Mardi Himal Trek

Trip Details

  • Trip Cost Contact us
  • Trip Difficulty Moderate
  • Accomodation Hotel/Teahouses/Lodges
  • Transportation Private Vehicle / Bus
  • Trip Style Trekking and Tour
  • Destination:Nepal
  • Meals:Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Altitude:4500 m
  • Group Size:1-above
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The Mardi Himal Trek is a short and sweet trek in the eastern part of the Annapurna region.  The quick loop trail takes us up to 4500m, giving us spectacular views of Mardi Himal (5587m) and other peaks.  This trek is just beginning to gain popularity, so get there before it’s too crowded!  The solitude along the path allows us to develop a greater appreciation for the local villages and surrounded landscapes. Themany natural environmentscombined with the rich cultureof the villages make the Mardi Himal Trek the full package. From rhododendron forests to rugged high-mountain landscapes, the Mardi Himal Trek is nothing short of amazing.

After a short drive from Pokhara, we begin the trek from Kande.  Upon embarking on the trek, the picturesque scenery isimmediately observed. We pass through densesub-tropical oak and rhododendronforests, full of life.  The bright red rhododendron trees (the national flower of Nepal) are sharply juxtaposed against the surrounding greenery.  We are happy to breathe in the fresh air of the forest.  As we climb higher, our environment changes.  We suddenly find ourselvesleaving the jungle and walking onto a ridge with nothing but mountains all around us. Atthishigh-altitude level, the terrain is mostlygrazing meadows, encompassed by the highest mountain range in the world.

Seeing the mountains gives us a huge rush.  The vista at Upper Viewpoint, is a major highlight of this trek. We can see Mardi Himal (5587m), as well as Macchapucchre (6993m),Hiunchuli (6441m),Baraha Shikhar (7647m),Singu Chuli (6501m) AnnapurnaI (8090m), andAnnapurna South (7219m).  We are lucky to share a presence with this many Himalayan peaks. From here, we ascend back down, finishing up the loop trail.  After trekking to Lumre, we drive back to Pokhara and return to Kathmandu.

Trekking is possible throughout the year, but Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) provide the best weather.  During the Spring, there is a bit more color and the rhododendrons are blooming, and in the Autumn months, the skies are generally clearer.  The Mardi Himal Trek requires basic fitness and acclimatization to avoid acute mountain sickness. 

Trip Highlights

  • Sunrise and sunset at High Camp
  • ‘Off the Beaten Path’ Trek with few other trekkers
  • Lively sub-tropical forests, including blooming rhododendrons
  • Panoramic snow-capped mountain views at Upper Viewpoint
  • Exceptional hospitality from local people

Outline Itinerary

  • Day 01:Arrive in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel.
  • Day 02:Drive to Pokhara (1400m) –6-7 hours
  • Day 03:Drive to Kande (1770m), and trek to Pothana (1900m) – 1 hour drive, 30 min trek
  • Day 04:Trek from Pothana to Forest Camp (2600m) – 4-5 hours
  • Day 05:Trek from Forest Camp to High Camp (3580m) – 5 hours
  • Day 06:Early morning hike to the viewpoint (4500m), then back to hotel (about 2 hours), have breakfast and then trek to Low Camp (3210m) (3-4 hours) – total about 6 hours
  • Day 07:Trek from Low Camp to Sidhing (1850m) – 4 hours
  • Day 08:Trek from Sidhing to Lwang, drive to Pokhara – 3 hour trek, 2 hour drive
  • Day 09:Drive back to Kathmandu – 6-7 hour drive

Detail Itinerary

  • Day 1Arrive in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel.
  • Day 2Drive to Pokhara (1400m) –6-7 hours
  • Day 3Drive to Kande (1770m), and trek to Pothana (1900m) – 1 hour drive, 30 min trek
  • Day 4Trek from Pothana to Forest Camp (2600m) – 4-5 hours
  • Day 5Trek from Forest Camp to High Camp (3580m) – 5 hours
  • Day 6Early morning hike to the viewpoint (4500m), then back to hotel (about 2 hours), have breakfast and then trek to Low Camp (3210m) (3-4 hours) – total about 6 hours
  • Day 7Trek from Low Camp to Sidhing (1850m) – 4 hours
  • Day 8Trek from Sidhing to Lwang, drive to Pokhara – 3 hour trek, 2 hour drive
  • Day 9Drive back to Kathmandu – 6-7 hour drive

Trip Map

  • It was truly an unforgettable experience
    Stephen Gray
    Australia Published: Friday, September 15, 2017

    It was truly an unforgettable experience

    Rating:

    Two friends and I went on the Mardi Himal trek in September with Bigyan as our guide. We chose this trek as it looked beautiful and was one of the newer routes. The trek was an adventure as we had a mixture of weather and different types of scenery, including mountains, forests, and some small villages. The best part was reaching Mardi Himal base camp, as we were surrounded by stunning snow capped mountains and we got some amazing photos together with the prayer flags. There were also not many hikers or tourists on the trek so it didn’t feel overrun with tourists! Bigyan was an amazing guide as he always looked out for us and catered to our needs and what we wanted to do. This included lending a hand to us down muddy paths in the pouring rain and generally making sure we were happy and getting the most out of the experience. I would definitely recommend this trek and Bigyan as a guide. It was truly an unforgettable experience.