Mardi Himal Trekking- 10 Days

Best time

September, October, November, March, April, and May are the best months for the Mardi Himal trekking. The trip is known for its beautiful mountainous views and varied landscape. You definitely don’t want to miss out on the best nature Nepal has to offer. So choose to trek in the autumn months of September, October, and November as the weather is clear providing incredible visibility over endless mountains. The lush green forests with warm temperatures and clear nights offer a great opportunity for stargazing.

Spring in March, April, and May is also the best time for this trek as the ending winter brings changes to the region, with a variety of colorful blooming trees, tall green grasslands mild temperatures, and sunny weather. In this season you will see flocks of sheep and yaks grazing on the green plateau.

The rainy season in June, July, and August is unfavorable as the weather becomes bad and it is difficult to travel across the country, with frequent rainstorms and landslides. In the winter months of December, January, and February, the Annapurna Region receives heavy snowfall which covers most of the trails and makes trekking quite impossible for this reason.

What to expect?

In our 10-day Mardi Himal trekking, expect the dazzling panorama of snow-capped peaks including Fishtail, Annapurna South, Mardi Himal, and Hiunchuli. You will walk through diverse landscapes ranging from lush rhododendron forests to alpine meadows and high-altitude landscapes. The beauty of the natural surroundings is captivating throughout the trip.

While touring traditional villages, you have the opportunity to experience the unique culture and lifestyle of the local Gurung and Magar communities. This adds a cultural dimension to trekking.

You may encounter wildlife such as Himalayan Thar, deer, several species of birds, and possibly even the elusive snow leopard. When at the base camp, you can enjoy close-up views of the towering peaks and glaciers. The serene atmosphere at the base camp is really rewarding after trekking.

Above all, being less crowded, you will have a more peaceful and remote experience amidst nature all along the trail.

Elevation and Distance

The majestic Mardi Himal stands tall at an impressive elevation of 5587 m above sea level. However, the Mardi Himal trekking is basically a trek to the Mardi Himal Base Camp which is nestled 182 km away from Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. However, as we begin our journey and drive to Pokhara, we will be 31 km closer to the unique base camp of Mardi Himal.

The highest of this trekking is the base camp itself elevated at 4550 m above sea level. However, we will be spending the night at the maximum elevation of 3620 m at High Camp.

We will complete this trek at a moderate pace spending a week to ten days covering an average of 10 to 12 kilometers per day.

Maximum/Minimum walk per day

During the incredible 10-day Mardi Himal trek, we will walk for approximately 5 to 6 hours per day. This gradual walk will help our bodies to well adapt to the growing altitude comfortably. Unlike the Annapurna Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit Trek, our Mardi Himal trek presents less difficult terrain with pretty straightforward paths.

The easiest and shortest walking day will be on day 8 when we will only need to walk for 3 hours from Jhinu Danda to Ghandruk Phedi. While on day 6, we will walk for 7 to 8 hours when trekking from High Camp to Mardi Himal Base Camp before returning to Low Camp. This day is the toughest and longest trekking day of our entire Mardi Himal trek.

Difficulty and Acclimatization

Our 10-day Mardi Himal trek is a moderately challenging journey classified between grades one and two. This trek will lead you to the highest elevation of 4550 m at the Base Camp. In addition, with each progressing day, your overnight stay will gain altitude gradually. This will ensure your proper acclimatization before reaching altitudes exceeding 4,000 meters.

We intend to keep you safe and ensure your safety. Therefore, our highly experienced mountain guide will accompany you throughout the trek to guide you through the safest and most scenic routes.

Additionally, this is a complete lodge trekking with accommodation in comfortable hotels equipped with basic amenities. There is no prior requirement for a high-altitude trek or utilization of any specialized mountaineering or hiking equipment along the route.

Can a beginner participate in Mardi Himal trekking?

The Mardi Himal trek in the Annapurna National Park is an excellent opportunity for beginners, senior citizens, and children in good health to participate in a relatively easy adventure in Nepal. This trek doesn’t need any past trekking or climbing experience, or any skill of using any specialized equipment.

In addition, we will retire every night in a comfortable lodge in the charming village along the route. Plus, we will slowly walk at a gentle pace increasing altitude gradually each day. As the culmination of our journey approaches, we will reach an elevation of above 4000 m at the base camp of Mardi Himal.

Reaching the base camp includes crossing some steep sections which you can easily overcome with secure footing and careful attention. Whatever the difficulty the trek poses, it will be compensated with the breathtaking vistas of the wonderful Himalayas of Fishtail, Annapurna, Hiunchuli, Mardi Himal, and many more.

Preparation and training

Mardi Himal trekking is an easy trek favorable for any individual who lives an active lifestyle. Still, you are embarking on a journey that will take you to an altitude of more than 4000 m. You will be traversing some Nepalese terrain that consists of periodic ascending and descending. So train yourself at least two months before your departure date so your body will be prepared for the high-altitude trek.

