Mardi Himal is a small summit by Nepalese standards at 5,587 m, located in the Annapurna region. For many years the trek to the base camp was accessible only to a small number of tourists who were willing to go with tents, accompanied by the Nepalese service team. But since 2012, the route was opened to all comers, in this regard, the region is still not very popular. There are no crowds of tourists here like on the neighboring trek to Annapurna. But it is here where you can enjoy truly wild nature, silence and almost no interference of civilization. Only the trails trampled by shepherds and the occasional simple lodges will remind you that people come here.
The Mardi Himal trek is ideal for beginners going to Nepal for the first time. This is exactly what it is designed for you. The trick of the trek is the unique views of the sacred peak Machapuchare, the abode of Lord Shiva. Shiva has chosen the most beautiful peak for his home, and we will view it from all sides. Even the most experienced trekkers who have been to Everest base camp and hiked around Annapurna will be amazed by the unique views from the Mardi Himal trek.
We do not cancel or shift groups. If the manager approved the purchase of a ticket, you can surely buy it. The hike will not be canceled due to our fault.
Experienced Kuluar teamleaders will accompany the group on all route, will make the trip as safe and unforgettable as possible! They have been to Nepal many times and know the country in details.
In Kathmandu we stay in a good hotel, understanding that you will want maximum comfort after the trek.
The Teamleader or our Nepalese partner will meet you at the airport and take you directly to the hotel. The guide will tell you and show you where to change money, buy souvenirs and equipment, what and where to eat...
The manager, who will advise you before the trip, herself was in Nepal and will tell you the details from personal experience!
More than 12,000 participants have already gone to the mountains with the Kuluar and 97,8% were satisfied. We're sure you'll be happy, too!
Kathmandu is, at first glance, a noisy and dusty city. But if you look closely, it is very bright, welcoming and diverse. Try to take a morning flight that day to rest from the road and immerse yourself in the capital of Nepal. In the evening over dinner at one of our favorite cafes, meet the whole group and prepare for our exciting journey.
We have a long drive ahead of us. We have an early breakfast and take a chartered bus to Pokhara, a beautiful town of greenery, flowers and relaxation. We are going to come back here after the trek. Now we have lunch and transfer to jeeps to get to the mountain village Kande. It's a small village nestled in a clearing in the rhododendron forest known as Australia Camping. The views of the Annapurna Massif and Pokhara Valley are panoramic from here. Admiring the scenery, in about 2.5 hours we reach Deurali, from where we can see the picturesque Modi Khola valley, sandwiched between Annapurna South and Machapuchare.
The mowing will take 8-9 hours;trekking - 2.5 hours; a distance of 6.5 km.
After a fabulous morning on top of the ridge, we hit the road. Today we turn off the trail that leads to Annapurna basecamp and take a course to Forest Camp. There are no tea houses and no villages along the way. Only rhododendron forest, wild jungle and mountains around. So we have to take a stock of water and a snack for the day until we get to the campsite, where we can settle in and have a good meal.
Trekking 4-5 hours, distance 8 km
A short hike through rhododendron forest along the ridge. Low Camp is a small clearing in the middle of the forest, where a couple of lodges are set up. The peaks of Machapuchare and Mardi Himal became even closer. The blue skies rest against the Himalayan foothills and join the broad valley to the south.
Hike 3 hours, distance 3.5 km
Our trail climbs higher and higher. After 300 meters of elevation gain we reach the edge of the forest zone and end up at Badal Danda Camping, which means Cloudy Hill. Indeed, after leaving the forest, we now have unparalleled views of the snow-capped peaks of South Annapurna, Hinchuli and the Fishtail Mountains (Machapuchare), which rise above the deep valley. After resting and drinking tea at the only lodge in Badal Danda, we move on to Hai Camp. It is bigger than the previous one, because there are three lodges here.
The hike is 3 hours, a distance of 4.5 km.
Since there are no more places to spend the night above High Camp and Mardi Himal climbers use tents, we will make a radial ascent to Mardi Himal base camp and descend back to our lodge in the evening. This will be the toughest day of our Mardi Himal trek, due not only to the maximum altitude of the route, but also to the steep climbs and drops, as the transitions were smoother before that. But for the sake of these beauties we can suffer a little and gather our strength for the decisive exit.
