Can I extend my holiday after the Mardi Himal Trek?
Yes, you can. If you can spare some time, Nepal never runs out of activities to balance your trekking. They cover cultural tours, relaxation, and adventure, to suit your experience. Let your time relax and experience the diversified geography, rich history, and heart-throbbing activities of Nepal beyond Mardi Himal trek. Some of the following are as follows:
Airport pickup and drop from Trivbhuvan International Airport Kathmandu
HappyLand Treks offers free airport pickup and drop-off for a hassle-free Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal trek. Our representative welcomes you with your name sign at the time of arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. Our representative will help you to unload your baggage and transfer you to your hotel in a private vehicle. Our transfers are already arranged based on your flight schedule so that you don't waste your time unnecessarily or wait extra time.
At arrival time, we will brief you for trekking, i.e., checking of equipment and briefing on packing. It's an extra facility to be well-prepared for successful and fun trekking. After your trekking, we'll arrange on-schedule airport drop-off so that you enjoy returning home in comfort. We'll arrange the hassle and you just relax and enjoy the panoramic view of the Mardi Himal area.
Can I store my luggage/Suitcase in Kathmandu?
Booked your Annapurna Mardi Himal trek and not sure what to do with your unwanted luggage in Kathmandu? Don't worry! Your unwanted luggage can be stored either at the hotel or with us in the office. You can travel light and easy through rhododendron forests and climb up to the stunning vistas of Mardi Himal. Carrying light necessities works miracles, particularly during uphill climbs of steep hills in high-altitude treks.
The service is quite a hit among most of the trekking visitors because it makes them experience maximum joy out of the stunning landscapes without unwanted bulk. Your gear will be safe in Kathmandu once your Mardi Himal trek. We want your experience to be as trouble-free as possible with your trekking experience centered on the enjoyment of the stunning trails without worrying about the extra luggage.
Differences between solo trek, private trek, and group trek
Solo Trek
A solo trek is the best way to experience the mountains on your terms. Being a lone trekker with all its flexibility, hire a guide or a porter or both to assist, but still be independent. With an exclusive guide and porter all logistics will be taken care of by them, from navigation to baggage. A solo trek can become much more flexible as now one can walk at their pace. The standard 12-day itinerary can be extended by 14 days or more as per your interest.
Private Trek
Private treks are for people who want to do the trail with their close friends, relatives or colleagues. Such trek departure dates are “any day,” unlike scheduled group departure dates, and one can choose his departure dates. Also, private treks can be customized as per your preferred short and length days. If you want us to add or drop some stops en route, provide extra special accommodations or arrange a short side trip, we will be glad to make one for you.
Group Trek
It means Meeting other like-minded adventurers from around the world.
You will be part of a small group, usually between 2 and 10 people, who have booked onto the same itinerary with the same departure date. If you are traveling on your own or enjoy the social aspect of traveling with others this is definitely the type of adventure for you. You will make friends for life and create some amazing memories together.
Family Trek
A family trek, as the name suggests, is a trek that is organized for a family. It focuses on the needs of families and relatives traveling together. A family trek provides you with safe, caring and experienced guides who better understand/focus the requirements of your family or relation group. If any of the persons have problems with health, high altitude walk or get stuck somewhere, the Guides of Family Trek make sure they are comfortable and safe.
Drinking Water on the Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal Trek
While trekking in the Mardi Himal route, you must stay hydrated. Teahouses provide boiled or filtered water for minor cost, and it is safe to drink. However, we would advise you to still carry your own personal purification systems as you may need to refill from natural water sources such as streams and taps through the trail.
Water purification tablets in Pokhara or Kathmandu are easy to use, just add a tablet to a 1-liter water bottle and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. SteriPen can be purchased as well, using UV light technology, SteriPen kills viruses, protozoa and bacteria in a matter of seconds. Just dip into 1 liter water and keep stirring slowly until the indicator light turns green.
Remember, since this trail is pristine, it will be sad to contribute plastic waste; thus, we advise trekkers not to buy plastic mineral stain bottles en route and instead bring their own reusable bottles/thermos flasks with a filter.
What To Expect?
Mardi Himal trek is a hidden treasure of Annapurna country, in which you have the sole and virgin experience. Trekking brings you to walk along forest, alpine meadow, and secluded villages. You are gifted with Mardi Himal, Machapuchare, and Annapurna Himal views while trekking.
The landscape transforms with altitude gain, unfolding before you white summits and virgin valleys. The hike is moderately challenging and therefore appropriate for both novice and veteran trekkers. The remoteness and tranquility of Mardi Himal render the location a mecca for all the trekkers seeking an off-the-beaten-path trekking adventure in Nepal.
Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal: Is it safe for solo or female trekkers?
Trekking Mardi Himal is a safe option for solo and female trekkers because it's one of the commonly taken trails and ever-so-fancy. There isn't any trekking trail that's totally safe, though, and we strongly suggest hiring a local guide for utter safety and ease of travel. Trekking guides eliminate effective communication with locals, improved amenities, and rescue when necessary.
Single trekking can be guided safely by licensed and experienced local guides. Happland Treks has guided single trekkers, even single female trekkers, safely on various trails such as Annapurna, Everest, and Langtang regions. Our previous clients have enjoyed safe and comfortable single travel with our team and guides. Solo travel can be done but safer and more enjoyable if traveled with a guide. With proper care and attention, Mardi Himal Trek is a suitable option for single trekkers, even single female trekkers.
Typical Day on Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal
This trip begins by road journey from Pokhara to Kande and trekking there to Deurali. As much as the scenery on each day along the trail is different, the nature of each day remains constant.
Every morning starts at 7:00 am with breakfast, having ordered the night before to save time. We start our journey at 7:45 am and hike for 5-7 hours a day. We hike through forest, rhododendron slopes, and soft slopes. We have lunch and tea on the in-between day and take a break for a while to enjoy the picturesque beauty and relax ourselves.
We arrive at our destination and spend the night at a warm tea house. 7:00 pm dinner is a wholesome, comforting dinner after a guilty day of trekking. The rest of the day is your friendly banter with other trekkers, reading, or a stroll through the nearby village.
Accommodations on Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal
The Mardi Himal trek offers basic lodging facilities through dormitory rooms with either twin or triple occupancy. The accommodations include four beds placed inside one single room inside some of the lodges. Guests who need single accommodation must make a request in advance before receiving such availability. The guesthouses maintain a basic yet caring atmosphere.
Guestrooms have communal outside the room shower facilities located apart from the sleeping areas. Mardi Himal trek accommodation provides beds and blankets as essentials yet hot showers and WiFi access as well as battery charging come with additional payment costs. Guests seeking rest at the end of their trek can rely on lodges which offer basic sleep accommodations with safety standards along with cleanliness.
Due to its isolated position there is currently a lack of facilities yet the cozy accommodations deliver genuine mountain living conditions. Through traveling to high-altitude locations people experience living within these alpine regions while appreciating restful comfort and hospitality during their stay.
Training Preparation for Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal
There is no need for training in order to do the Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal trek, but some exercise would be helpful. Aspiring trekkers need to start walking or running a few weeks prior to the intended date of trekking. You can do the trek even if you are absolutely new to trekking or do not have any experience of trekking.
Basic exercise of fitness is not required because regular problems would be easily tackled by anyone, and they might successfully finish the trek. One planning a week or two off prior to the trek to go for a brief hiking trip will be beneficial. Gradual climbing and ascending will physiologically make your whole body fit. The trek does not need training, but you can make the most of your experience with training prior to it. People can do the trek without training, and they are not required to have professional training.
Altitude Sickness Precautions on Annapurna Trekking Mardi Himal
All trekkers who go to Mardi Himal have to deal with altitude sicknesses as the trekking trail goes up to 4,500 meters above sea level.
The ascent may cause noticeable symptoms that come with dizziness, headache, nausea and weakness in your body. Leading up to the last stage of the disease, it transforms into both High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE which require immediate medical intervention.
How to Minimize the Risk of Altitude Sickness
If you don't want altitude sickness, you should follow acclimatization rules. Even though the trek of Mardi Himal is a low-altitude trek, do take your time and let your body rest. You should follow the right hydration, no drinking, no smoking, no coffee rule. A balanced good food will have a steady supply of energy. If required, review it with your doctor in Diamox taking it as a preventive.
Maintaining a steady pace at a leisurely pace and remaining un-fatigued is the creed at all times. Awareness of symptoms of altitude sickness at all times, and with worsening of such symptoms, the last resort would be a move to lower altitudes. Oxygen in emergency and oximeters are carried along on most guided treks. With precautions, there definitely can be a safe and successful climb of the Mardi Himal.
Food During the Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal
While you hike on the Mardi Himal trek, you will be eating at the different teahouses that you come across on the route. They are small tea houses which will provide you with a fixed menu with different options. The food is basic but enough to provide you with energy for the hike.
