(5 Reviews)
Duration: 10 Days
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Voyage to the heart of the Annapurna region, the Mardi Himal trek marks itself as one of the unexplored treasures of the area. Despite welcoming trekkers belatedly than other trails of the region, Mardi Himal Trek has demonstrated itself as an ideal trek offering a fresh mixture of the natural and cultural segments. The trek takes you to the lap of Mardi Himal (5553m) & Mt. Machhapuchhre (6997m), providing you once in a lifetime opportunity to stand face to face with the most mystically fascinating mountain, Mt. Machhapuchhre. Detouring the crowded paths of the region, the Mardi Himal trek leads you to some lesser-known parts of the Annapurna, like Australian Camp, Siding & Lumle, etc. Passing through lush rhododendron forest, diverse landscapes, and hidden villages unchanged by contemporary civilization, the trek offers you the authentic experience of life in the Himalayas of Nepal. You'll get to relish the views of peaks like the Annapurna massif, Mt. Hiunchuli (6441m), Mt. Gangapurna (7454m), and Mardi Himal (5553m), and Mt. Machhapuchhre (6997m), along with several other peaks during the entire journey. Similar to all other trekking trails of the Annapurna region, the Mardi Himal Trek as well falls inside the Annapurna conservation area presenting a diverse range of flora and fauna.
One of the shortest treks to reach at an elevation of 4500m, the trek begins with short sightseeing around the city & takes you to the popular tourist hub, Pokhara. From Pokhara, the trail goes through Kande, Australian Camp, Forest camp, Low camp, and high camp until you eventually make it to the base camp at an elevation of 4500m. Experience the Gurung and Magar lifestyle of the Himalayan region as you go from walking on forested trails to high ridges while relishing the majesty of mountains right in front of your eyes.
Why do you have to trek Mardi Himal?
Explore the lesser-known trail of the Annapurna region
Unlike other popular trekking trails of the Annapurna region, the Mardi Himal Trekking is the least explored one. Despite being recognized late, this trail is a perfect alternative if you're looking for an off-beat trek, including some mind-boggling aspects of nature.
Pass through hidden valleys of the region
When it comes to the Annapurna region, there are several valleys well-known amongst the trekkers. The Mardi Himal Trek provides you with an opportunity to pass through and explore the hidden valleys of the region like; the Australian camp which is one of the best sites for catching sunrise & sunset views. And other traditional villages like; Siding and Lumle.
Get breathtaking views of mountains
Any trek to the Himalayan region of Nepal offers trekkers some spectacular views of mountains and Mardi Himal Trek doesn't fall behind on that. You'll get a chance to witness majestic views of mountains like; Annapurna massif, Mt. Hiunchuli (6441m), Mt. Gangapurna (7454m), and Mardi Himal (5553m), and Mt. Machhapuchhre (6997m), along with several other peaks during the trek.
Experience the traditional lifestyle of the Annapurna region
During the trek, you'll get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the traditional lifestyle of the Annapurna region. As the region is dominated mostly by the Gurung and Magar communities, you can learn and explore their traditions and village lifestyle.
Travellers can expect some light physical activities.
Narayan Baniya (nature pathfinder) and Sumir Gyawali (yoga teacher) guide me in this adventure. Actually they manage perfectly my short time and all the noisy burocratic thinks like documents or Covid control. They makes me feel safely and had care of me since the moment I reserved .. now I’m at home and still feel the power of their experience, friendship and good nature. They makes me “enter” in the Nepali lifestyle, from metropolitan Kathmandu until the top of the mountain were the vibes are soo deep. Their good vibes are compatible with all, Sumir had a clinical yogi eye and Narayan the calm you need to arrive over the clouds.. it was like a day dreaming and I never forget this experience out of time. Thank you Antonio
A great & well organised experience. I highly recommend Himalayan recreation to anyone planning to trek to the Annapurna Basecamp. Everything from start to finish was all taken care of, taking away all of the stress of organisation so that I could focus on enjoying the trek. Ashok was very responsive on whatsapp at all times and was able to adapt the tour when circumstances changed. For example, when my flight to Pokhara was cancelled, Ashok arranged for a friendly driver to take me all the way there by private car instead (I did have to wait 1.5 hours for the driver, but traffic in Kathmandu is difficult). My guide Santosh and porter Bal were very friendly and accommodating and were good company during the trek. They have the English skills required to answer the majority of questions, particularly relating to the trek. Overall, a very good experience. The trek itself is very beautiful. It has everything, including rural villages with rice terraces, bamboo forests, and epic mountains. The accommodation is basic but everything you need for a trek (much better than camping). The weather forecast is inaccurate - I enjoyed decent weather despite the forecast being constant rain/thunder. I found the difficulty to be much easier than others state, and could have completed the trek in 5-6 days. Almost anyone with a decent level of fitness would be able to complete this trek (adjusting the duration to accommodate).
