Mardi Himal Panorama Trek

Overview

Surrounded by the magnificent Annapurna Range and Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail Mountain), the Mardi Himal route offers those with an adventuresome spirit a chance to go where few others go. You will climb to the High Camp of Mardi Himal, where there are breathtaking views of some of the highest mountains in the world.  Relatively new to the trekking scene, this unspoiled area is overlooked by most visitors to Nepal, but it is well worth a trip.

The route is not difficult as, although we climb to approximately 4500m, we never sleep above 3900m.  We will travel through pleasant farm country and beautiful forests, where there is the added pleasure of enjoying wildflowers and rhododendron blooming in March and April.  Accommodation is very simple and basic, with camping also an option.

Coming down from the high camp we will then spend time exploring the seldom-visited and beautiful farm country nestled below the mountain giants. This is a totally unspoiled area, with charming villages, simple accommodation and traditional food.  If you trek in April you will also be rewarded with seeing the rhododendron forests in bloom – a sight not to be missed!

Itinerary Detail

Mardi Himal Panorama Trek Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel. A representative from WildPath Adventure will welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Free afternoon/evening.

Day 02: After breakfast, enjoy a pleasant morning walk and visit to the ancient Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple, which is a fascinating blend of Hindu and Buddhist religions. From the top you can see the surrounding Kathmandu Valley. Then visit Pashupatinath, the most important Hindu temple in Nepal. After lunch, visit the famous Durbar Square in Kathmandu. In the evening, we will have a welcome dinner and a chance for you to view traditional Nepali dancing.

Day 03: From Kathmandu, drive to Pokhara (540m/5 to 6 hrs.) by tourist bus or private car. Overnight at lakeside hotel.

Day 04:Drive to Kande (1770m/1 hr.) by taxi and trek to Pothana (1950m/2 hrs.). Overnight at lodge. The first day of the trek is a short and gentle one, ending at the small settlement of Pothana. The village is nestled among pine trees and has great views over the Pokhara valley.

Day 05: Trek to Forest Camp (2480m/4 to 5 hrs.). Overnight at lodge. The trek climbs gently through rhododendron forest to Deurali, from where there are great views across a steep valley to Gandruk, a large Gurung settlement. We then continue uphill through misty forests of mountain oak, hemlock, maple and rhododendron, which are an amazing sight when in bloom in the spring.

Day 06: Trek to BhaisaKharka (Low Camp). (3150m/2 to 3 hrs.). Overnight at lodge. Today’s trek climbs easily through magnificent moss-covered trees in a classic ‘cloud’ forest. There is a great variety of flowers and shrubs here as well, including the very fragrant Daphne. At Low Camp you can spend hours feasting on the sight of Machhapuchhre, which now looms almost overhead.

Day 07: Trek to Kew (High Camp) (3900m/2 to 3 hrs.). Overnight at lodge. After a short steep climb, we clear the forest and now walk on a grassy ridge to High Camp. The views of the Annapurna Range are jaw-dropping from this point onwards. Spend the afternoon soaking in the scenery and exploring this fantastic area.

Day 09: Kew (High Camp). After an early breakfast, we will walk up to the Machhapucchare Base Camp (4500m/ 6 to 7 hrs.). The views of the Himalaya are even more breathtaking from this vantage point, with Machhapucchare dominating the landscape. If conditions are favorable we will visit a small cave and an ancient temple.

Day 10: Trek to Sidhing. (1700m/5 to 6 hrs.) Overnight at lodge. Retracing our steps to Low Camp, we then descend steeply through moss-covered rhododendron forest to the scenic Gurung village of Sidhing.

Day 11: Trek to Lwang. (1460m/4 to 5 hrs.). Overnight at lodge. After a gentle day of ascending and descending through terraced farmland and forest and crossing a few streams, we arrive at the beautiful hillside village of Lwang. Along the way there are great views of the Mardi Khola valley and the mountains behind us.

Day 12:  Lwang. After breakfast, walk up to visit the Annapurna Organic Tea gardens, where there are great views of the valley below. After lunch, visit the Tea Factory for a first-hand look at how the tea is processed. There will also be time to wander the streets of this very picturesque Gurung village. In the evening, you will be entertained by local dancers.

Day 13: Trek to Hemja Milanchok (/1090m/4 to 5 hrs.) and then taxi to Pokhara (800m/1/2 hr.). Overnight at hotel. Descend through forest and farmland to the Mardi Khola river. Then follow the river to the highway town of Hemja Milanchok.

Day 14:Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu (about 6 hours). Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu, farewell dinner in Nepali Restaurant

Day 15: Final Departure to your destination

Note: This trek can be done as a Teahouse trip or as a Camping trip. If you are interested in a camping trekking, please contact us.

