Mardi Himal Trek

Highlights:

• Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley
• Explore the Pokhara city
• Witness Mardi Himal along with other majestic mountains like Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Mount Machhapuchhre, Gangapurna Himal, etc.
• Experience the serene trails with lush forests and wildflowers
• Uncover the traditional villages of Nepal
• Opportunity to experience the stunning landscapes of Nepal in a short period.

Do you only have a short period to explore the natural beauty of Nepal and want to cover the green hills and majestic mountains, urban cities, and little peaceful hamlets with very little effort? If yes, then the Mardi Himal Trek is the best trek we offer for you.

The Mardi Himal trek is the trek to the base of the gigantic mountain Mardi standing at an elevation of 5,587 m. in the Annapurna Sanctuary Area.  The Mardi trek takes 4 to 5 trekking days to complete and is one of the most famous and beautiful treks in Nepal.

The Mardi Himal trek takes you through the beautiful landscapes of Nepal from the colorful rhododendron forests to the base of the snow-covered mountains. This trek offers the diverse beauty of Nepal including natural and cultural gems.

The Mardi Himal trail provides a majestic view of the three mountains that soar above 8,000 meters, which are Annapurna I (8,091 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), and Manaslu (8,163m).

The trail to the Mardi Himal offers a hike through the colorful rhododendron forest in a very peaceful environment in the Annapurna region. It is a very distinct experience as you traverse through the narrow trails, the lush green forest and the colorful wildflowers. Mardi Himal Trek is one of the hidden gems, tucked away between the famous Annapurna routes.

The trails of the Mardi Himal trek pass through the dense forest of rhododendrons, bamboo, pines, birch, and magnolia, with the glimpses of high Himalayas. The Mardi River winds its way through the valley beyond the peaks, thousands of feet below until it reaches the high ridge that descends from Machhapuchhre—the fluted “Fishtail Peak,” a mountain renowned for its splendor.

The Mardi Himal trail goes through the foothills of the Annapurna region before entering lichen-laden dense jungles, which lead to the alpine meadows above (a habitat for undisturbed wildlife) with stupendous views of the high Himalayan peaks beyond. Numerous quaint stone-built villages, cultivated fields, streams, and waterfalls are encountered in this natural habitat along the way.

Therefore, the Mardi Himal Trek is one of the most beautiful treks in Nepal that not only offers natural beauty but also showcases the cultural and traditional values of Nepal. It takes the trekkers through rugged landscapes and terrains but leads to the most stunning destinations in the world.

If done with proper management and guidance, the Mardi Himal Trek is going to be one of your favorite adventures in Nepal that you will cherish forever.

Trip Information

 Best Time

 The Mardi Himal Trek can be done in any month or season, as it doesn’t require any technical climbing expedition skills or prior experience.

Though it can be done in any month, the best season for the Mardi Himal trek is spring, which is from mid-February to May, and autumn, which is from September to mid-December.

The skies are clear in the spring season, with a higher opportunity to view the majestic mountains. The rhododendron flowers also bloom in this season, making the trail colorful and vibrant with all the colors of the rhododendron. The sunrise also looks very vibrant and attractive during this season.

The temperature will range from 10 degrees Celsius to 20 in the lower elevation, whereas it may be chilly in the higher elevation. The Mardi Himal trekking trails are covered in snow even in the spring season, making them an exciting destination to visit.

Another best season to go for the Mardi Himal Trek is during the autumn season. This season comes with light rainfall, making the visibility of the mountains even clearer. It is the season when the weather is neither very cold nor very hot, making it the perfect time to trek.

The temperature is not less than 8 degrees Celsius and not more than 15 degrees Celsius, so this season is the best for trekking in Nepal.

The summer season comes with heavy rainfall, so it is not considered an ideal season to trek to not just the Mardi Himal but any other trek. The trails are more slippery, making it a challenge for the trekkers.

Yet challenging, the trails in the summer are much less crowded. You’ll get to immerse yourself in nature even more without any unnecessary human interruption. Not only that, the trails are filled with wildflowers and lush greenery during this season, making it a beautiful journey.

