5 Days Mardi Himal Trek

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Improve Your Hotel in the cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara

As your dependable travel companion in Nepal, we the Everest Summit Treks team will do our best to enhance your comfort throughout the Mardi Himal Trek. Your standard accommodation during your time in Kathmandu and Pokhara during the trip will be in a three-star hotel. However, if you feel like adding a touch of luxury, and comfort to your stay, we present to you our accommodation upgrade options. By using this option, you can elevate your night stays in Kathmandu at top four-star rated hotels such as Hotel Ramada, Hotel Shankar, or Hotel Yatri Suites at only USD 95 for each night.

Similarly, in Pokhara, you may upgrade to a four-star hotel like Hotel Waterfront Resort for the same price, or choose a five-star option such as Hotel Temple Tree Resort or Hotel Barahi Pokhara for $150 for each night. All these hotels are renowned for their exceptional services and amenities, such as spas, private pools, garden areas, rooms with balconies, elegant designs, gyms, and parking facilities.

If you like to have an elegant stay, then please notify us in advance so we can finalize all the arrangements before you land in Kathmandu.

Improve your journey between Kathmandu to Pokhara ( private car, jeep, or flight)

Our Mardi Himal trek 5 days journey initiates with a lengthy bus ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara, which you will also repeat on your return journey. It is understandable that the journey along the uneven mountainous roads of Nepal can be somewhat tiring, especially as it takes place right after the day you arrive in Kathmandu and immediately you complete the long trek.

Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable for you to desire a more comfortable travel experience with opportunities for rest and the chance to take photographs at various locations. To facilitate this, we thus present to you a transport upgrade option. By using this option, you can travel by private car or jeep for either a one-way or round trip between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Additionally, if you wish to explore these stunning cities, you may opt for a short 30-minute flight between Kathmandu and Pokhara again available for either one-way or round-trip travel. Please note that these options come with an extra charge.

Trip Information
When should you go for the Mardi Himal trek?

The traditionally considered most favorable time for the 10 days Mardi Himal trekking journey is the October and November months of the Fall/Autumn season. At this time, it is not hot, the air is clean and moderately cool, and a kind of natural awakening comes after a long season of monsoon rains. The trails are open, and rains are very rare, and if they do, they are short-lived. The Himalayas can also be seen splendidly clearly at this time.

In general, it is very pleasant to travel at altitudes where altitude sickness does not affect you – it is warm at night. However, one drawback is there will be many people on the trail at this point in time so the meal and accommodation cost can be a bit high.

The second good time for the Mardi Himal Trek is from early March to late April. It is also quite warm at this time of year, with a whole bunch of different Nepalese flora blooms, the only thing is that visibility is not as wonderful as in autumn. But there are slightly fewer people at this time.

The third favorable time will be the winter time of December, January, and February because our Mardi Himal Trek is not a high-altitude trek with a maximum elevation of only 4500 m. However, you will still have to endure the cold nights so if you are not afraid of the cold at night in a sleeping bag, then a winter trip will be right for you.

There are very few people, prices will be relatively lower and the days are always brightly sunny with the admirable view of the mountains. The month of May and the first half of June are very hot with dust and winds. From mid-June to the end of September there are monsoon rains, streams flow in the mountains instead of roads, mudflows and river rises are not uncommon.

In general, a hike at this time will give you a lot of unplanned interesting, and sometimes extreme moments.

How tough is the 5 days Mardi Himal trekking journey?

The Mardi Himal trek 5 days journey is a moderately tough adventure that falls between the grades of one and two. Your maximum elevation will be the impressive 4500 m height of the base camp of Mardi Peak. Each day, you will be progressively increasing the elevation of your overnight lodgings.

