Mardi Himal Trek - 5 days

Morning

• 5 AM to 6 AM: The typical day on the Mardi Himal Trek begins early, around 5 AM to 6 AM. After waking up, trekkers freshen up and then start having breakfast. It is wise for trekkers not to skip breakfast, as it is the day’s most important meal.
• 6 AM to 7 AM: After having your breakfast, it’s time to prepare for the trek ahead. You have to prepare for the big trek ahead by packing all the necessary items and separating the items you might need instantly from others you will need in the evening. After packing up, it’s time to begin the morning trek.
• 7 AM to 1 PM: The morning trek begins at 7 AM, and you start moving from the teahouse where you stayed overnight. You will pass through different landscapes, from barren wildlands, lush jungles, rocky ridges, glacial moraines, and snowy mountains. The early part of the trek is more intense since you are rejuvenated from the previous night’s sleep and the energy from the breakfast. After about 5-6 hours of intense trekking, it’s time to stop for lunch.

Afternoon

• 1 PM to 2 PM: This is the time for lunch and rest. Your guide will take you to the local restaurant to enjoy delicious regional dishes and a few Western meals. It is important to rest whenever you can, so take advantage of the lunch. After an hour of lunch and rest, we will continue our trek.
• 2 PM to 5 PM: After lunch, the pace of the trek becomes lower, so you will gradually stroll to the next teahouse where you will be staying today. The sun starts falling, making the atmosphere chilly, so wear a windscheater or fleece jacket. The shadows of the region start forming in the mountains, making the trek exceptionally beautiful. You will stop frequently to see some stunning views of the mountains. Late in the evening, before it gets dark, you will reach the new village and check in your teahouses.

Evening

• 5 PM to 8 PM: This is time to enjoy the surroundings and environment of the new teahouse. You can stroll around the village and mingle with the local people. There will be some temples, monasteries, pubs, restaurants, teahouses, etc., which you can visit and introduce yourself. The people in these villages are amiable and welcoming.
• 8 PM to 9 PM: After spending a few hours in the teahouse, it’s time for late-night dinner. The dinner and lunch menus are similar, but it is wise for you to enjoy local Nepali Dal Bhat, as it is the primary energy source. We recommend you eat lightly, which will help you sleep better at night.
• 9:30 PM onwards: It’s time for sleep. Sleep early and rest as much as possible before your trek tomorrow. REM sleep is highly essential to feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Mardi Himal is one of the shortest but easiest treks in Nepal, which is why It’s possible to trek Mardi Himal without a guide, but there are challenges. The trail is mostly easy to follow, but it can be hard to navigate in certain areas, especially in bad weather or if you need to get more familiar with the terrain. However, if you want to make your trek more secure, safe, and easy to navigate, then it is wise to hire a guide.

Furthermore, hiring a guide can also be crucial if you are a beginner or trekking Mardi Himal trek in the off-season such as winter or monsoon season. Beginners do not have prior knowledge of the region along with routes, areas, and logistics, which is why guides can help them. During off seasons, there is huge risk of blocked path and natural disasters in which you will need guidance and expertise of guides.

Mardi Himal Trek is one of the beginner-friendly treks in Nepal. It is considered among the most leisurely trek among all the other treks in Nepal. Despite being one of the easy treks, the trekkers have to plan and prepare for the trek to reduce the trek’s challenges and make it more fun. Every trekking spot in Nepal is an altitude trek with many factors that influence the difficulty level of the trek. So even if some treks like Mardi Himal are more accessible than other trekking spots, planning and preparation are necessary. Hence, let’s get into it.

Increase Physical Fitness

One preparation that trekkers who are thinking of the Mardi Himal Trek must do is improve their physical fitness. In the Mardi Himal trek, the trekkers will reach an altitude of over 5000m through diverse landscapes and rugged terrain. The trekkers also have to trek for at least 3 to 5 days to get there, and every day, they have to cover a distance by hiking for about 6-7 hours, which will take a toll on their bodies. Hence, even before booking your trek, it is wise for trekkers to increase their physical stamina and strengthen their cardio. Activities like jogging, hiking, swimming, running, etc, will help improve your core or cardio. So ensure you are prepared for the Mardi Himal trek with high physical fitness and stamina.