The Mardi Himal Trek can be done in the winter as well, but it comes with its own set of challenges and adventures. This season makes trekking a little difficult due to the snowfall, but the views of snow falling on the peaks are worth all the challenges.

Elevation and Distance

The 8-Day Mardi Himal Trek has 3 Days of trekking and 4 days of driving. The lowest elevation of the trek is 822 m. which is at Pokhara. We will start our trek from Deurali which stands at an altitude of 3,200 m.

The highest elevation of the entire trek is 3,580 m., which is at the High Camp view tower of Mardi Himal. The elevation of the low camp is 2,600 m., and from the Low Camp, we drive back to Pokhara.

The total distance from Pokhara to Mardi Himal High Camp is approximately 41 km, and from Kathmandu is approximately 250 km.

Difficulty and altitude sickness

The Mardi Himal Trek is a trek that is not very difficult, even for beginners. It is relatively easier in comparison to other treks in the Annapurna region. It is a tea house trek, so you don’t have to worry about food or accommodation throughout the trek.

The trails of the Mardi Himal Trek are well-marked and easy, and they do not include any vertical climbing. The trek can be completed with adequate hydration and proper rest.

Altitude sickness is the most common and crucial issue at high elevations. You will reach an elevation of 4,500 m during the Mardi Himal Trek, so the risk of altitude sickness is quite common.

You may have a mild headache, nausea, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, and diarrhea. These symptoms should not be ignored. You should acclimatize to the environment, and if it doesn’t help, you should get down to a lower altitude.

Drink plenty of water and keep your body dehydrated to fight against the sickness. Do not consume alcohol or any intoxication that may make the situation even worse.

Maximum and minimum walks per day

As the Mardi Himal Trek is not very long and difficult, the maximum walk per day can be about 7 hours when trekking from Deurali to Low Camp. On other days, the minimum hours of trekking can be between 4 and 5 hours, and the maximum can go up to 6 hours a day.

Accommodation

The Mardi Himal Trek is a tea house trek where there are a few tea houses and lodges throughout the trails. The tea houses and lodges provide basic facilities for comfortable accommodation on a sharing basis.

The Mardi Himal trekking trails are not very old, so the settlement on the trails is sparse. The lodges and tea houses are cozy and warm enough to crash for a night after numerous hours of walking.

The washrooms in the tea houses are also shared, and most of them are in the eastern squat style. Toilet papers are not used in the washroom, so make sure you carry some with you when trekking in the Mardi Himal trails.

Foods and drinks

When trekking, choose foods that focus on providing you with the stamina to trek throughout the day rather than those that are your favorites. All the basic cuisines, like Nepali, Indian, Chinese, and Western dishes, are found on the Mardi Himal Trek.

The breakfast options are bread, omelets, oats, bread or toast, etc., whereas there are various options for lunch and dinner. The most famous dish for lunch or dinner is Dal Bhat. It is a typical Nepali dish consisting of rice, lentils, vegetables, and pickles. You can find other various options like pasta, noodles, sandwiches, etc.

There are various beverages available on the trail. You can find some sodas like Coke, Fanta, Dew, Sprite, etc. on the Mardi Himal trek. For hot beverages, you can always find tea, coffee, milk, and warm water throughout the tea houses in the Mardi Himal Trek.

Trekking Insurance

As the Mardi Himal Trek is done in a remote area of the High Himalayas, there are chances of risk. Emergency evacuations or medical treatment can be expensive. Having trekking insurance is like an investment where you invest at first, and it can save you money if there is any casualty or emergency.

Also, medical insurance is required to get a TIMS card and a permit, so yes, having trekking insurance is a must.

Trekking Permits

The Mardi Himal Trek is done inside the Annapurna Sanctuary Area. You can get access to the region only if you have an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). The cost of ACAP is NPR. 3000, or USD 27.

Not just that, you also need a TIMS Card (Trekkers’ Information Management System) for the Mardi Himal Trek. This cost NPR. 2000, or USD 18.

You can acquire these permits in Kathmandu or Pokhara from the Tourism Information Center.

The price of the permit and the card varies according to the nationalities of the trekkers.