Thus, overall, the entire trip is not too demanding both mentally and physically which makes it great for new trekkers looking to taste some adventure in the mountains of Nepal. In addition, the trail is also easy taking place along the stone paths most of the time. Most of the days, you will involved in 4 to 5 hours of walking except for the day when you will be climbing to the base camp of Mardi Himal. Plus, the facilities en route have also been developed according to the taste of the Western tourists. You will be staying in family-run lodges where you will get to know the locals and there is no need to endure cold nights under the tent.

Therefore, this is one of the simplest journeys where previous walking experience is not needed but will be advantageous if you have some.

Who can get in on our Mardi Himal trek 10 days Adventure?

If you are looking for a great and easy adventure amid the beautiful high Himalayas of Nepal, then the Mardi Himal trek is one for you. It doesn’t matter if you are just beginning your hiking adventure; if you are high-spirited, active, and enjoying perfectly good health, then you can get on our trip even if you are older adults or active young children.

Our 10 days Mardi Himal trekking travel program includes only 4 to 5 hours of walking each day and there is no need for any climbing or hiking experience or special gear either. All our stays will be in the good lodges of the beautiful villages we will encounter. Additionally, our travel program will take you very slowly and steadily to higher grounds so you will comfortably get accustomed to its thin air.

The big moment will come when you will reach the Mardi Himal Base Camp itself which is just 4500 m. The trail will be steeper and stony but with a little care, perfectly doable. And, instead of camping at the base camp, we will finish our trek by heading down to Low Camp. We will then take a completely varied route to avoid monotony on the trip and take the shortest route to Siding Village.

Besides, our expert guide will assist you in avoiding any tricky sections, and our porters will take care of your bags lightening your load in everyday walking. However, if you have heart, kidney, or lung problems, please talk to your doctor before going on this trip since high altitudes might aggravate these issues. Pregnant women should also do the same.

Threat of Acute Mountain Sickness/AMS in Mardi Himal Trek

AMS which is most commonly known as altitude sickness among trekkers is not common in our Mardi Himal trek but it is not impossible either. Our travel plan will help you adjust to the high altitude of the Mardi region slowly so you will have plenty of time to adapt to the high-altitude villages.

To keep maintaining a relaxed pace during walking, we have planned trekking of about only 4 to 5 hours most of the days, with just two days involving the long walk spanning 6 to 8 hours. Although the concern of AMS is low, newcomers especially may go through conditions like nausea, dizziness, appetite loss, fatigue, and headaches when they are above 3000 m. Even experienced trekkers can face these issues and we have often seen travelers who already undertook several journeys in Nepal suffering from AMS.

So we encourage all our travelers to stay alert for these conditions and let our guide know if you are feeling unwell. He may suggest you go down to the lower area or take paracetamol, aspirin, or Diamox based on how serious your symptoms are. To help treat and prevent the AMS, hydration is very important so drink as much boiled water as you can even if you are not feeling thirsty. You may also want to try garlic soup, masala tea, or Tibetan tea, along with hot lemon tea or honey lemon tea.

It will also be a good idea to cut back on meat and stick to a vegetarian diet, as eating meat can sometimes make altitude sickness worse.

Preparation and Training for Mardi Himal Trek

If you are into an active and healthy life, then our Mardi Himal tek will be a fantastic experience for you. However, if you are a sedentary person, you should think about starting training yourself at least a month before you head out for the journey.

Remember, although relatively lower, it still is the high Himalayan trek in the Annapurna region. Here, you will have to climb to heights above 3000 m along with tackling the trails running through the ascending and descending Nepali slopes through the forest. You should try to run at least 10 to 15 km each day maintaining your cardio rate in between 120 to 140 beats per minute. You should also do pull-ups that can help you build strength for carrying your backpack.

Squats on the other hand will help you with building your leg and core muscles. Likewise, rock climbing will also help improve your muscle endurance. For this trek, a weekly regimen of about 2 to 3 hours will be enough. And also, you can get on the treadmill in the gym which is perfect for getting used to all that walking. Other good exercises include walking, push-ups, swimming, and cycling which will all help you get in shape for the trek.