We wake up very early, still dark, and go out on the road. We are sure to take a snack and a hot hour in a thermos with us. Immediately after leaving High Camp, the trail divides into two. The left path is shorter, but it has steeper elevation and steep precipices. So we choose the right bypass fork to get to our first destination, Lower View Point, in peace and safety. This is an open lookout point on the ridge where we can watch the beginning of a new day as the sun gradually floods all the mountains with golden colors and awakens the Himalayas. It is a mesmerizing sight.
After meeting the dawn, we continue our trek. After about 2 km we reach Upper Viewpoint. The trail is not so steep anymore, so it is relatively easy to walk without altitude. Having rested a bit and admired the new views from the observation deck, we need to make one more run. It's just under a kilometer walk, so we're sure to make it and reach Mardi Himal base camp at 4,500m. From the base camp in front of us at arm's length Mardi Himal (5587 m), Machapuchare (6993 m), Annapurna I (8091 m), Gangapurna (7455 m) and Annapurna II (7555 m) peaks rise up.
Back and forth trekking 8 hours, distance 10 km
We take the familiar trail down to Low Camp. It would seem that we have already seen everything here 2-3 days ago. But believe me, from a new angle, in different weather, everything seems new and unexplored. After all, even our mood affects the perception of the beauty around us. From Low Camp we turn left and take a new road to Sidhing. This is where the dirt road starts, so there's no point in walking in the dust. The jeeps pick us up and by the evening we are taken to Pokhara, where we check into a nice hotel with hot showers.
8 km hike, 30 km trekking
Pokhara is a magical town among the mountains of Nepal, which relieves all the fatigue after the hike, gives complete relaxation. But let's supplement the hiking emotions with a tour of this town. Waking up early in the morning, together we will go to the famous lake Feva to swim in colorful boats. On the other side of the lake the path will take us to a small hill where the Peace Stupa is located. We will admire the panoramic view of Pokhara and the snowy peaks of the Annapurna ring. Today we say goodbye to the mountains. Before leaving for Kathmandu we visit the Davis waterfall and the underground temple of Shiva near it. We arrive in the capital of Nepal late in the evening, check into our hotel.
Let's spend one more day actively to make the most of this trip. Let's allow ourselves an hour more sleep and go on a tour of the main sights of Kathmandu. We will visit Durbar Square, Budanath and Swayambhunath stupas, and Pashupatinath temple. You will learn about Nepali culture, religion and traditions. Don't forget to buy a couple of souvenirs as a memento.
Return tickets can be taken on evening flights of the same day.
Additionally after the trek you have the opportunity to go to Chitwan National Park to ride through the jungle on elephants, on narrow boats on the river with crocodiles, to see the dancing of the local natives and much more. Allow +3 days for this at the end of the program. Our guide will help you with your tour arrangements. See more about Chitwan in the video:
Depending on the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the guide has the right to make changes to the route.
Visa to Nepal is issued directly at the border, the cost of visa for 30 days of stay - $50. Detailed instructions on how to apply here >>. To get a visa you need only a valid passport, valid for more than 6 months from the date of return flight.
To participate in the trekking you must be free of diseases incompatible with active tourism: the list here.
After the trek to Mardi Himal trek, we recommend the following routes:
You should buy tickets in advance, as soon as we confirm your participation in the track. The most convenient way to buy tickets is to fly with AirArabia and FlyDubai. Notice that the luggage is not included in the price and you need to order 20 kg extra at the time of purchase, or buy a package with 1 piece of luggage. On boarding you will need a credit card, with which the tickets were paid for - do not forget it! Tickets cost $500-$700 round trip.
To find the cheapest tickets you can use the form below:
Visa to Nepal is issued directly at the border, the cost of visa for 15 days of stay - $ 30. Detailed instructions on how to apply here >>. To get a visa you need only a valid passport, valid for more than 6 months from the date of return flight.
To participate in the campaign you must be free of diseases incompatible with active tourism: the list here.