To obtain a TIMS card, you need:

• Passport’s photocopy
• Passport-size photo (2)
• Trekking Insurance
• Emergency contact number at home and in Nepal

To obtain ACAP, you need:

• Passport
• Passport-size photo (2)
• TIMS Card

WiFi connectivity and mobile networks

Though the Mardi Himal trekking trail is newly established and the development of the trail is still being done, the trail has mobile network and wifi connectivity. The mobile network supports both SIMs (NTC and NCELL) throughout the trek.

You can buy SIMs in Kathmandu or Pokhara, which will cost you about USD 1.5 to 3.

You can use either mobile data or WiFi for the internet. You can subscribe to the mobile data from your phone in both the NTC and NCELL sims and use it on your Mardi Himal trek.

For the wifi, you can use it from the tea houses and lodges, but you will have to pay extra for the usage of the wifi at the lodge. The cost of the wifi depends on how high up in the mountains you are.

Alternative Routes

There are many alternative routes for the Mardi Himal trek. Some of them are:

Kande to Siding

The Kande-Siding route of the Mardi Himal Trek is also known as the standard route. This starts with a short bus ride from Pokhara to Kande, and then a trek to the Mardi Himal High Camp through Deurali and Forest Camp. The trek ends at Siding, from where you can drive back to Pokhara.

This trail covers 42 km, and trekkers must walk 5 to 7 hours a day to complete this trek in 3 to 5 days.

Ghandruk/Kyumi to Siding

This alternative route to the Mardi Himal trek is also known as the Connection Route. This route is usually taken by trekkers who want to extend their Annapurna Base Camp trek or Poon Hill trek. This trek can be started from either Ghandruk or Kyumi and covers 35 km if started from Ghandruk and 31 km if started from Kyumi.

Landurk to Siding

This is one of the shortest alternatives to the Mardi Himal Trek. This route covers 30.5 km and is perfect for someone who wants to finish the trek quickly.

Though short and less time-consuming, high-altitude treks must always be planned with proper acclimatization so that sudden changes in the environment will not affect the trekker.

Ghandruk to Kande

This is one of the longest routes to trek to the Mardi Himal Base Camp. It covers a total of 52 km and is easier to descend from Kande in comparison to Siding.

This route of the Mardi Himal Trek provides an opportunity to explore and admire the natural beauty of the region even more.

Can a beginner do this trek?

The Mardi Himal Trek is an easy and beginner-friendly trek that has no major difficulties. If a person can walk for a couple of hours continuously without any problem, s/he can complete this trek successfully.

Any beginner can complete the Mardi Himal trek because the trails of this trek are around people and settlements. Therefore, even beginner trekkers can do this trek.

 Electricity and charging facilities

After some elevation, there is no electricity in the personal rooms. You can find electricity in the dining and common areas. There is no constant electricity at the higher elevations of the Mardi Himal trek, so people use solar as an alternative energy source.

You can charge phones and other electronic devices in the tea houses using solar power, but you will have to pay for the charging services. They will charge you an average of $100 to $300, depending on the device.

Preparation and physical fitness

Though the Mardi Himal Trek is easy and even a beginner can do it, you still need to prepare yourself physically and mentally to complete this trek successfully. You need some practice and guidance to trek to the Mardi Himal.

Even a beginner can easily complete this trek if they are physically fit and courageous.

To make yourself physically fit, you can go for short hikes before your trek. It would be even better if you could hike in a similar landscape as the Mardi Himal trekking trail.

You can go to the gym and train yourself in treadmills and stair machines to make your leg muscles strong. You should also do some cardio so that you will not have breathing problems in the high elevation of the Mardi Himal trek.

You should pay attention to your diet and the foods you consume. Consume proteins and fresh fruits to strengthen your stamina. Keep yourself hydrated and take care of your body to complete the Mardi Himal Trek successfully.

Transportation

There are two modes of transportation for the entire Mardi Himal Trek. They are:

By Air

Helicopter

Mardi Base Camp can be reached by helicopter directly in 12 to 15 minutes from Pokhara. This is one of the most interesting and thrilling ways to visit the Mardi Base Camp. This is the perfect mode of transportation for people who have very limited time or for people who can’t trek.

