Mardi Himal Trek – 10 Days

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m)

Today starting the day of our trip, we send our organization agents to pick you up at Tribhuwan International Airport. You will be heartily welcomed with greetings and shifted towards a tourist standard hotel. We additionally plan for meeting at our office for a discussion about the upcoming trek.

Day 02: Flight Kathmandu - Pokhara and drive to Kande (1 hrs) - trek to Pitam-Deurali (2100 m) 2.5 hrs

We catch an early morning flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu and drive to Kande for about one hour on the Pokhara Baglung highway. The trail climbs for about 1 ½ hrs to the ridge at 2100 m. The clearing in the forest with lodge settlement is known as the ‘Australian camp’. The place is scenic with a panoramic view of the Annapurna range and Pokhara Valley. The trail further winds through the rhododendron forest to the mountain pass called ‘Deurali’. Deurali is overlooking the Modi Khola valley wedged between Annapurna South and Mardi Himal / Mt Fishtail. We stay overnight in Deurali.

Day 03: Pitam-Deurali (2100 m) - Forest Camp (2550 m) 4-5 hrs 

After spending the beautiful morning in the ridge-top village of Deurali, we head off the main Annapurna trekking trail and follow the forested ridge to Forest camp. Since this is the new trekking destination, there are no teahouses along the way and we need to carry a pack lunch and sufficient water. The day’s walk in the rhododendron forest is beautiful with a gradual uphill. Overnight in camp.

Day 04: Forest Camp (2550 m) - Low Camp (2990 m) 3 hrs

The trail gradually climbs through the rhododendron forest following the ridge. The low camp has got a couple of tea houses in the clearing of the forest. The view of Mt Fishtail and Mardi Himal appears much closer. You find yourself closer to a clear blue sky with a view of layers of Himalayan foothills and a sweeping valley towards the south. Overnight in Low Camp

Day 05: Low Camp (2990 m) - High Camp (3580 m) 3 hrs

After a half hour's climb, the rhododendron forest takes us to the Middle camp and then to Badal Danda offers stunning views of Mardi Himal, Annapurna South, Hiuchuli, Gangapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Mardi Himal itself. An hour or so above Low Camp the trail breaks out above a tree line and towards the west, there is a good view to Annapurna South and Hiunchuli, and stay overnight in high camp.

Day 06: Day hike to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4500 m) and return to High Camp (3580 m) 6-7 hrs 

The plan for today is to wake early for a sunrise view of the mountains then after an early breakfast walk up the ridge towards Mardi Himal Base Camp. There is a well-established trail through the grass with a couple of steeper sections however overall not too challenging. Look out for the dzokpo (yak/ cow crossbreds) grazing up here as well as the Danphe pheasant. In the summer the sheep and goats from lower villages are brought up to graze in this area so you will pass several herder’s huts along the way. After three hours we will reach Base Camp at an elevation of 4500m this is where we can look into the Annapurna Sanctuary and the panorama view is spectacular looking at the south face of Annapurna and all of the peaks in the Sanctuary as well as Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). We decided to the high camp to stay overnight in the same lodge.

Day 07: Trek to Siding Village (1700m) 5-6 hrs

After an early morning breakfast, we start to trek down to Sidding through the pine forest and rhododendron forest. After taking a lunch break we continue to head down to Sidding and spend overnight in the lodge.

Day 08: Trek to Lumre and drive to Pokhara (3 hrs trek and 2 hrs drive)

From Siding you walk out to the road and head to Lumre, on the way from Siding you will pass the villages of Kalimati and Ghalel. Kalimati is mainly a Brahmin village with Ghalel and Siding mixed Brahmin and Gurung. From Lumre we drive back to Pokhara. Stay overnight in Pokhara

Day 09: Fly back to Kathmandu

After breakfast in Pokhara, we head to the airport and catch our flight to Kathmandu. After you reach the hotel and freshen up, we host a farewell dinner today in one of the restaurants and share the memories of the trek.

Day 10: Departure Day

On the final day of the trip, you can go for collecting some memories for your loved one before the flight time. Our company’s private vehicle will take you to the airport focusing on your flight time for your final departure and our representative wishes for your safe journey and successful forward steps with respect and greetings at the airport.

Visa Information

All visitors are required to arrange a visa to enter Nepal. A Nepalese visa can be easily obtained upon arrival on arrival in Kathmandu at the airport or Nepalese embassy abroad. But nationals from Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Ghana, Somalia, Swaziland, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Liberia cannot secure the Nepalese Visa upon arrival. The Visa can also be secured at entry points at Nepalese borders. A valid passport for at least six months and a recent digital photo (size: 1.5" x 1.5") will be required and you can obtain visas for Nepal from the Nepalese Consulate in your country or upon arrival at Kathmandu Airport. Nepalese visas cost USD 25 for 15 days and USD 40 for 30 days to date.

Official Papers

Some of the required official documents are your valid passport, 4 extra passport-sized photographs (for trekking permits), travel insurance, airline tickets, and luggage tags. Visas can be obtained upon entry into Nepal.