Ideally, you can start running at least 10 to 15 km a day without breaks with a heart rate of 120-140 beats/min. You can also do some pull-ups that will help you lift your backpacks.

You can also practice some squats at home with your own weight or with dumbbells. Or, engaging in rock climbing will also aid in developing your muscle endurance. 2 workouts a week for 2-3 hours will be enough.

Cycling, swimming, push-ups, and walking are also some other best workouts that give an excellent load on the necessary muscle groups.

Alternate Routes

Mardi Himal trekking offers us the opportunity to merge different other destinations along the journey. For example, you can undertake the Annapurna Base Camp trek along with a trip to Mardi Himal Base Camp. On the way back from the Mardi Himal Base Camp, you can trek from Jhinu Danda to Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp.

Or, for a shorter and more comfortable trip, you can incorporate the Chitwan National Park tour. On the way back, you can drive to Chitwan National Park from Pokhara and spend two or three more days here.

Altitude Sickness

Experiencing altitude sickness in the Mardi Himal trek is pretty nil but again this sickness is something that cannot be predicted and totally depends on individual endurance, training, and fitness level. Feeling discomforts such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, swelling, and exhaustion may begin to appear as you cross the altitude of 3000 m.

Based on our program, we will be above 3000 m altitude from day 5 when we will reach High Camp. If you feel these discomforts, it is better that you go down till you feel normal again.

However, gaining altitude is imperative on any Nepal trek. The trick is to climb slowly to acclimatize, stay very hydrated ( basic rule: drink before you are thirsty ) and get enough rest. Ibuprofen or Daimox can relieve some of the symptoms and it is also recommended to drink masala tea or Tibetan tea with salt.

Transportation, Meal, and Drink

We offer all ground transportation in private vehicles according to our program. We will receive you at the airport and take you to the hotel in a private car, van, or bus depending on the group size. We will provide the same service when you say goodbye and return to your home.

At the start of the trip, you will ride on a comfortable tourist bus to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu. Then a private jeep will take you to Dhampus from where you will begin your trek.

On the way back, you will again take a private jeep to drive to Pokhara from Ghandrul Phedi and return via the tourist bus to Kathmandu.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, we offer a complimentary breakfast every morning. For lunch and dinner, there are multiple options available in the city. You can visit the important landmarks of the city and dine in the finest restaurants along the route.

As the trek begins, we offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the lodges along the trail. The lodges provide varied menus with what you can eat. The typical available dish in every lodge is dal-bhat. There will be lentil soup (dal) with spices, accompanied by boiled rice (Bhat), and cooked vegetables, which will vary depending on the time of year and the area.

Other typical dishes are momos and chowmien, which are rice or wheat noodles with vegetables. Apart from these food options, there are options of pasta, pizza, potatoes, eggs, pancakes, and for breakfast, porridge. Seasonal fruits will be provided every night after dinner. On your last night in Kathmandu, we offer a farewell dinner in a charming Nepali restaurant with cultural dance shows.

For drinking water, we suggest using filters or water purification tablets. The second option is cheaper and less polluting. Please do not drink water directly from the spring or tap. The cost of other beverages such as tea, coffee, fruit juice, and alcohol are not included in our service cost.

Gadgets charging, communication, and Internet/wifi

You can communicate with your loved ones in two ways during Mardi Himal trekking. The first option is to purchase a local SIM card in Kathmandu or Pokhara. You can purchase NTC (Nepal Telecom) or Ncell Sim Card which have coverage along the most popular trekking routes, Annapurna, Everest, and Langtang.

The second option is to use the WIFI available in accommodations along the trek. You have to pay an additional cost for the service. Or, you can choose the data plan of Ncell by typing *17123#. Different data plans will appear, you choose one that suits your balance and connect to the internet.

Likewise, there will be no problem for charging your devices such as mobile, laptop, or camera. The lodges may charge you a minimal price for the charging services.

Permits

We need TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) permits for Mardi Himal Trek. We will be in charge of obtaining these permits either in Kathmandu or Pokhara from the offices of TAAN (Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal) and NTB (Nepal Tourism Board). The cost of these permits is also included in our service.

Trip Extension

Nepal is a magical country that always aspires you to stay for a few extra days than you intended. And why not? There are so many options here catering to every interest: from nature exploring to bird watching, from extreme sports to photography, from religious visits to cultural learning.

If after 10 days of the Mardi Himal trek, you wish to engage in other trips and treks in Nepal, please remember us. We offer different tour services suitable for every individual needs.

We have the Everest Base Camp trek, Annapurna circuit trek, Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, Nagarkot trip, Pokhara tour, Bardiya National Park tour and many more.

Please visit our website and check out the details of the packages and contact us for more details.