| Group size: | Max-Altitude: | 4500m | |
| Destination: | Nepal | ||
| Arrival on: | Pokhara | Departure from: | Pokhara |
| Meals: | Full board Meal during the trek | ||
| Accommodation: | Mountain Lodge / Tea Houses | ||
| Fitness level: | Moderate | ||
Mardi Himal trekking trail takes trekkers to the base camp of Mardi Himal offering an extraordinary view of the majestic Annapurna massif, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and Manaslu. It also offers to breathe taking a view of blue glaciers of the Annapurna sanctuary. The location lies east of the Annapurna Base Camp in the Annapurna region of Nepal. This, off the beaten trail, takes the trekkers away from the other busy trail through the forest of Rhododendron and Juniper and the pristine little settlements of Tamang and Gurung people, all the way up to the base of Mardi Himal. Camping every night, sleeping under the stars and the mighty Himalayas offer utmost adventure to the trekkers. 4,500m is the maximum altitude achieved during this trek.
Mardi Himal trekking itinerary designed by Treks Planner Nepal also includes a full day guided tour to some of the major sites of the Kathmandu and Pokhara Valley. The package includes full board during the trek. The package can be customized to your requirements and all the customized packages guarantee 100% departure date with no hidden charges.
Day 01: Drive from Pokhara to Kande and trek to Deurali
Altitude: 2200m | Trek: 4hrs | Meal LD
Day 02: Trek to Forest Camp
Altitude: 2,600m | Trek: 5-6 hours | Meal: BLD
Day 03: Trek to High Camp
Altitude: 3,150m | Trek: 5-6 hours | Meal: BLD
Day 04: Trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp
Altitude: 4500m | Trek to Low Camp - Altitude: 2,900m | Trek: 5-6 hours | Meal: BLD
Day 05: Trek to Siding village
Altitude: 1,750m) | Trek: 6 hours | Meal: BLD
Day 06: Trek to Lumre and drive to Pokhara
Trek: 3 hours | Drive: 2 hours | Meal: B
Note: Open to organize a full trip from Kathmandu/ Pokhara/Kathmandu including Accommodation/Transportation service.
Day 01: Drive from Pokhara to Kande and trek to Deurali - Altitude: 2200m | Trek: 4hrs | Meal LD
After a nicely cooked hot breakfast; we drive an hour to Kande and commence our trek at Kande the elevation of 1770 meters. 1.5 Hours climb up takes to beautiful hamlet of Australian Camp at the altitude of 2100m. The trail to Australian camp from Kande is up a hill and pleasant easy walk up to Pothana from there, and it is a gradual walk up to Deurali (2200m) about 2 hours where you stay in a tea house lodge for the first night. It is an easy start for the first day.
Day 02: Trek to Forest Camp - Altitude: 2,900m | Trek: 7 hours | Meal: BLD
From Deurali; We leave main Annapurna Sanctuary trail and take an off the beaten trail to Mardi Himal Base Camp to the right side and continue along a quiet trail through a dense forest of oak, maple, hemlock, and rhododendron. Some 4 hours of jungle walk will bring us at the in a clearing of the forest at Forest Camp or also known by the locals as Kokar, here we take a lunch break then we still continue to up to Forest 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 now four lodges. You may find it a long and tough day. It is fine for regular fit trekkers, if you are a beginner or moderate trekker then you can split the day and total trek will be 7 days while our pre-set itinerary is 6 days. Overnight in Low Camp
Day 03: Trek to High Camp - Altitude: 3,150m | Trek: 5-6 hours | Meal: BLD
1.5 hours climb the through rhododendron forest takes us to Middle camp then to Badal Danda offers a stunning view of Mardi Himal, Annapurna South, Hiuchuli, Gangapurna, Machhapuchhre and Mardi Himal itself. An hour or so above Low Camp the trail breaks out above the 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 the grass with some isolated rhododendron bushes along the way. Look out for the colorful 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: Trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp - Altitude: 4500m | Trek: 5-6 hours | Meal: BLD
The plan for today is to wake early for a 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 the south face of Annapurna and all of the peaks in the Sanctuary as well as Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail).
Day 05: Trek to Siding village - Altitude: 1,750m) | Trek: 6 hours | Meal: BLD
On the way back we take a different route to complete 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 | Trek: 3 hours | Drive: 2 hours | Meal: B
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 organized by Wilderness Excursion in advance to drive you back to Pokhara.
Cost Includes
Cost Excludes
Walking in higher altitudes is more physically demanding than walking in the lower altitudes, however, if we are in excellent health with average physical fitness, have a positive attitude, self confidence and strong determination, we can accomplish the trek successfully. Exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks prior to the trip is a good idea to enhance our strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no technical skill is required for this trip. It is important that we consult with our doctor before we decide and set up for the Mardi Himal trek. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases should inform Treks Planner Nepal before booking the trek.