Weather Information

The weather in the mountains is pretty difficult to predict.  Nights are generally cooler and days are warm.  Months of winter (January and February) are a bit colder but the days can be quite beautiful and warm if the sun is out. It snows during January, February, and December in the Himalayan areas.

Best time to travel

Nepal offers diversified geographical regions and so the climatic condition differs from the Himalayas to the plains. The climate varies as per the season. Nepal generally offers 4 seasons amongst which autumn and spring are the two most favorable ones for visiting Nepal. It is always wise to know about the weather and climatic condition of the place you visit. The best time to travel depends on your destination, activities, and season of travel. Our destination specialists will recommend certain travel times after learning more about your preferences. The favorable months for trekking and climbing are usually September – November, and February – April. The monsoon season is June – August.

Physical Fitness

Even though physical fitness plays an important role in trekking you don’t have to be a super athlete or a marathon runner to trek in Nepal.  Many people of good fitness for their age can complete the trek. You can prepare yourself beforehand by doing some yoga which will prepare you for your breathing as you will be going to a higher altitude. Running or hiking on hills, or going for a long walk will also help you. And if you live in an urban area running up the stairs of a tall building will also work better in keeping you fit for trekking. Though these preparations aren’t strictly compulsory, you can do well even when the preparations you do aren’t rigorous like that of some ultra-athletic person. Do these things at a moderate pace for two months or even less.  And you are set to complete any trekking to Nepal.

Travel Insurance

Doing insurance while trekking in Nepal is not compulsory but will surely help you a lot if you do one, as it covers any comprehensive expenses possible to acquire due to medical issues or accidents. Your travel insurance must protect air ambulance, treatment charges, rescue and evacuation, product cancellation and refundable charges, flight delays, and cancellations. We suggest you bring your travel insurance certificate or send us to scan copy and it must be issued from your homeland. We do not arrange or sell insurance so you can find your local travel insurance for this.

Vaccination for Nepal

All travelers should consult with their physician or update on vaccination requirements before travel. (Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities) For traveling to Nepal; we recommend you take vaccination of Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies, etc, it is not really must but recommended.

Booking Process

While you chose which trip you wanted to go with, contact us at our head office in Thamel Marg, Kathmandu Nepal by email or phone, email is a more easy and clear option, as soon as we get your email or call we will process your booking. We need a 20% booking amount to confirm your booking, the payment can be made through Bank transfer, Credit card payment (Master/Visa card), or online money transfers also Money Gram, Western Unions, or others. After we get the 20% amount we will confirm your booking and you will get the official booking and payment receipt. The final balance for the tour will be paid upon arrival in Kathmandu.

Safety Guidelines

• Do proper research about the company that you are planning to trek with and make sure they are a legally registered travel agency.
• You should be well acquainted with travel health and travel insurance before traveling.
• Have an idea about the climate, geography, temperature, and environment of Nepal before starting your trip.
• Using credit cards instead of cash is a wiser idea.
• The majority of the Nepalese people are nicer but there are a few scammers you will come meet on your way and need to avoid, for example, ‘holy men’ who will try to plant a tika (a red paste denoting a blessing) on your forehead demanding payment for it on streets.
• Be careful while buying medicinal herbs as some may be illegal for you t take home and also be aware of duplicate products.
• Never get involved in doing drugs, trafficking, and sexual relations with children as there is a strict rules for these cases, and might get yourself into a big problem.
• Take copies of your passport, visa, air ticket, and trekking permits and keep them separately from the originals.
• Prepare yourself for altitude sickness and be familiar with its symptoms so that you can follow the guidelines for safe acclimatization.

1. Where is Nepal?

   Nepal is a landlocked country located in the Southern part of Asia sharing the border with China from the north and India from the south, east, and west. It is especially known for its multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-linguistic, and multi-ethnic diversity in unity. It is a small country with many world's most beautiful mountain ranges, art, culture, and wildlife, no wonder it is a paradise for trekkers from all around the world. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal is also known for its unique culture and heritage which directly grabs the attention and takes you to the time of old civilization from the 12th century.

2. What is Nepal known for?

   Nepal is mostly known for Mt.Everest, the highest peak in the world. It is also known as the birthplace of Lord Buddha, who was the pioneer of the Buddhist religion. Eight of the fourteen eight-thousanders are located in the country, either in whole or shared across a border with China or India. Besides that, it is also known as a multi-ethnic, multiracial, multicultural, multi-religious, and multilingual country. Overall, Nepal is known for its hospitality as there is a saying in Sanskrit  “Atithi Debo Bhaba”. (Guest are god).

