Mardi Himal Adventure: Engage with Nature, Escape the Crowds

Early in the morning, we will brief you about the trek and do a detailed orientation. As we complete it, we will explore Kathmandu.

In the early morning hours, when the city is slowly but surely waking up, Kathmandu has a distinct vibe. It’s a beautiful day for a walk among the temples. We’ll visit the various temples and pray for the success of our walk. We’ll go shopping for handicrafts, hemp apparel, and bags in Ason’s streets after prayers. Lunch will be a typical Nepali khana, and the remainder of the day will be spent visiting Kathmandu’s local market and interacting with the locals.

Before sleeping, we will recheck our prepared materials for the trip and mentally prepare ourselves for the journey ahead.

Today we will fly to Pokhara. We go to Pokhara early in the morning, either by private vehicle or by plane. We’ll fly for 30 minutes and see the neighboring valleys and mountains from above.

It will be a 200-kilometer drive down the Marsyangdi River and then the Trishuli River, with breathtaking views of the natural surroundings and terraced farmlands along the way. We will arrive in Pokhara after nearly 7 hours of travel.

We’ll rest and do some sightseeing near our accommodation after we get to Pokhara.

After breakfast, drive from Pokhara to the trek’s beginning location, which is about an hour away. Descend to Pothana (6397 ft. / 1950 m.) after a leisurely lunch with spectacular mountain views at the Australian Camp. Our first night’s lodging offers a spectacular view of Machhapuchhre.

Today’s hike will take you into the forest, leaving behind tourists, other trekkers, and even communities. Enter a magical woodland filled with birch, gigantic rhododendron, mountain oak, maple, and hemlock trees. If the weather is clear, the trip will provide breathtaking mountain vistas.

The flora changes to classic ’cloud forest’ with mosses and lichen, tree ferns, and orchids housed by the hardier trees as the trail climbs. Natural windows in the trees open out over breathtaking panoramas, including Hiunchuli and the knife-sharp traverse to Annapurna South. The Modi Khola Valley, which leads up into the Annapurna Sanctuary, will be seen far below, to our left.

We’ll arrive at camp for lunch; this is our destination for the day, and we’ll spend the afternoon acclimating at altitude. Despite being surrounded by woodland, excellent northerly views of the ever-closer ’Fishtail’ are available.

We’re out of the woods after a short, sharp ascent. High Camp is reached through a grassy ridge that is sometimes covered in snow. We’ll arrive about lunchtime and spend the afternoon acclimating while taking in the breathtaking vistas. Annapurna South will appear to be a stone’s throw away, and Machhapuchhre will be within touching distance.

After an early breakfast, we will depart for Mardi Himal Base Camp. If the weather permits, we will hike up to 16,404 feet (5000 meters) (or even to the lookout) where just the top of Mardi Himal separates us from Machhapuchhre’s south face. The Sanctuary Wall’s vast ice fields and azure glaciers are visible below. Beyond there is Annapurna I, the highest of all, and the surrounding landscape stretches from Dhaulagiri to Ganesh Himal.

We will see Mardi Himal(5587m), Hiunchuli(6441m), Annapurna I (8091m), Tent Peak (5695m), and many more others. and back to high camp for an overnight stay there.

In the early afternoon, it will be time to descend. We will walk back to the High Camp.

Today is the most important morning of our walk since we will be able to observe the gorgeous dawn followed by a calm walk to the beautiful Siding village. Our way will allow us to witness the snow-capped mountains and green forests covered with beautiful flowers.

Siding village provides trekkers a peaceful stay by allowing them to check-in away from the main paths and stay overnight at the Tea House.

The trail from Siding gradually descends between the grasslands and through Tamang and Gurung settlements, following the contour of the river valley. We’ll eventually get up to Lwang village, our overnight stop. Located at the elevation of 1460 meters, Lwang Ghalel is blessed with the finest weather that is just perfect for the tea garden, which is why  Organic tea gardens can be found here. Besides being one of the best home stays, we will be able to enjoy local delicacy Sel made of rice flour and prepared for special occasions, a special occasion not to be missed with their traditional dances. Further We’ll have a interaction program with the local  moms’ group or “Ama Samuha”,  in the evening  to know their Journey: good deeds, challenges and success story in their village. We are sure we will hear many inspiring stories and their  struggle which will all be worth it.

The path from Lwang village follows terraced rice fields at the beginning, and eventually, we will be set on a beautiful hill with striking views over the valleys. This hilltop is the Australian Camp.

Through the Australian Camp, we will descend to Sarangkot through a path that welcomes us with the green and terraced surroundings. As we approach Sarangkot, we will be offered a panoramic view of the mountains of the Annapurna massif along with the delightful view of Pokhara valley, and Phewa Lake. And, in the nighttime, we can enjoy the beautiful night lights of Pokhara city.

Today we will trek to Pokhara, starting very early. Witnessing the sunrise from Sarangkot, we will start our journey following a beautiful path with mountains in the background. As we reach Pokhara, we will have various things to do. We can simply relax in our hotel room, or do some sightseeing. We can try authentic Nepalese cuisines, or immerse in the serenity of the Phewa Lake. Moreover, we can enjoy ourselves with some ayurvedic massages. We will also have options to visit nearby places like the Tibetan Refugee Camp.

We leave Pokhara early in the morning for Kathmandu, either by tourist bus or by plane. We’ll go by air for 30 minutes and get a bird’s eye view of the lowlands and adjacent mountains.

By road, a 200-kilometer route will follow the Marsyangdi River and then the Trishuli River, offering spectacular views of the natural surroundings and terraced farmlands. The vehicle takes one final ascent before arriving in Kathmandu, the starting point of the excursion. This is where your journey comes to an end.

You will do last-minute shopping in the evening around the streets of Thamel and nearby places. This will be followed by a farewell dinner offered by us.

You will be leaving Nepal today with memories that will last a lifetime. We will transport you to the airport three hours before your flight. You can do your last-minute shopping (if you are left with anything to purchase) and eat your favorite foods till then. And, we will start counting down the days until we see you again after the final farewell.