude, we flag it before you’re on the trail