Overview

Mardi Himal Trek is becoming ever more popular as the best overall trekking route in Nepal. What makes it special compared to most of the other treks is that it allows you to take in so much of the giant Himalayan mountains within a relatively short space of time. And it’s still considered something of a ‘hidden gem’, lying as it does on the east side of another popular destination – the Annapurna Base Camp trek.

Starting from 800 meters at beautiful Pokhara city, the Mardi Himal Trek will take you to an altitude of 4500 meters at the Base Camp for the Mardi Himal peak. Our trek to Mardi Himal base camp passes through beautiful forests and wild open spaces, allowing you to catch sight of much Himalayan wildlife and an astonishing series of Himalayan peaks.

If you’re looking for an awe-inspiring Himalayan experience on one of Nepal’s less crowded trails, then you should book and plan this Mardi Himal Trek before it’s too late. Ideal for those looking to experience everything from lush green forests to spectacular valleys, villages and farm land; from Himalayan ice-melted rivers to superb vistas of such legendary Himalayan peaks as Annapurna, Machhapuchre and Hiunchuli.

Itinerary

Day 1

Pokhara to Pitam Deurali. (2100m, 6465ft /1 hour drive and 3.5 hours trek)

Pickup from your hotel in Pokhara to travel by private vehicle to Kande (60 minutes) where we begin our trek with a steep jungle-climb passing local villages until we reach Pothana, our lunch-stop. If the weather is clear, we’ll be able to see magnificent views of the Annapurna mountain range. A gentle incline after lunch brings us to Pitam Deurali. Overnight at teahouse.

Day 2

Pitam Deurali to Forest Camp. (2550m,8365ft/ 4 hours.)

A steep uphill climb for most of the day through thick jungle with beautiful views of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges. We may be lucky and catch glimpses of some of our abundant wildlife; leopards, deer, monkeys and many species of birds all live in this dense jungle. Then we reach Forest Camp in the afternoon. Overnight at teahouse.

Day 3

Forest Camp to High Camp. (3580m,11745ft/ 6.5 hours.)

Today is a short distance but a steep climb through rhododendron and juniper forest. As you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with the most breathtaking views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail mountain), the Annapurna Range, the valley of Annaurna Base Camp and Mardi Himal. Overnight at teahouse.

Day 4

High Camp, trek to View Point (4500m,14763ft) and return to Low Camp (2990m,9810ft). / (6 hours)

An early wake-up call today so you can appreciate truly stunning sunrise views of the mighty Himalayas. After breakfast, we climb to Mardi Himal View Point which stands at 4500 meters. A challenging day walking along narrow, rocky trails, but it’ll all be worth it for the awesome views of this majestic mountain environment. Mardi Himal is a sacred mountain for both Hindus and Buddhists (interestingly, no human being has yet managed to reach the summit!).Today, we should be able to see Nepal’s national bird, the Lophophorus, flying above our heads. Overnight at teahouse.

Day 5

Low Camp to Siding Village. (1280m,4200ft/ 4 hours.) then to Pokhara (3 hours).

A steep descent to Low Camp following the same trail we went up. We then leave the trail and trek into the forest, heading to the Mardi Khola river. We descend further to Siding. From there we drive to Pokhara.