Mardi Himal Trekking offers the opportunity to escape Nepal's tourist trails, to venture into the deep forests and roam the high alpine pastures to the base of the sacred, fluted peak of Machapuchare.
The Secret Himalayas
Escape the crowd in Nepal’s Annapurna Range and discover the hidden gems of Nepal. Through forests, wilderness and Hindu villages to reach the base camp of this magnificent mountain with views to die for along the way.
The emphasis of this trek is on the forest and wilderness zones combined with an essence of exploration. We ascend through Hindu villages and pristine forests (magnolia, oak and rhododendron) to alpine campsites that afford panoramic views of the Annapurna Range.
Forays to the base of Machapuchare provide a further highlight before a delightful return through Gurung villages to Pokhara.
Upon your arrival, a representative from Wild Guanabana will be waiting outside the airport gates to take you to the hotel. Depending on time of arrival, plans will be made for a briefing meeting once you have settled in.
Early in the morning, we drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Nepal's lake city. Our bus follows a winding road over the valley rim and descends onto the Trisuli River. The journey is slow and steady as the road winds through villages and passing terrace fields before reaching our destination. Pokhara is best known for its tranquil atmosphere and the beauty of the surrounding countryside. We normally arrive by mid-afternoon so we have time to explore or relax as we prepare for the journey ahead. Overnight in hotel in Pokhara
After breakfast we drive half an hour to Hyangja. and then begin walking towards Milan Chock. you will climb the ridge above the Yangri Khola Valley. You will then pass through Hyengjakot and Dhital, will stay overnight in Dhampus. Here, the 6,000' elevation ensures you will enjoy incredible mountain views as you relax. (4 to 5 hours trekking).
Dawn should bring a spectacular sunrise: ‘Fishtail’ pink turning to gold, the more distant bare rock wall of Annapurna II still in shadow. Today we will start our ‘secret trail’ leaving tourists, other trekkers and even villagers behind. We enter an enchanted forest of birch, giant rhododendron, mountain oak, maple, hemlock and daphnie. We will spend the night in a tea house in Forest Camp. (4 to 5 hours trekking)
As we climb the flora has turned to classic ‘cloud forest’ with mosses and lichen, tree ferns and orchids hosted by the hardier trees. There are natural windows in the woods that look out onto thrilling panoramas - towards Hiunchuli and the knife-sharp traverse towards Annapurna South. Far below, to our left, we can see the Modi Khola Valley leading up into the Annapurna Sanctuary. We reach camp for lunch; for it is wise not to go too high too fast. Though still surrounded by forest, we have spectacular northerly views of the ever-closer ‘Fishtail’. (4 to 5 hours trekking)
Just a short, steep climb and we are out of the forest. A ridge, now grassy and sometimes under snow, takes us up to High Camp which we shall reach at lunch time and where a second consecutive afternoon is spent acclimatising and awestruck by the views. Annapurna South seems near enough to throw a rock at and Machhapuchare itself close enough to touch. (4 to 5 hours trekking)
Our breakfast will be earlier than usual. Then with packed lunch we set off to reach our objective. Conditions being favourable, our party should reach up to 4,600m and only the crest of Mardi Himal itself separates us from the south face of Machhapuchare. The great ice fields and blue glaciers of the Sanctuary Wall lie below. Annapurna I, highest of all is beyond, and around us, and an arc from horizon to horizon, from Dhaulagiri to the Ganesh Himal, are a dozen or more glistening snow-bound giants. You are standing on a spot that has been your constant aim for days now. A place, a time, a view that is almost impossible to equal - and you’ve earned it. Whatever our achievement, by 1300 we need to descend, returning to the High Camp. If weather conditions require it, we shall descend through High Camp to trek on down to a re-established Low Camp to spend the night there. (5 to 6 hours trekking)
After a relaxed breakfast, tired bodies make an unhurried decent through the shade of the forest and out onto terraced fields, down 1600m in all. This is a different route down - down to the upper Mardi Khola, the torrent that has been the ice and snow of the Mardi Himal. Although remote and still away from all the much-used ‘Tea-house’ trekking routes, our expedition now takes on the mood of the arm valley and the friendly villages. Here we make our way along the banks of the Mardi Khola from the hill-side village of Siding, down through the lovely fields, past the simple farms and over the interesting bridges. There is no doubting this is indeed idyllic Nepali countryside. (6 to 7 hours trekking)
After breakfast, we will start our trek to 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 there’s our transport, and soon we’re back in Pokhara. (Trek 03 hours and drive 02 hours).
