on November 20, 2025
This November, we traded the long, traditional routes for a fastpacking adventure, tackling some of the most spectacular sections of the Annapurna and Mardi himal trails in nine days. Combining light gear, a focused pace, and a drive to immerse ourselves fully in the mountain culture, this trip was a blur of panoramic views, heartwarming local hospitality, and thrilling ascents. It was tiring, yes, but every friendly smile and stunning view was worth the effort!
Starting off sweet in the orange fields
Our adventure began on November 7th. We flew early to Pokhara, then drove to our trailhead in Baskharka. This little mountain village is super famous for its bright orange fields! Our very first night in Nangi village was perfect. We stayed in a community lodge, and they welcomed us like family with warm smiles and a great dinner.
The next day involved a necessary, shorter climb for acclimatization, taking us from Nangi to Mohare Danda. What a payoff! This spot is a total picture window, giving us our first amazing look at the huge mountains; Dhaulagiri and Annapurna.
The rush to Annapurna Base Camp
We kept up the pace! On November 9th, we reached Tadapani and entered the main ACAP area (the protected zone). We saw lots of other hikers heading up to base camp. It was exciting to be part of the crowd?! The locals were just the sweetest people. Our stay in Bamboo felt like being home so cozy and welcoming.
Then came the push to the base camp:
- November 11th: Bamboo to MBC (Machhapuchhre Base Camp).
- November 12th: MBC up to ABC (Annapurna Base Camp), then down to Sinuwa.
Getting up early for base camp was tough because of the freezing cold. But honestly, as soon as the sun popped up, we realized we actually had fingers again, and the views made us forget all about the cold. It was truly magical up there.
Note: We learned that the tea houses can’t use indoor fireplaces anymore. It’s to help protect the beautiful native trees in the area. Good change for the mountains.
Hello, Mardi Himal
Leaving Annapurna, we quickly moved over to the Mardi Himal trail. November 13th was one of the hardest days. We had a steep climb about 1800m up through a place called Landruk to reach Forest Camp. We were wiped, but the good night’s sleep and great food got us ready for the last views.
The highlight was November 14th. We hiked up to High Camp and were absolutely spoiled – the views were right in our faces: the famous Fishtail mountain, Annapurna, and the star of the show, Mardi Himal. It was the perfect spot to feel tiny next to these giants.
The finish line
Our fast-paced adventure wrapped up on November 15th. We hiked down from High Camp through Siding and then traveled straight back to Pokhara. We covered a ton of ground, but the memories of the mountains and the warm people are what will last.
More pictures in the gallery below.
