Mardi Himal Trek High Camp

Mardi Himal Trek

from $656

The Mardi Himal Trek takes you to the east of Annapurna Base Camp, virtually under the spectacular mountain Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). As you trek along the ridge, you can look down at Annapurna Base Camp itself! It is almost too good to be true. But, you’ll see it is real with you own eyes.

The trek goes through quiet stone built villages past wonderful rhododendron forests blooming in many different colors. The forest path continues until about 3,300m. when the trail takes on a rugged mountain setting with spectacular views of Mardi Himal, Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South. During the trek, you will eat and sleep in basic mountain lodges, runned by locals.

 

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  • Vacation Style Holiday Type
    • Culture
    • Iconic
    • Lodge
    Treks
  • Activity Level 4,000m >
    4/8
  • Group Size Small Group
    Min. 2
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All about the Mardi Himal Trek.

Trek to Mardi Himal

The trail of the Mardi Himal Trek goes along small winding paths, through magical rhododendron forests until you climb out of the forest at an elevation around 3,300m. The landscape changes quite abruptly into a rugged high mountain landscape. You will have amazing views of Mardi Himal, Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
  • airport transfer
  • experienced mountain guide
  • TIMS Card (Trekkers’ Information Management Systems)
  • ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit)
  • bus (Kathmandu – Pokhara)
  • private vehicle (Pokhara – Phedi)
  • private vehicle (Lumre – Pokhara)
  • hotel in Kathmandu (w/ breakfast) – 2 nights
  • hotel in Pokhara (w/ breakfast) – 2 nights
  • accommodations during your trek – 6 nights
  • breakfast, lunch and dinner during your trek
  • VAT and tourist service charges
What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
  • Nepal tourist visa
  • travel health insurance
  • emergency evacuation if needed
  • alcohol, hot and cold drinks
  • trekking equipments
  • tips for your trekking staff and drivers (will be expected)
  • all other expenses that are not mentioned below ‘cost includes’
  1. Day 1 Kathmandu (1400m)

    By Mountain People welcomes you at the international airport and brings you to your hotel in Thamel.

    Later this day, we will meet at your hotel or at our office for a pre-trip meeting. We introduce you to your guide and talk about your itinerary. If you have any questions or requests, we would like to hear them from you.

    Note: Please make sure you bring your passport to the meeting along with three copies, two photos and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. We also request you to clear the due balance if any.

    airport transfer – hotel

  2. Day 2 Pokhara (840m)

    Your mountain guide picks you up at your hotel early morning. Together, you take the bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara. This takes about 6 hours.

    breakfast – bus – hotel

  3. Day 3 Pothana (1890m)

    From Pokhara, we drive to Phedi in about a half an hour. From here, we commence our trek to Pothana (1890m). The trail is steep until Dhampus and then it is a pleasant easy walk up to Pothana, where you stay in a mountain lodge for the first night.

    breakfast – private vehicle – lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

  4. Day 4 Forest Camp (2520m)

    From Pothana you walk up to a place called Pitam Deurali. Here you will turn off the main Annapurna Sanctuary trekking route and continue along a quiet trail through a dense forest of oak, maple, hemlock and rhododendron. Tonight we stay at one of the lodges in a clearing of the forest at Forest Camp or also known by the locals as Kokar. The lodges at Kokar are quite basic and there is no dining room so you will probably have meals in the kitchen with the owner. So, in some ways this is more like a homestay and a good opportunity to get to know this friendly family from Siding village.

    breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

  5. Day 5 Low Camp (2970m)

    The trail continues from Forest Camp to Low Camp through the forest. However, as we ascend the vegetation starts to change with more rhododendron and the trees are covered with moss, lichen and tree ferns. At Low Camp there are two basic lodges, one of which with a dining room with open fire. If the weather is clear, the view from Low Camp is superb with Mount Machhapuchhre visible up the valley.

    breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

  6. Day 6 High Camp (3540m)

    An hour or so above Low Camp, the trail breaks out above the tree line. And towards the west you can have a good view to Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. The trail continues along the Mardi Himal ridge, mainly on grass with some isolated rhododendron bushes along the way. Look out for the colourful Danphe pheasant on this section of the trail.

    The lodge at High Camp is larger than lodges at Low Camp and Forest Camp, as this one has eight rooms and a separate dining room with heater. The view from the lodge is superb to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail).

    breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

  7. Day 7 Mardi Himal Base Camp (4250m)

    The plan for today is to wake early to see sun rise over the mountains. Then after you’ll have an early breakfast and walk up the ridge towards Mardi Himal Base Camp. There is a well-established trail through the grass with a couple of steeper sections, however, overall not too challenging. Look out for the dzokpo (yak/cow crossbreds) grazing up here as well as Danphe pheasant. In the summer the sheep and goats from lower villages are brought up to graze in this area so you will pass a number of herder’s huts along the way. After three hours you should reach Base Camp (4250m).

    From Mardi Himal Base Camp you can look into the Annapurna Sanctuary, and the panorama view is spectacular. You can see the south face of Annapurna and all of the peaks in the Sanctuary as well, such as Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail).

    breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

  8. Day 8 Siding Village (1700m)

    On the way back, we take a different route. From Low Camp, we follow a trail that goes down to Siding village instead of going back down Mardi Himal back to Kokar. Siding is a traditional Nepalese village and still very much away from the busier modern tourist treks. It is likely that you will stay at a homestay in Siding owned by the person who runs one of the lodges at Low Camp. It is a wonderful cultural experience finding out more about village life and you will probably eat dal bhat in the evening with the family in their kitchen.

    breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

  9. Day 9 Pokhara (830m)

    From Siding, you walk out to the road head at Lumre. On the way from Siding, you will pass the villages of Kalimati and Ghalel. Kalimati is mainly a Brahmin village with Ghalel and Siding mixed Brahmin and Gurung. At Lumre you will meet our driver who drives you back to your hotel in Pokhara.

    breakfast & lunch – private vehicle – hotel

  10. Day 10 Kathmandu (1400)

    Today, we take the bus back to Kathmandu. And there, we will bring you to your hotel.

    In the evening, we offer you and your guide a farewell dinner together in a traditional Nepalese restaurant.

    breakfast – bus – farewell dinner – hotel

  11. Day 11 Departure

    If it’s the final day of your holiday in Nepal, we will bring you back to the international airport. Goodbye friends! We hope that we will meet each other again in the future.

    breakfast – airport transfer