MARDI HIMAL TREK [up to 4500 meters]
>1(Min) -8(Max)
4500m
mar-may
Overview
Mardi Himal trek is a newly discovered trail and a hidden gem for the Annapurna region. It is situated below the Machhapuchhre mountain. The breathtaking view of mountains on this trek is the best alternative way to avoid the crowd of classical Annapurna base camp. It still captures the panorama of the Annapurna ranges. Mardi peak trek exhibits the wondrous hidden landmarks and gets more iconic when you trek further off the beaten path. The Mardi Peak stands at an altitude of 5,587m sharing its province with Mt. Machhapuchhre, Annapurna south, Glacier Dome, Lamjung Himal, Mt. Manaslu and multiple other 7000m+ Himalaya Ranges.
The Mardi Peak trek is the perfect amalgamation of trekking experiences including remote villages, wildlife, stunning mountain vistas and diverse landscapes from lowland subtropical forest to high alpine. Here, the great thing is riveting Himalayan cultures blend perfectly with landscapes. It is a very short trek but rather filled with all adventures and surprises. The magnificent view of Mardi Himal, Annapurna South, Mount Machhapuchhre and Mount Hiunchuli adds a perk to this trek.
The route in Mardi consists of short ascents and descents every day. The facilities and accommodation in Mardi Himal trail are basic and meet only essential needs. Unlike other commercial trekking routes in Nepal. Mardi peak trekking is regarded as one of the best short treks in Nepal although it lacks services and amenities. It is a hidden gem thus very few trekkers make their way to Mardi Himal Base Camp every year. We can also say that the number of trekkers going through this trek is increasing slowly.
Mardi Peak lies just below the towering Mt. Machhapuchhre. This trail to Mardi Himal leads to several hours of wandering inside a rhododendron forest that looks unbelievably magnificent in March and April. The trekking route is pretty quiet in comparison to other routes in the Annapurna region. Anyone with a moderate fitness level can go trekking in Mardi Peak regardless of their age and size.
Itinerary
The trip starts from Pokhara, here are two options to start this trek. You can either drive up to Kande and start uphill trekking from Kande to Pothana. The path climbs up to 3/4 hours through forests with trailing winds.
We can also drive up to Pothana directly. The path reaches up to 2,125m which takes about 2 hours to drive from Pokhara. The lodge settlement clearing in the forest is the ‘Pothana camp’. This place is situated in a scenic forest.
Following the ridge, the trail climbs slowly through the rhododendron trees. We usually have to walk early in the morning for perfect timing and breathtaking views. It takes about 5-6 hours to reach the rest camp from Pothana for a person with a very mediocre level of fitness.
2520m
4hr
Higher up the mountain, the trail climbs to Mardi Himal and Mt. Fishtail. The low camp has some tea houses in the forest clearing. It seems much closer to the view of Mt. Fishtail and Mardi Himal. We get opened to the clear blue sky with a glimpse of the Himalayan foothill layers and the sweeping south valley.
Following the trail comes the Badal Danda which is heavenly. You can experience clouds and a real cool breeze refreshing your mind for a tiring trek. After we leave the trek line from Badal Danda and arrive in the shrubby alpine forest. Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Fishtail snow-capped peaks appear on either side in a distance above the deep valley. It takes about 3 hours from the low camp to reach the High camp, after the climb. High camp is a small pasture with some lodges.
3500m
3hr
With steep climbs and longer walks, the day trip is more challenging than the other days. Here we go through rough and steep rocky steps at some stages, the trail becomes more vertiginous. The steep climb to the top of the ridge, marked as the Upper viewpoint, will take about 2 hours. However, the actual base camp takes another 2 hours of the trek along the mountain. While Mardi Himal and Mt Fishtail appear just above us. Also, the views of Annapurna, Gangapurna and Annapurna III appear at distance as well.
4500m
2hr
Down to the basin of the Mardi River and return to Pokhara. You’ll have to reach up to Siding which is the fastest downhill route for the trek or we can stay a night at Kalimati village which is worth seeing. After that, it will take about one and a half hours to get to Pokhara via vehicle.
1600m
2hr
Altitude Graph
Inclusion/Exclusion
The Cost Includes
- Three meals a day during the Trekking (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- Accommodations in Tea House during the Trekking.
- Drop to trek destination from Pokhara to Kande/ Pothana
- Trekking Guide and a porter (Sharing by two clients) with Insurance, food, and accommodations.
- Proper First aid kit
- Trekking permit (Conservation fee)
- A TIMS card (Trekking Information Management System) is like a permit.
- The company’s duffel bag will also be provided. (If needed)
- All essential official fees.
Service not included in the Price
- International Airfare
- Your travel insurance
- Nepal visa fee
- Any kind of drinks during the trek
- Other items of personal expenses like a hot shower, battery charge, telephone, porter and many more.
- Tips for the Guide and Porter(expected).
Useful Info
Additional Info
Temperature And Weather During the Mardi Himal Trek
Mardi Himal experiences various seasons: Spring, Monsoon, Autumn, and Winter.
Spring (March to May)
Spring implies beautiful blooms of Rhododendron and different wildflowers in the lower areas. While trekking in spring, you will stroll over the beautiful slopes and woods. Breathing in the smell of blossoms along the trekking trail is an absolute experience.
Monsoon (June to September)
While trekking in the monsoon, you will experience heavy rainfalls, for the most part, in the night and evenings. The rainfall is lighter at the higher heights. Even the visibility might be poor due to the consequence of rainfall and wide-ranging fog. During this time, the temperature runs between 10-23 degrees Celsius. The temperature may fall after precipitation.
Autumn (October to December)
Early autumn has a cooler climate. After the completion of monsoon rain, it washes off the dirt in the atmosphere. So, autumn has magnificent stunning visibility and widespread clear blue skies. The view of Mt. Fishtail and Mardi Himal are mind -blowing as they stand big in front of us. The temperature would be around 20 degrees Celsius. But at night it drops to around 5 degrees Celsius.
Winter (January to March)
This weather implies more snow and a chilling cold. The night gets incredibly cold the higher we are. At the same time, trekking in winter might make it hard to stand the extremely cold weather and overwhelming snowfall.
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Trip name: * MARDI HIMAL TREK [up to 4500 meters]
