A Complete Guide to Mardi Himal Trek

12th Sep, 2019

Quick Overview:

Location: Annapurna region, Nepal.
Duration: 6 to 10 days (depending on the itinerary).
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
Accommodation: Teahouse (basic common room)
Highest Point: Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 meters (14,764 feet).

Highlights of Mardi Himal Trek

• Splendid sunrise and sunset views
• Close view of mount Machhapuchre (Fish Tail)
• Panoramic views of Annapurna mountain range
• Walking through Green forest
• Beautiful home stay
• Mardi Himal Base Camp and Mardi Himal High Camp
• Wonderful landscapes, local village and farmland
• Worthy about wildlife (Deer, Thaar, Leopard and birds)
• Culture and lifestyle of the Gurung and Magar ethnic groups

Mardi Himal Trek Blog

Mardi Himal Trek is one of the short and easy trekking routes in Annapurna Region. It was a popular camping trek but now we can do tea-house trek to there. This Mardi Himal Trek is short but quickly gets high altitude. You will walk on high ridge with panoramic views of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu Range along the trekking trail. Mardi Himal Trek invite to all types of traveler among Group Join Trekkers, family group trekkers, students group trekkers, solo trekkers, couple trekkers and individual trekkers. You will see lot of attractive views of snow-capped peaks in the Annapurna Region during walk on Mardi Himal Trekking trail. Beside the nature you will walk through traditional Gurung and Magar village with their own Buddhist culture. This wonderful journey takes you to 4,500 meters from 900 meters to show amazing landscape. The Dhampus, Pothana, Deurali, Forest Camp, Low Camp High Camp and Mardi Himal Base camp are amazing places to stay with their hospitality. This Mardi Himal Trek starts from Pokhara and ends at the same place. For this trek, you have to choose best Trekking Company because trekking company provide to you best and experience trekking guide to explain nature, culture and lead the trail.

Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival on Kathmandu (1350m) and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hotel
Day 02: By flight 35 minutes or 6 hours drive by tourist bus to Pokhara (850m). Overnight in Hotel
Day 03: Drive to Phedi 17km. and Trek to Pothana (1890m) 30 minutes drive and 4 hrs walk. Overnight in Tea-house
Day 04: Trek to Forest Camp (2500m) 5/6 hrs walk. Overnight in Tea-house
Day 05: Trek to Low Camp (3170m) 4/5 hrs walk. Overnight in tea-house
Day 06: Trek to High Camp (3620m) 5 hrs walk. Overnight in Tea-house
Day 07: Trek up to 4500m for view of Annapurna and Machhapuchre Mountains and back to Low Camp (3170m) 7/8 hrs walk. Overnight in Tea-house
Day 08: Trek back to Lwang (1280m) 6/7 hrs walk. Overnight in Home-stay
Day 09: Trek back to Hengja and 20 minute drive to Pokhara 3 hrs walk. Overnight in Hotel
Day 10: To Kathmandu by air or tourist bus
Day 11: Final departure

Mardi Himal Trek Best Season

Autumn trekking season (September to November) and spring trekking season (March to May) are the best trekking seasons for the Mardi Himal Trek and all Annapurna Region, because The weather is perfect sunny and warm with wonderful mountains views clean air and not rain compare with other trekking season. If you want and wish to avoid crowds and enjoy some alone time with nature and culture, you can do this trip during the winter (December/January and February) also could be an option. But, the temperature during winter could be little bit cold for most trekkers. In the summer season (June to August) is raining but best for nature lovers. That is why; you can choose your best season for Mardi Himal Trek on your Vacations.

Mardi Himal Trek Cost

Mardi Himal Trek lies in Annapurna Conservation but so no need special permit like restricted area (Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo, Manaslu Region, Nar-Phu Valley and many more). Our government has instilled only two permits for the Mardi Himal Trek. Both of these permits are compulsory for your trek to Annapurna Region. Yours permits need to show on the check post along the mardi Himal trekking route. If you go there without permits, you have to buy from there with extra charge or you may have accepted punishments as per the law of Nepal government.

