Mardi Himal Trek

Mardi Himal Trek Overview

Mardi Himal Trek, A, short trek that lies in the Annapurna section of Nepal. It’s good for beginners and for those who love less crowded trails. This trek provides stunning views of Mardi Himal, Machhapuchhre (fishtail), Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

This trek starts from Kande near Pokhara.The path leads through forests, fields, and several traditional villages. It is an easy route and this hiking trail is not so busy as other Other trails. The journey is breathtaking especially in spring because most of the area is full of rhododendron forests..

Mardi Himal is an easy to moderately difficult trek for trekkers. On average it takes around 5 – 7 days to finish the trek. Expected walking time per day is between 4 – 7 hours. Shelter in simple teahouses.

The best seasons for Mardi Himal Trek are from October to December and March to May. During these seasons, the climate is good, and a great view in these months as well. Other option includes winter if you love snow but do expect low temperatures and cold.

Mardi Himal Trek combines nature and culture attractions since it passes through several culturally rich tribes. The people you will interact with are friendly and most of them are the Gurungs and Magars. Their accomodation makes the trip even more special.

For those who seek an easy and calm trek but want to get the views of the mountains at the same time, Mardi Himal Trek is a good choice for people who want a short and peaceful journey with beautiful scenes. A less crowded, but equally satisfying, alternative to other treks in the Annapurna area.

It’s perfect for nature enthusiast and adventure traveler who are looking for some unforgettable trekking in Nepal.

Difficulty of Mardi Himal Trek

The difficulty level of trekking for Mardi Himal is moderate making it perfect for beginners.The hiking trail  has incline and decline and terrain slightly elevated. It’s 5 – 7 hours of walking daily. Mardi Himal trek can be completed in nine days and has a maximum altitude of 4,500 meters of Mardi Himal Base Camp. For some trekkers, altitude sickness can be problem.

The trail goes through the hills, forests, and rocky terrains. It does not include technical climbing. Simple conditioning, cardio and preparation should be enough. Mardi Himal Trek can be influenced by the weather. During winter, some of paths might be covered with snow and icy. Rain during monsoon leads to the mud formation on the trails.

The accommodation is basic and provides everything necessary, water bottle and warm clothing should be considered by oneself. In conclusion, it is not very difficult trek but people need to have energy and health to perform this trek. This is one of the less challenging treks in the Nepal with full of amazing views.

Mardi Himal Trek Altitude 

Mardi Himal Trek can take you to up to an altitude of 4500 meters on Mardi Himal base camp. The trekking begins from the height of 800-1000 meters near the city of Pokhara and gradually rises. These consists of Low Camp at 2,970 meters, High Camp at 3,580 meters and the Base Camp. Gradual ascent is maintained thereby minimizing the risk of high-altitude illness.

Acclimatization is significant as you rise even higher in the trail. Use a drinking water bottle, take short breaks, keep walking at a steady pace. Trekking done at this altitude offers a beautiful sightseeing of Mardi Himal, Machhapuchhre and Annapurna mountains. The higher you go; the more glamorous and delightful the views of the environment turn to be!

Mardi Himal Trek Cost

The price of the Mardi Himal Trek varies with the duration and services being offered. But we arrange the mardi Himal trek at USD 750 per person. These includes permit fees, guide and porter fees, teahouses and meals. Snack, water, and a tip for the porters should be considered by oneself.

Mardi Himal Trek Cost Cor Indian

Mardi Himal Trek costs is low depending on the raw material and service quality, for Indian tourists ranging between INR 25000 and INR 50000. These includes permits, accommodation in teahouses, meals, guide or porter fees. However, it is worth to notice that the expenses can be decreased even more, when traveling in groups.

The trekking service costs less but you are on your own when it comes to means of transport and accommodation. We learn that probable costs such as snacks, water and tips should be included in the budget. It may be cheaper or expensive depending on the time and the type of service you want. When prepared well, trekkers from India do not have to spend much to have a great time at the Mardi Himal Trek.

Altitude Sickness 

Altitude sickness is an inevitable side effect of high-altitude trekking, especially during the Mardi Himal Trek. It occurs during a rapid ascent as well as before your body has sufficient adaptation to the altitude.

The highest point of the Mardi Himal is 4,500 m. The higher up you go, the more chances one has of altitude sickness. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. Altitude sickness can be prevented by slow walking, avoiding alcohol and proper hydration and, allow time for acclimatization. Take more time especially at lower part of the trek to allow the body fully acclimatize before going higher.

It may be necessary for your body to change in various ways so that you should drink a lot of water to avoid alcohol, and consume healthy meals. If the symptoms of high-altitude sickness become more severe, one must go descend immediately.

One way of minimizing the risk that the Mardi Himal Trek has is through the gradual ascent of the trek. However, it is necessary to remember that, listen to our body and have a rest in case if it is necessary. Local porters and guides well informed and can assist if there’s an altitude sickness to make the trek safe.

Food During Mardi Himal Trek

About food on the Mardi Himal Trek, it is basic but very satisfying. En route, the teahouses offer different meals to the travelers. Expect usual Nepali and international cuisines. For breakfast you can order porridge, toasts, eggs and pancakes. You can also have hot drinks like tea, lemon tea or coffee.

For lunch and dinner there serves typical Nepali dish called dal bhat which is rice served with lentils, momos, noodle dishes, fried rice. The most popular foods, such as pasta, pizza, and sandwiches, as foreign cuisine are also present.

