Mardi Himal Trek

a)  Best Time

You can travel on an 8-day Mardi Himal Trek in any season. But the best seasons you can select for this journey are the autumn and spring seasons. Here is the list of seasons explained below for trekking to Mardi Himal Base Camp.

Autumn (September to November): Autumn is one of the best times to go for the Mardi Himal Trek if you want to avoid the intense heat and muddy trails of the monsoon season. You can enjoy your life to the life to the fullest in this season with clear blue skies and less probability of rainfall. You can feel the temperatures in the autumn range from 10 to 15 degrees Celsius.

In the autumn, you can do more than just hike and enjoy the views. The trail conditions are excellent, so you won’t need to pack many clothes. Therefore, due to following reasons, the autumn season is considered the ideal season for trekking to Mardi Himal.

Spring (March to May):Spring, from March to May, is the perfect time to trek in the lush greenery of Mardi Himal because nature is at its most beautiful in this very season. You can observe landscapes with green vegetation and blossoming rhododendrons, which will be quite attractive.

You can feel the temperature range from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius, with up to 20 degrees during the day and up to 10 degrees at night. The surroundings are very fresh and clean during this season. Most of the trekkers choose this season as they can enjoy the most breathtaking views of the landscapes and mountains.

Monsoon/Summer (June to August): You can enjoy the Mardi Himal Trek despite the rainfall. Temperatures can range from 25 to 15 degrees Celsius in the summer and 22 to 5 degrees Celsius in the monsoon.

You must bring appropriate clothing and equipment such as waterproof bags, rain boots, and so on, as the terrain might be difficult owing to slippery and muddy conditions.

Winter (December to February): Many trekkers don’t like to trek in this season due to the very cold weather, with temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to below freezing.

But if you love hiking in winter and are ready to face any challenges thrown your way, you can still get an adrenaline-filled awesome experience. However, we do not recommend this trekking to anyone, especially beginners.

b) Elevation and distance

This 8-day Mardi Himal Trek journey begins in Pokhara, where you will drive to Phedi Village and begin walking to Pothana. You will pass through a variety of sceneries before arriving at Mardi Himal Base Camp, which has a peak elevation of 4350 meters.

You will be experiencing a moderate-level, challenging trek during this journey. You will be starting your hike from 1130 meters above sea level at Phedi village to the highest elevation of 4350 meters covering a total of 42 kilometers of distance throughout 5 days’ time frame.

On average, you have to walk for five to seven hours per day. However, depending on how swiftly you walk, the amount of time you spend walking could vary significantly. Therefore, you need to remain composed and hydrated throughout the Mardi Himal Trek to face challenges and exhaustion.

 c) Difficulty and altitude sickness

This 8-day Mardi Himal is great for both beginners and experienced trekkers alike who prefer less crowded trails. Similarly, it is moderately challenging, with no need for special climbing skills. You need to hike through steep, rocky, and rough trails, especially from High Camp to Base Camp.

Several factors increase the difficulty of this trek. Some factors, like weather, fitness level, and terrain, determine the difficulty level of the trek. So being physically fit helps a lot. However, you can complete this trek at ease with some required preparations.

Another important element to consider is the severity of the trek, often known as altitude sickness. You are climbing to the highest point, 4350 meters above sea level. As you ascend, the air pressure and oxygen levels fall, which may have an impact on you.  You need to be cautious and notice any sort of symptoms that are affecting your body.

If you have symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS), such as headaches or nausea, please notify us immediately, and we will stop and rest immediately. There will be a lower risk of AMS because we will take pauses every thousand meters to acclimatize.

However, you need to state your conditions to the tour guide so that we can ensure safety while trekking. Similarly, we’ll be checking your pulse and oxygen saturation and heart rate twice daily to monitor your well-being. You need to drink a lot of water during trekking to prevent altitude sickness and avoid any liquor and unnecessary food items.

d) Maximum and minimum walk per day

Mardi Himal Trek is a short, 8-day moderate-level trek. So, this would be less challenging than the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) and Everest Base Camp (EBC). You don’t have to walk for many days to reach your targeted destination. You need to walk an average of 5 to 7 hours each day to cover the 42-kilometer trekking distance.

You will be walking a minimum of 3–4 hours per day when hiking to Pothana from Phedi Village and to Saidighatta from Siding Village during your return on the second and seventh days, respectively.

The maximum days are the fourth and fifth days, where you’ll trek for about 8 hours each day. On the fourth day, you trek from Forest Camp to High Camp, and on the fifth day, you continue to Mardi Himal Base Camp from High Camp. These are the two challenging days of trekking because you have to ascend rocky terrain and high slopes.

However, this is only speculation about the maximum and minimum walk per day, according to our previous experiences. This trekking walk can be minimized if we walk at a fast pace, taking little rest along the way.

e) Accommodation, Food and Drink

You will find a range of accommodations, including hotels, lodges, teahouses, and restaurants, during this 8-day Mardi Himal Trek in Nepal’s Annapurna region. You will be offered a warm, homelike atmosphere with delicious food, making you feel like part of the family.