Select Ideal Trekking Conditions

Choosing the right trekking conditions is essential to enjoying the Mardi Himal Trek at its absolute best. The two ideal seasons, Spring and Autumn, provide more opportunities to enjoy the trek and reduce the challenges trekkers will face if they trek in other seasons. Selecting the best time for trekking the Mardi HImal trek is even more crucial for beginners not accustomed to the complicated high-altitude trek. So make sure you choose the ideal trekking conditions and enjoy the trek to the fullest.

Prioritize Acclimatization

Although the Mardi Himal Trek is among Nepal’s most accessible and shortest treks, there is a chance of altitude sickness since the trekkers will climb over 5000m. Proper acclimatization is one of the best ways to minimize altitude sickness during the high-altitude trek. There are ways to acclimate correctly, like trekking high and sleeping low, climbing altitudes gradually, keeping yourself hydrated, and taking necessary medication when you feel the symptoms.

Eat Healthy and Drink Plenty

One thing that makes the fantastic Mardi Himal trek detrimental is if the trekkers fall sick or ill. Several factors impact people’s health in high-altitude treks like Mardi Himal. So make sure you are eating healthy cooked foods. Avoid meat products in high altitudes as they may not be cooked hygienically. Furthermore, make sure you avoid alcohol and coffee products, as they are the primary source of dehydration. In the high-altitude trek, dehydration is a significant problem, so drink at least 3 to 5 liters daily.

Trekkers travel mostly from Pokhara to Mardi Himal to experience the majestic trek of Mardi Himal. There are a few modes of transportation that the trekkers can choose to travel from Pokhara to Mardi Himal. The trekkers have to consider a few factors while choosing the mode of transportation, such as comfort, privacy, convenience, and price.

Private Vehicle:

One primary transportation option is to book a private vehicle from Pokhara to Mardi Himal. You can book a private car, jeep, or van to transport from one place to another. These private vehicles provide comfort and privacy; you can also stop whenever you want to stop for lunch or to click photos. Private cars are more expensive than public vehicles, so it is better to book private cars if you are not very worried about your budget.

Public Vehicle:

Another mode of transport other than private vehicles is the public bus. Public buses, such as local buses, shared jeeps, tempos, carts, etc., are the public vehicles that can take you from Pokhara to the Mardi Himal trek. However, choosing public cars without privacy might take several extra days. The best part of choosing a public vehicle is that it is cheaper than a private vehicle, so if you are looking for a budget-friendly trek, then you must choose public vehicles.

Yes, Mardi Himal Trek is worth it to discover some of Nepal’s underrated natural beauty. The Mardi Himal Trek is a great option for beginner trekkers due to its short duration. You don’t need prior trekking or hiking experience to enjoy this trail. The route offers stunning views of Fishtail and other Annapurna peaks, making it a popular destination for tourists. The trek can be reviewed based on trekking days, mountain views, trail structure, food and accommodation, tourist traffic, and access from Kathmandu or Pokhara.

What ultimately makes this trek all worth it is the stunning views from the Mardi Himal Base Camp. It is the ideal choice for those who are looking for a beginner-friendly trek in Nepal. You can just spare 3 to 5 days to enjoy the majestic Mardi Himal trek thoroughly.

Mardi Himal Trek is mainly known for its majestic views of some of Nepal’s tallest mountains. Since this region lies in the Annapurna section of Nepal, trekkers can see stunning views of some of the region’s tallest peaks. During the trek, the trekkers will get views of Mount Annapurna, Fishtail, Dhaulagiri, Mardi Himal, Hiunchuli and others.

However, this trek view is not only limited to mountains but also different landscapes like jungles, yak pastures, barren lands, Baraha Shikhar (Mount Fang), remote villages, glaciers, snowy peaks, temples, Ghumbas, and much more. Hence, on this short trek, the trekkers will be able to get some amazing views, which makes the Mardi Himal Trek even more worth it.

