All Inclusive Price
9 Nights 10 Days
If you have question about Mardi Himal Trek- 10 Days, please feel free to ask
Mardi Himal trek is one of the most visited trekking destinations of Nepal. The reason for its popularity can be accredited to its beautiful trails and cultural experience. From Nov 3 to Dec 3 last year, Nrs. 1.2 million was collected just from the entry fees. The highest count on a single day was on the 17th of November when over 600 trekkers visited the Mardi Himal.
Now, this may not seem like a high number, but in the context of Nepal, it is a high number. To give you context, the Manaslu Circuit Trek sees around 2000 visitors per year.
One of the main reasons why Mardi Himal Trek is chosen by many is its accessibility. The starting point of the trek is easily accessible, and the stops along the way are well-facilitated. The trek itself is also an easy one without any technical passages.
The Mardi Himal (5587 m) lies in the Annapurna region, just beneath Mt. Fishtail, and falls in the Annapurna Conservation Area as well. It is one of the most recently opened trek routes in Nepal, and it was officially opened to the public in 2012 for trekking.
After its official announcement, teashops and lodges in the area started to open up to as high as 3500 m elevation. The trek begins from Pokhara; we make our way up to the beautiful village of Kande and later to Pothana. We will be staying at the Forest camp and High camp, followed by an early morning trek to the Mardi Himal viewpoint.
This will be the main attraction of the trek, while we will also visit the Mardi Himal Base Camp. On the way to Mardi Himal, we will be passing through forests where hundreds of different species of birds thrive. These birds are migratory, and those birds chirping add a sense of tranquility to the scene.
An essential update for solo trekkers: as of March 2023, international tourists are not allowed to travel solo in the Mardi Himal region. You are expected to be traveling with a licensed guide. Even though the trek is one of the most straightforward routes that you can choose to travel, you are legally required to travel this region with a guide.
With all that being said, let’s take a look at a detailed breakdown of our Mardi Himal Trek package.
01
As you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, we will be inside the terminal waiting to welcome you and escort you to your designated hotel. We will have a short meetup to share an introduction with each other and plan the trek as per your preferences. We will not be charging you anything extra for this transportation.
You will meet our guide, who will be your leading man for the whole duration of the trek, along with the porters who will be in charge of carrying your stuff all the way to Mardi Himal.
As per our recommendation, you will be sharing a porter for every two individuals in the group. Furthermore, if you are a group of 6, you will need an assistant guide, and if the group has 8+ members, two assistant guides are required. Assistant guides are there to make sure that every member of the group gets the attention of someone in charge.
After you arrive at the airport, you will have to sort out your visa application on your own. You will have to present all the necessary documents and pay a certain amount of visa fee depending on the duration of your stay. This expense will not be covered by our package.
In addition to that, during your stay in Kathmandu, we will provide you with breakfast, but your lunch and dinner will be at your own expense. You can visit a few of the major attractions if you have some time to kill in Kathmandu.
02
The following day, early morning, we will be driving to Pokhara after a delicious breakfast. It will take us 7 to 8 hours to reach Pokhara on a four-wheeler. We will have our lunch at one of the stops that we will make on the 7 to 8-hour drive.
You can also choose to travel by flight to Pokhara, but we will not be covering any expenses of your flight fare. It will take you just 25 minutes to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu via flight.
Pokhara is a beautiful city located 200km west of Kathmandu. Also known as the city of lakes, Pokhara serves as a gateway to many trekking destinations, including the Mardi Himal Trek.
After you arrive in Pokhara, you will be dropped off at your hotel. You will be spending the night in Pokhara. We will take care of your accommodation as a part of the package, but everything else will be at your own expense.
03
After a filling breakfast in Pokhara, we will be driving to Kande. Kande is a small village, just a 30-minute drive away from Pokhara, that serves as the starting point for multiple trekking routes; the town itself is aesthetic and beautiful. You will find many traditional Nepali-style houses built with wood and a particular type of clay.
From Kande, we will be trekking up to Pothana, a hidden gem of the Annapurna region. Pothana was first officially recognized in the 1970s when research and expeditions started in the Annapurna region. Back then, the village was just a regular settlement at the time, full of beautiful houses and a panoramic view of Pokhara city along with the Annapurna Himalayan range, now it’s a popular spot for travelers.
During the actual trekking days, we will be responsible for providing you with breakfast, lunch, and dinner as a part of the Mardi Himal trekking package. Your meals will include anything the lodge offers, and you can choose what you want to eat from the menus.