As the altitude increases the type of food may reduce, but the staple meals would always be possible. The food is made to fresh and the portions are generous. On the whole, food during the Mardi Himal Trek is yummy and fulfilling which provides energy throughout the day. The simple and nutritious meal keeps you fueled throughout the day

Accommodation in Mardi Himal Trek

In the Mardi Himal Trek, most nightstays are kept in the available teahouses along the trail. Here you can find simple rooms that contain a bed and a blanket to make a client comfortably spend a night. The rooms are also small but they can comfortably let you have goodnight’s sleep. 

Teahouses also provide meals like dal bhat, noodles and momos and other meals are also available. Things become scarce as you ascend and the variety may be limited, but you never run out of things to eat. In terms of facilities, and the bathrooms are mostly shared. Even though the accommodation is incredibly basic the teahouses are a fantastic way to meet other trekkers and like-minded people with a place to rest. 

A Typical Day in Mardi Himal Trek

The Mardi Himal trek doesn’t require any technical skills, but while planning the normal day’s trek begins with light breakfast. After taking meals, your actual journey starts through forests, villages, and through various terraced fields. The trail becomes gradually steeper, it’s full of wonderful views of the mountains and the landscapes around.

Around noon you take a rest and consider to eat at a teahouse. They are basic meals, power-packed meals, which are commonly Dal Bhat, Noodles or fried rice. In the afternoon, the trekking goes on but the elevation starts to steepen up after lunch. There is a possibility you go through the rhododendron forests, ridge, rough and rocks terrains.

In the evening most trekkers arrive at their day’s destination, which can be a teahouse. It offers you a place somewhere to rest and have a cup of tea and watch the mountains. The trekkers can also chat often after dinner mostly regarding the trek with fellow trekkers. The night is very calm and one can be relaxed to sleep at night knowing that the next morning you are going to continue with the journey.

The whole day, there is thrill from landscape, fresh air and friendliness of teahouses as you witness the changes that come with the day.

Permits for Mardi Himal Trek

To trek in the Mardi Himal region of Nepal, you need two permits: 

• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): Costs NPR 3,000 for foreigners and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals. You can apply for this permit at the Nepal Tourism Board office or through a registered trekking agency. You’ll need to provide: 
  1. A photocopy of your passport 
  2. Two passport-sized photos 
• Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card: Costs NPR 2,000 for foreigners and NPR 400 for Indian nationals. 

You can obtain both permits in Pokhara or Kathmandu from your trekking agent. You may need to show your permits at checkpoints along the trails.  

Travel Insurance

There are many instances that require travelers to take travel insurance when going for the Mardi Himal Trek. It shields you from further costs in the event of an accident, and diseases or any type of medical complications. The trekking takes you to 4500m up, so insurance must include high altitude trekking.

Ensure that your insurance covers some of the emergent evacuation like by a helicopter. It is required if you need a rescue for altitude sickness or if injured in sketchy areas. It should also comprise medical costs, cancellation of trips, and delay costs.

When choosing the policy to buy, do remember to look at the small details and confirm if the policy is valid in Nepal or not. Many companies offer insurance for trekking which is perfect for this tour. You should have a copy of your insurance policy when on the trek. You should probably share all these details with your guide or the agency you are trekking with for security reasons.

Travel insurance relieves you of any stress and makes a trek stress free. Its small portion of cost assuring your safety and security at all times. This means that one must always go to the best provider to get full coverage.

 Mardi Himal Trek Best Season

The best time to do the Mardi himal Trek is during months of march to may and September to November. These months have no rainfall, the weather is stable, and the mountains are visible. In spring, the trail is also full of Rhododendrons giving it a beautiful array of flowers. The climate is mild, with excellent vistas of the Annapurna mountains.

Autumn also well suits for the Mardi Himal Trek. The sky is clear after monsoon and the views to Mardi Himal, Machhapuchhre and other high peaks are fantastic. The weather is not very hot and it’s not very cold either, perfect for trekking.The rainy season stretches from June to September while the cold season, which is also ideal to visit, is December to February though it’s very cold especially at higher regions. It may have parts with snow, which make trail a little harder.

Tourism is least during monsoon (June to August) as it hampers mobility, visibility is low, and many trails are slippery. But it is less crowded with less hikers and trekkers when compared to the beginning of the month. The Mardi Himal trek should be done in Spring or Autumn because the time is right and the views of the landscape are wonderful.

Drinking Water

Drinking water is available at many places while on the Mardi Himal Trek, however, one will have to be careful. A number of shops and teahouses along the trekking route sell the mineral water, the price rises as you ascend. To avoid high costs and environmental pollution though the use of plastics, trekkers mostly carry their bottles and use other methods.

It is easy to fill your bottle from taps, streams or even teahouses. But the water is not suitable for drinking directly. The water must always be treated with water purification tablets, filtered or treated with UV sterilizer. For the entire trek, it is recommended that the trekkers drink a lot of water to avoid altitude sickness.

Mardi Himal Trek Review

The Mardi Himal Trek is referred to as a hidden gem of the Annapurna region by many, and provides peaceful, less trafficked trails compared to well-known routes such as the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Trekkers are captivated by the stunning close-up views of Mardi Himal, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and the Annapurna massif. The trek’s diversity stands out, with trails starting in lush rhododendron forests and transitioning to alpine terrain. Spring brings colorful blooming flowers, while autumn offers clear skies for breathtaking views.