Mardi Himal Trekking is quite a new trekking route in Annapurna region. One of the easy and short trekking, Mardi Himal is less crowded and spectacular. Trekking trail goes small zigzag through magical Rhododendron forests until your climb up to 3500 miter. Impressive view of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), entire Annapurna range, Mardi Himal range, Himchuli and other Himalayan ranges are start to view from Pokhara and it get closer once you reach at Mardi Himal. Basic tea house own by local peoples in between of dense forest provide tourist standard accommodation and foods. This trek start and end at Pokhara and having alternative route to make short or longer.
Mardi Himal Trek can be optional for those who want to take experience of real Annapurna region within short period of time. Very short hiking from Pokhara, reach at real Nepalese village, feel their warm hospitality and direct touch with their typical cultures. Views are just panoramic from every part of Annapurna Mardi Himal trekking route. This trek can be 5 to 8 days trekking combining of some typical home stay experience on the way. The best season of this trekking is from March to May and September to November. Cold months, December to February is still suitable to do. Nepal Highland Treks have provided general trekking itinerary. We can make tailored made itinerary as per your timeframe and interest. Our trekking guide is flexible as per your interest and you even can change your plan on the way in trekking.
Our 11 day trekking itinerary is including exploration days in Kathmandu and in Pokhara. The historical city Kathmandu is rich in arts and architecture. Three major durbar squires, biggest Buddhist stupas, Hindu’s temples which are listed in UNESCO world’s heritage sites. Our professional tour guide will lead you there before you leave to Mardi Himal. Natural city Pokhara is suitable to relax your time after Mardi Himal trekking. Short sightseeing in major attraction, boating at beautiful lakes and stay cool around Lake Side of Pokhara.
Day 01:Arrival at Tribhuban International Airport, Kathmandu. Overnight at Hotel
Day 02:Day in Kathmandu. Sightseeing and trip preparation. Overnight at Hotel
Day 03:Drive to Pokhara (6/7 Hours) 827m. Overnight at Hotel
Day 04:DRIVE TO KANDE AND TREK TO DEURALI (2,232 m - 5/6 Hours) Overnight at tea house
Day 05:Trek deurali to FOREST CAMP (2,600m - 5 hrs). overnight at local tea house
Day 06:Trek Forest camp to Badal Danda (3,250m - 3/4 Hours) Overnight at tea house
Day 07:Short Trek to High camp (3,550m - 3 Hours) overnight at tea house
Day 08:Trek to Mardi Himal base camp (4,500m - 7/8 Hours) and return to High Camp for overnight
Day 09:Trek back to Forest Camp (4/5 Hours) Overnight at tea house
Day 10:Trek back to Lawang village (1,550m - 4/5 Hours). Overnight at local home stay
Day 11:Trek and drive back to Pokhara. Sightseeing and overnight at hotel
Day 12:Drive back to Kathmandu (6 Hours) Overnight at hotel
Day 13:Departure
Mardi Himal Trekking itinerary can be customized as per your interest. Please let us know your own date if our fixed departure dates are not suitable for you. The best season for this trekking is from March to May and September to November but still Jan, Feb, December months are still nice to do. Do not recommend this trekking in monsoon season that is months of June, July and August.
You are trekking with our professional guide and porter team. Trekking guide is well experience of trekking and have enough English. If you need guide with second particular language, we can provide you as per your demand. Trekking porter is strong to carry your bags.
Day 1Arrival at Tribhuban International Airport, Kathmandu. Overnight at Hotel Representative from Nepal Highland treks pickup you from international airport and transfer to Hotel in Thamel. If time permit, we talk about your trip. Walking around thamel, Main touristic hub in Kathmandu.
Day 2Day in Kathmandu. Sightseeing and trip preparation. Overnight at Hotel Day in Kathmandu. Sightseeing and trip preparation. Overnight at hotel After your breakfast, our tour guide leads you to sightseeing around Kathmandu valley. We cover three major highlights which are UNESCO heritage sites. Bhaktapur Durbar Squire, Old king palace with living arts and architectures. Bauddhanath Stupa, A biggest Buddhist stupa. Pashupatinath temple, a Biggest Hindu temple. Come back to hotel and final preparation of trekking. Introduce with your guide and porter
Day 3Drive to Pokhara (6/7 Hours) 827m. Overnight at Hotel Early morning breakfast in your Hotel. Take a Tourist bus to Pokhara about 6-7 hour drive via scenic Prithivi Highway enjoying short stops for lunch and scenic beauty all the way around. check in to the hotel, after freshen up, you will be free to explore Lakeside Pokhara. In Option you can take private car (6 Hours) or flight (25 minutes) to make comfortable trip
Day 4DRIVE TO KANDE AND TREK TO DEURALI (2,232 m - 5/6 Hours) Overnight at tea house After you breakfast in hotel, start driving to Kande. It is about 40 minutes drive. About 2 hours minor climb inside the forest reach at Australian camp. The place is scenic with the panoramic view of Annapurna range and Pokhara valley. The trail further winds through the rhododendron forest reach Deurali. Panoramic view of Annapurna south and Mardi Himal is clearly seen from here.