Cost Info

The Trip Cost Includes:

• All airport/hotel transfers
• Half day Guided tour of Kathmandu valley with private car
• 3 nights accommodation in 3-star hotel in Kathmandu (2 before trek, 1 after trek)
• Teahouse accommodation enroute
• Breakfast in Kathmandu
• Full board of meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, tea coffee)
• Welcome and farewell dinner
• All ground transportation as per the itinerary by private vehicles
• Salary for all expedition staff.
• All necessary paper work, including trekking permits
• Travel and rescue arrangements
• All government and local taxes
• Duffel bag, t-shirt, trekking map

The Trip Cost Does Not Include:

• Nepal Visa fee
• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg luggage, cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
• Extra nights accommodation in Kathmandu
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
• Bottled beverages, including water
• Snacks such as energy bars, candy or chocolate
• Travel and rescue insurance
• Personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters
• Optional trips and sightseeing
• Tips for guides and porters

Trek Info

Accommodation

Wildpath Adventure  has chosen the best accommodation with your comfort and budget in mind. This includes staying in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and staying in comfortable, well-run lodges along the trekking route.

All accommodation is based on twin sharing but we will provide a single supplement if there is an odd number of participants. If you simply prefer a single room, this is available by paying an additional single supplement.

Meals

One of the joys of travelling abroad and trekking is the wonderful food prepared for you at each meal at the lodges and hotels. From the first tea of the morning to the last meal of the day, you will be treated to meals that are nutritious, healthy, fresh and suitable for a mountain expedition.

We have chosen lodges and hotels where the food is of the highest quality. Their experienced local cooks will provide meals from a variety of cuisines such as Nepali, Sherpa, Tibetan, Continental, Italian and Indian cuisine. Breakfast and dinner will be taken at the lodges where we are staying, while lunch and tea breaks will be taken at a suitable lodge or teahouse along the day’s route.

Note: Before arriving in Nepal, please advise Wildpath Adventure if you have any special dietary requirements or restrictions such that we can accommodate your request.

A Typical Day on the Trek

Days on the trek start early. After dressing, head to the lodge restaurant for a nutritious and appetizing breakfast, along with a steaming mug of tea or coffee. After packing up your bag for the porters and your daypack, you’ll head out for another day’s adventure. We will trek for a couple of hours, then stop for a welcome tea break at a lodge. Generally we trek for a couple more hours after tea and then we will stop for lunch at a teahouse , often at a scenic spot. You will have plenty of time to relax and take photos as you enjoy the lunch meal.

Throughout the day we will take rest breaks as needed and there will always be time to stop and admire the flowers, the scenery, a village or just to soak in the pleasure of being on an adventure in Nepal.

After lunch, we will usually trek for another 2-3 hours before reaching the village where we will spend the night. On arrival you will have time to rest and enjoy another welcome hot mug of tea, coffee, or one of the trail favorites, hot lemon. There is usually time to explore a village or Gompa or the surrounding neighborhood, write in your journal, take a shower (sometimes hot, sometimes not) or simply relax. After a delicious dinner, there will be a briefing on the next day’s program before you head off to your bed for a warm and snug sleep. You may be surprised to find that you are sleeping 10 to 12 hours per night, but that is normal on a trek

The Trekking Group

For most treks there will be one guide, one assistant guide per 4 trekkers, one cook, and one Sherpa porter per 2 trekkers. This arrangement ensures that should anybody in the group fall sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned.

The minimum group size is 2 and the maximum is 12. However, if you'd like to make a group booking for more than that, we will be happy to arrange this for you.

What to Know

Fitness Requirements

In order to maximize your enjoyment of this trek, you will need to be in good physical condition and you will need to be prepared for rough conditions. In general, trekking consists of many days of walking for at least 5-6 hours, some of it on rugged terrain. You should also be very comfortable walking with a small day pack and carrying up to 5kg of weight.

In addition to a good level of fitness, we believe you must possess: a willingness to tolerate difficult conditions, a flexible mindset, a sense of humor and good health.

Health & Safety

Your safety and well-being are of paramount concern to Wildpath Adventure For that reason, the trek leader has the authority to change or cancel any part of the trek if it is deemed necessary for safety reasons. Wildpath Adventure will make every effort to keep to the planned itinerary; however, we simply cannot guarantee it. Changes to the itinerary can occur due to weather conditions, the health of a team member or unexpected natural disasters. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please understand that these events are a possibility.

It is imperative that participants with pre-existing medical problems or conditions make these known to Wildpath Adventure when booking. Medical and evacuation expenses are the responsibility of the participant and must be covered by your personal travel insurance. It is also important that you consult your doctor for vaccinations and other medical requirements for your trip. Wildpath Adventure reserves the right to require a medical certificate prior to booking your trip.

Acclimatization

Any trek to high altitude carries with it the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS. This is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness, generally caused by going up too fast. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. For example, at 6500m there is only half the oxygen that there is available at sea level.

Your body needs many days to adapt to this less-oxygen environment. Our itinerary is planned to allow sufficient time for acclimatization, by going up slowly and including acclimatization days as needed. It is not uncommon to experience mild headaches, loss of appetite or nausea when ascending, but these symptoms usually disappear with rest...

Although your appetite may diminish as you trek higher, it is very important to eat enough to maintain a good energy level. Similarly it is extremely important to drink sufficient water to stay hydrated. The trek leader will advise you on what is sufficient food and water and we ask that you follow his advice.

