The Mardi Himal Trek: A 10-Day Guide
You want to trek in the famous Annapurna region (Annapurna Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit). But you are looking for a different view than everyone else. You want a trail that feels a little more wild and less crowded. You dream of getting up close to the most beautiful mountain in Nepal.
Imagine walking along a high, forested ridge. With every step, the stunning peak of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) gets closer and more impressive. You leave the busy trails behind and find peace in the quiet forests. You reach a high camp with a view that feels like it's just for you.
Our 10-day Mardi Himal Trek is the perfect solution. This route takes you up a quiet ridge to the base of Mardi Himal. It offers some of the best close-up views of the beautiful Machhapuchhre. It is a peaceful trail with amazing rewards.
Related Reading: Mardi Himal Base Camp
Best Time for the Mardi Himal Trek
Choosing the right season is key for the best views. The autumn and spring months have the best weather for this trek.
- Autumn (September - November): This is the top season. The skies are deep blue and clear, offering sharp views of the peaks. The weather is stable, with mild days and cool nights, perfect for walking.
- Spring (March - May): This is the second-best time. The weather is warm. The highlight of spring is the rhododendron forests, which bloom with bright red and pink flowers along the trail.
A Typical Day on Your Trek
- Morning: Your day starts around 7:00 AM. You will have a good breakfast at the teahouse. Then, you will start walking with your guide around 8:00 AM.
- Trekking: The pace is always slow and steady. This helps you enjoy the views and adjust to the altitude. You will walk for about 3 hours before stopping for lunch.
- Lunch: You will stop at a teahouse on the trail for a one-hour lunch break. This is a good time to rest and drink some hot tea.
- Afternoon: You will walk for another 2-3 hours to reach the next teahouse. You will have free time in the afternoon to explore the area or relax.
- Evening: You can read a book or chat with your guide. Dinner is served around 7:00 PM in the warm dining hall. Your guide will tell you about the plan for the next day.
Meet Your Guide and Porter Team
You will have a professional and friendly team to support you.
- Your Expert Guide: All our guides are local to the mountains of Nepal. They are trained, licensed, and speak English. They are experts on this trail and the local culture. Each guide is also trained in first aid and mountain safety.
- Your Strong Porter: We hire friendly local porters who are fit and reliable. One porter will carry the main bags for two trekkers. This lets you walk with just a small daypack for your daily items.
- Our Team's Care: We are committed to the welfare of our team. We make sure all our guides and porters get fair pay, good food, and proper lodging. We also provide them with good insurance coverage.
Safety on Your Trek
Your safety is our top priority. We have clear safety plans for this trip.
- Good Acclimatization: This itinerary climbs at a steady, gradual pace. This allows your body to safely adjust to the altitude.
- First Aid: Your guide carries a complete first-aid kit. It has supplies for common trekking issues like cuts, blisters, and headaches.
- Emergency Plans: Our office team in Kathmandu is available 24 hours a day. Your guide will have a phone to contact them in an emergency. If a rescue is needed, we will help you arrange it through your insurance.
Trek Difficulty: Is This Trek for You?
This trek is rated as moderate. It is a great choice for people with good fitness who want their first taste of a quieter, high-altitude trek.
The trail involves several days of steady uphill walking to reach High Camp. There are some steep sections, but no technical climbing skills are needed. The day hike to Base Camp requires good stamina. Overall, it is a very rewarding challenge.
Food and Lodging on the Trek
- Teahouses: You will stay in local teahouses. The lodges on the Mardi Himal trail, especially at Forest Camp and High Camp, are more basic than on the main Annapurna trails. They are simple and cozy, offering an authentic mountain experience.
- Meals: We provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day on the trail. The food is fresh, healthy, and gives you good energy. The most common meal is Dal Bhat, a Nepali dish of rice, lentil soup, and vegetables. Teahouses also serve pasta, noodles, potatoes, and eggs.
Climb higher through the dense forest until the trees clear up and the path leads to an opening. This is the pinnacle of the trek! The upper viewpoint (4,500 meters) displays jaw-dropping views of Mardi Himal (5,587m), as well as Macchapucchre (6993m), Hiunchuli (6,441m), BarahaShikhar (7,647m), SinguChuli (6,501m), Annapurna I (8,090m), and Annapurna South (7,219m). Nothing lies between you and these perceivably sacred peaks.
You can take the Mardi Himal Trek all throughout the year. The best times to make the trip, though, are during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons. These seasons provide the best weather and clearest skies, not to mention that during the springtime, rhododendron and other alpine flowers are in bloom.Third Eye Adventure Pvt. Ltd.handles the trek with complete management. If you have any questions about the trek, do ask!
