Mardi Himal Trek

Welcome to Kathmandu! A friendly representative from Nepal Hiking Team will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport when your flight arrives. After transferring to your hotel, you’ll have the opportunity to get checked in and discuss the arrangements for your upcoming trek. There are no other planned activities for today; depending on the time of your arrival, you can spend the afternoon or evening perusing the colorful markets of Kathmandu. The Thamel neighborhood is especially well-regarded as a shopping and dining destination, and no visit to Nepal would be complete without an exploration of its labyrinthine streets, fragrant with incense and bedecked with glowing lights. After dinner, return to your hotel room to relax and spend the night.

Get an early start this morning to begin your journey to the famous lakeside city of Pokhara. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel at about 6:30 AM. Together, you’ll go to a nearby bus station, where you’ll board the tourist bus to Pokhara. The bus leaves at 7:30 AM and takes approximately six or seven hours to reach Pokhara, passing through beautiful river valleys, alongside terraced fields of barley and rice, and over green hills blanketed with lush vegetation. When you arrive at your destination, you’ll check in with your hotel and have the evening free to explore. Pokhara is situated on the shores of the stunning Phewa Lake; many tourists take a boat onto its reflective waters to enjoy the view of Machapuchare rising above town. You can get an even better view from the nearby lookout of Sarangkot, where you’ll see Machapuchare joined by the peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna II. When you’ve had dinner and you’re ready for a good night’s sleep, return to your hotel to spend the night. Today’s breakfast is included.

It’s time to begin your adventure on the Mardi Himal Trek! After an early breakfast in Pokhara, you’ll catch a ride to the little town of Phedi. This trip should take less than an hour—then you’ll be ready to hit the trail. Today’s hike will take you through shaded woods and small villages as you ascend along a series of stone staircases. The scenic town of Dhampus is a great spot to take a lunch break while soaking up an alluring vista of the Annapurna range. After lunch, you’ll continue hiking to reach today’s destination: Pothana. This picturesque village is constructed of traditional stone-built homes and paved paths, but you’ll also find evidence of modernization in the form of souvenirs and snacks for sale. Many trekkers continue through the forest to reach the next village of Pitam Deurali, but we’ll stop here for tonight to enjoy the friendly atmosphere and excellent mountain views. Your overnight accommodations will be in one of Pothana’s comfortable guesthouses. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are also included.

Leaving Pothana in the early morning, your path will lead you to the village of Pitam Deurali. From here, you’ll want to snap a few photographs of Machapuchare, Annapurna South, and Mardi Himal: these summits look particularly resplendent in the morning light. When you’re ready to move on, you’ll begin ascending along a steep trail through a dense forest of lichen-draped oak, hemlock, and maple. If you happen to be trekking during the springtime, the delicate beauty of the rhododendron and magnolia blooms in this forest will take your breath away. This is also where the trail diverges from the main Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, and you can expect to share the path with fewer trekkers from this point forward. Today’s hike will come to its conclusion when you reach Forest Camp, known locally as Kokar. This small camp is situated within a forest clearing. You’ll overnight here in a basic lodge, which is more akin to a homestay than a hotel. You’ll enjoy dining communally in the lodge owners’ kitchen and getting to know this friendly family from the nearby village of Siding. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Departing from the tranquil clearing of Kokar, you’ll continue to ascend through mossy woodlands this morning. If you’re a photography buff, you’ll be thrilled when an occasional shaft of sunlight pierces the misty atmosphere of these woods, enhancing the mysterious and evocative mood that’s so characteristic of the Himalayas. After a few hours of trekking, we’ll stop for lunch at Low Camp, where you can enjoy a good look at the distinctive fishtail-shaped summit of Machapuchare. From here, you’ll start a serious climb in the direction of High Camp. As the trail turns westward, you’ll glimpse the glaciated peaks of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli looming over the path. Keep hiking along the ridgeline as the trees begin to thin out, passing abundant rhododendron bushes. This is good wildlife habitat where the danphe, or Himalayan monal, can often be spotted. As you approach High Camp, you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree panorama of snowbound canyons, soaring mountains, and steep cliffs. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better view of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machapuchare. We’ll stop here for the night; High Camp has a good selection of higher-grade guesthouses with basic facilities. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Wake up early this morning to catch the sun rising amidst the Himalayas. After a hearty breakfast, you’ll begin walking up a ridge towards a fabulous vantage point where you’ll enjoy the best sights of the entire Mardi Himal Trek. The route follows a well-established trail through grassy pastures, although the going is steep and occasionally narrow. Along the way, you’ll almost certainly get to see dzo grazing in the fields; this is a hybrid species bred from both yak and cattle. In the summer, these pastures are used as a grazing area for sheep and goats; you’ll see a number of herders’ huts as you pass by. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for the colorful danphe if you didn’t get the chance to see this pheasant yesterday. After ascending for about three hours, you’ll reach what’s known as the Upper View Point. This is a rocky outlook situated at approximately 4,200 meters. From here, you’ll be able savor gobsmacking views into the Annapurna Sanctuary. This high-altitude mountain basin is home to Mardi Himal, Annapurna I, Machapuchare, Hiunchuli, and other massive peaks. Take some time here to enjoy the scenery before returning to High Camp to spend a second night. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

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 and then drive back to Pokhara.

Overnight at Hotel, breakfast, and lunch included.

It’s time to bid farewell to the Annapurna Mountains—you’ve finished the Mardi Himal Trek! After a final breakfast in Pokhara, it’s time to leave this City of Lakes. You’ll take the tourist bus back to Kathmandu today, which should take approximately six or seven hours. As you watch the rural countryside of Nepal zipping past your windows, take this time to reflect upon your trek. The sights you’ve seen and the people you’ve met will form the basis of memories you’ll cherish in the years to come. When your bus arrives in Kathmandu, you may have some time to do a bit of sightseeing after lunch. The Swayambhunath and Boudhanath stupas are easy to reach and are very much worth the trip: similar in appearance, they are vast domes painted with the eyes of the Buddha and decorated with endless strings of prayer flags. Tonight is also your last chance to grab any souvenirs from the local markets before sitting down to a final meal in Nepal’s most iconic city. You’ll spend the night here in Kathmandu; today’s breakfast is included.

A representative from Nepal Hiking Team will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport approximately three hours before the scheduled departure of your outgoing flight. We hope you’ve enjoyed your visit to Nepal and your exciting hike along the Mardi Himal Trek. Hosting you has been both a pleasure and a privilege, and we trust that you’ll think of us when you plan your next visit to Nepal.