Mardi Himal Trek - A Complete Guide

The trail is less populated but you will be blessed with the views of Terrace farms and Green Pastoral landscapes. The captivating beauty of the trees that are filled with ferns and dew will make you believe you have entered into the forbidden forests of magic and miracles. Here are the answers to the frequently asked questions to the travellers if you are heading up to the Mardi Himal for refreshment:

Itinerary of Mardi Himal Trek:

Here is the day to day itinerary of the Mardi Himal trek. 

Day 1: Pokhara - Kade - Deurali

You will take a jeep from Pokhara to Kande and start hiking up to Australian Base Camp. It will take you 1.5 hours to reach there and you will hike further up to Pothana which will take you around 20 mins from Australian Base Camp. Then you will head towards Deurali (2060 meters) which is about a 4 hours hike from Australian Base Camp. You will stay there on the 1st day. 

Day 2: Deurali - Forest Camp - Low Camp

After having breakfast in Deurali, you will proceed our journey towards Low Camp which lies at an elevation of 2970 meters from sea level. You will walk through forests full of ferns with very little human settlement. You will hear the noise of the birds chirping and the sound of the rivers and springs will re-energize your tired soul.

You will walk for 7 to 8 hours and then reach Low Camp. This trail is full of ups and downs and it is fun walking along with the Oaks, Pines and Rhododendron trees. You will rest at Low Camp on the 2nd day. 

Day 3: Low Camp - Badal Danda - High Camp

After eating our breakfast at Low Camp, You will head towards High Camp which lies at an elevation of 3600 meters from sea level. The fun part about this trail is the generous nature that You come across while walking towards the High Camp. 

You will walk through the lush Rhododendron forest and once you cross Badal Dada (Lies between Low Camp and High Camp), the entire trail is filled with Green Pastoral Land and you will see different animals like Sheep, Yak, Buffaloes and Donkeys grazing on the herbs with medicinal values. The pastoral land is filled with colourful flowers and looks mesmerizing. The landscape with clouds moving will give you a heavenly feel. 

It is also considered one of the most beautiful and striking parts of the entire trail. You can get some rest in the restaurants, drink some tea and then continue your journey to the High Camp. It will take around 5 to 6 hours to reach High Camp. Once you reach High Camp, you will stay in a lodge which will directly face the mountains. The feeling is unexplainable and will leave you totally mesmerized. 

Day 4: High Camp - Mardi Base Camp - Forest Camp

The fourth day is the most amazing part of the trek. You will have to wake up at around 4 o’clock in the morning and proceed towards the Mardi viewpoint which lies at an elevation of 4200 meters from sea level. Once you walk for around 2 to 3 hours, you will reach the viewpoint. 

From the Mardi Viewpoint, you can see the mountains like Macchapuchhre, Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu all around. You will be blessed with a 360-degree view of the mountains and clouds. All the weariness from the trek will go away once you reach the top. You will be fascinated and awestruck because of the snow-capped mountains. 

The Green pastoral land acts as a jewel to it and what’s more beautiful than Green lands and white mountains? You can further walk to Mardi Base Camp which lies at an elevation of 4500 meters. You will see Yak Goats on the way and can also drink Yak Milk.  This is the ultimate point of this trek. After watching the view, You will head back to Forest Camp which lies below Low Camp, at an elevation of 2400 meters. It will take around 6 to 7 hours to reach Forest Camp from High Camp. You will stay there at the Forest Camp on our 4th day. 

Day 5: Forest Camp - Landruk Village - Pokhara

After having our breakfast at Forest Camp, You will continue our Journey towards Landruk. Landruk is a 3 to 4 hours walk downhill from Forest Camp. Landruk is a beautiful village lying in the Annapurna region with a dense human population, stunning view of mountains, green lush rice terraces and the refreshing view of the springs that flow straight from the mountains. 

You will walk through the villages, with people smiling and greeting us, on every step. You will have lunch at Landruk, from where a jeep will come to pick us up and drop us at Pokhara within 3 hours.

There’s no such time as the best time to visit Mardi. You can go there at any time of the year. But if you are willing to experience nature more deeply, there are two best times to explore the exotic beauty of Mardi Himal. 

Mardi Himal Trek allows you to witness various mountain panoramas in the Annapurna region of Nepal. Besides, the spectacular landscapes, lush greenery and tantrums of the Pokhara valley have a lot of experiences to offer. 

