Introduction

Have you ever thought about vacationing for a week in the Himalayas? If your answer is yes, The Mardi Himal Trek is the best option for you without any doubt. Mardi Himal Trek is a hidden treasure located in Annapurna Region. The Trek is famous for the view it offers of the great mountains, Mount Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and Manaslu besides its majestic field of vision.

The trek is one of the best treks in the Annapurna Region which was hidden before certain times. It is a newly opened route with a splendid opportunity to trek to the unbeaten track and experience the view of the majestic mountains from the lap of Mardi Himal. 

During the trek, you will reach the base camp of the Mardi Himal situated between the great Machhapuchhre, the fishtail mountain, and the giant Mardi Himal (5587m) itself. The newly opened route of the Mardi won't have many crowds, which makes it easier for the trekkers to enjoy the majestic view, and get to hotels easily. The pathway of the Mardi Himal Trek offers authentic teahouses, along with stunning rhododendron forests in the backdrop with the most imposing view of the mountains of Annapurna Range. What better than being away from all the city noises, along the trail with the view of the mountain up close? 

In the Mardi Trek, you will find yourself enjoying the unfolding of lush valleys, alpine meadows, lichen-laden dense forests, and numerous streams. You will also enjoy the waterfalls through the trails, adding beauty to nature.  With the fascinating mountain sceneries glossy upon the close horizon, the place gives you a feel similar to being in heaven on Earth. Any enthusiastic trekker would take the trail to the base camp of Mardi Himal as a discovery expedition when provided the opportunity.

Besides nature, the next thing you will love during the Mardi Himal Trek is the kind behavior of the locals in the region. They make us feel at home giving us love and gratitude. This must be the beauty of Nepal that attracts thousands of people every year. You will enjoy authentic local food during the trek that satisfies your stomach. The unique culture of the Gurung People with their eagerness to please gives warmth to our hearts.

The trails in the Mardi Base Camp are much easier. You will easily reach Pothana by walking your normal walk. The trek up to Ghandruk has also been marked as a safe and easier walk but after reaching Landruk the trail gets sloppy and uphill which takes a little bit longer. On the trek, the trees are marked with white and blue colored paint so that trekkers don't get lost. After reaching the low base camp of the trek, the road is treacherous. You have to be careful climbing up to the high camp and the upper viewpoint. The most important thing that you must not forget on the trek is your favorite chocolate. Chocolates are a high-energy booster during the trek. 

Why Mardi Himal Trek?

The Annapurna region facilitates treks to multiple areas providing a unique experience for all. You should choose the Mardi Himal Trek because:

1. Short and Easy Trek
   The Trek to Mardi Himal is short and adventurous. It completes within 12 days but the long walking trek is just four or five days. This gives you a pleasurable experience of the Himalayas and Trekking.
    
2. Newly Opened Trek 
   Mardi Himal is a newly opened trek, which won’t have a crowd hindering you from enjoying the trek as per your plans. This will let you spend more time in the lap of the mountain.
    
3. Affordable Trek
   Mardi Himal Trek is an affordable trek considering the prices and costs in comparison to other hikes in the Annapurna Region. 
    
4. Amazing Elevation Gain
   Within a short period, you will reach an altitude of more than 4500m which is much higher than the usual elevation. Despite the high altitude, you won't have a difficult time due to the sudden change in the elevation.
    
5. Beautiful View
   It offers the view of Mt Annapurna South, Himchuli, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and the giant panoramic view of Mardi. The Machhapuchhre, fishtail mountain is a major attraction.

How to Reach the Mardi Trailhead?

You will have multiple options to reach the Mardi Trailhead. Some of them can be summarized below:

• Siding
  To reach one of the trailheads of Mardi Trek, Siding, you have to take a jeep from Pokhara. The price for the jeep ranges from Rs 700-800. You can negotiate with the price as the price differs due to the season you are traveling, vegetation, and the number of people you are traveling with.
   
• Landruk
  Few buses and jeeps are available to reach Landruk from Pokhara but this is not during the Monsoon. The road conditions to the Landruk are not the best. The cost for the jeep starts from Rs 1000 and for buses, it starts from Rs 500-600.
   
• Kande
  The cheapest and most easily available bus to reach Kande is found in Pokhara. The cost varies from Rs 200-300 taking 1 hour 30 minutes. The bus to Kande is openly available all day long.

Trekking Permits for Mardi

The Mardi Himal Trek falls under the Annapurna Sanctuary which requires an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and  TIMS which can be easily obtained from the Tourist Information Center In Pokhara.

