Mardi Himal trek

01 / THE EXPERIENCE

Discover the journey

Mardi Himal is a hidden gem, just east of Annapurna Base Camp. Few trekkers make their way to Mardi Himal’s Base Camp, spectacularly situated at the base of Mardi Himal and the beautiful and imposing Machapuchhre (or Fishtail). It's enough of a challenge (yet suitable for most travelers) and very accessible from Pokhara. You'll reach a maximum altitude of 14,599 ft (4,450 m) and pass through Newar, Gurung, and Brahmin villages.

03 / YOUR ROUTE

Journey at a glance

Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu — Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.Once you've settled in, head out and explore the city. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a great place to start your exploration, where you'll walk through narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. If you want to stretch your legs, Swayambhunath, the white stupa rising above the valley, is the perfect spot to catch the sunset over the valley.In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes. Overnight: Kathmandu Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Trek to Pothana (6,102 feet / 1,860 m) — Today is the first day of your trek! After an early breakfast, you'll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport to catch your flight to Pokhara. This is a city located west of Kathmandu. Your specialist can help you try to get a seat on the right-hand side of the plane for views of the Himalayas en-route.Upon arrival, a jeep will be waiting to drive you to Phedi where the trek begins towards Pothana. The trail ascends through forests of rhododendron, magnolia, oak, sandalwood, and pine until you reach the village called Dhampus. This is an authentic Gurung village, which gives you an opportunity to look at the magnificent views of the Annapurna ranges, as well as notable peaks like Lamjung Himal. From Dhampus, the trail continues to ascend along a stone-paved path through more forests and mossy trees (keep an eye out for orchids). Once you get to the small village of Pothana, you’ll find a range of trekker facilities including shops, teahouses, and eateries. Relax and enjoy the magnificent mountain views. Day 3: Trek from Pothana to Forest Camp (8,202 ft / 2,500 m) — Today, you'll leave the popular trekking trail and head off the beaten path. You'll enter an enchanted forest of birch, giant rhododendron, mountain oak, maple, and hemlock. If the weather is clear, you'll see stunning mountain views throughout the day. Day 4: Trek from Forest Camp to Badal Danda (10,532 ft / 3,210 m) — As you climb, the flora transitions to ‘cloud forest’ with mosses and lichen, tree ferns and orchids hosted by the hardier trees. Through breaks in the forest, you'll have beautiful panoramas—towards Hiunchuli and the knife-sharp traverse towards Annapurna South. Far below, to your left, you can see the Modi Khola Valley leading up into the Annapurna Sanctuary. You'll reach camp at lunchtime, as you'll want to walk slowly today given the gain in altitude (walk at an even pace where you don't lose your breath). Though still surrounded by forest, you'll have spectacular views of Machapuchare to the north. Day 5: Trek from Badal Danda to High Camp (11,745 ft / 3,580 m) — A short, steep climb and you're out of the forest. A ridge, now grassy and sometimes under the snow, takes you up to High Camp where you'll reach on lunchtime and where a second consecutive afternoon is spent acclimatizing and enjoying the views. Annapurna South seems near enough to throw a rock at and Machhapuchare itself close enough to touch. Day 6: Trek from High Camp to Middle Camp via Mardi Himal Base Camp (14,763 ft / 4,500 m) — Today, you'll have breakfast earlier than usual. With a packed lunch, you'll then set off to Mardi Himal Base Camp.Conditions being favorable, you should reach up to 5,000m and only the crest of Mardi Himal itself will separate you from the south face of Machhapuchare. The great ice fields and blue glaciers of the Sanctuary Wall lie below. Annapurna I, highest of all is beyond, and around you, and an arc from horizon to horizon, from Dhaulagiri to the Ganesh Himal, are a dozen or more glistening snow-bound giants. You have reached the main goal of the trek! A place, a time, a view that is almost impossible to equal—and you’ve earned it. By 1 pm at the latest, you'll need to descend, returning to the welcome steaming mug, the hot food, and the teahouse at Middle Camp. Day 7: Trek from Middle Camp to Kalimati — After a relaxed breakfast, tired bodies make an unhurried decent through the shade of the forest and out onto terraced fields, down 1600m in all. This is a different route down—down to the upper Mardi Khola, the torrent that has been the ice and snow of the Mardi Himal. Although remote and still away from all the much-used 'teahouse' trekking routes, the trek now takes on the mood of the arm valley and the friendly villages into Kalimati. Day 8: Trek from Kalimati to Lwang Village Home Stay — The path from Siding now follows the contour of the river valley gradually down between the pastures and through Tamang and Gurung villages. Lwang village has organic tea gardens. In the evening, you'll meet a mothers' group that is a part of an organization that works to raise money for local projects. Tonight, you'll experience a unique homestay. Day 9: Drive from Lwang Village to Pokhara — Soon the trail skirts an outcrop—there’s the road, and there’s your transport, and soon you'll back in Pokhara celebrate your trek with a nice dinner. Day 10: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu — After breakfast, you may have time to do more sightseeing, relax, or check out one of Pokhara's coffee shops. About 1.5 hours before your flight, you'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the domestic airport to catch your flight back to Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, you'll be transferred to your hotel and can enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip. In the evening, choose from a selection of Nepali, French, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern dishes in Kathmandu. Day 11: Depart Kathmandu — It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a final stroll through the narrow alleys and temples, and some final souvenir shopping. A driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport for your return flight home. It's best to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.

YOUR DAY-BY-DAY ROUTE

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Welcome to Kathmandu — Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.+