Dal Bhat is a must-try and comes with steamed rice, lentil soup, and a bit of seasonal vegetables. Traditional but nutritious Nepali food that gives your body the energy to continue the rest of your day's trek. Food in general is fresh and well cooked but could be somewhat different from what you are used to from Kathmandu Pokhara or your home country for certain.
Other than Dal Bhat, noodles, pasta, soups, and fried rice are also available in teahouses. It may differ where you are. The farther up you climb, perhaps the options are fewer, but that does not mean food quality is poor. They are freshly cooked food.
Local food is provided in your trek package. They are not excellent like city restaurants but sufficient and supportive in keeping your energy levels up to finish the Mardi Himal trek.
Best Season for Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal
Mardi Himal is a newly opened trekking region in the Annapurna Region. The trek can be done in any season but we recommend particularly April to June and September to early November. Some pros and cons of each season are given below:
Spring (March to May): This is the best season for Mardi Himal Trek. The weather is mild and the sky is mostly clear, which is perfect for mountain views. The rhododendron forests are also in full bloom so it's spectacular.
Monsoon (June to August): Monsoon in Mardi Himal experiences heavy rainfall, making the trails muddy and slippery. Landslides are very likely, and because it is wet, the views of the mountains are generally obscured by thick clouds. Generally, it is not a suitable time for trekking.
Autumn (September to November): Autumn is the ideal season to hike Mardi Himal. The skies are blue, and the weather is clear with cool winds. The mountains can be seen glistening in the trail and appear incredibly sharp against the sky. Nevertheless, as this is the high season, you are most likely to encounter other trekkers on the trail, in addition to finding no availability of teahouse lodges unless booked beforehand.
Winter (December to February): Trekking is feasible in winter, but it gets extremely cold at higher altitudes. Snow may render the trail more challenging, and some of the teahouses may be shut. However, the skies remain clear, and the mountain scenery is excellent.
Necessary Trekking Gear for Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal
Gearing is important for Mardi Himal trek due to weather and terrain changes on every other day. Personal gears only you have to carry in a 50 ltr pack. Layering required so have moisture-wicking clothes, warm down jacket and waterproof shell.
Proper trekking shoes for difficult trails and light camp shoes are needed in lodges. Cold rated sleeping bags over high altitudes, Trekking poles in steep ascent and descent, sunglasses, gloves, first aid travel kit etc help you with comfort and safety. Please follow our blog post having entire lists.
Toilet and Shower Services – Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal
During the Mardi Himal trek, you will find western as well as squat toilets in the tea houses, but western toilets are more available. But some of the lodges may not provide toilet paper so it is a good idea to carry your own.
About showers, hot water is available at an extra cost. To heat the water, they use hot bucket water or gas geysers for hot showers, and it costs around $3 to $5 per person. You can also take cold showers but it will be uncomfortable due to cold weather at higher altitudes.
For personal hygiene, we need to take some essential toiletries like soap, shampoo, toilet paper etc. Good hygiene keeps you feeling good and comfortable on the trek.
Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal – Charging & WiFi Information
Charging:
In the teahouse rooms, charging points are not available. You charge your equipment in the dining room, and it charges approximately $3-$5 for a charge every time you charge your device. Due to the fact that most of the trekkers would want to book with tea houses, their charging stations are highly in demand, and they only have a limited supply of electricity, so they take quite a long while to charge things. We advise that you carry a power bank full of charge or an extra battery if you intend to use cameras.
WiFi:
All teahouses on the Mardi Himal trek offer WiFi but it is not trustworthy. The WiFi session is about $3–$5. Still, because the trail is so remote, there are places where you won't get a good signal or no signal at all, so it is easier if you have a local SIM card with a data plan. You can be online whenever and wherever you like to be so that your family also gets an idea of how far you have reached. Proper planning with backup charging and mobile data will make your trip hassle-free.
Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal – Highest Altitude
The highest altitude you will reach on the Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal is 4,500 meters (14,764 feet) at Mardi Himal Base Camp. This hidden gem of a viewpoint offers panoramic views over Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain), Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. You’ll hike through rhododendron forest, high alpines and ridge lines before making it to the base camp. As you gain altitude quite rapidly on this trek, we highly recommend acclimatizing as best as possible to avoid any altitude sickness.
Money Exchange in Kathmandu
For the Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal trek, ensure to exchange money in Kathmandu before heading out. In Kathmandu, you will find exchange services in hotels, banks, and money exchangers in Thamel. There are more than 1,000 ATMs for cash withdrawals throughout Kathmandu. Similarly your trekking company too can help with currency exchange. Pokhara has some facilities for currency exchange as well, but it is best to complete this process while you are still on time in Kathmandu, as rates aren’t very favorable in Pokhara.