This is the most comfortable and exciting mode of transportation that gives a bird’s-eye perspective of the mountains to the traveler.

Plane

Another way you can complete the Mardi Himal trek in a shorter period and in a thrilling way is by flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The flight will be 25 minutes long and will be an opportunity to witness the majestic mountains and landscapes of Nepal from the air.

This is a time-saving mode of transportation because it takes a minimum of 6 hours to reach Pokhara by roadway.

By Road

Bus

You can travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara by bus. There are two types of buses. The first one is a general bus, and the other one is a VIP sofa bus. The general bus fare starts at NPR 1200, and the VIP Sofa Bus fare starts at NPR 1700.

It will take a minimum of 6 hours to reach Pokhara by bus, and the ride will be smooth but a little bumpy here and there due to ongoing construction. You can enjoy the winding roads through the forests along the river, passing little villages and towns on this ride.

Micro

You can also go to Pokhara by microvan. It will cost you around $1200 and take about 6 hours to reach Pokhara.

Pokhara to the above

For the Mardi Himal trek, you’ll have to drive from Pokhara to Kande or Deurali. This ride can be done by bus, micro, or jeep. Most people prefer jeeps that can be either private or public, or you can even take a public bus to the trekking start point.

What can you expect from the trek?

Though the Mardi Himal Trek is easy, expect to walk for at least 5 hours a day in the hilly region of Nepal.

The trekking trails are not very smooth in all places. Expect to walk on bumpy country tracks during the trek.

The accommodations in the Himalayas are not very fancy or standard. You’ll have to adjust yourself in the mountain houses, tea houses, and lodges.

Most of the toilets are in the eastern squat style, and toilet seats are rare. Prepare yourself to use Eastern-style toilets.

The washrooms in the Himalayas don’t have toilet paper. There will be a bucket of water and a jug to wash after the business. Don’t forget to carry a few rolls of toilet paper with you.

Though in the Himalayas and far from urban facilities, expect to be amused by the hospitality of the people and the stunning natural beauty of Nepal.

Tips and suggestions for a successful Mardi Himal Trek:

1. As the Mardi Himal Trek is going up in the mountains, there are no ATMs, and the shops don’t take cards for payment. Make sure you have enough cash for your expenses.
2. The trails at some places are rough and rugged. Walk carefully and do not rush to prevent hurting yourself.
3. Do not consume any intoxicating substances like alcohol, drugs, weeds, or cigarettes during the Mardi Himal Trek. This will lessen the chances of altitude sickness.
4. Even if you are going on the trek from a travel agency, bring your first aid kit with your daily medicines if you use any emergency medicines like altitude sickness medicines, bandages, band-aids, anti-infection creams, painkillers, ointments, etc.
5. Do not pack very heavily. Bring only the essentials, including your items and gear. Light packing will make your Mardi Himal trek way easier.

FAQs

• What is the duration of the Mardi Himal Trek?
• The Mardi Himal will take from 4 to 10 days, according to the selected itinerary and the route you’ve chosen.
• What is the best season to trek to the Mardi Himal?
• The best seasons to trek to the Mardi Himal are in the spring (mid-February to May) and autumn (September to mid-December).
• How difficult is the Mardi Himal Trek?
• Mardi Himal Trek is graded as an easy to moderate level of trek.
• Is prior experience necessary for the Mardi Himal trek?
• No, prior experience is not required for the Mardi Himal trek, and even beginners can complete it.
• How should we tip the guides and the porter?
• Tipping to the guides and porters is done according to your will and level of satisfaction.
• Can I do a solo Mardi Himal Trek?
• Yes, you can trek to the Mardi Himal Solo, but it is recommended that you take a guide or a porter with you for safety and security purposes.
• Can I get drinking water on the trail?
• You can get drinking water throughout the trek, but it is recommended that you bring some water purification or filtration systems to purify the water during the trek. You can also buy bottled water throughout the trek.
• Is a hot shower available on the Mardi Himal trekking trail?
• The hot shower facilities are available all over the trail, but some tea houses offer hot showers, but they come with an additional cost of NRP 300 and above, depending on which elevation you are at.