The Office of Tourist Information Center is open all weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm. You can take the permit easily from Pokhara within a certain time than waiting for long hours in Kathmandu. This is mandatory for visitors outside Nepal, not for Nepalese. If you are a Nepali citizen you must bring travel insurance and your passport with you while getting the permit.

How Long Is Mardi Himal Trek?

Nepal Vision Trek offers you a 12 days trek to Mardi. The trek is the short one in the Annapurna region of Nepal where you will be staying in the teahouses, and lodges, tasting local foods admiring the excellent hills, and landscapes, and getting a miracle experience of the panoramic views of multiple mountains.
 

During the twelve days of your trek, only the 5-6 days will be for the trekking. The trek has comparatively shorter walks than other treks. You won’t be walking more than 3-4 hours on an average day during the Mardi Himal Trek.

Why not Trek Mardi in Winter?

The best time to trek to the mountains of Nepal is during its Spring and Autumn seasons. The most favorable time is from September to November, and then from March to May is the most preferred time. During this time, you can enjoy the beautiful view of the mountains with the weather making your trek easier.

During these seasons, there is a crowd in the Himalayas. If you decide to trek at the beginning of March and the end of November, you may have to face snow on the path and the weather may also not favor you. You should make a wise decision when choosing the time because the mountains are much more crowded at the time of mid-October and Mid May which may affect your smooth trek.
 

The Spring from March to May and Autumn from September to November is the most visited season in the Himalayas in Nepal. But besides these times in Winter and Summer, trekking is not recommended due to weather conditions, making your trek difficult. Also, the road condition worsens due to the weather, rain, and snow which makes the trek risky.

Is Mardi Himal Trek Expensive?

Mardi Himal Trek costs about USD 1045 per person with Nepal Vision Treks. The price includes the permit costs, sightseeing and trekking costs, and breakfast in Kathmandu and Pokhara. It also includes all the meals during the trek. You will be taken to the trailheads either in a private vehicle or a reserved jeep. A Tourist Bus will be managed for the long trip. You will have a very beautiful and satisfying stay.

Some Money-Saving Tips

• With the increase in altitude, the cost of food also increases. It is better to take some snacks with you.
• The main problem during the trek may be caused due to unavailability of pure drinking water. Hence, bringing a water purifier will ease your problem with drinking water.
• Negotiate with the price, the price is marked much in most places. Hence, you can try speaking out and negotiating the price of the accommodation.

 Everything About the Mardi Himal Trek

Mardi Himal Trek: Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival day in Kathmandu 

The First Day of the trek starts with arrival at Kathmandu(1300m). You will have no other activity on this day.

Day 02: The second day of the preparation for the trek. You will also be sightseeing the places in the Kathmandu valley. You will be hiking shortly in the places of Kathmandu and take the day off for further preparation.

Day 03: After the 5-6 hours drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu, you will reach your destination for the third day. You will be taken by a tourist bus. There is no doubt you will have a comfortable and safe ride. You can spend further time roaming in the beautiful place, Pokhara. 

Day 04: The actual trek begins on the fourth day when you will be driven to Phedi. The drive will be of 30 minutes maximum. After the drive, you will then start your trek. The trek to Deurali begins from Phedi, which takes around 4 to 5 hours.

Day 05: After the stay in Deurali, now you will walk away to the forest camp. You will be walking for more than 7 hours to reach the destination at the altitude of 2520m. This is the average destination during the trek.

Day 06: The third long walk in the journey is from the forest camp to the low camp of Mardi Himal. You will be walking up to the low camp at the altitude of 2970m for about 5-6 hours. The day ends at low camp.

Day 07: You will walk about four hours to reach the high camp from the low. The majestic view offered from the high camp beats all the difficulties you might face on the trails. The short hike and the stay at 3540m are planned for the day.

Day 08: The most important day in the trek is the eighth day. On this day you will be trekking for 2-3 hours to the Upper Viewpoint at 4250m from the high cap at 3540m. This will be a high rise in elevation in your trek. You will enjoy the majestic view of the mountain from this point. The best point in the trek is where you feel like you are above the clouds and inside the Himalayas. Isn't this a place beautiful like heaven?

Day 09: The remaining days are for getting down the trails. You will come down from High Camp to Siding Village walking for 6-7 hours. The Siding village is at a low point of 1700m.