Altitude Sickness is one of the most significant factors impacting the conditions of the trekkers. The probability of altitude sickness increases when the trekkers climb above 3500m. In this Mardi Himal Trek, you have to reach an altitude of 5,587m, which means you have to stay above 3500m for a few days, so the chance of altitude sickness increases. The symptoms of altitude sickness are headache, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, aching bones and joints, etc. Altitude sickness can happen to beginners to veterans if you don’t prepare for it beforehand. There are a few ways to prevent altitude sickness, so let’s get into them.

Prevention for Altitude Sickness

• One of the best ways to prevent or minimize the chance of altitude sickness is to ascend gradually.
• Take advantage of the rest days, short in low-duration treks like the Mardi Himal trek.
• Keep yourself hydrated during the Mardi Himal Trek, as it increases the chance of altitude sickness.
• You must avoid caffeinated products and alcohol so that you don’t get dehydrated.
• Make sure you carry the necessary medications like Diamox to feel relief if you feel the symptoms.
• Before booking your trek, consult your doctor if you have any prior breathing, lung, or acute mountain sickness conditions.

The Mardi Himal Trek covers elevations from 2000 to 4500 meters at Mardi Himal Base Camp. The varying altitudes make this trek moderately challenging. It is essential to be mentally and physically strong for this trek. The trek involves 5-7 hours daily walking on muddy and rocky terrain. Additionally, you must spend two days at an elevation above 3000 meters. You must start fitness training at least one month before your travel date. You should also consider weight lifting and sprinting to strengthen your muscles, which is essential for this trek. The difficulty of the Mardi Himal Trek depends on your fitness level. It could be challenging for beginners but more accessible for experienced trekkers. Being in good shape will ensure a comfortable trekking experience.

Besides being physically and mentally fit, you must also be healthy and able to trek the 4000m Mardi Himal trek. Make sure to consult your doctors if you have prior health conditions, especially lung disease or previous conditions of acute mountain sickness. There are more severe conditions like HAPE and HACE, so if you suffer from these conditions, it is not wise to explore a high-altitude trek like Mardi Himal.

Food

Food is an essential factor to consider during your Mardi Himal Trek. In city areas like Kathmandu and Pokhara, there are many options for meals and menus. However, as you climb altitude and reach remote, isolated places, the menus are limited, and you will only get local Nepali dishes. During your trek to Mardi Himal, you will eat meals three times daily: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is an essential meal for trekkers, and they eat it in the morning.

The menus are teas, coffee, biscuits, bread, chapatis, eggs, rolls, jam and toast, spaghetti, macaroni etc. After the initial portion of the trek, the trekkers will have lunch, and then, later in the evening, they will have dinner. The menus for lunch and dinner are similar to the local Nepali Dal, Bhat, pizzas, burgers, dumplings, steaks, stews, soups, and others. In the high-altitude trek, it is wise to avoid meat products as they might not be cooked or not hygienic enough.

Accommodation

Accommodation in the mountain regions will be similar to other high-mountain accommodations. Initially, you’ll have comfortable accommodations with attached bathrooms for the first few days. As you progress past the forest or low camp, you’ll have standard rooms with shared bathrooms in the teahouse. During the peak trekking season, you might share your room with other trekkers.

The popularity of the trail is leading to improvements in food and accommodation facilities. Accommodation options decrease as you ascend to higher altitudes, and there are fewer food options than lower altitudes. The forest-filled trail has limited lodges and teahouses in major camp areas.

Mardi Himal Trek is one of Nepal’s fun and less challenging treks. However, trekking Mardi Himal in a less ideal environment will increase the level of challenge and decrease the fun, as the surrounding atmosphere will be affected. Two ideal trekking conditions for Mardi Himal are spring and autumn. On the other hand, the two offseasons for trekking are Monsoon and Winter. So, let’s get into them in more detail.

Spring Season

One of the best seasons for trekking Mardi Himal is Spring, which starts in March and ends in May. One significant reason for trekking in Spring is the favorable trekking conditions, like mild temperatures, stable sunny weather, fantastic climate conditions, crisp views of mountains and skies, and blooming flowers like rhododendrons and magnolias along the trails. Near May, the region might start receiving rainfall as it gets close to the monsoon area. Book in advance if you plan to trek in the Spring season, as the region is overcrowded.