The Annupurna Poon Hill Trip is a lovely trek through the lower elevations of the Annupurna range of the Himalayas. Starting from Pokhara, a 90 minute drive in a taxi drops us off at the beginning of the trek and then goes up from there. My guide, Raj, was absolutely awesome and provided a lot of great information about the area during our trek over the several days that this trek takes place. The second day of the climb takes us to the small town of Ghorepani, and then an early climb the next morning to Poon Hill. I went on this trip in the 2nd year of the virus. According to my guide, the number of travelers was still way down from pre-pandemic years. So, in one way, it is a great time to travel since you will have most of the trails to yourself. The tea houses are also pretty empty. The negative side to this is that there are limited menu items and several places didn't have WiFi. There are a few recommendations I would make about this trip. The first is the ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara. I took the bus and regretted it about halfway there. While the distance is only 200 km, it took about 8 hours on the bus. If I were to do this again, I would have opted for a 30 minute flight. It costs more, but is so worth it. Second, make sure you bring toilet paper with you on the trek. The tea houses I stayed in during my trek didn't have any. So, bringing a roll of your own is a huge help. And speaking of bathrooms, most of the toilets along the route are not the western style sit-down toilets. Rather they are the hole in the grounds. So, make sure to use the bathroom before leaving the tea house since the next western-style toilet isn't until the next guest house, which could be a half day hike away. Finally, if you have time after the trek, spend an extra day in Pokhara. It is much more interesting than Kathmandu. Otherwise, the trek was wonderful and the folks at Himalayan Recreation did a great job in staying in touch, picking me up at the airport when I arrived in Nepal, and provided excellent service all the way through.
This trip was the first we took with those guys. It was very nice, guide was interesting and gave us a lot information about Bhaktapur and Nepal itself. After they arranged few more trips for us. First was Chitwan national park and jeep safari. After Pokhara and paragliding. And then return to Kathmandu. It was very helpful to have someone local there who can arrange flights, pick ups, all the activities and return wherever needed. We didn't have more time, but all the time we had, they managed to organize for us, without stressing or worrying. I truly recommend them, because they are very responsible and helpful for any situation. I firstly met them in Kathmandu for our first trip and they helped us with all the others.
This is your first day in Nepal. A warm welcome to the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu. After you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport, our officials will be there to greet you outside the airport and escort you to the hotel. They will help you with all the check-in formalities and you can take a rest for the remaining day to get rid of any jetlags. In the evening, our guides will be there to discuss the trek to Mardi Himal. They will provide you with all the necessary information regarding the trek and if you have anything to buy or rent for your trek, you can freely talk to the guides.
Meet and greet at the airport and reach the hotel.
Discussion regarding the trek
Resting in the hotel.
Trekking to any part of Nepal requires multiple Government formalities. Today we will help you fulfil all the formalities and complete the required Nepal Government procedures to get permission for your trek. After the completion of all procedures, you can tour around the city of Kathmandu which is renowned for Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage sites. Take a stroll around Kathmandu Durbar Square and shop your heart out. And visit the prominent Hindu temple of Asia, Pashupatinath dedicated to Lord Shiva. You can also pay a visit to Swayambhunath Stupa which is popularly known as the Monkey temple. After exploring the city, you can spend the rest of the day at your hotel relaxing.