Day 10: The last day to trek. You will trek for about 3 hours from Siding to reach Lumre. Taking a 2 hours drive in a jeep or a private vehicle, you will reach Pokhara.

Day 11: This is the last day in Pokhara. You will drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu similarly as you came to Pokhara. 

Day 12: Your trek finally ends on the 12th day. The day is the departure day. You will be from Kathmandu. The beautiful journey to the Mardi Himal comes to an end after you enjoy your days in the lap of nature.

Viewpoints in Mardi Himal Trek

• Pothana 
  The first destination to enjoy the view of the Mardi Himal is Pothana. Pothana is at the base of the hill which is surrounded by mountains on all sides. 
   
• Landruk
  Landruk is marked as the starting point for the actual trekking point for the Mardi Himal Trek. Some of the trekkers choose to take a jeep up to Ghandruk but some prefer walking.
   
• Deurali / Rest Camp
  Deurali is the resting point for the Mardi Trek where lots of lodges and tea houses are available. Deurali offers a very wide and clear view of mountains.
   
• Low Camp/Badal Dada
  The Low Camp is the camp at the low point where you will find lots of places for your stay. You will have multiple choices for your stay there. A few meters away from Low Camp is Badal Dada (3250m) which is also a famous place for the viewpoint. You can choose a place among these two. Most of the trekkers recommend Badal Dada.
   
• High Camp and Upper View Point
  High Camp is the upper point in the trek. The place gives a spectacular view of the mountain from a very nearer point. You will also trek to Upper View Point from High Camp which is the highest point in the trek, where you can enjoy the best view of the mountain so far.

Food and Accommodation

One of the most important things in the journey is Food. You usually get similar kinds of food on the trek. Nepalese, Indian, and Chinese cuisine is mostly available. Local Dhal Bhat is the most famous food on the trails. You must intake the food keeping you warm and energetic. The warm water, soup, or a heavy meal of rice and vegetables with dal is highly recommended. You won't complain about the food you get after the lot of money you will pay.

Like any other route, the accommodation in the Mardi Himal Trek is not expensive. The price for the accommodation for the trek is much negotiable. As it is the newly open route and less traveled route, multiple lodges and teahouses are available offering you some discounts. 

How Difficult Is Mardi Himal Trek?

Mardi Himal Trek is rated as one of the easiest treks. This is due to the short distance you will need to travel to reach your destination. Also, the trail to the Mardi Himal doesn’t take you on a difficult path. If you are a beginner at treks, you might find the trails difficult but for those who are familiar, it is one of the easiest. You may have to walk for 5-6 hours a day which is also comparatively less than the Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp. The Mardi Himal Trek is one of the treks that is marked safe and easy.

Do I Need a Guide for Mardi Himal Trek?

If you are a beginner trekker, you might need a guide. The higher altitude, trekking paths, searching for accommodation, and choosing a place for flooding might be a little difficult for a new person. For a person who is not new to trekking, multiple sign boards are showing the trekking trails, the number of guest houses at different locations, and helpers throughout the journey.

The Mardi Trek is an easier one, which can be completed without a guide. If you want to trek with a group or single, you will have options as per your choice. Taking a guide and a porter might help you to get to the destination easier.

If you are climbing alone, or without any guide, you won't get lost there. The trees on the trail to Mardi Base Camp are marked with blue and white color so that trekkers don't get lost or know the direction they are going is correct. You can also seek help from the very helpful locals.

Things Not To Forget For Mardi Himal Trek

There are certain things you must take and some essential things that might help you during the trek. The list of the products is as:

1. Backpack
2. Trekking Shoes and Pants
3. Sunglasses, Caps, and Socks
4. Trekking Poles
5. Raincoats and Sleeping Bags
6. Snacks and Chocolates for the trek 

You will also need to consider the documents you will be taking. You must take the needed documents on the trek that may be required at the checkpoints. The needed documents are: 

1. Your Identity Card or Passport
2. Medical Report
3. Insurance documents
4. Permit papers

Mardi Himal Trek Review

 Mardi Himal Trek is a short and adventurous trek that is highly recommended for a beginner. The trek is newly opened so it is recommended to take a guide with you. Recently, Mardi Himal Trek has been very famous on social media which has dragged a large group of people. The more people, the more pollution. The Mardi Himal area has been much more polluted than in the past, with the garbage from the trekkers, the cow, buffalo, and horse dung also added to the pollution. Besides, the trek is a beautiful journey to ascend.  Don't miss the opportunity to miss the Mardi Himal Trek with Nepal Vision Treks.