Mardi Himal Yoga Trek

Weather and the Best Season

Mardi Himal Yoga Trek can be performed during various seasons, but the best time for trekking is generally spring or autumn. The main trekking season is spring or autumn and October and November are ideal for mountain views.

The upper regions can be much colder than Pokhara. The higher the altitude, the colder it gets, so warm clothing is essential even in spring and autumn.

Difficulty and Altitude Sickness

The Mardi Himal Yoga Trek is a moderate trek due to the presence of the high altitude, uneven trails and regular ups/downs of the trail. The peak of your trip is around 4500m (14764 ft), so altitude needs to be a big consideration.

Everyone can suffer from altitude sickness. Warning signs may include headache, dizziness, unusual fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite.

Important points:

• Walk at a slow pace and consistently.
• Drink water regularly.
• Stay away from alcohol at higher elevations.
• Take in adequate amounts of food when you are not hungry.
• If you are not feeling well, notify your guide as soon as possible.
• Do not continue climbing if symptoms are getting worse.
• If symptoms of severe altitude sickness appear, descend.

However, good pacing and gradual elevation gain will minimize the risk but not eliminate the risk of altitude sickness.

Insurance, Visa and Permits for the Trip

It is highly recommended to take travel insurance on the Mardi Himal Trek with Yoga, as the trek includes high altitude and trekking accidents or illness may require medical treatment or evacuation. Trekking activities, medical treatment and emergency rescue are recommended to be covered by insurance.

Most tourists will require a tourist visa from their home countries. Visas may be obtained at Tribhuvan Airport depending on the nationality of the travellers, or a visa application may be made in advance from a Nepali diplomatic mission abroad.

Glory Adventure will provide you with the trekking permits and documentation that are required for your trek. The necessary passport details and photographs should be given beforehand to facilitate the paperwork before the trek.

Training, Fitness Level & Mental Preparation

The Mardi Himal Yoga Trek route has a number of days of ascent and descent and some of the days are long trek days at high altitude. No prior experience of the mountains is required, but a fair degree of fitness will be appreciated.

Before the trek:

• Walk often for a few weeks before your departure.
• Add walking uphill or climbing stairs to your workout.
• Carry a light daypack regularly.
• Include basic leg and core strengthening activities.
• Practice regular breathing exercises.
• Take longer walks on weekends if possible.

It is important to be mentally ready as well. Long walking hours, weather, or altitude may cause some days to feel tiring. Do not rush; it’s better to be patient and walk at a comfortable speed.

The yoga, pranayama, meditation and evening recovery sessions on Days 3-7 can also help to bring relaxation and recovery to the journey.

Risk Factors on the Trek

The Mardi Himal Trek with Yoga is run in the mountain environment where the weather can change rapidly. Attributable risks can be avoided with careful preparation, good walking and advice from the trekking team.

Common risks include:

• Altitude sickness at higher elevations.
• Rats and mice on the ground in rainy/snowy conditions.
• Low temperatures experienced at higher camps.
• Dehydration and tiredness.
• Minor slips and falls on uneven trails.
• Aches and pains following extended walking hours.
• Changing mountain weather.
• Poor access to health care services in remote areas.
• Clouds and rain that make it hard to see.

The area heading towards the Mardi Himal Base Camp is steep and high, so it is a difficult section. If you take a walk at a controlled pace and follow your guide’s instructions, you can minimize all unnecessary risks.

Health & Safety

It’s crucial to prepare for the Mardi Himal yoga trek in good health. It is recommended that physical preparation for high-altitude trekking be done and travellers take insurance for trekking and medical treatment.

For a safer trek:

• Have an adequate amount of water all day.
• Eat regular meals.
• Keep your hands and personal items clean.
• Keep out of strong sunlight.
• Take simple personal prescription medicines.
• Let the guide know of any medical issues.
• Take breaks as needed.
• Report the symptoms of altitude changes as soon as they occur.
• Follow the guide’s instructions on difficult sections.
• Have emergency contact numbers readily at hand.

If you have any medical condition or if you are not sure about the capability of high-altitude trekking, you should also consult with your doctor before the trek.

Transportation

Transportation is made easier from the start of the Mardi Himal Yoga Trek. This tour consists of Airport transfers from Kathmandu, a tourist bus ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara, a private jeep ride from Siding back to Pokhara and a drive from Pokhara to Kande.

