Nepal is known as the home of Himalayas, and it is so as there are of eight of fourteen Mountains above 8,000 meters and many other big and small mountains. Well, thanks to all these glorious mountains, Nepal has some of the trekking destinations which are very popular in the whole world like Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Annapurna Base Camp and others.

However, if you want to trek somewhere quieter and less crowded by trekkers, then Mardi Himal will be your best choice. Mardi Himal trek will take you to the quieter parts of Annapurna region of Nepal. This trek is a solitary trek where only fewer trekkers choose to make their way. I would say Mardi Himal trek is an “underdog” with lots of surprises in your way as your trek unfolds.

Mardi Himal Trek

Mardi Himal Trek is rather a short trek to the Annapurna region where you will stay in local teahouses, enjoy the stunning views of the mountains like Machhapuchre, Annapurna, and Hiunchuli. No other short trek will give you the chance to witness those spectacular views. Also, the trail of this trekking route will make a small circuit up to the base camp of Mardi Himal so you won’t have to backtrack over the same path.

The beauty of Mardi Himal Trek

To move on to your ultimate trek to Mardi Himal, you have to first arrive at Pokhara, a stunning valley with beautiful lakes. To arrive in Pokhara, you can either take a fight or travel by bus/jeep/micro from Kathmandu. If you arrive at Pokhara by bus, then you stay a night there to let go of your hangover.

Now from Pokhara, you have to drive up to Kande and start your trek from there. The starting route will be quiet and friendly, then it will be steeper and slippery somewhere, but no matter how the route is, you will be so captivated by the beauty of those wood in your path that it will all fill in. Then you will arrive at Deurali and can choose to stay the night to look up to the beauty of nature.

Otherwise, you can continue your trek from Deurali to Forest Camp which will take around 6 hours. On your trek to Forest Camp which is at an altitude of 2,500 meters, you will pass through plain way for about an hour, which goes through the beautiful pine trees. Then you will pass through the stunning rhododendron forest, the whole trees blooming with rhododendron makes the whole forest so colorful and beautiful.

From Forest Camp, you will move towards Low Camp which lies at an elevation of 2,970 meters and takes around four hours to reach from Forest Camp. You can see the stunning views of Mount Machhapuchhre and other peaks from Low Camp. Your next destination will be High Camp which is at an altitude of 3,550 meters so it will be best to acclimatize in Low Camp before moving to the higher altitude.

Then from Low Camp, you will arrive at High Camp. On your way, to high camp, you will pass through beautiful forests, and you can enjoy the beautiful views of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna, and Hiunchuli. You can also see the beautiful villages like Ghandruk Village, Chhomrong Village, and Macchapuchhre Base Camp valley.

From High Camp, you will move towards your ultimate destination: Mardi Himal Base Camp which is at an elevation of 4,500 meters. Your trek from High Camp to Mardi Himal Base Camp and back to High Camp will take around seven hours. This part will be most challenging part of the trek as you will have to go through steep trails and have to do some rocky climb. Don’t forget to pack your lunch and enjoy them with the view of glorious Mardi Himal, Annapurna, and other mountains.

Returning from Mardi Himal Base Camp to High Camp, you will move towards Sidhing which takes six hours. Sidhing is at an elevation of 1,700 meters. On your way to Sidhing you will pass through several pine and rhododendron forests.

From Sidhing you will arrive Lwong, which is at an elevation of 1,460 meters, by around six hours of walk. On your way to Lwong, you will also walk through some plain paths. You will arrive at a place called Ghalel, a small Gurung village which provides homestay facility. Then when you arrive at Lwong, you will see that Lwong is an old village with houses built in the traditional way. During the evening time, you can also hear folk songs singing and dancing which are organized by the local mother group.

Then from Lwong, you will arrive at Khoramukh in about 1 and a half hour walk. From Khoramukh, you can find the transportation means, and you can go to the Pokhara in about one and a half hour of the ride.

From Pokhara, you will arrive at Kathmandu and head towards your new journey.

Accommodation and food on Mardi Himal Trek

You will get all the accommodation and food during the trek on Mardi Himal. However, they won’t be of a high standard as in city areas. During your trek in Mardi Himal, you will get typical Nepali food, which is Dal Bhat. Pancakes, pasta, and chopsy are also offered and do not keep your expectations high, as they will serve you the best they can. However, the food they serve will be fresh and made of local goods. Dal Bhat is a very filling food and helps you keep the stamina throughout the trek. Beverages and chocolate items can be found too.

And now talking about the accommodation, it will be very basic and simple where you have to sleep in foam mattresses and share bathrooms. It will also be better to bring earplugs in case you have a noisy neighbor and crying babies. Hot running water won’t be available, but you will get a bucket of hot water.

Mardi Himal trek season-best time

Best time to go for Mardi Himal Trek

Before visiting any new place, it is best to know about the climatic condition of that place and the best time to pay for the visit so that you can enjoy each moment of your visit. So for Mardi Himal Trek, followings are the guidelines of the month before you pay a visit.

Mid-September-October – November

It will be the best time to visit as monsoon ends clearing off all the smog and dust and gives you the best view of mountains.

December – February

It is the winter season, and the coldness gets extremely bitter up in the camps. Also, there exists the risk of paths to be obstructed due to heavy snow.

March – April

To go for Mardi Himal Trek during this time of year will be good as winter is on end and summer is about to start.

May –June

It is pre-monsoon season, and the sun will be shining and warm. Although the climate gets hot, you will be relieved seeing the beautiful rhododendron forest.

June – Mid-September

This isn’t the very best time to go for the trek as the trails will be extremely challenging due to heavy rain and leeches can be found in greater number during this season.