Day 5Trek deurali to FOREST CAMP (2,600m - 5 hrs). overnight at local tea house After breakfast in tea house, heading toward forested trail. From Deurali, we leave off the main Annapurna Base Camp Trekking trail. Since this is new trekking destination, there are no tea houses along the way and we need to carry pack lunch and sufficient water. The day’s walk in the rhododendron forest is beautiful with gradual uphill. Reach at Forest camp and overnight.
Day 6Trek Forest camp to Badal Danda (3,250m - 3/4 Hours) Overnight at tea house The trail gradually climbs through the rhododendron forest following the ridge. The view of Mt Fishtail and Mardi Himal appears much closer with other mountains. We cross low camp with several tea houses. One more hours walking react at Badal Danda (Cloud Hill) from here. There is only one tea house in Badal Danda.
Day 7Short Trek to High camp (3,550m - 3 Hours) overnight at tea house The trail further climbs along the ridge towards Mardi Himal and Mt Fishtail. we leave the tree line and arrive in shrubby alpine zone. Snow capped peaks of Annapurna South, Huinchuli and Fishtail looms in a distance above deep valley on the either side. High camp is a small pasture after the climb with 3 lodges. Here you find yourself above the clouds and closer to snow capped peaks.
Day 8Trek to Mardi Himal base camp (4,500m - 7/8 Hours) and return to High Camp for overnight The day trip is more difficult than other days with steep climb and longer walk. Trail becomes more vertiginous at some points with uneven and steep rocky steps. The first steep climb will take about 2 hrs to the ridge top which is marked as MBC (Mardi Himal Base Camp). However the real base camp will take about another 2 hrs along the ridge. The view is amazing all along the ridge. While Mardi Himal and Mt Fishtail appear right above us, view of Annapurna I, Gangapurna and Annapurna III also appears at a distance.
Day 9Trek back to Forest Camp (4/5 Hours) Overnight at tea house After your breakfast, trekking same way back to Forest amp today. The scenery is stationary, season and sunlight makes it different and interesting. Spend another morning watching the change that the sun rays bring.
Day 10Trek back to Lawang village (1,550m - 4/5 Hours). Overnight at local home stay The trail climbs down steeply through rhododendron and Maple forest to the permanent settlements closer to valley basin. Lwang is a self sufficient Gurung village with rich culture and happy people. The village is the best place to watch Nepalese countryside lifestyle and enjoy the organic food. The village farmers also grow organic tea in 50 hectors of land. Farmers offer home stay accommodation. Feel warm hospitality here.
Day 11Trek and drive back to Pokhara. Sightseeing and overnight at hotel Trek down to the Mardi River basin and drive back to Pokhara. It will take about 1 ½ hrs to get to Pokhara in a 4WD. The first 1 hr is drive on the dirt road. Check in Hotel and rest for while. Sightseeing around major attraction of Pokhara. Boating in Fewa Lake, International Mountain museum, David falls and Gupteswor Mahadev cave.
Day 12Drive back to Kathmandu (6 Hours) Overnight at hotel You have option to spend more time in Pokhara and fly back to Kathmandu at evening. Or late start with you private car. If you drive back with regular tourist bus, have to be ready at 06:30 after your breakfast in Hotel. Reach at Kathmandu by late afternoon and transfer to hotel. Nepal Highland Treks invite you Nepali Dinner with us in Nepali cultural restaurant.
Day 13Departure You have to reach 3 hours before to international airport from your flight time. we drop you by our car.
Our fixed departure dates are as per our confirmed booking. You also can choose your own date if our fixed departure dates are not suitable for you. It is not the compulsory to join group in Mardi Himal Trekking. Even single trekkers can trek with our professional trekking staffs. Itinerary can be change as per your interest.
Accommodation in the trip
Mardi Himal trekking is newly open trekking trail in Annapurna region. Local tea houses have build in entire region which are simple and same categories. All the local tea houses as accommodation in the trekking are simple neat and clean. They have separate toilet and bathroom outside the rooms. Accommodation in Kathmandu and in Pokhara as per itinerary is on 3 star category.