3. How can I obtain a Visa?

   All visitors are required to arrange a visa to enter Nepal. A Nepalese visa can be easily obtained upon arrival on arrival in Kathmandu at the airport or Nepalese embassy abroad. But nationals from Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Ghana, Somalia, Swaziland, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Liberia cannot secure the Nepalese Visa upon arrival. The Visa can also be secured at the entry point at Nepalese borders. A valid passport for at least six months, a recent digital photo (size: 1.5" x 1.5") will be required, and the following fees either in USD dollars cash or the equivalent local currency:

   Visa Facility	Duration	Fee
   Multiple entries	15 days	US$ 25 or equivalent Nepali currency
   Multiple entries	30 days	US$ 40 or equivalent Nepali currency
   Multiple entries	90 days	US$ 100 or equivalent Nepali currency

4. Is the country politically safe and stable?

   Nepal is one of the newly democratic countries in the world with many active political parties, ideas, ideologies, and leaders. Now Nepal has the communist government elected with 2/3 of the majority so, now it has a fully stable government it does not affect the daily life of the residents and the tourist. Life moves on, as usual, unperturbed.

5. When Is The Best Time To Travel?

   Nepal offers diversified geographical regions and so the climatic condition differs from the Himalayas to the plains. The climate varies as per the season. Nepal generally offers 4 seasons amongst which autumn and spring are the two most favorable ones for visiting Nepal. It is always wise to know about the weather and climatic condition of the place you visit. The best time to travel depends on your destination, activities, and season of travel. Our destination specialists will recommend certain travel times after learning more about your preferences. The favorable months for trekking and climbing are usually September – November, and February – April. The monsoon season is June – August.

6. What kind of weather (how cold does it get) can we expect during trekking?

   The weather in the mountains is pretty difficult to predict. Nights are generally cooler and days are warm. Months of winter (January and February) are a bit colder but the days can be quite beautiful and warm if the sun is out. It snows during January, February, and December in the Himalayan areas.

7. Are Vaccinations Required?

   Immunizations are not required to visit Nepal. (Exception: if you are traveling from an area infected with Yellow Fever, you must have a certificate.) Depending on the season and region of travel, certain vaccinations and/ or medications are suggested and we will recommend preventative measures. We do encourage all travelers to be current on routine immunizations. Also, we recommend the vaccines for polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever, hepatitis A/B, Influenza (Flu), Japanese encephalitis, and Tuberculosis. Meantime, it is better to consult your professional doctor about your travel and he/s might recommend you properly. You can also take the suggestion of local travelers who have traveled to Nepal before and know more about the required precautions. Please note that the protection that can be gained from vaccines varies from 50% to almost 100%. So remember that even if you have taken a vaccine you might still get the disease, although you will have greatly reduced your chances of getting ill.

8. How fit do I need to be for the trek?

   You don’t have to be a super athletic person but despite the ages should be moderately fit. We recommend to running, hiking to hills, and long walks as a preparation.

9. Are ATM booths easily available?

   Yes, ATM booths are easily available around the major city area where you can use both credit and debit cards. But there are only a few ATM booths on the way to your trek, so you should withdraw your cash before the trek.

10. What type of food to expect during the trek? 

    Nepal is rich in cultural diversity. Meal habits of the Nepalese vary with ethnicity and geographical differences. Normally, the local has a habit of taking milk/black tea in the morning, before noon taking lunch after mid-day taking light snacks such as Khaja, and having Dinner in the evening. The lunch and dinner comprise Dhido (short of porridge), Dal, Bhat, Tarkari, and Achar (Lentil, Rice, Curry, and Pickles). However, you can have a choice of Indian/Continental/Italian/ Chinese food even in some trekking regions.

11. Is the drinking water safe while trekking? 

    Drinking water should be treated by boiling and water purification by medicine or with filtered. We suggest carrying a water purifier while trekking to be on the safe side.

12. Is there any tourist police in Nepal?

    Of course, there is a tourist police located near the Nepal Tourism Development Board's Office. Also, there are complaint counters at the airport, Basantapur Durbar Square, Thamel, and so many other places. Tourist police are specially trained in English and have detailed local knowledge to assist tourists. For security and travel-related assistance, you can reach any of the officers by telephone at 4-247041, 4-4268969 from 11 am to 5 pm.

13. Is Nepal safe? Is a woman traveling alone safe with your company?

    Nepal is safe for the traveler. Firstly, Nepal is considered one of the most peaceful countries in the world (chances are it's safer here than in your home country). Secondly, while you're on one of our trips, we take personal responsibility for your well-being, a responsibility we commit very seriously.

14. What about Time in Nepal?

    Nepal is +5 hours 45 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT: +0545). For example, when it is noon in Kathmandu, the standard time in London is 6.15 am, 4.15 am in Sydney, 1.15 am in New York, and 10.15 pm the previous night in San Francisco. The strange 15-minute difference is said to be a reflection of the exact time at the summit of Mt. Gaurishankar.

15. Travel Insurance

    Doing insurance while trekking in Nepal is not compulsory but will surely help you a lot if you do one, as it covers any comprehensive expenses possible to acquire due to medical issues or accidents. Your travel insurance must protect air ambulance, treatment charges, rescue and evacuation, product cancellation and refundable charges, flight delays, and cancellations. We suggest you bring your travel insurance certificate or send us scan copy and it must be issued from your homeland. We do not arrange or sell insurance so we suggest you do some research on the company and do the travel insurance.