04
Just 5 hour walk away from Pothana; Forest Camp is a small Gurung village with a vibrant and welcoming vibe. There are more than a dozen tea houses that also provide accommodations while you also have a hotel that offers standard facilities.
Keep in mind that even the basic facilities in such regions are hard to find since infrastructures are not well developed in the areas, and it takes more than usual effort and money to get any kind of goods.
You can find wifi in the hotel and tea shops, which are free to use, but they might bill you a dollar to charge your phones and other devices. We will be spending the night at Forest Camp in a tea shop; spending a night there adds to the whole trekking experience.
You will also receive a complete cell network, but the internet connection via cell might work a bit laggy since we are not in an ideal place for cell towers to work just fine. As per our personal experience, NTC cell services work better, while Ncell cell services have not quite reached the area yet.
05
Making our way through Badaldanda, we will encounter a beautiful Rhododendron forest that blooms fully in the spring season. You can see the forest in full bloom if you travel the trek at the end of March or early April, preferably the first week.
On the way to High Camp, there’s a tea shop where you can enjoy an authentic cup of cappuccino. Grounded coffee is not very common to get in the region since maintaining and repairing an expensive coffee machine is challenging because of a lack of technicians. You can enjoy your warm coffee with a view that you won’t see anywhere else.
It will take us about 5 to 6 hours of trekking to reach the High camp village from Forest camp. Some people may feel dizzy as we will be at quite a height and we have been walking for 6 hours. One of the best things we recommend is to climb high and sleep low, which will help you acclimatize better.
To avoid altitude sickness complications, you can climb a bit higher, around the 100-meter mark, and be back to sleep at High camp.
06
After a much-needed sleep, we will wake up early in the morning to trek up to the Mardi Himal viewpoint. You can view the Annapurna range in its entirety and all of Pokhara Valley as well.
There are actually two routes to the Mardi Himal viewpoint; one of them is short, but you will have to trek uphill over wet, slippery rocks with a cliff on the other side of the trail. The other trail is a bit longer but you will be traveling a much safer route. The two routes are split from the start but meet once in the middle, where you will have to climb a steep section.
One of the most challenging parts of the trek is the last part of the Mardi Himal viewpoint. You will have to climb up a stone steps for about 25 minutes. But you don’t have to worry about your luggage that much. Our porters will be there to relieve you of your weighted worries. As per our recommendation, every two people in the group must share a porter.
Once we reach the viewpoint, you will see a scene of a lifetime; there is nothing quite like it. There are a couple of tea shops at the top where you can rest your tired body since we will have to trek for approximately 3 hours.
We will leave the viewpoint shortly after since we have more grounds to cover. First off, we will visit the Mardi Himal Base Camp, where another stunning view awaits you. If the trail is not covered by soft snow, we will reach the base camp in just 30 minutes. After we are done there, we will descend down to Low Camp, which should take around 3 hours.
07
After spending the night at Low Camp, we will have a delicious breakfast early morning and start trekking towards the village of Siding. Following a 6 hours walk to Siding, we will spend the night in Siding. This will also be our last day of trekking.
We recommend that you sleep early and catch the morning sunrise. We bet you will feel revitalized. Sunrises in remote villages are more beautiful, warm, and soft compared to the bustling cities.
08
Descending down on foot to Siding is nothing compared to the downhill ride we will take from Siding to Pokhara. It’s an exciting ride as we will be driving on an off-road track just wide enough for a single Jeep. The first 30 minutes of the ride will be bumpy and full of twists and turns, while the rest of the ride will feel like a standard drive.
09
On the 9th day of your Mardi Himal trek, you are free to explore the city of Pokhara. There are so many things that you can do and we can also help you make the most out of your day. You can paddle a boat in the lake and visit the World Peace Stupa, which offers a stunning view of the lake and the city of Pokhara.
You can also indulge yourself in visiting the different caves, paragliding, flying in an ultralight, going on a hot air balloon ride, etc. Or you can simply go for a shopping spree, collecting souvenirs and memorable pieces to take back home.
Since we are off the trekking route, we will only be responsible for providing you with a morning breakfast, while you will solely be responsible for your own meals throughout the day.
10
On the 10th day, we will be traveling back to Kathmandu.
Your trip starts after you land at the International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu. We will be there waiting for you; you will be dropped off at your hotel, where you will spend the night as we have a big day ahead.