We also advise anyone with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Our itineraries are designed to prevent AMS as much as possible, but it is important to remember that some people are more vulnerable than others.

Our team will check very carefully to determine if anyone has a serious problem. If anyone is showing signs of AMS, they will not be permitted to trek higher and will be required to descend to a safe altitude with a member of the team. If the symptoms disappear at the lower altitude, the person may be permitted to rejoin the trek after a suitable rest period.

Please Allow Extra Time

We strongly recommend that you allow a few extra days at either end of your trip. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, flights in Nepal are notorious for being delayed anywhere from a few hours (common) to one week (rare) due to bad weather. This can occur even in the best trekking months.

If all goes well, you will then have extra days to enjoy in Nepal, taking in activities such as sightseeing near Kathmandu , river rafting, or perhaps relaxing at one of the nearby hilltop resorts.

In the event of bad weather, it may be possible to arrange a helicopter evacuation, which can vary in cost from USD $300 to $3500, depending on the demand.

What to Bring

The following list is a guideline of what you should bring with you for the trek. Please note that clothing for Kathmandu and other non-trekking destinations is not included in this list. While you can bring everything from your home country, it is also possible to rent or purchase almost everything in Kathmandu. Most of the gear for sale in Kathmandu is manufactured locally and thus considerably cheaper. However, it is also possible to buy brand name clothing and equipment at quality and prices that are comparable to home country prices.

At lower elevations on the trek it is likely to be very warm and the lightest of layers can be worn. However, at altitudes above 4000m it may be bitterly cold and windy, particularly after the sun disappears. The secret to staying warm and comfortable is to layer your clothing and to avoid cotton, as it becomes very cold when wet and is slow to dry. Pack with a minimalist view, as the load limit per person for porters and on domestic flights is 15kg.

Treks in Nepal are tough on gear and clothing. We recommend that you bring well-used items that can stand a fair bit of abuse. Many people bring gear that can be given away at the end of the trek to the porters or guides. Please check with wildpath adventure if you are uncertain about what to bring – we will be happy to advise you.

During the trek the porters will be carrying most of your gear. On the trail you can expect to carry in your daypack item such as 1 to 2 liters of water, your camera, a jacket for rest stops, sunscreen, tissue paper, a route map and binoculars.

CLOTHING

• T-shirts – 2 or 3, long-sleeved and short-sleeved, quick-drying
• Hiking shorts or capris
• Lightweight Long Hiking pants
• Lightweight thermal inner layer – top and bottom
• Fleece pants and jacket
• 2 pair inner liner socks
• 2 pair outer socks, wool, medium to heavy weight
• Shirt with collar

OUTERWEAR

• Lightweight gloves
• Heavyweight gloves or mittens and waterproof outer shell
• Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
• Waterproof, breathable jacket
• Down jacket
• Waterproof, breathable shell pants
• Warm hat or balaclava
• Gaiters (for high-elevation treks and passes)

FOOTWEAR

• Hiking boots
• Sneakers or Teva-like sandals
• Down booties (optional, but very nice at high altitude)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Camera and extra battery and card
• Sun hat or bandana
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• 4 season sleeping bag (rated to -15 to -20 degree centigrade. Down is preferable)
• Sleeping bag liner (optional, but very useful)
• Trekking Bags/Duffel bag *
• Headlamp with spare bulbs and batteries
• Small lock
• Basic First Aid Kit (wildpath adventure staff will also carry a team First Aid kit)
• Daypack (approximately 2500 to 3000 cubic inches)
• Trekking Poles
• Water bottles (2) or camel back
• Ear Plugs
• Sewing and repair kit
• Sarong (optional, but very useful when washing)
• Energy bars, chocolate, candy
• Water-purifying tablets or water filter pump

TOILETRIES

• Sunscreen with high UV protection
• Lip balm for altitude (e.g. Labazan)
• Face and body moisturizer
• 1 medium sized quick drying towel
• Tooth brush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
• Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
• Deodorant
• Nail clippers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Small mirror
• Wet wipes
• Toilet tissue
• Ant- bacterial hands wash

FIRST AID AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES

All of the items listed here can be purchased in Kathmandu, however you may prefer to bring trusted brands from home. Note also that Wildpath Adventure will carry an extensive first aid and medical kit, so please bring the minimum required. There are many good books and websites which carry extensive lists of recommended drugs and medical supplies. We suggest that you review this material before making any purchases.

• Plasters/Band aids
• Moleskin
• General-purpose antibiotic such as Cipro
• Headache medicine – (not Codein-based)
• Anti-inflammatory pills
• Antibiotic cream
• Eye drops
• Rehydration salts such as ORS
• Multi-vitamins
• Throat lozenges
• Anti-diarrheal medicine
• Anti-constipation medicine

And if your pack is still light:

• Binoculars
• Journal
• IPOD (note that recharging may not always be possible)
• Reading material
• Travel game or cards
• Photos from home

Travel Insurance

All participants in a must have travel insurance. This will protect you against the risk of comprehensive expenses which may result due to medical emergencies or accidents. This insurance should include air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs. Please be noted that we don't arrange or sell insurance and it is best to arrange this in your home country.