Glory Adventure will make necessary arrangements for transportation on the trip as per the itinerary. This means that the main road transfers are not arranged separately.

A tourist bus takes you from Pokhara to Kathmandu as well. On your return day, the following service is planned, including airport transfer.

Traffic, road conditions, weather, or construction may impact Nepal’s road travel. Therefore, the driving times mentioned should not be considered as definitive.

Your Extra Expenses

Mardi Himal Yoga Trek package covers the services mentioned in your trip inclusions; however, you may have some additional expenses on your own during the trek.

Some additional expenses may be:

• The cost of a tourist visa for Nepal.
• Individual food and beverages.
• If not included, bottled or filtered drinking water.
• Hot showers at tea houses.
• Mobile data and Wi Fi charges.
• Battery charging fees.
• Personal shopping, souvenirs.
• Advice on guiding and support.
• Personal medicines, personal toiletries.
• Additional accommodation or transport due to personal changes.
• Cost of an evacuation or medical costs not covered by insurance.

Having some Nepalese rupees will be helpful as there are few villages in the mountains where card payment can be made. Having a small sum of cash on hand also helps to cover smaller personal expenses.

Language & Communication

Nepali is the primary tongue in Nepal and English is widely used in the tourist areas. The trip to Mardi Himal is with Yoga – most of the time, your guide and trekking staff will be speaking English or another mutually agreed language with you.

Local and Nepali languages can be heard in some of the villages along the trail. There are a few basic Nepali words that can ease the way into everyday communication and are friendly to residents.

Useful words are Namaste (hello), Dhanyabad (thank you) and Pani (water).

Your guide can assist you with your food orders, in speaking with the people at the tea house and in communicating with the local services. It’s easier to keep essential information written down or saved on your mobile phone in remote areas, where communication is limited.

Mobile Network, Internet & Charging Facilities

There is mobile coverage in many parts of the Mardi Himal Yoga Trek, but it is not the same for the whole trek. The coverage may be limited or non-existent in forested and remote mountain areas.

Tea houses can offer Wi Fi, but it can be slow when many people are connected. Internet access should thus be considered a convenience and not a certain service that is expected to be available while traveling.

Most of the tea houses have electric power, but you might find there’s a fee for charging. Some charging facilities may be shared during busy times.

When power is available, it is advisable to have a power bank to keep your phone, camera and other important devices charged. It’s helpful to download maps, important documents and entertainment before leaving Kathmandu.

Don’ts on This Trip

On the Mardi Himal Trek with Yoga, you travel through local villages, woods and mountain regions where the environment is particularly well protected. This is good for the character of the trail and better for other walkers and local communities.

Please avoid:

• Please do not litter on the trail.
• Avoid littering plastic bottles and wrappers in forests and rivers.
• Do not disturb wildlife.
• Avoid harming vegetation and trees.
• No trespassing.
• Please do not take pictures of people without their consent where appropriate.
• Please do not disregard your guide’s safety advice.
• Avoid running on steep or slippery trails.
• If severe altitude symptoms occur, stop walking.
• Do not use too much water or electricity in tea houses.
• Avoid excessive noise in villages or in religious premises.

Not only is it important to respect local people and the natural environment while trekking in Nepal, but it is also a considerable part of responsible trekking in Nepal.

Cultural Festivals on the Trail

The Mardi Himal Yoga Trek goes through villages of people who live in accordance with their traditional ways. Villages can get busier during festivals and it is possible to observe local traditions and customs, music, food and religion.

Many festivals in Nepal are lunar, so their timing may vary from year to year. Major festivals are Dashain and Tihar and local communities can also hold their own festivals.

Spring is an interesting time as rhododendron forests begin to bloom and autumn is normally a trekking season with stable weather. Rhododendrons flower in the springtime and autumn is a time of clearer skies following the monsoon.

Your guide will be able to help you understand the customs and will be able to explain how to take part appropriately if your travels fall on a local festival day. Obey local regulations at temples, shrines, homes, or ceremonial sites.

Tips for First-Time Nepal Visitors

Mardi Himal Yoga Trek is a first-time trek in Nepal, which is easier to do if a person is prepared for the trek and everyday life in Nepal.

