A distinctive trekking experience through the beautiful mountains and dense forest trails, with the pure beauty of nature at every turn
Mardi Himal is a recently explored hidden treasure trekking destination. It is a less popular route as compared to other trekking packages. However, nowadays, it is gaining fame day by day, and the number of tourists is increasing, as it offers beautiful mountain views.
Mardi Himal Trek is one of the popular and trending trekking destinations in Nepal. This destination is located within the Annapurna Conservation Area. It is often considered as the alternative to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
A trek to Mardi Himal is ideal for those seeking strenuous trekking in the Annapurna region of Nepal within a short timeframe. It can be completed within a week. This trek is also perfect for non-crowd lovers.
Mardi Himal trek offers stunning views of Mt. Annapurna massifs, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Machchhapuchchhre, and Mt. Manaslu. This trek is amazing. If you wish to see such mountains again from the viewpoint, Poon Hill is another best option.
To go to Mardi, a trekker needs to buy an ACAP. It means the Annapurna conservation area permit because the Mardi Himal lies in the Annapurna region. So, today, most of the trekkers love to combine the Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp trek.
Regarding the ACAP trekking permit, you can buy it either in Kathmandu or Pokhara at the Tourism Information Center. Or your local travel agent can help you in purchasing this permit. Besides, a TIMS card is another thing that you must buy for going to the Mardi Himal trek, and it can be bought at the same center where the permit is available.
Though there is a rare risk of high-altitude sickness, the route to the Mardi Himal trek in Nepal is moderately difficult.
How to get to Mardi Himal?
After you arrive in Kathmandu, you need to have either air travel or road travel to Pokhara. It takes almost 20 minutes on a plane, while it is 6 hours on a bus.
The trip begins from the place called Pritam Deurali, following an almost 3-hour drive from the beautiful valley, Pokhara. You can catch the mesmerizing glimpses of the Himalayan ranges even from Pritam Deurali and enjoy lunch.
After resting for some time, your Mardi Himal trek begins. The trek goes along the typical green forest trail. So, caution is advised because the path may be slippery, especially during the rainy season. After about an hour of walking, you will arrive at Lovely Hill, a scenic spot with two cozy tea houses. Then, the trail again joins the lush jungle, full of mainly rhododendron and other native saplings. It is a slightly ascending trail and reaches Pani Pokhari within an hour, where you can find some small tea shops.
From there, a beautiful trail begins. You will walk among the towering trees by touching and feeling their textures. This is the most exhilarating journey through nature. The continuation of an hour trek through this enchanting jungle takes you to the charming place, known as Tod Khadka. From here, you will find a few tea houses and the mountain views too. You will notice a large water tank too, which reserves fresh mountain water. En route, you may encounter the horses with loads. It also adds the traditional charm to this trek to Mardi Himal.
Now, the trail becomes steep. It is a climb up the stone steps. Soon after, you re-enter the forest trail with an ups and downs path. You will walk continuously for about 2 hours through the vast jungle before you arrive at Forest Camp, where you are going to spend your night. It is another peaceful place with views. We recommend taking dinner early and having a good sleep, as the trail is going to be challenging from the next day onward.
In the morning after breakfast, the Mardi Himal trek resumes. The trail goes with a steep ascent along the longer stairs in the beginning - having a trekking pole would be more beneficial here. You will reach at Rest Camp after an hour of tiring climb, where you can take a short break. From there, the serene jungle walk begins for nearly two hours. It is the wild, untamed forest. At the end, you will reach Low Camp, a beautiful stop with nice tea houses. Some trekkers choose to spend their nights there. The views look truly stunning from this place, too.
Afterward, a trek continues through the untouched jungle wilderness, gradually ascending toward Badal Danda. A trail is a slightly uphill climb in the beginning, then transitions into a steeper, stepped path till High Camp. Though it is a fatiguing hike, you will enjoy your trip because you will find the majestic mountains close to you. Finally, you will reach High Camp. Now, you can take a rest and warm your body. It is best to have an early dinner and go to bed early, as you need to wake up around 3 am for the View Point hike.
In the early morning, your View Point Hiking begins. If you are a slow trekker, it may take almost three hours to reach there. Otherwise, it can be done within 2 hours. Though the steep, continuous stairway makes for a tiring climb, the stunning mountain views along the way will captivate you at every step, drawing you closer with their majestic presence. You will encounter the grazing yaks and horses. The open meadow area adds extra charm to the journey. As you ascend, you will find yourself above the clouds, a surreal and breathtaking experience.
Eventually, you will reach the View Point, a heavenly place. Now, you can explore an up-close view of Mount Annapurna South, Mount Fishtail, Mardi Himal, and other snowcapped peaks very closely in a chronological order. In addition, the Pokhara Valley and other villages spread out below, offering a panoramic view that makes every step of the trek worthwhile.
Now, the completely descent trail begins. Walking downhill is also a tiring walk. Today, you will spend your night at Badal Danda by retracing the previous ways.
The next day, you will retrace your steps back to Low Camp. From there, a full day of down stone steps, Jungle Walk begins and ends at Sidding. It takes almost 8 hours to reach Sidding village from Badal Danda.
From Sidding, you will have approximately three hours of Jeep drive to Pokhara. While driving, you will see the local working farmers, vibrant villages, and green forests, offering a glimpse into rural life in the hills.
At last, you will arrive at the delightful valley, Pokhara, where you can relax, chill, and celebrate the success of your unforgettable Mardi Himal Trek.
From Pokhara, you can have a road drive again to the trekking starting point. This place is called Kande. It takes approximately one and a half hours to get there. Then your actual Mardi Himal trek begins.
