Our airport representative will meet you at Tribhuwan International Airport. He will drive you to the hotel in a private car and assist you to check in. You can take a rest after a long travel or go out of your hotel and explore some of the lovely places of Kathmandu city.
You will meet your guide during the Mardi Himal Trek briefing that will take place in the evening. Go through your gear list for the final time. If you have forgotten any item, you can buy or hire from any of the trekking gear shops in Thamel. Your guide will help you out in case you need help. The hike’s information and any missing equipment will be provided by the guide.
Driving Hours (200km / 124miles )
Time Duration 6 to 7 hrs
After an early breakfast, we will take a tourist bus to Pokhara. The bus ride will take six to seven hours. On the way, you will see the picturesque Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers. Pokhara is a beautiful valley set on the banks of the Phewa Lake, known for its panoramic views of Annapurna ranges, Machapuchare in the north, Dhaulagiri in the west, Manaslu and Lamjung Himal in the east. Pokhara is a tourist paradise complete with modern amenities.
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Take an early morning flight to Pokhara. During the flight, enjoy mesmerizing views of rolling green hills and Himalayan mountains. After reaching Pokhara, you take a short 1-hour drive to Kande, the starting point of your trek.
Begin with an ascent along a well-laid stone trail. After walking uphill for an hour or so, you reach Australian Camp. Enjoy panoramic views of the Annapurna Massif and Lamjung Himal from here.
Walk downhill and proceed to Pothana, a Gurung village, and your stop for the night. On reaching Pothana, head to a local tea-house and rest your tired muscles.
Enjoy a hot beverage and gaze at the beautiful forked summit of Macchhapucchre or Fishtail Peak. You will be walking close to this peak in the next few days.
Overnight in Pothana.
Driving Hours 2 hrs
Trek Distance 9km / 5.5miles
Highest Altitude 2100 m / 6,889 ft
Driving Hours 3-4 hrs.
Early in the morning, we will drive around 2hrs to reach Dhampus from where the trails begin. The hike takes us through ethnic Brahmin, Magar, and Gurung villages while being greeted by panoramic views of the Annapurna peaks. Our walk continues through the rhododendron, forest to Pothana, and finally to Deurali (2100m). At Deurali, you will get to witness the high glaciers on one of the greatest Himalayan peaks – Annapurna South – looming in the distance.
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Today’s trek takes you past a dense forest of rhododendron, oak, birch and hemlock. If you do this trek during Spring season, the rhododendrons will be in full bloom and you will get to walk under canopies of blooming rhododendrons. It will feel like a walk through an enchanted forest. Do be careful while stepping on the gnarled roots spreading over the trail. Covered with algae, these can be slippery and a wrong step will make you fall. After an uphill hike you reach Forest Camp. There are a few teahouses and you head to the one where your room has been booked. Up in the middle of the forest, you can soak in the tranquility listening to nothing but the chirping of birds. Take a well deserved rest.
Overnight in Forest Camp.
Trek Distance 6km / 3.7miles
Highest Altitude 2600m /8,530ft
Trek Duration 5 to 6 hrs
We leave Deurali early morning and head to Forest Camp. The path ascends fairly through rhododendron, birch, oak, maple, and hemlock forest. On your path, you get glimpses of wildlife – leopards, deer, monkeys, and several bird species. We will spend the night at Forest Camp.
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It’s uphill once again as you gather your things and head onwards to Badal Danda(Cloud Hill). Walk up a forested path. At intervals you will come across a clearing from where you can gaze at the valley below. Enjoy the view of the Modi Khola Valley that leads to the Annapurna Sanctuary from here. After walking for some time, the vegetation begins to change. The lush jungle gives way to short scrub and grasses and the iconic Machhapuchhre(Fishtail Peak appears closer). When you reach Badal Danda, make your way to a tea house. The place is called Badal Danda( Cloud Hill), as oftentimes, the areas below the hill are covered in a sea of white cottony clouds. At night you can stargaze and view the constellations, which appear a lot more closer.
Overnight in Badal Danda.
Trek Distance 8.5km / 5.2miles
Highest Altitude 3600m / 11,811ft
Trek Duration 4 to 5 hrs
Today’s trek will take us from Forest Camp to High Camp via Low Camp. The trails are steep, but you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of Machhapuchhre (fishtail mountain), the Annapurna Range, the Annapurna Base Camp valley, and Mardi Himal.