After breakfast in Pokhara, we drive back to Kathmandu in a private vehicle. Rest of the day is leisure
After breakfast and depending on the time of your flight, you will be transported to the airport for your flight back home.
Weather
Mardi Himal is a hike that can be done anytime of the year except for June-August which is the monsoon season in Nepal so it is very difficult to go during these months. Peak season is in October as this offers the best weather, sunny and not too cold at night. This lasts till December when the winter season starts running through February. Winter season offers pretty cold nights and moderate temperatures in the morning of around 20c at lower altitudes and can reach to -10 at higher altitudes. March to May is when spring starts and the temperatures start to rise up to 30c with clear skies and blossoming flowers.
Accommodation
In Kathmandu, you will be staying in the center of the touristic area where you will just step out of your hotel and find all the hussle and bussle of Kathmandu’s Thamel. In Pokhara, you will be staying in a very charming hotel by the Pokhara’s infamous Lake. During the hike, you will be hiking from one village to the next and spending your nights in tea houses which are family owned guest houses for trekkers passing along the way. Rooms are double or triple with beds and blankets to keep you warm. All tea houses have a main room where all hikers gather for meals, briefing, playing card games or just to chill. They are all heated with a huge fireplace in the center so you will definitely be warm. All of them have wifi available for purchase as well as electricity (at an extra cost) for those who want to charge their cameras, phones...etc. Most of them also sell snacks, energy bars, juice and water.
Food
During the hike, you will have 3 meals, all energy based to help give you the required nutrients for hiking around 7 hours a day. Breakfast and dinner are prepared by the tea houses and lunch is taken at other guest houses along the way while hiking. Nepali mountain food is very delicious and has its own flavor, we recommend you go for the Dhal Bat which is a typical Nepalese dish and very high on energy. Try to stay away from any meat during the hike.
Hiking
To trek through Mardi Himal, you don’t need to be an experienced hiker nor an olympic runner, but you do need to be fit enough to hike for 6-7 hours daily, sometimes going up stairs, sometimes slopes and sometimes just crossing bridges. It is not a super difficult hike but it’s not easy either so its’ better to be well prepared to be able to enjoy the hike more. The rewards you will get after completing each day will just keep you motivated for the next and push you towards the base camp.
Altitude
The highest point you will reach on this trek is 4,600m, which can be slightly high for someone who hasn’t been at this altitude before but pretty doable for anyone with the will to reach there. The trip is designed to help you acclimatise in the best way possible to avoid any altitude sickness problems. You will be gaining more altitude each day as you go higher but at a moderate speed so your body will have enough time to get accustomed to the lower oxygen levels
Scenery
Being located in the Annapurna region of the Himalayas, the scenery on this hike is breathtaking and indescribably beautiful. You will be passing along many ecosystems on this hike, this makes the hike a lot more interesting with a constant change in scenery.
PRICE
$1,650
best time to travel:
Jan
Feb
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Dec
PRICE INCLUDES
- Price based on 4 pax
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (Breakfast = B, Lunch = L, Dinner = D)
- All transport to and from destination (A/C Car)
- All accommodation in comfortable guest houses during the trek
- Porters to carry all personal gear and group equipment
- Experienced English-speaking guide and first aid trained local guide
- Trekking permit (Annapurna conservation fee)
- Insurance for all staff, including porters and guides
PRICE EXCLUDES
- International flight
- Visa Fee (issued upon arrival for most nationalities $25 for 15 days)
- Airport Tax
- Excess baggage & Airport Taxes
- Single supplement Fee
- Personal & Travel insurance
- Bottled beverages, bottled water, soft drinks on the mountain and main meals in cities (Plenty of boiled and filtered water is available on the hike)
- Gear rental available at additional cost (Let us know if you would need any)
- Personal expenses, such as battery charging, wifi and hot shower facilities on the mountain
- Tips and Gratuity