Foods in the trip
All the local tea houses are providing simple hygienic foods on the way trekking. You can choose foods items from their menu. Foods during the trekking is including in the package. There are lots of big restaurant in Kathmandu and Pokhara to choose your foods during your stay in those cities. All the foods of cities are not in the package and paying yourself.
Guide and Porter
Your guide to the Trekking is from Kathmandu. They are the one who will be our regular guide more responsible, friendly, and helpful English speaking. You will meet them in Kathmandu before starting your trek. Usually there will be 1 porter for every two trekkers. He is able to carry total 25 kilogram. Both guide and porters are fully equipped, insured and package including their foods, accommodation on the way. Trekking guides are those who can communicate with you and local peoples and having enough knowledge of local places, peoples, their cultures and having knowledge of high altitude sickness.
Drinking Water during Trekking
Drinking water is extra cost from package. During the trek it is available bottled mineral water, boiled water fill in your own bottle from every tea houses or can use even normal water from Tap. Bottled mineral water is available in every guest houses, shops in entire Trekking. As you hike high altitude, cost of bottled mineral water and boil filtered water increase. Water from local taps can be also used as drinking water by purification with purification tablet and filter it yourself. Most of the trekkers are drinking bottled mineral water and boiled filtered water. Trekkers are using local tap water rarely.
Equipment list
You do not need much trekking equipment in this trekking. Entire trekking during the day is in hot temperature. Only 2 nights near at Mardi Himal base camp is cold and need warm clothes. Need to bring both types of clothes for cold and hot. Necessary equipment are not compulsory bring from your homeland. You can buy it in Kathmandu too. Our itinerary has enough time to be prepared with your proper equipment.
Clothing List
Round cap to protect from sun during sunny day
Warm head cover cap
Muff to cover mouth from heavy wind and cold
1 pairs warm inner thermal and inner trouser
1 pair warm outer trouser
One pair light and warm jacket or sweeter
One pair down jacket
2 pairs light shocks
1 pair warm shocks
1 pair light shoe or sandal
1 pair light trekking shoes
1 pairs light trouser or half paint for walking during day and hot temperature
2 pairs of light t-shirt
Warm glove
Rain coat (cover body and backpack)
small bag pack for trekking, carrying yourself (Trekking bag pack)
Duffel bag or big polar bag to hand over with your goods to our Porter *
Other accessories
Head lamp with enough battery
Camera and its battery
Battery charger
Trekking stick
Phone and charger
lip care
Sun cream
Toilet papers
Hand wash lotion
Thoth brush add paste
Washing shop and bath shampoo
Quick dry towel
First Aid Kit Medicines
In every trekking package, our guide will carry first aid kit box containing medicines of anti altitude, anti Diarrhea, pain relief, Antibiotic, anti cold, anti vomiting, anti headache, fever, bandages, handplast and anti septic lotion . If you are taking any regular medicine that is compulsory to bring yourself.
Some Dos and Dont’s during Mardi Himal Trekking
Trekking route of Annapurna Ghorepani Poonhill is exotic land with different cultural settlement. Treat the land and local peoples with care and respect. Try your best to keep environment clean and show appreciation for culture and traditional religious beliefs.
Make Mardi region litter free: Do not through any litter; put it in dustbin fixed by national park or in local tea houses. Sanitary napkins and tampons should be wrapped properly and through it right place. Take batteries back to your home country for safe disposal or reuse.
Respect local cultures, custom and peoples: Route of Mradi is combination of different cultural ethnic group of local peoples. Their culture, customs, living style and any function is typical and it is important for them. So respect all these while you are there. You can involve respectfully in those function.
Take your guide with you in every hiking and climbing: our guide will be always with your while trekking every days. You are trekking and hiking in remote areas with maximum altitude. Few days in the itinerary are as acclimatization day and hiking around for recovering stamina. Take your guide with you in all these activities. It is Himalaya and do not be more exited, take advice from guide to take any decision.
Do not through foods after order: Foods are all carried from main cities. It takes a week time to reach all the foods in base camp site. It is not with any other transportation but carried by peoples or donkey. It is important that you order only sufficient food which you can finish. Do not waste any foods in the region.
How to get Nepal Visa and its cost?
Visa for Nepal is available on your arrival. 15 days Nepali visa is enough for your as your trip is only for 13 days including arrival departure days. USD 25 is the visa cost of 15 days. If you want to spend more than 15 days time, it is better to take a month visa which cost USD 40 per person. You only need your original passport and cash (any currency).
We took a twelve day trek to Annapurna Poonhill and Mardi Himal, Trek through Nepal Highland Treks with these guys and had an amazing experience. Our guide and porter provided an exceptional level of customer services. If you get the chance, ask to be guided by TB and ported by sushant, you won’t be disappointed
- Jon-Henry Steele, Australia