On the 2nd day of your trip, we will be traveling to Pokhara by land, which will take us about 8 hours. You will not have to pay for the transport as we will take care of it as a part of the package.
You can opt for a flight instead, which will cost you extra. Our package does not cover any air travel expenses. During the ten days of the trip, we will be responsible for providing you with necessary land transportation services, which will be covered by the trek package.
Your trip starts in Kathmandu, but the actual trekking begins after we reach Pokhara. On the third day of your trip, we will travel to a place named Kande that will serve as a starting point for our trek. From Kande, we will trek up to Pothana, which will be our first day of trekking.
The Mardi Himal trek is among the most accessible trekking destinations in Nepal. It has two sections that might be hard for some people, but in general, most people can get by it. Kids as well as old people have been able to go through this trek so we are optimistic that most people can actually finish this trek. Our porters and guide will be there to help you if you need assistance on certain sections. You will not have to carry your baggage with you, which should make it even easier for you to trek this trail.
The best season to travel this trek is during the Spring season. To be more specific, you should travel this trek during the last week of March or the first week of April. During this time, the Rhododendron forest blooms to reveal red flowers that add a touch of color to the white and grey tones of the Himalayas. These flowers are the national flower of Nepal.
Also, during the spring season it is least likely for you to encounter clouded sky ruining the views you would’ve enjoyed along the way. You can also trek this trail during the Autumn to avoid cloudy skies, with best and clear views and weather however, you will not be able to see the blooming Rhododendron forest But the autumn season weather and environment make more attractive.
Yes, a beginner can absolutely join this trip without any problem. The only thing you need to take care of is your endurance since we will be trekking for days, ascending off-road trails. Most of the people who have been on this trek are beginners or intermediate trekkers. So, there is no need to worry if you are a beginner.
Altitude sickness is very light in this elevation; the max elevation we will reach during this trek is 4200 meters, at the Mardi Himal base camp. Our guides will help you if you are feeling dizzy and nauseous; they will take you down to a safe elevation and wait for you to get okay and continue the journey.
Altitude sickness is very uncommon at this height, so, you can actually rest assured you will feel nothing. If you feel very sick and unable to continue the trek, our emergency services will evacuate you from the trail. This emergency service will cost you extra as our package does not cover emergency evacuation expenses.
We will be traveling at a moderate pace, acclimatizing with the atmosphere every day, and if you keep yourself well-hydrated along the trek, you should avoid any health issues.
During this trek, you will be staying in two different cities, Kathmandu and Pokhara. In both cases, we will not be providing any lunch, dinner, or drinks; it will be a part of your personal expense. However, we will be covering the cost of accommodation. Throughout your stay in Nepal, we will be responsible for your accommodation.
During the trek, we will be staying at local teahouses and lodges that provide all the basic facilities you need for the night. Remember that basic facilities are a luxury in the high mountains.
During your stay in Pokhara and Kathmandu, you will be buying your own meals but during the trekking days, we will be responsible for providing healthy and tasty meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) every day until the trek ends. This does not cost you extra; the Mardi Himal trek package will cover this expense.
As for drinks, the package will not cover any expenses related to any kind of drinks. We are not responsible for providing you with water or covering your bar bill. Drinking enough water is the most important thing to do in this region. It will help us recover from all the sweat we will produce and also keep us from having any altitude-related sickness.
From picking you up at the airport to dropping you off after the trek has ended, we will provide you with land transportation services as required by the trek itinerary. You will not have to pay a dime extra for land transportation as your Mardi Himal trekking package will cover all of this expense.
You will need the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit and the Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) Card. These permits are essential for the development of the trekking destination and route. You might be thinking of all the hassle of trying to get these permits from their respective departments, but we are here, so don’t worry about that much.
We will be taking care of all the necessary permits, official expenses, and taxes, and the expenses will be covered by our Mardi Himal trekking package.
We recommend that you exercise for at least 5 to 6 hours per week to make sure that your endurance is enough to travel the Mardi Himal route with ease. It’s not that the trail is difficult, but having enough stamina to outlast the trail surely helps to have an overall great experience. One thing that you don’t want is to be gasping for the majority of the time while we ascend the trail.
Being okay with the physical demands of the trail and having a controlled breath will result in you enjoying the trek more. You do not have to train for the trek but it is good for you if you do.
Also, be familiar with the temperature conditions and the lack of oxygen in the air. If you are medically unable to withstand any of those extreme conditions, you must not trek this route under any circumstance.