TIMS Card

TIMS (Trekker’s Information Management System) is compulsory for everyone to Trek in Nepal.
It Cost USD $ 20 per person/ per trek

Annapurna Conservation Area Project Entry Permit

It cost USD $ 30 per person/ per trek

Both permits you can buy in Kathmandu (Nepal Tourism Board) before you go on trek. You can buy all packages with registered trekking agency. If you do this, budget of around USD 650 to 700. From this price includes the cost all your trekking permits to Mardi Himal Trek, Food, accommodations, public transport, guide, Porter. Most of the tea houses only accept Nepali currency in Mardi Himal Trek, so you have to take nepali currency before you Trek.

How Difficult is Mardi Himal Trek

This Mardi Himal Trek is easy to moderate trek. The walking distances are short and easy through the green rain forest. But you will increase altitude as you walk very quickly. 4,500m is highest point of the Mardi Himal Trek. That day including Mardi Himal High Camp to Mardi Himal (peak) Base Camp. The trekking trail is narrow and steep slope is bit difficult to go base camp and it is steep decent back down to high camp. You won’t be a high altitude for long during the Mardi Himal Trek. So there is not a high risk of altitude sickness. That is why, better to be strong mind. Mardi Himal Trek is physically possible for all levels of traveler but short hiking training before this trek is beneficial for all trekking in Nepal. If you will do this trek on the peak season, you have to book a place for accommodation because there are not enough accommodations. If you want to do this trek on winter, you need to prepare warm clothes because weather can be extreme cold and bad. During the monsoon season, this Mardi Himal Trekking trail is not easy because the trails is inside the rain forest and can gets slippery and tough.

Packing List for Mardi Himal Trek

Weather in the mountain area is always changeable. In the higher altitude the temperature may drop quickly freezing point from the hot weather. Some time unexpected rainfalls after the noon and make the trail difficult. So you must know packing list for trekking. Here are the packing lists for the Mardi Himal Trek.

• Walking shoes and sport shoes 1/1 pair
• Normal and warm gloves 1/1 pair
• Sun glasses and sun block cream 1/1 pieces
• Down Sleeping Bag and down warm jacket 1/1 pieces
• Normal Socks 2/3 pair
• Fleece Jacket and Trouser 1/1 pieces
• Head lamp 1 piece
• Gore-Tex Jacket and Trouser 1/1 pieces
• Water bottle 2 pieces
• Trekking day back pack bag 1 pieces
• Trekking stick (pole) 1 pair
• T-shirt 4/5 pieces
• Sleeper (sandal) one pair

Mardi Himal Trek Altitude

This Mardi Himal Trek starts from Kathmandu to Pokhara (850m) by vehicles or you can take Airplane to Pokhara and again have take vehicles to Dhampus Phedi to start your trek and you can reach on maximum altitude on Mardi Himal Base Camp (4500m). Everyday gets higher altitude day by day from the Dhampus Phedi to Mardi Himal Base Camp. Higher altitude to sleep on this trek is High Camp (3620m) from there you will have hike to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4500m) for reach the higher altitude. Mardi Himal Trek requires physically fit trekkers and has to walk 5/8 hours for round trip from High camp to Base Camp and High Camp. From top of the Mardi Himal Base Camp you will see 360 degree panoramic view of mountain range including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu.

Food and Accommodation in Mardi Himal Trek

While Trekking in Nepal or wherever you trek, you must eat food that keeps you filled and fueled. You will find simple guest house and home-stay along the Mardi Himal Trek and You’ll get to eat typical Nepalese trekking foods. The most popular food is ‘Dal Bhat’ (typical Nepali food), is healthy and filling too.

During the main peak season, you may have to share your rooms with other trekkers. Sharing room means not bed and blanket; it means rooms are like dormitory. Most of the place, local people grow majority of food like vegetable, potato and other food but you will have many items to choose in the food menu. The drinks like tea, coffee, beer, whisky, coke, fanta etc are available but the price are goes high every different altitude. Alcoholic drink is not good on your health during the trekking to high altitude. So you have to choose wisely what to eat and drink and what is not.

Mardi Himal Trek is becoming more popular day by day doe to that trek is short and sweet. So you have to book the accommodation before the trek on the peak season.

Conclusion 

Mardi Himal Trek is best trekking route in the region due to its short, easy and the rich culture and hospitality of the local communities. This trek is offers a unique experience, combining breathtaking mountain views with cultural immersion. Trekking in the Himalayas can be challenging but is immensely rewarding. So, it's necessary to be well-prepared, physically fit, and respect the local environment and communities. Enjoy the journey and the majestic beauty that Mardi Himal has to offer all visitors!