Mardi Himal Trek from Pokhara - 3 days

Best Time for Mardi Himal Trek from Pokhara

Autumn and Spring Seasons are the favourable times to trek to the Mardi Himal in 3 days due to the mild weather and clear skies. We recommend trekkers not to undertake this adventure during summer due to the unfavourable weather conditions, making the trail extremely challenging and slippery, making it the least ideal time for trekking. However, if you’re an experienced trekker who can handle the weather hurdles, you can consider trekking during the summer and winter periods.

Autumn (September, October, November): During Autumn, the sky is crystal clear with mild temperatures, providing jaw-dropping views of gigantic mountains and fewer crowds, making trekking more peaceful. Moreover, it is also the festive season of Nepal, due to which many trekkers can experience the aroma of culture in the Himalayas.

Spring (March, April, May): Spring is known as a bloomy season, where you’ll trail through red and pink blooming rhododendron flowers, magnolias, and orchids and are surrounded by lush green forests that display the vibrant colours of nature and provide a joyful environment. In addition, the weather is clear, providing majestic views of landscapes and mountains rising high. So, this one is the most preferred season for every trekking destination in Nepal, and that stands no different to the Mardi Himal Trek as well.

Winter (December, January, February): Trekking to Mardi Himal from Pokhara at this time can be challenging and risky. The drop in temperature in winter can cause altitude sickness. The trails are covered with heavy snow, making them sloppy and risky to navigate. However, if you have prior experience and seek a quite challenging hike, then you can opt for this trek during winter as well. The landscapes and mountains are completely covered with white snow, making your trek truly adventurous and memorable. 

Summer (June, July, August): As it is a monsoon season, there is heavy rainfall, due to which the trails can be muddy and slippery. While ascending, there is a high risk of accidents due to the sloping paths. However, if you want less crowded trails and have a trekking experience, then you can do this trip during the summer (monsoon) as well. But it is necessary to make proper plans and carry rainy season trekking gears like raincoats to make the trip successful without any hassle. 

Difficulty Level

The Mardi Himal Trekking from Pokhara falls under one of the easiest, shortest, and family-friendly adventures in the Himalayas, which demands an easy pace of hiking, or you can say, relatively shorter distance coverage per day, compared to other mountainous hikes. Since this is a rapid version, it covers more daily distance coverage from 9 to 14 kilometres per day, demanding almost 5-7 hours of hiking, daily, through varied terrains, making 3 days Mardi Trek from Pokhara a moderately challenging adventure in Nepal. Even though the itinerary is more on the rapid version, it suits beginners as well, who are prepared well enough physically, to undertake at least 5 hours of walking terrains daily, and follow the safety preventive guidelines, from the very beginning, till the end, with comprehensive packing essentials, matching every seasonal variation.

One of the most challenging aspects that one can face during the trailhead is the massive gain of altitude and the changes in terrain,  vastly, making you totally overwhelmed, regarding the continuous changes, where you have to navigate through a varied navigational route. For instance; at the first day, soon after you begin the hike, towards Forest Camp, it goes all the way through a dense forested area, and an uphill walk, with no tea house, in between for almost 6-7 hours, which might be strenuous to those who are first timers. At the same time, the second day, the terrain route passes through rough, steep and rugged patterns, with continous ascend, demanding a proper level of physical fitness, so make sure to strengthen your stamina, with cardiovascular exercises, highly contributing to a smooth journey without draining yourself out mentally.

The highest elevation of this Mardi Himal trek route from Pokhara is attained at 4500 meters, at Mardi Himal Base Camp, with a daily elevation gain of 600- 700 meters per day; hence, following preventive measures is crucial for safe ascent to avoid the main challenge, which is AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Throughout the journey, make sure to hydrate yourself properly, fuel your body with nutritious meals, and do not over consumer caffiene, smoking and avoid having alcoholic beverages completely, no matter whether you are a beginner or a pro hiker, it is suggested to all. Other than that, with prior physical preparations, ascending slowly, and setting a positive, enthusiastic mindset, this trip tends to be a hassle adventure, and a moderate trail adventure in the Himalayas, that anyone can undertake.

Accommodations

Regarding the accommodation facilities, while trekking to the Mardi Himal from Pokhara, you'll get a range of lodging options. Most hotels are locally owned by village people. The locally operated lodges and tea houses are basic but provide comfortable facilities to the trekkers. The lodges offer a local atmosphere with a clay-made heater where you can feel warm even at a high altitude. The hotels are equipped with all sorts of comfortable facilities such as internet, attached bathrooms, laundry, electricity, TV, and various meals. You’ll even have a hot shower and laundry facilities in some lodges that make your stay comfortable enough. 

Food and Drink Facilities

Throughout this trip, you’ll find a wide range of foods from traditional foods to International cuisines like Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan for every nationality. There are a variety of options provided on the menu, like English breakfast, Veg, and non-veg soups with tea and coffee, Dal Bhat, Ramen, Nepali noodles, Fried rice, non-veg and veg curry, dry meats, Thenduk, momo, Pizza, Burgers, Spaghetti, and many more, including local foods. That sounds appetising, right? While this trek offers a variety of food, don't forget to try their Tibetan tea and soup as well. It helps to keep you warm and prevent altitude sickness. 