There is no possibility of any form of money transaction or exchange en route to Mardi Himal, so be sure to carry enough Nepalese rupees with you. Eleven tea houses do not accept credit cards; thus, remember to carry Cash all the time. Carry Cash -and smaller changes if possible for convenience while paying.
Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal – Difficulty Level
Mardi Himal Trek is moderately challenging due to its steep mountain ascents and high-altitude routes. The trek goes up to 4,500m (14,764ft) at Mardi Himal Base Camp, so there should be proper acclimatization.
Trekkers generally walk 5–7 hours a day on dense forest routes, rocky ridges, and high-altitude mountain routes.
The trail itself is less busy than some of the other Annapurna treks, but it's all gain, so a reasonable level of fitness is helpful (though not absolutely essential), and some prior experience of trekking will make you feel more at ease on the tea house trek path.
Warm gear and decent trekking boots are a must, as the weather can change suddenly higher up. In spite of this trekking endeavor, there is a beautiful payoff with breathtaking panoramic vistas of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain) and the Annapurna range.
Weather in the Mardi Himal
(weather and temperature can be changed at any time in the mountains) Pokhara to Mardi Himal trekking varies by season and what month you would be trekking. And the expectations for each month have been given below: (weather can be change at any time)
January: It is cold weather, and the temperature drops down minimum of -10°C; sometimes it snows also. The trail will be scenic but slushy; it's cold.
February: Not as cold as January but cold (-8°C to 10°C). Frosty underfoot but with Longest days, so the best daylight for walking.
March: New spring season begins, temperature -2°C to 15°C. Snow melting, marshy trails. Rhododendrons in May are blossoming.
April: Best month for trekking (5°C to 18°C). The weather is fine and pleasant, and flowers are in full bloom.
May: 10° C – 22° Humidity starts creeping from the last days of May, beginning with Monsoon. The first week of May is also highly recommended for treks.
June: Monsoon arrives, temperature around 12°C–20°C. The trail is wet and slippery, but you will see real greeneries.
July: Rain continues (14°C–22°C). Watch out for landslides, and limited mountain views.
August: Similar to July, but rainfall starts receding by month end. Temperature around 14°C–22°C.
September: Monsoon subsides (10°C–18°C). Fresh landscapes, clear sky, and excellent visibility make it one of the best months for hiking.
October: The month when you will find the best trekking conditions (8°C–16°C). Clear sky with great visibility of mountains and a fresh cold breeze attracts a lot of trekkers during this period.
November: Temperatures drop further between 2°C–12°C. Skies remain clear without any cloud formations, making it another good month to do the trek. Nights get colder, especially at higher campsites.
December: Cold returns with temperature going down between -5°C - 5°C. There might be snow on some trails, but the sky will be crystal clear, so all in all, this is the perfect time as the crowd will be less during this month, too.
Travel and Trekking Insurance
The Mardi Himal trek is a steep climb, remote and you must have travel insurance. Injuries, altitude sickness or emergencies can arise- helicopter rescues are expensive, and you want to be covered for all medical treatment and evacuation. The weather can shift, causing delays when flying in or out of the region. Being insured will cover any extra costs incurred due to these sorts of delays, too. Remember, without proper insurance, even just a minor accident can become costly, so make sure you are covered before heading off into the mountains - read more on why travel insurance is crucial for Nepal trekking holidays.
Annapurna Hiking Mardi Himal: How are the Trails?
The trail of Mardi Himal Trek is narrow ridges, thick rhododendron forest and rough rocks as you climb higher towards the base camp. Lower routes are easy while the upper part needs more effort as you will have to do steep uphills trek. Up hills today and down hills tomorrow type of trail is what we call this trek.
You will pass through wooden bridges and water springs. You will get to see Buddhist prayer flags, Mani walls and chortens embracing the culture of mountain people in the Annapurna region.
The forest gradually gives way to alpine landscape as you climb up. There are some beautiful panoramic views of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and Hiunchuli during this trek. The descent on return is mostly downhill, so not that difficult.
Tips for Guides and Porters
At the end of your trek in Nepal, you should tip your guide and porter as an appreciation. There is no specific amount you should give as a tip. It’s entirely a donation that you feel comfortable with to the hard-working team who accompanied you during your trek.
Trekking Feedback
After our Mardi Himal trek, there will be a farewell dinner in Kathmandu where you are going to share your experience of trekking with us on a trip and can also give us feedback personally as well. You can write reviews at popular travel sites like TripAdvisor and Google, which will help other people who are planning the same type of trip and also help us to keep up and improve the service quality.
