Mardi Himal Trek

Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. S/he will be displaying an “Accessible Adventure” signboard outside the airport terminal. You will then be received and transferred to your respective hotel in our private tourist vehicle.

Get an early start this morning to begin your journey to the famous lakeside city of Pokhara. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel at about 6:30 AM. Together, you’ll go to a nearby bus station, where you’ll board the tourist bus to Pokhara. The bus leaves at 7:30 AM and takes approximately six or seven hours to reach Pokhara, passing through beautiful river valleys, alongside terraced fields of barley and rice, and over green hills blanketed with lush vegetation. When you arrive at your destination, you’ll check in with your hotel and have the evening free to explore. Pokhara is situated on the shores of the stunning Phewa Lake; many tourists take a boat onto its reflective waters to enjoy the view of Machapuchare rising above town. You can get an even better view from the nearby lookout of Sarangkot, where you’ll see Machapuchare joined by the peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna II. When you’ve had dinner and you’re ready for a good night’s sleep, return to your hotel.

It’s time to begin your adventure on the Mardi Himal Trek! After an early breakfast in Pokhara, you’ll catch a ride to the little town of Phedi. This trip should take less than an hour—then you’ll be ready to hit the trail. Today’s hike will take you through shaded woods and small villages as you ascend along a series of stone staircases. The scenic town of Dhampus is a great spot to take a lunch break while soaking up an alluring vista of the Annapurna range. After lunch, you’ll continue hiking to reach today’s destination: Pothana. This picturesque village is constructed of traditional stone-built homes and paved paths, but you’ll also find evidence of modernization in the form of souvenirs and snacks for sale. Many trekkers continue through the forest to reach the next village of Pitam Deurali, but we’ll stop here tonight to enjoy the friendly atmosphere and excellent mountain views. Your overnight accommodations will be in one of Pothana’s comfortable guesthouses.

We trek uphill alongside a ridge towards Mardi Himal and Macchhapuchhre. The tree lines start getting thinner and the area mostly consists of shrubs with isolated rhododendron bushes along the trail. If lucky, we might even come across the Daphne pheasant (national bird of Nepal) on our way to high camp. We ascend up to the high camp, which the final destination of the day. From here the mountain views are stunning. Overnight in high camp.

Departing from the tranquil clearing of Kokar, you’ll continue to ascend through mossy woodlands this morning. If you’re a photography buff, you’ll be thrilled when an occasional shaft of sunlight pierces the misty atmosphere of these woods, enhancing the mysterious and evocative mood that’s so characteristic of the Himalayas. After a few hours of trekking, we’ll stop for lunch at Low Camp, where you can enjoy a good look at the distinctive fishtail-shaped summit of Machapuchare. As the trail turns westward, you’ll glimpse the glaciated peaks of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli looming over the path. Keep hiking along the ridgeline as the trees begin to thin out, passing abundant rhododendron bushes. This is good wildlife habitat where the danphe, or Himalayan monal, can often be spotted. As you approach High Camp, you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree panorama of snowbound canyons, soaring mountains, and steep cliffs. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better view of mountains.

Wake up early this morning to catch the sun rising amidst the Himalayas.You’ll begin walking up a ridge towards a fabulous vantage point where you’ll enjoy the best sights of the entire Trek. The route follows a well-established trail through grassy pastures, although the going is steep and occasionally narrow. Along the way, you’ll almost certainly get to see dzo grazing in the fields; this is a hybrid species bred from both yak and cattle. In the summer, these pastures are used as a grazing area for sheep and goats; you’ll see a number of herders’ huts as you pass by. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for the colorful danphe if you didn’t get the chance to see this pheasant yesterday. After ascending for about three hours, you’ll reach what’s known as the Upper View Point. This is a rocky outlook situated at approximately 4,200 meters. You’ll be able to savor gobsmacking views into the Annapurna Sanctuary. This high-altitude mountain basin is home to Mardi Himalmassive peaks.

It’s time to turn around and leave the high Himalayas behind you—but that doesn’t mean you have to retrace your steps. To keep things interesting, we’ll follow a different route on your return hike to complete the Mardi Himal Trek. You’ll depart High Camp and trek back in the direction of Low Camp, where the track diverges to approach the village of Siding. This is a traditional Nepalese settlement that doesn’t experience a very high level of tourist traffic, but its residents have embraced an entrepreneurial spirit that has enabled them to thrive in the modern era. Your hosts at Kokar are from this village; in fact, it’s likely that your accommodations tonight will be run by a family operating guesthouses both here and at Low Camp. Siding Village is also home to some of Nepal’s most daring citizens, who are willing to risk life and limb to extract delicious honey from cliffside bees’ nests. You’ll overnight here in Siding

After enjoying breakfast in Siding, you’ll head out to the road, walking in the direction of Lumle. While you’ve now departed from the high mountain trails of the Mardi Himal Trek, your exposure to the varied cultures of Nepal isn’t over yet. As you leave Siding behind, you’ll pass the villages of Kalimati and Ghalel. Kalimati is populated primarily by Brahmin residents; Ghalel, like Siding, is peopled by a mix of both Brahmin and Gurung ethnicities. This is a great opportunity to learn how Nepal’s diverse mountain cultures live together side-by-side. Your hike today ends when you reach the town of Lumle. We’ve prearranged a Jeep to pick you up; climb aboard and head back to Pokhara, which should only take about two hours. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy a fine dinner in the city before turning in. You’ll spend the night here in Pokhara.

It’s time to bid farewell to the Annapurna Mountains—you’ve finished the Mardi Himal Trek! After a final breakfast in Pokhara, it’s time to leave this City of Lakes. You’ll take the tourist bus back to Kathmandu today, which should take approximately six or seven hours. As you watch the rural countryside of Nepal zipping past your windows, take this time to reflect upon your trek. The sights you’ve seen and the people you’ve met will form the basis of memories you’ll cherish in the years to come. When your bus arrives in Kathmandu, you may have some time to do a bit of sightseeing after lunch. The Swayambhunath and Boudhanath stupas are easy to reach and are very much worth the trip: similar in appearance, they are vast domes painted with the eyes of the Buddha and decorated with endless strings of prayer flags. Tonight is also your last chance to grab any souvenirs from the local markets before sitting down to a final meal in Nepal’s most iconic city.

A representative from Accessible Adventure will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport approximately three hours before the scheduled departure of your outgoing flight. We hope you’ve enjoyed your visit to Nepal and your exciting hike along the Mardi Himal Trek. Hosting you has been both a pleasure and a privilege, and we trust that you’ll think of us when you plan your next visit to Nepal.