Autumn and Spring are the best time to trek in Nepal. However, the short trekking in the outskirts of mountains is round a year activity. Easy, and defined trails makes it more convenient to trek in the Mardi Himal area. The only time that can be harsh to trek in this area is during extreme snowfall. Monsoon can be harsh due to the possibilities of landslides and slippery trails. Besides these, other time of the year is astonishing as you get closer to the mountain area. 

Autumn (October to December)

These months are less prone to rainfall and you will see a clear blue sky on the way. Since it’s a festive time, the weather will be favourable and you can also experience the culture of the people. 

The trekking season starts from this time and you will meet many people on the way. This is one of the most cheerful times to go to Mardi Himal. Since this is also autumn time, be prepared to see different coloured leaves on the way. 

Spring (March to May)

March to April is the time when spring arrives. This is the time when the sky is blue, the flowers are colourful and the entire trail is filled with coloured Rhododendron flowers. 

This is the most beautiful time to visit Mardi. The flowers will act as a frame to the mountains and all you want to do is sit somewhere and stare at the beauty for eternity. The view is so spectacular and will leave you speechless. 

You can avoid visiting Mardi from July to September. This is the rainy season and the trail will be muddy. But if you carry a raincoat or an umbrella, you can hike up to different camps and stay there. But since the path is slippery and the view is foggy, we suggest you not travel during this time. 

Mardi Himal Trek (Kathmandu to Kathmandu)

Kathmandu to Kathmandu tour package to Mardi Himal starts and end in Kathmandu. This package is best suitable for people who are in Kathmandu and nearby districts and wants to explore the exotic beauty of Mardi Himal. The transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara is arranged in a tourist bus and the drive onwards in the other areas is on a private basis. 

Itinerary:- 

Day 1: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara

Day 2: Drive to Kande, trek to Forest Camp

Day 3: Trek from Forest Camp to High Camp

Day 4: Trek to Viewpoint, base camp and trek down to Siding village

Day 5: Drive from Siding to Pokhara

Day 6: Drive to Kathmandu

Mardi Himal Trek (Pokhara to Pokhara)

In this package, Mardi Himal Trek starts and ends in Pokhara valley. The needed transfer are arranged on a Private basis from Pokhara. 

Itinerary:- 

Day 1: Drive to Kande, trek to Forest Camp

Day 2: Trek from Forest Camp to High Camp

Day 3: Trek to Viewpoint, base camp and trek down to Siding village. 

Day 4: Drive from Siding to Pokhara

Mardi Himal Trek is a moderate level trek in the Annapurna region of Nepal. It is an easy level, short and breathtaking trek in the raw mountain area. This area is rewarding in terms of the experiences you get as it is newly explored, and not commercialized.

Mardi Himal trekking is a short distance trek. The total trek distance of Mardi Himal is about 27 Km and the highest elevation during the trek is 4500 m. So, most of the trek here is uphill and you gain elevation in a short time. Hence, you are prone to altitude sickness, especially if you are a first time trekker with little or no experience of previous trekking. 

Another difficulty during wintertime is the frosty climate and heavy snowfall. This makes the trek difficult and in some instances, it is very risky to trek in heavy snowfall as there is a chance of getting lost. 

During monsoon, because of the rainfall, the trails get slippery making it difficult to trek. Also, in the remote trails amid the forests, there are a lot of leeches. You can minimize their impact, and there is no way you can avoid it. So, it is better to avoid trekking in the monsoon not only because of the slippery trail but also because of the leeches. 

•  You will walk for the entire 5 days, so all you need is a good pair of shoes and a stick.
• Don’t forget to carry your own water bottle, you can refill the water on the way. Travelling up to High Altitude is all about staying hydrated. 
• Since the entire trail promotes eco-tourism, littering is strictly prohibited. Also, please be respectful to the floras and faunas and do not pick any of them. 
• Always carry medicine for high altitude sickness. If you aren’t prone to travelling at high altitudes, make sure you walk with your travel guide. He/ She will handle you during high altitude sickness. Do not panic. 
• You can carry energy tablets and granola bars. Since there are no restaurants on the way, you might feel hungry.
• If you get lost on the way, make sure you follow the blue and white marks on the tree. 
• Travelling during the rainy season can be full of leeches. You can carry your own salt to remove it. 
• Trekking is therapeutic, so enjoy every moment and make sure you make the best of it.