We highly recommend you have dal bhat at night, as it is a nutritious food that allows you to trek in the early morning with a happy tummy, feeling more energetic. For the beverages, there are many variations available from hot to cold ones, such as any type of tea, coffee, soups, hot lemon, ginger tea, masala chai, Tibetan tea, to keep you warm throughout the adventure, and for the cold beverages, you can find wide options like, coke, fanta, energy drinks, lemon water, red bulls and so on. For the drinking water facilities, you will be provided a hot kettle of water; however charge you extra for it, as it is boiled through a wooden stove, which is truly hard to access, and boiling water via electricity isn't possible, due to limited accessibility of the electricity. For a budget-friendly option, you can bring water purification tablets along with you and purify them when required and have the bottled water or tap water, which are available along the route.

Meanwhile, our 3-day Mardi Himal Trek package covers all the standard meals, for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, except the beverages, which you shall bear yourself, as it falls under the personal expenses side.

Transportation Facilities from Pokhara to Mardi Himal Trail

The transportation accessibility for this 3-day trek to Mardi Himal stands out to be via jeep ride, or a car (taxi) ride, depending on your choice, to get to Dhampus, the beginning point of the trek, and Sidding, the ending point of the trekking trail. While the first day begins with a private jeep ride, or sharing one, to reach the village of Dhampus, which can accommodate up to 6 passengers at 4 WD Jeep. Whereas, after the trip concludes, you will be transported via sharing 4 WD jeep to get back to Pokhara. If you want to, in case, opt for the private jeep from Sidding, then an additional USD 50 is required for a private adventure; however, if you are more than 2 hikers, then a private jeep will be arranged.

Communication and Connectivity facilities

While many trekking expeditions face networking challenges, particularly in remote areas, the Pokhara to Mardi Himal Trail offers reliable communication facilities. Every lodge has a telephone in its reception. So, you can communicate even if the network gets lost. Regarding the electricity, you will get rooms with electric plug-ins. However, please note that these services are not available at Low Camp and Mardi High Camp. Due to the limited number of tea houses and rooms. So, you'll only get plug-ins in the dining area. Here, you must pay $1-$3 for charging your phone and gadgets, and if you want to get WIFI connectivity, then you must pay $1-$3 per day in the upper areas of this trek. 

Permits required 

To trek Mardi Himal from Pokhara in 3 days, the permit requirements remains same, no matter how long or the duration this trip undertakes, or the statring point, there are only two permits required for this trek, firstly, the Annapurna Conservation Area Permiy (ACAP) and secondly the TIMS Card (Trekkers Information Management System Card), which you can either attain at Pokhara or Kathmandu.

• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): USD 25 per person for other nationalities, and USD 10 per person for SAARC nationals, 
• TIMS Card (Trekkers Information Management System card): USD 20 per head for every hiker except SAARC nationalities, as it costs only USD 8 for them

After your booking is confirmed with us, the required permits and paperwork will be arranged by us at Destination Himalaya Treks and Expedition, covered in our package itself.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance remains one hundred crucial for the trip to Mardi from Pokhara, even if it is a short trek, lasting for just 3 days, as you will be travelling across the remote Himalayan route, where basic hospitals or doctors are not available. Please, take note that, although it is a risk-free adventure, and the trekking guide will assist you throughout still dangers or any uncertain conditions, due to weather, altitude sickness, which doesn't come with assurity. Thus, it is best if you have an insurance policy like, trip, delays, cancellation, medical expenses and most importantly, the helicopter evacuation above 3000 meters.

Essential Tips for the 3-Day Mardi Himal Trek

• Always carry a power bank and solar batteries, as in the low and high camps, there is no electric plug available in the room, and lodges charge you $2 - $3 to plug in your phone for charging.
• Buy a Nepali SIM Card for communication purposes.
• Bring cash with you, estimating the additional expenses you might incur during the trek, as ATM services are not available from Pothana to Deurali. 
• Pack only the essential items that are necessary for this trek. Don’t overpack the trekking bag, as it becomes quite strenuous while ascending.
• Even if you hire a porter, carry a small bag to hold your essential gadgets and other basic items, such as a water bottle, charger, phone, headlamp, basic first aid kit (for minor injuries), etc.
• Carry water purification tablets to purify the water provided by the lodges.
• Carry granola bars, protein bars, Snickers, mini chocolate bars, dry fruits such as almonds, cashews, nuts, and others (as you wish).

Booking and Payment Process

We at Destination Himalaya Treks and Expedition has been serving hikers all across the globe, since more than two decades, hitting a milestone of almost 20 years, with having said, that, we are fully aware how feasibility, and safety booking policy is crucial for every clients, that is why, we opt for the safe and easy booking policy, where you can surely assured that, you are on the reliable hands,

Our company is a full local-based tour and trekking agency in Nepal, affiliated with the TAAN (Trekkers Agency Association of Nepal), and NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association), where you can ease in terms of booking. For the pre booking, 20% of the total trip cost is required to be paid via bank transfer, Western Union, or online, and soon after your payment, we will send you a confirmation voucher, of the payment, confirming the payment. Whereas the remaining amount can be paid after you arrive here in Nepal in person, after the payment is done, send us a passport-sized photo, your passport photocopy, and flight details, to arrange the logistics with ease. If you have any other queries, feel free to reach out to us via WhatsApp +977 9851016814 or email at info@destinationhimalayatreks.com anytime.