Avoiding the rough road of Siding, we can first travel to the beautiful Gurung village of Ghandruk, from where we make our way to Forest Camp. At the end of the trek, we will travel from Low Camp to Kande. The following day, we will drive to Pokhara. This is the Ghandruk-Mardi Himal trek.
Another alternative trek route is the Annapurna Base camp and Mardi Himal trek. In this trek, we will first travel to Annapurna Base Camp before making our way to Jhinu Dada. Our next stop will be Forest Camp, and we will ultimately travel to Kande. This is a longer trek and will require a couple of days more.
If you can spare a couple of days, we highly recommend this trek, as you will get to experience so much more. The expenses will also increase as a result.
Another popular alternative is the Mardi Himal-Khopra Ridge trek. In this trek, we will start from Kande, reach the Mardi Himal Base Camp, and descend down to Low Camp, from where we will travel to Ghandruk.
From Ghandruk, we will trek to Khopra Danda, passing Dobato. The following day, we will travel to Swanta village and ultimately to Ghorepani, Poonhill. This trek also offers a lot more than the original route, but it takes at least two days more.
Our Mardi Himal Trek will cost you Nrs. ________. You are free to compare our prices to those of others, but also make sure that you compare the services. We provide a complete package with all the services that you will need during your stay at a fair price. We will also provide you with a detailed bill so that you know what you are paying for.
Electricity is available for most part of the trek, so you should not worry about not having enough charge to capture your unique experiences in the mountains of Nepal. We will be staying at local teahouses where you can charge your gadgets.
As for the internet, you will be able to access it for the most part of the trek, while mobile phone networks are also available. Depending on your carrier, you will receive a single bar or full bar of a network. Usually, NTC carriers work better in this region, giving you a whole bar of network, which you can use to access 4G internet connections, while Ncell carriers do not work that well, you hardly get a bar or two.
The teashops also have their own wifi connections, so you will be able to access the internet one way or the other.
Since the trekking package can not cover all your expenses, you will have to have some extra cash to spend. Your additional expenses include international and domestic flight fares. The only transportation facility we cover is land transport.
During your stay in Kathmandu and Pokhara, you will be responsible for your lunch and dinner and all your drinks. Emergency evacuation (if needed) will also fall under your extra expenses, but this one will be covered by your travel insurance.
Your travel insurance expense is also your personal expense, along with your bar bill, visa fees, hot shower expense, charging, and wifi bills. Also, the tips your guide, drivers, and porters, it will also be at your own expense.
Our Mardi Himal trek package is the most fun you will have trekking in Nepal. This trek is not too long and does not require you to have extraordinary physical abilities. It’s a beginner-friendly trek where kids and old people can also join in. Along the way, you pass through multiple villages and settlements that are welcoming and beautiful.
One of the best things about this trek is the easy accessibility, all the while allowing a fantastic trekking experience that you will remember for years to come. You can expect to experience a unique journey with stunning views all along the way.
As your travel partner, we will make sure that your trip goes as smoothly as possible because we value your satisfaction, and we want to make sure that your trip to Nepal is not ruined by our incompetence.
At the end of the trek, you can expect to miss the mountains, the people, and the food of Nepal.
Q
The best season for traveling this trek route is the Spring season when the Rhododendron forest reveals vibrant red flowers, adding a hint of red to the white background of the Himalayas. The next best season to travel this route is the Autumn season.
Q
No, you do not have to have any previous trekking experience, as you will be trekking on easy trails. Most individuals who have traveled this trek were first-timers, and all of them seem to reached the Mardi Himal Base Camp just fine.
Q
No, it is not possible to travel solo on the Mardi Himal trek route as you are legally required to have a guide with you But some tourists they are entering route and doing this trek without Guide.
Q
Our package will include all your land transportation needs, accommodations from day 1 to day 10, three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) every trekking day, a licensed English-speaking guide, a porter for every two members of the group, and an assistant guide (if required; depends on the size of the group).
In addition to that, the package will cover all the necessary permit expenses, crew members’ life insurance, food, daily wages, -20℃ sleeping bag for every member of the group, medical kit, and service charge
Q
First you should only be focused on keeping yourself warm and well-hydrated throughout the trek.
Needed equipment lists for Mardi Himal Trek:
All Inclusive Price
9 Nights 10 Days
If you have question about Mardi Himal Trek- 10 Days, please feel free to ask