Shopping at Durbar Square
Visiting the renowned Hindu temple, Pashupatinath
Visiting the Monkey temple (Swayambhunath Stupa)
Relaxing in the hotel
A brief about the trekking and the activities that will happen on the trek
Don't forget to attend the meeting with our guides in the evening before you embark on the journey. It is very important to know all the small details related to this so if you have any queries or confusion, you can freely ask your guide. Also, you should keep everything ready for the next day’s trek and keep all your trekking necessities in a separate bag.
You'll start the day today with a drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu. The journey will start early in the morning & you can enjoy the drive with some amazing views of the landscapes & side rivers on the way. It will take around 7-8 hours of drive to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu. After arriving in Pokhara, the drive will further take you to Kande which is the official starting point of the trek. The walk begins from Kande, it is an easy walk with slight uphills that takes around an hour. After an hour of walking, you'll arrive at the Australian camp. If you make it to the Australian camp in the dusk, you'll be able to catch a splendid sunset view over the mountains of Annapurna. Overnight stay at Australian camp.
View of landscapes & rivers during the drive.
A short walk to Australian Camp.
Sunset view from Australian Camp.
The drive up to Pokhara is pretty smooth but after Pokhara, the roads leading to Kande may be slightly off-road. The trail to the Australian camp from Kande is quite easy, involving a few uphills. You can enjoy the sunset and mountain views from Australian Camp. Also, if you need to buy anything before starting the trek, you can buy it in Pokhara.
From Australian camp, today you will head towards forest camp. The trek begins with a walk on the narrow trail and soon leads to the lush forests with alpine trees. Most of the trail you'll be walking on today is forested with a few open fields giving you a sneak-peak of the Himalayas. As you continue the walk, you'll find the moss-covered trees providing a shady roof over the trail. The route is steep at a few places until you reach the forest camp which, as the name suggests, is situated in the middle of the forest. Overnight stay at Forest Camp.
Sunrise view from the Australian camp.
View of mighty mountains in-between the trails.
The lush green forests are on the way.
The walk today starts quite easy but there are few steep trails as you move forward. Don't forget to relish the view of the Himalayas and enjoy the walk on the trail shaded by the trees.
Today, from Forest Camp you will push through the hill upward towards Low Camp. The walk starts with an uphill climb as soon as you leave the forest camp. The trek is mostly on the uphill landscape today, but you can enjoy a few walks on the serene forests as well. Also, you'll get some of the best views of Mt. Machhapuchhre (6997m) and Annapurna Peaks on the way. After walking for around 5-6 hours, you'll arrive at a low camp from where you can view Mt. Machhapuchhre right in front of your eyes. Overnight stay at Low camp.
Things to Lookout For:
· Uphill trails leading to low camp.
· Some stunning views of Mt. Machhapuchhre and Annapurna range on the way.
Keep in Mind:
You might find the walk today a little tougher than the earlier days as it mostly includes uphills, but with a slow pace, it is still reachable. And the view from low camp is definitely worth the uphill walk.
You'll head towards High camp today leaving the forest trail behind. The trail from here on is decorated mostly with colourful rhododendrons. As you trace your step toward high camp, you'll start noticing the grassland terrain getting wet with snow. The view of the Annapurna Himalayas from the High Camp is one of the most breathtaking of the entire journey. Also, the walk today is quite short in comparison to the previous days so, you can enjoy the trail to the fullest. Overnight stay at High camp.
· Trail filled with rhododendrons & snow.
· Breathtaking view of Annapurna range.
It is a short walk today to the High camp, so you can take your time and enjoy the views without any rush. Also, once you arrive in High camp, take the much-needed rest as you enjoy the view of the Himalayas.
