Mardi Himal Trekking - 12 Days

Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, our representative of Trekking Mart will welcome you holding a clear sign displaying your name. You will be received in a true Nepali welcome and then be taken to your chosen hotel in Kathmandu. This will be a good time to rest from our long flight to the enchanting lands of the Himalaya. That evening we will provide a welcome dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant where you can taste mouth-watering authentic Nepali food and experience a cultural dance presentation.

Our second day is a sightseeing tour to several of the cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the ancient city of Kathmandu. An expert city guide will guide us to sacred Hindu temples, Buddhist shrines which include Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath Stupa. You will marvel at their extreme art and architecture are our center of attraction. Thereafter, Trekking Mart will organize a trek orientation program and also assist you on trekking preparation (equipment’s packing, etc).

Traveling by tourist bus, depart around 7:00 AM. If traveling by private car/van/jeep, depart around 8:00 AM. The road distance is about 200 km (124 miles) and takes around 7 hours by drive. Upon arrival in Pokhara, transfer to your hotel. In Pokhara, you can find a large variety of restaurants to choose from for your evening meal.

Optional: 25-minute flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara is available throughout the day, saving time and offering spectacular mountain views. You can use the extra time in Pokhara to really enjoy the wonders of the lakeside city.

After early morning breakfast, we start our adventure with a drive to Phedi that is the starting point of our amazing Mardi Himal Trek. We walk on stone steps, over terraced fields and through pristine villages and dense forests before reaching the village of Dhampus, where we have lunch. We continue our walk to Deurali which is a small village beautifully located on a ridge with good views of the Annapurna South, Mardi Himal, and Macchhapuchhare. Overnight in Deurali.

Our trail passes through lush forests dotted with the red rhododendrons. Regarded as the national flower of Nepal, these flowers are beautiful and a common sight on Nepalese hills. Their colorful blooms provide additional charm of the mountains for those who come when these bright flowers are in bloom. We can take rest and explore the area which is also known locally as Kokar. Overnight in Forest Camp.

We continue our journey walking through the dense forests which will give us an opportunity to view and admire Nepal’s rich biodiversity. After reaching the low camp, we can get to see the fantastic view of Mt. Machapuchhre (Mt. Fishtail) rising over the valley. We can spend some time in the evening observing the local culture as we enjoy the hospitality of the local people who are genuinely glad to see you. Overnight in low camp.

We trek uphill alongside a ridge towards Mardi Himal and Macchhapuchhre. The tree lines start getting thinner and thinner. The area mostly consists of shrubs with isolated rhododendron bushes along the trail in this higher elevation. The air is fresh and invigorating. If lucky, we might even come across the Daphne pheasant (national bird of Nepal) on our way to High Camp. We ascend up to High Camp, which is our final destination of the day. From here the mountain views are absolutely stunning! You will want to sit and marvel and the amazing views. Overnight in high camp.

The trail passes through pastures and we hike along a narrow ridge before reaching the Upper Viewpoint. The view of the Himalayan vista from here is astonishing. We see Mardi Himal (5587m), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna south (7219m), Hiunchuli (6441m), Baraha Shikhar (Mt. Fang) (7647m), Tent Peak (5695m), Singhachuli (6501m), Machapuchhre (6993m) and others. We trek back to the high camp for an overnight stay.

We take a different route around High Camp that takes us to the picturesque village of Sidhing instead of going back down to Mardi Himal. The different route lets us experience something different and makes our trek exciting. Siddhing offers a quiet stay for trekkers as it is tucked away from the busier trails. Here the tea houses can spend more time with each of their clients, threby enriching their local experience. Overnight in Siddhing.

After an early breakfast, we walk towards Lumre where we finally reaching the road where we begin our drive back to the lakeside city of Pokhara. After reaching the beautiful city of Pokhara, you will be taken to a hotel where you can enjoy your lunch along with the mesmerizing view of the Annapurna Mountains. The snowcapped peaks feel so close that you want to reach out and touch them! This is both a good time to do additional exploring of Pokhara or simply just resting from your amazing Mardi Himal adventure.

After early morning breakfast at the hotel, travel according to your preferred mode of travel. If traveling by tourist bus, depart around 7:00 AM. If traveling by private car/van/jeep, depart around 8:00 AM. Tourist bus is a luxury bus that makes for fun travel while private car is faster.

The road distance is about 200 km (124) and takes around 7/8 hours by drive. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to your hotel.

If you choose to fly back to Kathmandu, flights operate almost every hour from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with a flight time of approximately 25 minutes. Flying is fun as it takes you along the backbone of the Himalaya peaks.

It will seem like a fast week when you go to Tribhuwan International Airport to catch your flight to your next destination. Don't worry, you can always come back for another visit. Many do, and Trekking Mart will be happy to help you plan your next Himalayan adventure. Trekking Mart is your gateway to the world. We offer trips to other places in Nepal, India and even East Africa safaris.