Autumn Season

Autumn is another ideal season for trekking in the Mardi HImal trek after spring. The Autumn season begins in the middle of September and ends in November. Many veteran trekkers even believe Autumn is better for trekking in the Himalayas than Spring. This season also provides favorable conditions like stable weather, mild to chilly temperatures, and a chance to see clear skies, mountains, and the Annapurna region. In Autumn, two of Nepal’s most significant festivals, Dashain and Tihar, fall so trekkers can enjoy the local celebrations, cultures, and festivals.

Off Seasons

Monsoon Season

The monsoon season is one of the least ideal or off-seasons for trekking in Nepal. Summer season starts in June, and as the days progress, relentless rainfall begins, beginning the Monsoon season. The Monsoon season lasts from the middle of June to the end of August, after which the Spring season starts. In this season, the trekking conditions are not ideal as the trekkers have to pass through wet and slippery slopes, increasing the chances of injury for trekkers.

Furthermore, in the rainy season in Nepal, floods and landslides are expected, which block trekking trails and damage property and lives, so you must be very careful if you are purposefully trekking during the Monsoon season. For the Mardi HImal trek, the monsoon is not ideal. However, it might not become too much of a problem. However, this season, due to less visibility, you may not enjoy the trekking as an overall package compared to others.

Winter Season

Like the monsoon season, winter also falls in the off-season for trekking Mardi Himal. The conditions are not ideal for hiking the high altitude trek due to high altitude and dynamic weather. In the winter, the trekkers will continuously face harsh weather, from rain and snow to fast-paced winds that derail the trekker’s movement. The harsh weather also brings natural disasters like blizzards, snowstorms, and avalanches, which are detrimental to the trekkers, especially since the teahouses and hotels are closed in the winter.

Winter also affects the Mardi HImal trek like other high-altitude trekking; however, this season is also among the best if you want to see beautiful snowy mountain views. If you plan to trek Mardi Himal in winter, prepare adequately to pack all the necessary clothing, gear, and equipment.

Trekking Gear

1. Headtorch (+ batteries/charging cable)
2. Duffel Bag (if trekking with porter)
3. Gaiters
4. Waterproof Backpack Liner
5. Trekking Poles
6. Microspikes (if trekking in snowy/icy areas)
7. Backpack + Waterproof Cover
8. Water Bottle(s) / Bladder

Clothes

1. Socks (for the evening)
2. Thermal Leggings (for evening/sleeping)
3. Sports Bra (merino wool) x 2
4. Buff Sunglasses (+ spare pair)
5. Underwear (merino wool) x 3
6. Belt
7. Gloves x 2 (thin + thick)
8. Sandals (for the evening)
9. Hat x 2 (sun hat + warm hat)
10. Trousers (for the evening)
11. Liner Socks (optional) x 3
12. Trekking Trousers (preferably with zip-off shorts)
13. Silk Leggings (for winter/high altitude)
14. Short-sleeved T-Shirt (merino wool)
15. Trekking Socks (merino wool) x 3
16. Thermal Tank Top (for winter/high altitude)
17. Fleece Down Jacket
18. Long-sleeved T-shirt (merino wool)
19. Waterproof Jacket
20. Hiking Boots/Shoes (+ insoles)
21. Long-sleeved Thermal Top (for evening/sleeping)
22. Waterproof Trousers

Electronic

1. Cable Portable Solar Panel (optional)
2. Phone + Charging Cable
3. Travel Adapter
4. Power Bank + Charging
5. Charging Unit + Charging Cable
6. Camera + SD Card + Batteries

First Aid and Medication

1. Tampons/Pads/Cup
2. Shampoo
3. Eye Drops
4. First Aid Kit
5. Soap
6. Paracetamol
7. Toothbrush + Toothpaste
8. Any Other Personal Medication
9. Toilet Paper
10. Moisturiser
11. Diamox (optional)
12. Diarrhoea Relief + Rehydration Sachets
13. Decongestant
14. Wet Wipes
15. Antihistamines
16. Hand Sanitiser
17. Nail Clippers (for longer treks)
18. Electrolyte Tablets
19. Strepsils (or similar)
20. Compeed (or similar)
21. Ibuprofen
22. Sunscreen (face + body + lips)
23. Insect Repellent
24. Deodorant