Mobile communications along the route will at times be lost. Where it is available, 3G works. Most lodges have paid Wi-Fi, costing 100-300 rupees. In Pokhara and Kathmandu there is free internet in cafes, as well as in hotels. Charging is available in almost all lodges, the cost can be per hour or per device, price 100-700 rupees.
If you are going to Nepal for the first time, you want to see as much as possible, to experience the diversity of the Himalayan landscape, to walk through the jungle and forests and to reach the highest mountains of our planet - you are on the right track. This trek is considered one of the easy ones in Nepal, so often newcomers who are not confident in their strength and altitude tolerance sign up for the group. The main highlights of the route are the wild uninhabited trails, magnificent views of Machapuchar and Annapurna, and lookout points on the approach to Mardi Himal base camp, one of which we will meet an unforgettable sunrise.
Thanks to the fact that we sleep and eat in lodges, the backpacks along the route will be light. In addition, there is always the possibility of hiring a porter, which we strongly recommend to all participants. He will carry the main part of your luggage (up to 12 kg), and you will walk with small rucksack with warm jacket, water, documents and money. The trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp is the easiest by Nepalese standards and can be done by anyone with an active lifestyle. But just to get up from the couch and pass the track will be very difficult. The best preparation for the trek is running (about 5-7 km 2-3 times a week), squats, cardio exercises, which will not only increase your stamina, but also train your legs for the daily treks. The better your fitness, the easier you'll tolerate altitude, acclimatize and enjoy the trek and the scenery around you more. For hiking fitness tips from experienced climbers, read the article.
In Kathmandu we will stay at the Hotel Arts 4*. Standard accommodation in 2-bed rooms.
During the trek we live in lodges, which are tourist shelters with a public shower and toilet (sometimes in the room). Food we order in the same lodge where we live. Rooms are very simple, small, for 2-3 people, not heated. Of furniture there are often only beds. Beds are made with linens, but it is recommended to take your sleeping bag and sleep in it. Upon request, you can ask the hosts for a blanket. Electricity is available in almost all the loggias, but in the rooms there are rarely outlets.
There are gas showers along the whole route, but the higher you go, the worse it is. Good showers in Namche Bazaar, Pyramid and Lukla, where we try to stay in rooms with showers in the room. In the other localities, at an altitude of 4,000 m or higher, we do not recommend showers, as you can easily get sick.
On the 11th day of the trek we plan to spend the night in "The Pyramid" at an altitude of 5050m, where you can enjoy comfortable rooms, hot showers, free charging and unlimited tea/coffee and delicious food.
To better understand the living conditions, we highly recommend watching some examples of lodges from our tracks. Click on the name: a nice lodge in Namche Bazar with a shower in the room, a basic lodge in Dole - no shower and with ice in the sink, cool rooms at the Eco Resort in Gokyo, a standard lodge in Chukung, a mug of tea after a night in a room in Gorak Shep. Even if you sleep in other localities, the lodges will be about the same level.
Individual accommodations are possible for the entire program, it costs +$250. Be sure to notify the manager in advance.
The menu at all lodges is extremely varied (different types of eggs, pasta, soups, potatoes, pizza, rice). An interesting feature is that the same dishes in different lodges may be cooked differently and taste completely different! Food prices increase proportionally with altitude. On average, it will take $15-$25 per day to get a decent meal.
For an example, we recommend looking at some of the most expensive prices on the route in the village of Gokyo, and here is a folder with photos of menus and food from other lodges on the trek to Everest.
Let's face it, some people like Nepalese food a lot, but there are also those who "don't get it". Meat is usually scarce on the trek, so you can take some lard and a stick of sausage with you.