Alternate Approach to Mardi Himal trek

Mardi Himal trek gives you the flexibility to add various other wonderful trekking expeditions along the way. You can take the trek to the Annapurna Base Camp along with the Mardi Himal trek. First, you will travel up to the base camp of Mardi Peak, then you will walk down to Jhinu Danda to Deurali, and then head upwards towards the Annapurna Base Camp.

Alternatively, you can also consider adding the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek to your itinerary. First, you will travel up towards Poon Hill, then you will make your way down to Landruk village before joining the trail to Forest Camp. If you are pressed for time and also up for some adventure in the sky, then consider the Mardi Himal Base Camp helicopter tour, which takes just two hours and includes a 30-minute stop at the base camp.

However, if you are tired of the mountains, and want to see some wildlife and real forest, then you can also go on a safari tour to Chitwan National Park from Pokhara.

Accommodation and Dining Options

We are very passionate about making sure your every trip in Nepal that we organize is full of fun and comfort. Thus, we look after all your logistical details like where you will stay, where and what you will eat, and how you will get around so you can only concentrate on the fun part of the travel. On our Mardi Himal trek 5 days journey, we have pre-arranged a double occupancy room for you in a fine three-star hotel in the picturesque central location of the cities.

You will have breakfast every morning and you will have the chance to try out some local eateries of the cities for lunches and dinners on your own. As you walk through the stunning Annapurna villages, our guide will make sure you have a very comfortable and pleasant night stay in the fine lodges of the villages.

They may be very modest with only essentials to go for a night but their hospitality will truly be impeccable. In the villages, we offer you three main courses of dinner, breakfast, and lunch. There will be a large menu at the lodge for you and all the dishes are simple and easy to digest. The menu will be identical in all the tea houses on the trek and contains simple lunch and dinner dishes based on rice, noodles, spaghetti, macaroni, and potatoes as well as momos, spring rolls, pizza, curries, salads and as always the Nepalese classic Dal Bhat.

For breakfast, there are different simple variations of bread, pancakes, eggs, soup, porridge and muesli.

Transportation

Our transportation service during our 10 days Mardi Himal trekking journey has been designed with your comfort in mind. That’s why, one of our team members will personally receive you at TIA and drive you in private transport to your capital accommodation. You can expect the same exceptional service for your return trip from Kathmandu as well.

A spacious and air-conditioned tourist bus will ride you from Kathmandu to Pokhara and vice versa. A private jeep or car will then take you to Kande where your walking part begins. On your way back, a private car or jeep will transport you from Siding to Pokhara. Please also check out our transportation upgrade options for your enhanced travel experience.

Travel Insurance

For the Mardi Himal trek 5 days adventure, travel insurance is not just advisable but it is also an essential requirement for getting the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card and ACAP permit.

Travel insurance will also safeguard you from any unseen and unexpected risks that may arise during your travel journey. Medical conditions in the Annapurna region are not always guaranteed and your health can sometimes be affected by different environmental conditions.

Therefore, if you purchase travel insurance, you will be protected from expensive medical expenses when you have to take care of your health. Likewise, you will also be protected from loss or theft of your bags and gear which can happen when traveling anytime anywhere. Similarly, in the mountains, there can be any emergency such as an accident or natural disaster when travel insurance will protect you from unexpected expenses and provide financial support and emergency assistance to help you through the difficult situation.

Additionally, purchasing travel insurance also means you will have 24/7 support in case of emergency or problems during your trip. We request you to include the hiking activity in your policy to the altitude of 4500 m so the search and rescue by helicopter can be provided to you promptly.

Prerequisite Permits for the Mardi Himal Trek

For a successful Mardi Himal Trek, we will need to have the Annapurna Conservation Area Project ACAP) and Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) Card permits. We will look after all the necessary paperwork for you at either the Tourism Board Office or the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) office in Pokhara or Kathmandu.

The fees are quite reasonable with USD 30 for ACAP and USD 20 for TIMS per person included in our overall trip cost.