Some of these places have facilities like attached bathrooms, hot water, and sometimes Wi-Fi and charging spots. You’ll find modern accommodations at the lower elevations, but they become simpler with fewer facilities. You might have to stop in local villages where such facilities may not exit as well.

During your 8-day Mardi Himal Trek, you’ll mostly find traditional Nepalese food like dal bhat, along with pancakes, chop suey, and pasta. And the plus point is that you’ll be lucky to experience the fresh food from local farms, even though it’s not gourmet quality.

Since, as we know, trekking burns lot of calories, you should prioritize eating healthy foods during this exciting trek to keep your energy up. You would be having three meals a day, along with tea and coffee. Not only this, but our package includes fresh fruit every evening after dinner.

The food will be highly based on the menu offered by the hotel or tea house, which usually serves Nepali dishes only. But only some of the teahouses and lodges may prepare you something western upon your request, if available.

Likewise, we strongly don’t recommend you drink any hard or soft drinks apart from water, and our package does not include this. So, you have to pay by yourself in case you want to have such types of drinks.

f) Alternative Routes

There are many alternative routes you can choose for the Mardi Himal Trek. You can choose any of the following alternative routes based on your interest and desire, and we will make an itinerary plan according to it:

Start in Ghandruk and finish in Siding Village: Many trekkers opt for this route to Mardi Himal after finishing the Poon Hill or Annapurna Base Camp trek. In this route, you start from Ghorepani and trek to Forest Camp, encountering steep downhill sections and uphill climbs. We suggest you walk to Tolkha and take a bus from there when returning to Pokhara.

Start in Landruk and finish in Siding Village: Landruk offers you the quickest route for the short Mardi Himal Trek. You can walk an additional 12 kilometers from Kande instead of taking a jeep or local bus, as the road there is quite rough and bumpy. And it will cost you about 5 dollars when driving from the bus and 9 dollars in a jeep.

But for our own safety, we should walk on this route. The road becomes more dangerous and slippery, especially in monsoon seasons. A lot of trekkers have bad experiences while taking buses in this area.

Start in Ghandruk and finish in Kande: You can begin your Mardi Himal Trek from Kande. The roads here are in better condition compared to Landruk, making your travel very easy. You can complete this route in 5 days. This route is suitable for those who have limited time and travel in a very comfortable way.

g) Can beginner join Mardi Himal Trek?

Absolutely, beginners can easily join this 8-day Mardi Himal Trek without any doubt. In fact, beginners should start their trekking journey with this exciting Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek to kickstart their hiking experience.

This trekking will provide an overall experience of the difficulty level of climbing at higher elevations to beginners. Unlike ABC and EBC trekking, this is a very short trek where you can capture the taste of the required experience to go on the next trekking adventure.

If you are a trekking enthusiast, this will make you ready for the next challenging trekking journey. You’ll find the hardest part of this trek when hiking from High Base Camp to Mardi Himal Base Camp and descending from Low Camp to Siding Village due to the steep terrain.

However, you need to prepare physically and mentally before planning for this trip. If you are not well prepared, then you may find it very difficult as a beginner due to the weariness and higher altitudes. But we’ll always be ready to assist if you are having any sort of problem related to trekking. All you need to do is inform us of any problems and follow our directions and guidelines to complete this trek easily.

h) Preparation and fitness

No matter where you go to enjoy life to live to the fullest, especially on the trekking journey, it is very crucial to be physically fit and healthy. This is a medium-level compelling-difficulty trek, although you don’t need climbing expertise or tools to summit the peaks. You do need to have good stamina, determination, and good health.

Some parts of the 8-day Mardi Himal Trek are very strenuous. And, some days, you need to walk for a maximum of 8 hours until you reach your destination. So, you better start preparing yourself for this trek by doing cardiovascular exercises, walking instead of driving, practicing yoga and meditation, hiking uphill and downhill, eating healthy, and learning about the trek.

If you are well-prepared before beginning your journey, you will find it much easier to complete this walk. You will not become fatigued easily and will be able to maintain a great deal of stamina. And, not only this, you will be ready to face any kind of unexpected situation that may occur on this trek. Moreover, this will save a lot of time during trekking and cover more distance, minimizing the walking hours.

i) Gadgets charging and Internet

During your trek on the routes of Mardi Himal, it is important to charge your essential gadgets so that they are charged enough all the time to capture memories and, mainly, to stay connected. In this trek, you will be able to find the facilities for charging your gadgets at tea houses and lodges available along the route.

Some of the accommodations offer free electricity and internet access as well, though the majority of them charge additional fees of around 2 to 3 USD. We suggest you carry power backups or portable chargers to make sure your gadgets are always power-backed up.

Although internet access and electricity are available in certain spots, like tea houses and lodges, please don’t expect them to be strong; they might be slow and also unreliable in some places due to the remote and mountainous terrain.

We will recommend that you purchase local SIM cards with data packages because this way you will be able to access the internet on your own terms, which will be reliable for you whether you are inside or outside, even at trekking time.