Today, the hike starts early in the morning as you make your way to the Mardi Base Camp from High Camp. It is an uphill walk & from the top, you can witness the sight of peaks like the Mardi Himal (5553m), Mt. Annapurna I (8091m), Mt. Annapurna South (7219m), Mt. Hiunchuli Peak (6441m), Mt. Baraha Shikhar (7647m), Mt. Mount Machhapuchhre (6997m) and Lamjung Himal (6983m), etc. You can also choose to go up to the upper viewpoint only which provides equally beautiful views of mountains. After enjoying the tranquil time in the mountains, you'll trek back to high camp where you can stay for the night or choose to trek further to Badal Danda or Low camp. Overnight stay at High Camp.
360-degree view of mountain ranges.
The base camp of Mardi Himal.
Stand in the lap of Mardi Himal and Mt. Machhapuchhre.
It is entirely up to you if you want to trek up to Mardi Base Camp or just to the upper viewpoint. Either way, you can enjoy some panoramic views of the Himalayas so enjoy every bit of it. Also, for the overnight stay, if you want to make the walk easier for the next day, you can choose to trek to Badal Danda.
From High Camp, today you will slowly descend to the village called Siding which is a traditional village with the settlement of ethnic Gurung people. The walk today mostly includes downhill until you reach Siding. Siding is a village filled with traditional houses and terrace farms of potatoes and barley. You can witness the typical village lifestyle here. Overnight stay at Siding.
Continuous downhill walks.
Traditional village houses & lifestyle.
From Sidhing, you will make your way to Lumle, a village that finally shows a connection to a road on which you will then drive to Pokhara. You can enjoy the view of mountains, landscapes & traditional villages on the way during the drive. From Pokhara, you will finally say goodbye to the Annapurna Mountains and catch your flight back to Kathmandu. You can roam around the local marketplaces and alleys in the city to shop for souvenirs or take a walk. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Finally, your journey has come to an end. Our representatives will take you to the Tribhuvan International Airport according to your flight schedule and help you with your check-in procedures at the terminal.
All ground transport in a private vehicle, including airport transfers
Two nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu
One night accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu
3 standard meals a day during the trek
Snacks of seasonal fruits during the trek
Best available twin sharing lodge for accommodation during the trek.
Airfare from Pokhara to Kathmandu
Pokhara to Kathmandu by Tourist bus
Himalayan Recreation’s experienced, government licensed, English speaking trekking guide during the trip.
Porter services (1 porter = 2 trekkers)
All costs of staff which includes food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment’s and medicines.
Duffel bag use while trekking, Trekking map and trip achievement certificate
Required Mardi Himal Permit fee and TIMS Fee- Trekkers' Information Management System
First aid medicine kit
Farewell dinner with Cultural show in a fine restaurant on second last day.
Government taxes & office service charge
Meals not specified in the 'Meal Inclusions' in the above itinerary
Personal Travel insurance, which covers emergency Rescue and Evacuation.
Personal trekking equipment or expenses
Alcoholic drinks and beverages
Tips for trekking guides, porters and drivers (tipping is expected)
Any other expenses that are not mentioned in the 'Price Includes' section.
Weather is one of the most critical factors in deciding to trek to any region of Nepal. It is a given thing to do some pre-research about the weather of the destination you're trekking to. It is secure to say that Nepal can trek throughout the year as every season offers its distinct beauty. But the best time to trek to any region of Nepal is during the spring and the autumn season as the atmosphere is clear with no hindrance to the scenery.
Mardi Himal Trek is best when trekked in the spring and autumn seasons as it is the most convenient time to enjoy the scenery without any trouble. In the spring season, several plants & flowers along with rhododendrons start blooming & the weather is very delightful with clear skies & average temperature. If you want to enjoy the panoramic views of the Annapurna ranges & the trail full of rhododendrons along with other diverse ranges of plants and flowers. Spring is the best season to trek Mardi Himal. Similar to the spring season, Autumn is another perfect season to trek Mardi Himal when the weather is transparent with moderate temperature. If you want to avoid the crowd and enjoy the trail filled with snow, it is possible to trek Mardi Himal in winter as well. But make sure to be well-prepared and avoid the peak winter time.