After walking for some hours, the forest finally opens into a clearing allowing you to see the face of Annapurna South. Then the trail breaks into a combination of scrub forest and open meadow.
As we climb the ridge becomes narrower, and you can see the deep valleys on both sides. To your left, you will be looking straight down on the Modi Khola river valley alongside villages that lead up to the Annapurna Sanctuary. To our right, you will see the Mardi Khola and Seti river valleys. On clear days, you can even see Pokhara Valley. We continue walking the narrow ridgeline to High Camp (3900m), where we stop for the night.
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Wake up early in the morning and hike to Upper Viewpoint or Mardi Himal Base Camp. This hike to the Base Camp is the real highlight of this trek. After walking further on the ridge, you reach the Upper View Point. From here, continue to Mardi Himal Base Camp.
The ridge becomes increasingly narrower, and the views become surreal. The grand summits of Annapurna South, Huinchuli, and Machhapuchhre appear very close. The peaks loom right above you, and you can see the massive glaciers tumbling down the mountainsides. This is a view to kill for!
Machhapuchhre, which looked so far away from Pokhara, is in front of you. After reaching the base camp, take pictures, have your packed lunch and retrace your steps before the clouds roll in. Make your way down Badal Danda(Cloud Hill) or Middle Camp, from where the valley below is covered with white clouds that look like a sea of clouds. Descend to Low Camp, where you stay overnight at a local teahouse.
Overnight in Low Camp.
Trek Distance 10km / 6.2miles
Highest Altitude 4,500m / 14,763ft
Trek Duration 7 hrs
We wake up early at High Camp to appreciate the most spectacular sunrise views on the mighty Himalayas. Then we will climb along the narrow ridge to reach Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4500 meters.
From Mardi Himal Base Camp, you can see the sun lighting up the full face of Annapurna South while Fishtail Mountain looms directly overhead. After spending some time at the Mardi Himal Base Camp, we descend back to High Camp for lunch and then descend further to Low Camp, where we will spend another night.
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Get up early to catch breathtaking views of the Himalayas. After breakfast, begin your journey down to Sidhing, a traditional village rarely visited by trekking groups.
At Sidhing our vehicle will be waiting to drop you at Pokhara. The drive is filled with delightful views of green hills and mountains. Once you arrive in Pokhara, you will be driven to your hotel. Take a well-deserved rest.
Overnight in Pokhara.
| Trek Distance | 12km / 7.4miles |
|---|---|
| Highest Altitude | 3,050m /10,006ft |
| Trek Duration | 7 hrs |
We descend from Low Camp down on a very steep trail that passes through the forest. After an hour’s hike, we reach a broad clearing where we will rest for a while. But our descend continues to hillside village Siding, which lies about 500 meters above the river valley. Trek descends through the village of Landruk – an ethnic group of Gurung settlement. Depending on the situation, we might stay at Landruk or continue to Jhinu Danda. There are natural hot springs near Jhinu Danda, where we can relax our tired muscles in the hot springs.
OR
You have an afternoon flight to Kathmandu. You can spend the first half of the day as you wish. Take a rest at the hotel or explore Pokhara on your own. You can stroll down the lakeside and take a boat ride on Phewa Lake. You can also visit Davis Falls, Gupteshwar Cave, and the island Temple of Tal Barahi on Phewa Lake.
You will be driven to the airport on time to catch your flight to Kathmandu. From the plane, catch the last few glimpses of the inspiring hills and mountains which gave endless memories to last for a lifetime.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Trek Distance 4km / 2.4 miles
Highest Altitude 1,780m / 5,839ft
Trek Duration 3-4 hrs
Driving Hours 2-3 hrs
We have reached our final day on the trekking trails. Today we make a pleasant hike along the Modi River and head down to reach Siwa/Ghandruk Phedi. We then say goodbye to the trails and make a return drive through picturesque countryside to Pokhara.
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Once you reach Kathmandu, head back to your hotel and take rest. If you aren’t too tired you can explore Thamel and shop for souvenirs. Come evening, celebrate the completion of your wonderful trek with a farewell dinner with your guide or our representative.
Overnight in Kathmandu.