Mardi Himal Trek
6
4200M
Easy
The Mardi Himal trek is known in Nepal as best short trek in Annapurna region. The skyline trek is in close distance from Pokhara city. Mardi Himal trekking is gateway to hidden treasure where trekkers wonder at the landscape of Machapuchhre. This is also one of the best location for the paraglider to fly very close to the beautiful mountain range. Mardi Himal trek route is located on south east of famous mountain fishtail. The towering peaks of machapuchhre and Annapurna ranges providing it with an attractive backdrop. Being a very close from Pokhara, it is primarily a very famous for the trekkers with limited time.
Mardi Himal trek through awesome Himalayan countryside and vibrant enthralling villages that showcase the true rural lifestyles at the lower elevations of the mountains in the amazing Annapurna Region. Mardi Himal Trek begins on silent gentle trails on both trekking starting point. Starting from Kande, most of the route covers rhododendron forest all the way high camp. If you start from south, its more open and views are amazing. South east route is developed with tea house along the tail all the way to high camp. Whereas from south route need full camping utilities.
Trekking Mardi Himal through the foothills of the Annapurna will be just the thing to do for first timers with limited time. This will be just the kind of vacation for you with mixture of culture, nature and relatively high altitude. This trek is also less tourist comparing to other trek routes in the region. Mardi Himal trek offers most unique of all environments, in the midst of mother nature. You will experience the local folks living in simple thatched huts surrounded by tilled farmlands. We walk on through a rhododendron forests, orchid trees and lovely magnolias and routes in the mountains constructed to keep trade and networks between villages in touch with one another.
Includes and excludes :
Includes:
- All meals as specified for trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner with tea/coffee).
- Arrival pick up & departure.
- All internal local transport as per the itinerary.
- Internal flights
- All trekking arrangements including trekking permits, climbing permits, National Park entrance fees.
- Accommodation in twin sharing local lodges or best available places for accommodation,
- Trekking & Climbing leader & porter (salary, insurance, food, accommodation & other allowances).
- Basic first aid kit is carried by your leader.
Excludes:
- Kathmandu food lunch & dinner,
- International flights to Kathmandu,
- Tips for Porter, guide & other
- Personal climbing gears and climbing boot, clothing & equipment
- Personal expenditure, all bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, hot shower in the mountain region, mineral water, snacks, desserts.
- Medical examination (if required) & vaccination costs
- Optional trips. Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond our control
- Visa fees & Travel insurance. Airport taxes
- Meals or drinks except the 3 main meals specified in itinerary
- Anything else not specified in the ‘included costs’ section above
For more details
Itinerary breakdown
Mardi Himal Trek
Day 01: Drive to Kande and trek to Pitam Deurali (2125m)
After hot breakfast we drive half an hour to Kande and commence our trek to Forest Camp at the elevation of 1810m. The trail is steep until Dhampus and pleasant easy walk up to Pothana, where you stay in a teahouse lodge for the first night.
Day 02: Trek to Low Camp (3,150m)- 5 hours trekking.
The trail continues from Forest Camp to Low Camp through the forest however as we ascend the vegetation starts to change with more rhododendron and the trees are covered with moss, lichen and tree ferns. At Low Camp there are two basic lodges one with a dining room with open fire. The view from Low Camp is superb with Mount Machhapuchhre visible up the valley.
Day 03: Trek to High Camp (3,700m)- 4 hours trekking.
An hour or so above Low Camp the trail breaks out above tree line and towards the west there is a good view to Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. The trail continues along the Mardi Himal ridge mainly on grass with some isolated rhododendron bushes along the way. Look out for the colourful Danphe pheasant on this section of the trail. The lodge at High Camp is larger than lodges at Low Camp and Forest Camp, this one has eight rooms and a separate dining room with heater. The view from the lodge is superb to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail).
Day 04: Excursion to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m)- back to Low Camp.
The plan for today is to wake early for sunrise view of the mountains then after an early breakfast walk up the ridge towards Mardi Himal Base Camp. There is a well-established trail through the grass with a couple of steeper sections however overall not too challenging. Look out for the dzokpo (yak/ cow crossbreds) grazing up here as well as Danphe pheasant. In the summer the sheep and goats from lower villages are brought up to graze in this area so you will pass a number of herder’s huts along the way. After three hours you should reach Base Camp at the elevation of 4500m this is where one can look into the Annapurna Sanctuary and the panorama view is spectacular looking at south face of Annapurna and all of the peaks in the Sanctuary as well as Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). We stay overnight at Low Camp again.
Day 05: Trek to Siding village (1,750m) -6 hours walking.
On the way back we take a different route so completing a circuit, from Low Camp there is a trail that goes down to Siding village rather than going back down Mardi Himal back to Kokar. Siding is a traditional Nepalese village and still very much away from the busier modern tourist treks and it is likely you will stay at a homestay in Siding owned by the person who runs one of the lodges at Low Camp. It is a wonderful cultural experience finding out more about village life and you will probably eat dhal baht in the evening with the family in their kitchen.
Day 06: Trek to Lumre and drive to Pokhara- 3 hours walking and 2 hours driving.
From Siding you walk out to the road head at Lumre, on the way from Siding you will pass the villages of Kalimati and Ghalel. Kalimati is mainly a Brahmin village with Ghalel and Siding mixed Brahmin and Gurung. At Lumre you will meet jeep to drive you back to Pokhara.
