About Mardi Himal Trek
Mardi Himal Trek route takes you to one of the most serene and rewarding places of the Annapurna region. As the trekking permit for foreigners only started in 2012, this route is not as popular as other trekking routes of this region. Still today, few visitors have even heard of this route. However, it is no less impressive in terms of beautiful landscapes and mountain vistas than the more popular trekking routes. It is an ideal route for those who seek solitude on the trail.
Mardi Himal trekking journey starts from Pokhara, where you will spend a day exploring the lakeside city. Then you will be driven to Kande from where your trekking officially starts. You will cross rivers, deep and dark forests, and rocky trails encompassed by beautiful scenery at every step. You will stay in settlements with beautiful vantage points, such as Low Camp and High Camp and trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp.
Our Mardi Himal Trek package is designed in such a way that you get the best experience that one can get in this less-traveled zone. We take you on the unpopulated trail so that you can explore more of these beautiful places in a peaceful way. Throughout the journey, you can explore Magar and Gurung culture and day to day life, as well as stay at their tea houses. You will get to explore the diverse flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Your 5 days of Mardi Himal journey will be full of amazing vistas as you uncover the beauty of the Himalayas.
Available trip options for Mardi Himal Trek
Though this package starts from Pokhara since this trek is normally chosen by someone who has already spent a few days in Pokhara and want to start trekking from there, you can also start this trek from Kathmandu. We have various options for transportation and accommodation, depending on your choice. To start this trip from Kathmandu, you have three transportation options:
1. Tourist Bus from Kathmandu takes about 7-8 hours to reach Pokhara and costs you from 10 to 25 USD.
2. A private car or jeep from Kathmandu to Pokhara costs around 150 USD total with a maximum of 4 people.
3. A domestic flight will take you to Pokhara from Kathmandu in about 25 minutes and costs 125 USD per person (for non-Nepalese travelers).
Note: In case you want to start this trip from Kathmandu, accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara can also be managed upon your request. Contact us to know about the price and any other info.
Best time for Mardi Himal Trek
Though Spring and Autumn seasons are considered the best time for Mardi Himal Trek, it is possible to complete it in any season. The months of March, April and May make the trail vibrant with rhododendron flower and the climate is also favorable with pleasant temperatures. September, October, and November are equally enjoyable with low precipitation and mild temperatures. October is also a particularly special because Nepal's largest festival, Dashain, is celebrated.
Autumn and spring are considered the best seasons for trekking because you have fewer things to worry about, but Mardi Himal Trek is totally doable in winter and summer as well. Because the trail does not reach high altitude, snow is typically not an issue, and if you are willing to brave the potential monsoon rains, the summer is great as well. However, you may have to pack extra jackets and sleeping bags for trekking in winter and mosquito repellents and waterproof jackets for monsoon trekking.
Mardi Himal Trek Difficulty
Mardi Himal Trek is only moderately difficult and only takes you to relatively comfortable elevations. It only requires you to stay at an elevation higher than 3000 meters for two days. This means that there is a very less risk of altitude sickness. During the 5 days of trekking, you are required to walk for about 3-4 hours a day for 3 days. The longest time you have to walk in a day is about 7 hours on the second to last day.
Even though Mardi Himal Trek is a bit easier than many other treks in Nepal, some physical training prior to the trekking can prove helpful.
Food and drink during Mardi Himal Trek
Food during Mardi Himal trek is minimalistic as you will stay in tea houses run by local people and the region is rural, not accessible by easy transportation. Dal Bhat, pasta, noodles, potatoes, vegetables, cereal, eggs, fried rice, soup, etc. are served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Water purification pills should be taken to fill and purify tap water in your water bottles. You can buy bottled mineral water if you want to, though it gets pricier as we go higher.
Any other snacks that these meals have to be carried by yourself as you can only find basic snacks in tea houses and shops along the trail. Also, snacks on the trail are much more expensive than in Kathamandu so it is wise to plan accordingly.
Mardi Himal Trek Route and Map
The trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp starts from Pokhara. You will have a short ride to Kande and trek to Forest Camp on the first day. You will then trek to Low Camp the next day and to the High Camp the other day. From High Camp, you will trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp and get back to High Camp and stay overnight. The next day, you will return back using a different route. You will stay at Siding village and continue your trek to Lumre and drive back to Pokhara.