TRIP OVERVIEW:
Trip Duration: 4 nights, 5 days
Max Altitude: 4500 m
Start: Pokhara
End: Pokhara
Difficulty: Moderate
Transport: Private Vehicle and local bus
Accommodation: Tea Houses
Group Size: For individuals, friends, and family members. All our treks are private.
Meals: All included
Best seasons: September to December and March to May
MARDI HIMAL SHORT TREK HIGHLIGHTS
The Mardi Himal Trek is a great choice for beginners and moderate trekkers, as well as families with children. The region boasts stunning views of the Annapurna, Mardi, and Machhapuchhre Himalayas throughout the trail. In addition to the breathtaking scenery, you’ll encounter lush green forests, authentic traditional villages, a variety of Himalayan birds and wildlife, the traditional huts of yak herders, distant views of the horizon, and friendly local people. The trek passes through interesting villages, offering you a chance to experience how people live in remote areas of Nepal. You’ll also get to witness the actual trails that the Himalayan people use in their daily lives.
What makes the Mardi Himal Trek a great choice?
- It allows for a quick ascent to high altitudes.
- You can experience wilderness and primitive natural surroundings.
- The trek is full of nature and boasts stunning scenery.
ITINERARY:
DAY 1: POKHARA TO PITAM DEURALI (2,232 m/4.5 hrs)
Our trekking guide will pick you up from your hotel in the morning, and we’ll drive for about 40 minutes to Kande, where we’ll start our trek. The trail ascends through the rhododendron forest to the ridge-top village of Australian Camp, which offers panoramic views of the Annapurna range and Pokhara Valley. From there, we’ll continue through the forest to reach Pitam Deurali, a mountain pass with stunning views of the Modi Khola Valley, Annapurna South, and Mardi Himal.
DAY 2: PITAM DEURALI TO FOREST CAMP (2,600 m/5–6 hrs)
We’ll start the day with a beautiful morning in Pitam Deurali before leaving the main Annapurna trekking trail and following a forested ridge to Forest Camp, passing by Dudh Karka. The trail climbs gradually through a rhododendron forest, and there are a few tea houses and rooms available.
DAY 3: FOREST CAMP TO HIGH CAMP (3550 m/6 hours)
After a pleasant breakfast at Forest Camp, you will head out through aromatic rhododendron forests. 3 hours of trekking will lead you to Low Camp. Following the trails from Low Camp, you will reach “Badal Dada’. You will reach High Camp (3900 meters) after trekking for 6-7 hours from Forest Camp.
DAY 4:HIKE TO VIEWPOINT & TREK DOWN BADAL DANDA ( 4500 m, 3210 m, 6–7 hrs)
The final phase of the Mardi Himal trek commences with an early morning wake-up call. We embark on a journey to the Mardi Himal Base Camp in the wee hours to witness the breathtaking sunrise. The ascent to the viewpoint takes approximately two hours, and it is not without its challenges. The trail consists of rocky terrain that can be slippery, and you must navigate narrow paths along the rocky ridges of the mountain. As you venture beyond 4000 meters in elevation, you will feel a noticeable change in altitude. However, upon reaching the base camp, you will be rewarded with a heavenly ambiance unlike any other. The base camp offers a mesmerizing panorama of Annapurna’s majestic peaks. Many consider this spot to offer one of their most unforgettable views during sunrise. After spending some time at the base camp, we descend towards Badal Danda for our accommodation.
DAY 5: Badal Danda-Siding-Pokhara – Siding- Pokhara( 830m, Pokhara 5 hours walk, 2 hours drive )
Today marks the commencement of our descent from the Mardi Himal trek. We will retrace our steps on the same path we took during our ascent. The journey is relatively straightforward, as we gradually make our way down until we reach Badal Danda. From there, our trail veers off towards Sidhing, guiding us through dense jungles nestled at the foothills of Mt.Machhapuchhre. The descent becomes steeper and more challenging, with a trail that proves to be quite slippery. After approximately five hours of hiking, we finally arrived in Sidhing and proceeded to board a jeep that would transport us back to Pokhara.
We want to clarify that the above itinerary may seem challenging and involve long hours of walking, but it is not as difficult as it appears. There will be breaks and resting points along the way, allowing you to take a break and rejuvenate. It is a manageable and enjoyable walk with beautiful scenery.
Overall, the Mardi Himal Short Cut Trek is a great option for those who want to experience the beauty of the Himalayas in a relatively short amount of time. With stunning landscapes, traditional villages, and beautiful trekking trails, this trek is sure to be a memorable experience.
What’s included:
- Trekking permits
- Trekking guide
- Trekking poles
- Trekking map
- Food (meals include only the main course and tea or coffee) It doesn’t include starters or desserts.
- Private lodgings
- Hot shower
- Water purification tablets
- A first-aid kit or Medical kit
- Toilet paper
- Transportation (pick-up and drop-off services from your hotel)
What’s not included:
- No alcoholic beverages or soft drinks.
- A porter isn’t included. If you need a porter, we can provide one for an extra fee.
- Sleeping bag (we rent sleeping bags for an additional fee).
- Wifi
- Cell phone charging
- Hot drinking water
- Your Personal Expenses
- Personal Travel Insurance.
Personal supplies for the trek
The personal supplies you require for this trek depend on the season in which you are trekking.
Head
- Sun hat or scarf
- Winter hat
- Headlights with extra batteries
Face
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Face/body wipe
Hands
- Lightweight gloves
- Heavyweight winter gloves
Body
- Hiking shirts
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Hooded rain jacket or wind shell
- Fleece jacket
- Lightweight cotton pants
- T-shirt ( bring lightweight wool)
- Polypropylene Underwears
- Down jacket
- Waterproof jacket and pants
Footwear
- Hiking boots
- Thick & light socks (take an extra pair of thick and light socks)
- Sandals
Essential gear
- Backpack or day pack bag
- Thermal bottle
- Medium-size drying towel
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Face wash
- Body wash
Personal accessories
- Money
- Watch
- Cell phone
- Camera
- Power Adapters and Chargers
Extra supplies
- First aid kit (Note: The guide will carry a first-aid kit on the trip. However, personal kits and medications are highly recommended.)
- Lip Guard
- Notebook and pen.
- Mosquito Repellent spray
- Moleskin for blister