Mardi Himal Trek

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Mardi Himal Trek - 11 Days

Mardi Himal Trek

$1120
Group size: 1 - 12 Max-Altitude: 4200 Meters
Destination: Nepal Fitness level: Moderate
Arrival on: Mar - May & Sep - Dec Departure from: Kathmandu
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: Teahouse and Camping

Trip Introduction

The Mardi Himal Trek lets you experience the remote settlements and trekking trails in the Annapurna Region. Most noteworthy is the trail decorated with splendid views of the mountains. Furthermore, the trekking journey is encompassed with the beguiling landscape of the region. Even more, the landscape is ornamented by silver serpentine rivers that cross across the emerald terrain.

Mardi Himal Trek is a good alternative to escape away from crowded treks of Annapurna with stunning views and duration similar to Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek.  The trek trial is a relatively new trekking route in the Annapurna region with spectacular views of the Annapurna Himalayan range. It’s a peaceful trekking route with very few trekkers along the way. Though the availability of foods and accommodation on the route is at the bare minimum, Mardi Himal Trek is still an enjoyable trekking route which requires minimum effort.

Significantly, the sight of the magnificent Mardi Himal in the backdrops is breath-taking! Furthermore, the Mardi Himal Trek allows you the opportunity to trek along the trails that lead through verdantly rich forests. Wooded acreages of rhododendron trees also line the landscape. As a matter of fact, you would also be presented with the ambiance of an isolated trekking trail. Moreover, you would also get the opportunity to encounter the local people and observe their unique customs and cultures. You can observe their day to day life at the bosoms of the lush hillocks and the secluded mountains. Particularly, the trekking trails of the Mardi Himal Trek also excurses along many terraced farmlands.

Mardi Himal Base Camp is situated under the glorious Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Peak). The trail also includes several hours walking inside rhododendron forests that looks tremendous during March – April. The views along the route are impressive; includes Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Mardi Himal and Hiunchuli. More than that, upper view point offers spectacular close views of the whole Annapurnas. The route is pretty quite during the whole year comparing to popular routes of Annapurna region. Mardi Himal Trekking is a classic trekking route to give you a taste of unspoiled culture and villages.

Included in the Cost

  • Airport pick up and drop- off by private transport
  • Two nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu
  •  Two nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Pokhara
  •  Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
  •  Best available twin sharing lodge to lodge accommodation during the trek
  •  One highly experienced, helpful and friendly guide, porters (1 porter for 2 people) and their food, accommodation, salary, equipment, and accidental insurance for all staff
  •  Surface transfer to and from Pokhara on tourist bus
  •  Blue Mountain Travels & Tours Sleeping bag & down Jacket and duffle bags (if required)
  •  Blue Mountain Travels & Tours T – shirt, trekking map and trip achievement certificate
  •  First aid medical kit
  •  Annapurna conservation permit fee
  •  TIMS Fee- Trekkers’ Information Management System (Please bring 2 passport size photos for permit)
  • Government taxes and office service charge

Outline Itinerary

DAY 1:
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
DAY 2:
Drive to Pokhara (910m) , 6 hrs
DAY 3:
Drive to Phedi and trek to Pothana (1,925m), 4 hrs
DAY 4:
Trek to Forest Camp at Kokar (2,600m), 4 hrs
DAY 5:
Trek to Low Camp (3,150m), 5 hrs
DAY 6:
Trek to High Camp (3,600m), 4 hrs
DAY 7:
Day walk to Upper view point (4,200m), 4 hrs
DAY 8:
Trek to Siding village (1,750m), 6 hrs
DAY 9:
Trek to Lumre and drive to Pokhara (910m), 3 hours walking and 2 hours driving
DAY 10:
Pokhara to Kathmandu
DAY 11:
Farewell

Accommodations

Accommodation in Kathmandu will be a standard hotel. We will accommodate you in the 3-star category hotel. You will be accommodated in an air-conditioned room. We provide one double room for two customers ( unless you are a single customer ). These rooms will have either a master bed or two single beds. If you have the special preference on bed selection then please inform us in advance, we will try to book the room appropriate for your stay.