Additionally, be aware that the cost of electricity for charging your devices and internet services can fluctuate depending on the places you stay during the trek at Mardi Himal. As you move forward to higher altitudes, these services can be limited, and this will be challenging, so the chances of increasing the cost of using these infrastructures are high.

We are informing you about expenses that you might incur while trekking at Mardi Himal because it will help you to plan and prepare effectively for these incidental expenses.

Lastly, be informed that you will find facilities to charge your gadgets and have internet access at tea houses and lodges. However, it will be better to always be ready for the occasional problems that might occur, such as electricity issues (load-shedding) and technical issues.

It’s common for remote areas to suffer from these issues. The natural beauty and rugged terrain of the Himalayas will make you forget these issues and enjoy your trekking experience to the fullest.

j) Permit

For the 8-day Maratha Himal Trek, you must have two permits: the TIMS Card (Trekking Information Management System) and the ACAP permit (Annapurna Conservation Area Project). After having these two permits, you will not require any other special authorization for trekking in Nepal’s Annapurna region. Thus, the cost and significance of these two permits are stated below:

• ACAP Permit (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): The ACAP permit will help fund the maintenance of the trails, support local community projects, and allow you to enter the Annapurna Conservation Area. The cost is NPR 3000 (about USD 26) per person for foreign citizens and NPR 1000 (about USD 9) for citizens of SAARC countries.

 This permit is valid for one entry and exit and can be used for multiple treks within the park as long as you do not exit. You can buy both ACAP and TIMS permits at the Tourist Information Center in Kathmandu or Pokhara. These offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are closed on weekends and holidays.

You’ll need your passport, insurance details, four passport-sized photos, and the contact details of someone in Nepal to get both permits. Make sure you bring all the required documents to get these permits.

• TIMS (Trekker Information Management System Card): TIMS helps to identify trekkers at registration checkpoints. If there is any emergency situation when you are trekking, this permit will be your protecting angel for your rescue operations.

The cost is NPR 2000 (about USD 18) per person for foreign citizens and NPR 300 (about USD 4) for SAARC citizens. You can get the TIMS card from the same places and with the same process as the ACAP permit.

Important Note: Permit fees and regulations may change, so it’s a good idea to check the current requirements. If you’re unsure about the guidelines, we can assist you before you head out for the Mardi Himal Trek from Pokhara.

k) Transportation

We’ll be using very few means of transportation during this 8-day Mardi Himal Trek. As with most of our Mardi Himal itinerary, we’ll be hiking to reach our destinations. On the first day, we will be taking a tourist bus ride from Kathmandu city to Pokhara. It will take approximately 8–9 hours to reach the beautiful Pokhara city.

Then, on our second day of the Mardi Himal Trek, we’ll be driving for an hour to Phedi from Pokhara via Jeep. Similarly, we’ll be taking a jeep from Saidighatta to Pokhara during our return to Pokhara.

On the final day of your journey, you will return to Kathmandu city by tourist bus along the same route. Then, after we arrive in Kathmandu, we’ll drop you off at your accommodation, capping up this unforgettable and enjoyable adventure trek.

l) Travel Insurance

As we all know, trekking in the remote and challenging terrain of the Mardi Himal involves risks where medical evacuation and treatment can be very expensive. So, before you start any trip, you must arrange your travel insurance.

This assures that you are protected on your 8-day Mardi Himal Trek in case of an unexpected event, such as the need for rescue or medical treatment. You should understand that your life is more important than any quest, no matter what the payoff is. Safety is our main priority, and having the correct insurance guarantees that you’re prepared for any adventure while minimizing risks.

While no one usually checks for insurance directly, you are required to provide details about your insurance company when filling out the necessary forms. This will help you enjoy your thrilling hiking journey with peace of mind, knowing you’re protected in case of any sort of emergency.

m) What to expect from this trip

The Mardi Himal Trek is quite fascinating for individuals who are willing to trek because of its moderate difficulty level. This trek fits perfectly for beginners in trekking who want to experience calm and serene trekking away from busy routes.

Trekking here will take you to the base of the mountains, where you will be surrounded by another mountain named Machhapuchhre. This mountain is also famous for its name in English; we know this mountain as Fish Tail.

Beyond the beautiful mountains, this trek provides us with an opportunity to travel through a varied landscape of picturesque villages and verdant forests filled with rhododendrons (in season). Each day we pass on this trek, we will observe pretty natural waterfalls and diverse terrain that change with the day.

You will be greeted with the friendly hospitality of the locals, get to witness their customs being practiced in day-to-day life, and observe their clothing, which is quite different from our own.

Engaging in conversation with the locals will be beneficial as you will be able to learn more about the intricate religious culture, which will enhance your trekking experience. Encountering amiable Nepalese people who provide a warm welcome to you would be a highly fulfilling experience.

Lastly, as we have started our trek from Pokhara, after finishing the trek, you will be again returning to Pokhara, where you can relax in this beautiful city surrounded by hills and the stunning Annapurna mountains.

Then we will enjoy Pokhara, from boating on Fewa Lake to exploring local markets. Pokhara offers a perfect ending to your Mardi Himal adventures. Overall, this trek is the best from start to finish, so give it a try and make a lifelong memory.