Useful tips include:

• Do not leave your travel documents and passport unattended.
• Take some Nepalese currency for personal expenses.
• Drink plenty of water while trekking.
• Layer up – high altitudes means change of temperatures.
• Carry a power bank for remote areas.
• Do not exceed the agreed weight of the luggage.
• Know some basic Nepali vocabulary.
• Sensitively treat local culture and places of worship sensitively.
• Don’t race the others; go at your own pace.
• Be flexible – roads and weather can change.
• Take your guide’s instructions wherever you go, especially as you ascend higher.
• Get travel insurance that includes trekking and emergency evacuation.

Visitors to Nepal are generally welcome, but travel precautions are required. No trekking is recommended to be done alone and it is recommended that trekkers be accompanied by a guide from a registered trekking agency.

What Makes This Trek Different from a Regular Mardi Himal Trek

The normal Mardi Himal trek is primarily a trek on the trails of the mountain and reaching the viewpoints which are situated higher. The Mardi Himal Yoga Trek also provides a well-planned wellness programme which allows you to take time for physical activity and relaxation.

The extra program from Day 3 to Day 7 consists of 45 minutes of yoga, 15 minutes of pranayama and 10 minutes of meditation in the morning. There are 30 minutes of recovery yoga and stretching followed by 45 minutes of singing bowl sound healing in the evening.

This differentiates the Mardi Himal Yoga Trek experience from people who wish to get wellness activities in their mountain tour.

A Typical Wellness Day on the Trail

The morning wellness session is followed by the day’s trekking, which starts at a typical time. Starting from Day 3 and up to Day 7, 45 minutes of yoga will be followed by 15 minutes of pranayama and 10 minutes of meditation.

Breakfast will be served at the end of the session and preparations will be made for the walk of the day. The trekking is the primary activity during the day. Depending on the walk, you might walk through the forest, mountain trails and higher portions of the walk before arriving at the next tea house.

As soon as you arrive at your accommodation, you will be able to rest, refresh and enjoy a delicious dinner. Afterwards, the wellness program proceeds with 30 minutes of relaxation yoga and stretching.

There are 45 minutes of singing bowl sound healing at the end of the day. Then dinner, rest and get ready for the next day’s hike. This is a simple practice that helps to balance the Mardi Himal wellness trek.

Yoga at High Altitude: What to Expect

Yoga is offered as a relaxing exercise instead of a rigorous one. The body requires time for acclimatisation as the Mardi Himal Yoga Trek goes to higher elevations; therefore, the sessions should be taken at a comfortable pace.

The morning class consists of 45 minutes of yoga, 15 minutes of pranayama and 10 minutes of meditation. At this elevation, it is recommended that the student follow the instruction of the instructor and not exceed their comfort level.

The peak of your trip is about 4,500 m (14,764 ft). Simple physical activity can become harder than it is at lower altitudes.

Let your guide and your wellness instructor know if you have a headache, dizziness, nausea, unusual tiredness, or other symptoms of altitude sickness. Safe acclimatization should always be the priority, not completing every exercise.

What to Expect from Singing Bowl Sound Healing

Day 3-7 Evening Wellness includes singing bowl sound healing. This session is approximately 45 minutes in length and is conducted at the end of the day’s trek and recovery stretching session.

The activity is based on singing bowls and the sound and vibrations they create during a guided relaxation. It will be used to give the dog a quiet time after walking and can be a basic method to calm the dog down before eating and before going to bed.

In the session, you will have the opportunity to:

• A quiet and peaceful setting
• Relaxation, using the sounds of the singing bowl.
• Comfortable sitting/resting time
• Slowly changing from walking to sleeping at the end of the day.
• A session that is about 45 minutes in length.

This activity is included in the Mardi Himal Yoga Trek experience, which has a distinct evening schedule from a normal trekking package, consisting of recovery yoga, stretching, etc. There is no need to have any prior experience in singing bowls or meditation.

Who Is This Trek Best Suited For?

The Mardi Himal Yoga Trek is an ideal experience for those who wish to enjoy the mountains while also engaging in typical wellness pursuits. There is no requirement to be an experienced yoga practitioner to join the program, as it is part of the daily program.

It can be appropriate for those who like to walk but need some time for stretching, breathing exercises, meditation and relaxation. It could also be good for travelers who want more of a balanced daily schedule as opposed to resting all of their free time after the trip.

Reasonable fitness is also a must since there is some uphill and downhill walking and a high elevation. The trekking reaches are of varying length – Day 6 is the longest and highest on the itinerary.

The Mardi Himal wellness trek is thus an ideal choice for those seeking a blend of trekking, indulgence, scenic mountains and organized relaxation.