We provide twin sharing rooms for your holiday. Mardi Himal Trek is new trekking route with only few lodges made along the way. There won’t be large number of options available to sleep in most places so we may need to adjust in basic room. These rooms are prepared only to spend a night, nothing luxurious are available there. These lodges have small rooms that provide basic sleeping experience during your trek.

Almost every rooms during the trek consists of two single beds. Even on the trekking one room will be accommodating two trekkers unless you are single trekker. If you are a single trekker then sometimes you may need to share your room with someone else in rare, let’s say very rare cases ( same-sex or very rare cases with opposite sex). Even if you are traveling in a group and prefer single room then upon paying single supplement charges we will try our best to provide you single rooms. If we are unable to provide single rooms then we will refund your single supplement charges.

Meals

Basic meals are available in tea houses during the whole trek. These meals are prepared on time are there are very rare cases of meals not being fresh in the mountains. Various meals including noodles, soups, handmade bread, rice items, curries, spaghetti, pizza, egg items, potatoes are served on the trek. Please do not expect western meals prepared in the remote villages similar to the one you may eat in your home or restaurants in western countries.

Mardi Himal Trek is relatively new trekking and tea houses are not well developed that means the quality of the meals will be low compared to popular trekking routes. Not all common items would be found everywhere. We will provide 3 meals; i.e. breakfast, lunch, and dinner with hot drinks on the trek. Generally, dinner and breakfast are served in a lodge and lunch is served during the trek. You will have full options or freedom to select your preferred items from a small menu provided by the lodge. Meals in the mountain tastes awesome as raw materials are also freshly prepared in most of the cases.

Breakfasts are included even in Kathmandu at your hotel. You will have a menu to select your meal or foods will be served in buffet system. The hotel itself will select the appropriate method depending on the volume of customers.

Physical Condition & Experience Requirements

This is an easy trek suitable for passionate walkers who have the ability to walk for around 4-5 hours a day with a light day-pack. Exercising and jogging regularly for a few weeks prior to the trip is good idea to enhance strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no technical skill is required for this trip. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases should inform Blue Mountain Travels & Tours before booking the trek. We also recommend that you consult your doctor(s) before the trip.

Best Time to Travel

Mardi Himal Trek is a moderate altitude trekking (about 4,000 meters +) route that is simply stunning. This trekking is doable during the whole year, however, January – May, and October – December is better comparatively. Even among these months March – April and October – November are even the best. During these best months, the sky is generally crystal clear, the views are incredible and the weather is breathtaking as well. You will generally have stunning Himalayan views and green scenery during these months. June to September is monsoon season although trekking is still doable in this area.

The trails have quite a lot of leeches during monsoon which can be very inconvenient for many trekkers. During this period it rains frequently in the late afternoon, night and early morning that leaves the trail wet and slippery as well. Mardi Himal Trekking is beautiful trek almost throughout the year. The views are simply incredible most of the time. October to December will have more greens in the forest.

DAY 1:
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu

You may arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport at any given time, and will be welcomed by one of our representatives. You will then be transferred to your hotel where you may check in. Our representative will explain your travel plan further to you and will elaborate the programs. There are no planned activities for the day, so you may relax at your hotel and try to shake off the jet lag from the plane journey. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 2:
Drive to Pokhara (910m) , 6 hrs

Our guide will pick you up at the hotel at 6:30am and escort you to the bus station. The tourist bus to Pokhara leaves at around 7:30am. The scenery along the road is quite dramatic and you will see rivers, valleys, cascading rice terrace farms and rocky gorges. Upon arrival, you may check in at the hotel and in the evening, you may enjoy leisure boating on the scenic Fewa Lake and see the reflection of the Mount Machhapuchhre and Annapurna Range on the crystal clear water of the Lake. Overnight at hotel, breakfast included.