As the Annapurna region is one of the most popular trekking regions of Nepal, the food during the Mardi Himal Trek is particularly convenient and modifiable in comparison to other parts of Nepal. The menu ranges from traditional village meals to Asian and western cuisines. For breakfast, the menu usually consists of traditional bread, eggs, potatoes, and soup while lunch and dinner items include Dal Bhat (lentil soup, rice, and veggies), soup noodles, fried rice, dumplings, etc depending on the lodge and destination. In the lower part of the trek, you can even get food like pizza and other western dishes but as you gain the elevation, the choice gets limited.
During the start of the trek, you can enjoy standard hotel rooms with in-room showers, western-style flush toilets, a Free WIFI connection, and in-room plugs to charge your stuff. But as you move to a higher elevation, electricity is scarce and you may have to charge for charging and hot water showers. The rooms in higher elevations come without facilities like in-room showers, western-style flush toilets, free WIFI, etc. But still, in comparison to the past years, the Mardi Himal trail has seen a huge amount of growth in the accommodation facilities.
Mardi Himal trek falls under moderate level or Grade-B trekking. Grade B is the level that usually involves about one to two-week-long treks above the elevation of 3000m and below 5000m. This grade of trekking is suitable for beginner trekkers with few hiking experiences. The trek usually involves a few uphill and downhill climbs in the elevation ranging from 3000-5000m. The altitude gain per day during this grade of trekking can vary between 400m-700m. It is much recommended to go on a few uphill hikes before venturing on this level of treks.
The length of the Mardi Himal trek depends on several factors like; the starting and ending point of the trek which can be either Kathmandu or Pokhara and if you choose to add any side trips on the initial itinerary. But, generally, the trek can be completed in 6-12 days.
Mardi Himal Trek falls under Easy to Moderate grade trek. The trek involves a few steep trails ascending and descending along the trail and takes you to the maximum height of 4500m. Therefore, you must be physically fit and even better if you have little hiking experience. If you have previous trekking experience, this trek might come off as easy for you.
The cost for the Mardi Himal trek depends on several factors like; the length of the trek, accommodation, and mode of transportation. The cost can rise with any other side trips added to the itinerary. In general, the cost ranges from $500 to $1400 on average.
Mardi Himal trek is one of the shortest treks from Pokhara in the Annapurna region offering such a diverse range of natural beauty. With Pokhara being the starting and ending point, the trek can be completed in 5-6 days.
Like any other trek in the Annapurna region, the best month for the Mardi Himal trek is March-April (spring) and October-November (autumn). During these seasons, the temperature is moderate and the skies are usually clear offering some best views of the Himalayas. If you want a trail filled with snow then, the Mardi Himal trek can be done in winter as well with little more caution and preparation.
You first need to arrive at the starting point of the trek, which is Pokhara. You can either catch a flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu or ride through a public or private vehicle. From Pokhara, there are several different routes to reach Mardi Himal. The most convenient trail is via Australian camp followed by forest camp, low camp, and high camp respectively.
Mardi Himal is a mountain with a height of 5,587 m (18,330 ft) just beneath the renowned peak Machapuchare in the Annapurna region of Nepal. The trek to Mardi Himal is one of the hidden gems of the Annapurna region that takes you in the lap of Mount Mardi and Machhapuchhre.
From Pokhara, you can take a bus to Kande and hike to the Australian camp. From the Australian camp, the trail goes through forest camp, low camp, and high camp before you make it to the viewpoint and the base camp of Mardi Himal. After reaching the top, the ending point of the trek is siding from where you can catch a jeep to Pokhara.
You can easily buy the Mardi Himal trek map in Kathmandu and Pokhara in the travel book shops. You'll be provided with the map by our company if you choose to travel with us.
The height of the Mardi Himal Base Camp is 4500 m above sea level. During the Mardi Himal trek, you can choose to reach up to the base camp or just the viewpoint whose elevation is less than that of the base camp.
Yes, you can climb the Mardi Himal. The summit of the peak is at an elevation of 5587 m, whose journey begins from the Mardi Himal base camp. As it is a peak below 6000 m, the climb is not technically difficult, but you still require to be physically fit with previous climbing experience for a successful summit.
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