As in other regions of Nepal, there are two seasons for trekking in the Himalayas, spring (mid-March to late May) and fall (mid-October to mid-December). If you go in early spring, you should be prepared for the fact that there is still a lot of snow on the pass and the approaches to the lakes, and the lakes themselves are hidden under the ice. Closer to the middle of April the first lakes will melt, the snow on the trail will remain only on the approach to the base camp. A big plus during this period is the blooming rhododendron forests, which against the background of snow-white mountains create incredible contrasting pictures. In the afternoon in spring the sky is often covered with clouds and at about 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon it may rain or snow. But by this time we usually arrive at the boat house. Also, spring is the active season for climbers of Everest and Lhotse, so the sections of the classic trail will be oooh-full of people and cargo animals. But there is an upside to this - April and May are the base camp full of life, with lots of tents and would-be climbers. Autumn is warmer, there are hardly any clouds, the snow is already melted everywhere; base camp is empty.
Most of the trek is at moderate altitudes. Temperatures will be around +20 degrees during the day and can drop to freezing at night. At the highest overnights the temperature can drop to -15 outside, and to 0...-2 in the rooms. Rains are not frequent. Characteristic weather for the mountain regions is clear mornings and cloudy evenings.
The currency of the country is the Nepalese rupee. The exchange rate is approximately 100 rupees to 1 dollar. You can exchange at the hotel reception or at the exchange office, with which we have long had an agreement for a more favorable rate. The teamleader will take you to the right place. It's noteworthy that Nepalis are very careless about paper money - so don't be surprised if you get a bundle of rupees punctured with a stapler - it's quite normal. All expenses en route are in rupees only. Exchange about $500 for them before the trek. Bank cards are only accepted at some points in Kathmandu, so be sure to take cash. Also, there are big restrictions on ATM cash withdrawals and fees are racked up.
You should buy souvenirs at the stalls in Thamel (the tourist district of Kathmandu), not at the sights. Always haggle with Nepalis; sometimes the price can be discounted several times over.
Everyone probably knows that Nepal is famous for extremely cheap travel gear. Well, it really is! You can buy a flicer for $5, a down jacket from $30, trekking poles from $10. But you have to understand that despite the tag - it's not branded equipment, but made somewhere in the local basements. There are stores with the original, but prices are the same as ours. In general, do not necessarily carry a whole pile of equipment from home, most you can buy cheap already on the spot. Tourist stores simply unreal number. Read more about equipment in a separate article =>>.
These people are porters who carry your things for money. One porter can carry no more than 24 kg. The cost of this service is about $ 20 per day, but you can take one porter for two - it will be twice cheaper! It is not customary to feel sorry for porters, no matter how much they might unload on themselves. Nor is it customary to invite them to your table. Porters have their own room in the lodges where they eat and sleep with their friends. The best thanks on your part would be a tip equal to the porter's daily wage. So prepare an extra $20-30 to tip the porter and the Nepali guide. For more details about the porter's work, see the article "Porter on the trek - to take or not to take".
To participate in the program, you need to take good insurance that is valid at altitudes up to 5,500 m, covers mountain hiking, and includes helicopter evacuation. Please do not neglect this point. It has saved some participants thousands of dollars. Our insurance recommendations can be found here: "Insurance for Kuular Hikers".
There is no miracle pill that will save you from mountain sickness. The main thing is a smooth and competent acclimatization. Some pills can speed it up and make it easier. If you are sure in your abilities it is not necessary to take pills.
*Please, pay your attention: it's not the manager's task to choose a flight for each participant. The manager gives general recommendations, based on his experience and shares the flights of other participants, so you can fly together. It's up to the participant to select and purchase his own convenient airfare. If you want the manager to buy you a ticket, book a hotel or an additional excursion, read the terms and conditions on the page: additional services.
Total mandatory expenses not included will be approximately $200 + airfare. Take a few hundred dollars for souvenirs.
We reccomend: For $60 USD you can order a porter (carrying your 12 kg) for the whole trek. For those with little hiking experience, we strongly advise ordering a porter at once and not to spoil the experience of the trek with a heavy backpack.
To reserve a place in a group, you need to pay a $200 deposit. This money is needed to make passes and hotel reservations. Methods of payment and conditions of return in case of cancellation or leaving the route here. The rest of the payment you are to give to your guide on the first day of the program.
Friends! We kindly ask you to pick up dollar bills of 2003 and newer. Dollars from the 90's are not accepted in many countries and we sometimes have problems with local partners. Thank you for your understanding and new dollars to all:)