DAY 3:
Drive to Phedi and trek to Pothana (1,925m), 4 hrs

We will drive at the road head at Phedi and start the trek to Pothana where you will stay in a tea house lodge for the first night.
Overnight at Guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 4:
Trek to Forest Camp at Kokar (2,600m), 4 hrs

From Pothana, you walk up to a place called Pitam Deurali, where you will turn off the main Annapurna Sanctuary Trek and continue along a quiet trail through a dense forest of oak, maple, hemlock and rhododendrons. Tonight, we will be staying at one of the lodges in a clearing of the forest at Forest Camp, also known by the locals as Kokar. The lodges at Kokar are quite basic and there is no dining room, so you will have meals in kitchen with the owner, so in some ways, this is more like a home stay and is a good opportunity to get to know this friendly family from Siding Village.
Overnight Guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 5:
Trek to Low Camp (3,150m), 5 hrs

From Forest Camp to Low Camp, the trail continues through the forest; however as we ascend, the vegetation starts to change with more rhododendrons and trees 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. Overnight Guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 6:
Trek to High Camp (3,600m), 4 hrs

An hour or so above Low Camp, the trail breaks out above the tree line and towards the west- there is a good view of the Annapurna South and the Hiunchuli. The trail continues along the Mardi Himal ridge mainly on grass with some isolated rhododendron bushes along the way. Look out for the colorful Danphe pheasants 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 of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail).

Overnight at Guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 7:
Day walk to Upper view point (4,200m), 4 hrs

The plan for today is to wake up early for sunrise view of the mountains, then after an early breakfast, walk up the ridge towards Mardi Himal. There is a well-established trail through the grass with a couple of steeper sections, however overall, it’s not too challenging. Look out for the dzos (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 the Upper View point at 4,200m; this is where one can look into the Annapurna Sanctuary and the panoramic view is spectacular looking at the south face of Annapurna and all of the peaks in the Sanctuary as well as Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). Overnight Guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 8:
Trek to Siding village (1,750m), 6 hrs

On the return trek, we take a different route, thus completing a circuit and from the 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 tourist treks and it is likely you will stay at a home in Siding owned by the person who runs one of the lodges at Low Camp. Overnight at Guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 9:
Trek to Lumre and drive to Pokhara (910m), 3 hours walking and 2 hours driving

From Siding, you will 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 both being a mix of Brahmin and Gurung. At Lumre, you will meet your jeep organized by us in advance to drive you back to Pokhara.
Overnight at Guesthouse. Breakfast and lunch included.

DAY 10:
Pokhara to Kathmandu

A scenic drive back to Kathmandu by tourist bus will be undertaken by you today, which takes approximately 6 hrs. Overnight at hotel.
Breakfast included.

DAY 11:
Farewell

Approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight, a representative from Blue Mountain Travels & Tour will take you to the airport from where you will depart.

Dates and Cost

The given cost are per person and exclude international flights. Given below are the departure dates available for online booking. If the given date is not favorable then please contact us and we will happily customize your trip on dates more appropriate for you.

Book our fixed departures

Trip Dates Trip Price Trip Status
28 December, 2018 - 6 January, 2019 1120
Booking Open
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Included in the Cost

  • Airport pick up and drop- off by private transport
  • Two nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu
  •  Two nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Pokhara
  •  Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
  •  Best available twin sharing lodge to lodge accommodation during the trek
  •  One highly experienced, helpful and friendly guide, porters (1 porter for 2 people) and their food, accommodation, salary, equipment, and accidental insurance for all staff
  •  Surface transfer to and from Pokhara on tourist bus
  •  Blue Mountain Travels & Tours Sleeping bag & down Jacket and duffle bags (if required)
  •  Blue Mountain Travels & Tours T – shirt, trekking map and trip achievement certificate
  •  First aid medical kit
  •  Annapurna conservation permit fee
  •  TIMS Fee- Trekkers’ Information Management System (Please bring 2 passport size photos for permit)
  • Government taxes and office service charge

Not Included in the Cost

  • Meals not specified in the ‘Meal Inclusions’ in the itinerary’
  • Travel insurance
  •  International airfare
  •  Nepal entry visa: you can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (a multiple-entry tourist visa good for 30 days can be obtained by paying US $ 40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, multiple-entry tourist visas for 90 days can be obtained by paying US $ 100. Please bring 2 copies of passport-size photos.)
  •  Items of a personal nature
  •  Any kind of drinks (hot and cold) during the trek
  •  Tips for guide, porters, driver

All our departure dates

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100% GUARANTEED

All our departure dates

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