Source: Abovethehimalaya
Are you up for an adventure along the peaceful trail that leads directly to the foothills of the Annapurna massif? Well, let us make up a short and fun plan that is filled with rich biodiversity, stunning mountain vistas, varied landscapes, and warm hospitality tagged with ethnic culture and tradition.
While you may wonder how long, difficult, and expensive the journey may be, it is not. The Mardi Himal trek is one of the shortest trek that takes you within the Annapurna Sanctuary Area through the mountain ridges.
Additionally, this particular trek is a perfect vacation and a short getaway for both beginners and experienced trekkers of all age groups. The plenty of rest stops along the trails and the warm hospitality of the locals is what makes this trek attainable.
So, add it to your bucket list and plan for this adventure. If you already have it in mind, the best season is during the Spring (March, April, and May) and Autumn (September, October, and November).
From various landscapes, lush greenery, waterfalls, mountain ridges, and many more, you will see it all through the trails.
The Mardi Himal Trek: An Overview
- Experience the mesmerizing views of Annapurna massifs, Macchapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and Huichuli Mountains.
- Trek through the dense forests of rhododendrons, junipers, oak, magnolias, orchids, and many more.
- Varied landscapes include terraced fields, mountain ridges, local villages, etc.
- Experience the local culture and traditions of the ethnic communities.
- Encounter various wildlife such as Himalayan Monal, snow leopards, langur monkeys, pheasants, warblers, and magpies, to name a few.
- Explore the starting point of the trek, Pokhara.
Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary
Starting and ending the trek from the city of lakes, Pokhara, the total trekking distance of the Mardi Himal trek is 40 kilometers / 25 miles. In total, this journey will take you around 4 to 5 days, which can be extended as per one’s preference.
To reach this trekking gateway, you will need to reach Pokhara. Well, you can go there via bus or a flight. The flight is more expensive than the bus travel, but you can reach it in just 30 minutes. However, it will take you around 4 to 5 hours through a bus.
Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to Kande, Trek to Deurali (2,100 meters)
As you are in Pokhara, you will initially need to take a bus ride to reach Kande. This ride will take around 30 to 45 minutes and will take you through a small road. As you are in Kande, you will start trekking through the stairs that will lead to the Dhampus village, which is over 500 meters.
With a more dusty trail and climbing several stone steps, you will reach Deurali. As you pass this stop, you will trek through the dense rhododendron forest and lush green forests of oak and juniper.
Day 2: Trek from Deurali to Forest Camp, aka Low Camp (2,600 meters)
From this point onward, the trekking trails take you uphill through the lush forests. This journey will take you around 4 to 5 hours to cover 9 kilometers (5.6 miles). Initially, these steep climbs walk through a forest of birch followed by rhododendrons, oak, orchids, maple, hemlock, and daphnia. Likewise, the forest floors are carpeted with liches, mosses, and ferns. Sounds beautiful, right?
Well, it is not the end, as right after your entry, you can smell a refreshing scent. Additionally, if you are lucky enough, you will get to see wild animals such as langur monkeys and various species of deer.
This wilderness journey ends here for the day, and you will spend the night surrounded by forests from all sides. Right here, you will get one of the most captivating scenery of Mount Machhapuchhre, Annapurna massifs, and Mardi Himal.
Day 3: Trek from Low Camp to High Camp (3,550 meters)
Moving on from Low Camp, you will see several domestic animals, such as yak, sheep, and goats grazing on the farm. Now, leaving far from this section, you will trek to one of the highest points of the trail.
Before reaching the High Camp, you will walk through steep heights to reach the Middle Camp. On the way to the Middle Camp, you will come across Badal Danda (aka clouded forest), which takes 3 to 4 hours from the Low Camp.
After this breathtaking view from the Badal Danda, especially the sunrise and sunset views, you will hike more upward. For another 2 to 3 hours, you will trek along the mountain ridge to finally reach the High Camp.
Day 4: Reach Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500 meters) And Trek Down To Sidhing Village (1,700 meters)
Compared to other days of hiking, it takes extra hours to reach the Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500 meters). Well, you will ascend the hill to the base camp and then return back to the Sidhing Village on the same day.
As you reach this height, you will be surrounded by mountains on all sides and some isolated rhododendron bushes. Furthermore, you will also get a chance to see the national bird of Nepal, the Himalayan Monal (Danphe in Nepali).
Now, you are at the Mardi Himal Base Camp; you will get to see the mountains as mentioned below.
- Mardi Himal (5,587 meters)
- Annapurna I (8,091 meters)
- Annapurna South (7,219 meters)
- Hiunchuli (6,441 meters)
- Baraha Shikhar
- Tent Peak (5,695 meters)
- Singhachuli (6,501 meters)
- Machapuchhre (6,993 meters)
Day 5: Sidhing Village (1,700 meters) To Pokhara
Along the few villages that you will encounter during this trail, the Sidhing Village is one of those. During the route to descend, you will take the route from the Upper Mardi Khola. As you enter the Sidhing Village through the bank of the river, you will see multiple terraced farms, agricultural areas, and suspension bridges.
Well, Sidhing Villages is one of the most beautiful traditional villages that will get you a close-up view of the daily lifestyle and culture of the ethnic communities. Lastly, your journey will come to an end after you reach Pokhara.
Mardi Himal Trek Details
- Trekking Region: Annapurna
- Trekking Distance: 40 kilometers / 25 miles
- Starting And Ending Point: Phedi
- Required Permits: TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit)
- Maximum Altitude: 4,500 meters at Mardi Himal Base Camp
- Total Ascend: 3,274 meters
- Trekking Duration: 5 to 6 hours per day
- Trekking Nature: Lodges and teahouses
- Trekking Difficulty: Moderately Easy
- Best Seasons: Spring (March, April, and May) and Autumn (September, October, and November)
Packing List For Mardi Himal Trek
Documents
- Passport
- Permit cards
- Travel Insurance
- Passport size photos
- Credit card
- Cash (in Nepali rupees)
Clothing
- Waterproof down jacket
- T-shirts with underlayer
- Inner thermals
- Trekking pants (waterproof)
- Trousers
- Lightweight and breathable trekking socks
- Gloves
- Sun hat
- Slippers
- Lightweight trekking boots
- Inner garments
Other Accessories
- Sleeping bag
- Rain cover
- Adjustable and shock-absorbent trekking poles
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Personal medication (if any)
- Adapters and power cables
- Camera
- Lip balm
- Toiletries (pads, wet wipes, sanitizer, and towel)
- Torchlight with extra batteries
Treks To Combine With Mardi Himal
Mardi Himal Trek can be enjoyed both singly and with other treks. Yes, it allows you to extend or cut your trip short whenever you desire freely. With that in mind, some of the popular treks that you can add to the Mardi Himal trek are as mentioned below.
- Mardi Himal And Annapurna Base Camp Trek (14 Days)
- Mardi Himal Trek Via Ghorepani Poon Hiil (12 Days)
- Mardi Himal And Khopra Ridge Trek (12 Days)
- Mardi Himal And Ghandruk Trek (9 Days)
In A Nutshell
The Mardi Himal trek is one of the shortest yet most rewarding treks, perfect for an intimate experience away from the crowd. Whether be it for trekkers, nature enthusiasts, or bird watchers, the Mardi Himal is an experience that everyone should enjoy and should surely be on your next trip list.
Source website: https://abovethehimalaya.com/mardi-himal-trek.html
