Short Mardi Himal Trek

How does our trip start?

The 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek starts with a short road trip to Kande, the starting point of the upcoming trekking days. This ride takes about 1.5 hours to complete and takes us to the countryside of Nepal. After reaching Kande, we will grab our bags and get on the trail to Low Camp via Pothana and Naudanda. Our porters will be responsible for our heavy loads, while you have to carry a light daypack to carry your water bottle, energy bars, electronic devices, and other things you need frequently.

You can also put your devices in the same bags as your heavy luggage, but they might be damaged unintentionally while being transported from one place to another. In such a case, we are not liable for the damage, which is why we recommend you carry your devices yourself. It is an easy and short trek to Low Camp, which officially sets off the trekking days of the 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek.

Difficulty

The standard Mardi Himal trek lasts about 5 days, while the extended itinerary goes as far a 8 to 10 days, and the shortened version trims down a day, making it only 4 days long. Some even go as low as 3 days, which is not meant for everyone. The standard itinerary follows a route and pace that is very manageable and caters to the majority of trekkers. It’s suitable for beginners and first-time trekkers alike.

All in all, this 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek is one of the easiest trekking experiences you can choose to do in Nepal. The trail is easy for the majority of the way, and the ascents are very doable, although there are some difficult sections along the route. On a scale of 10, the experts at Glory Adventure rate this trek about 5.5.

Best seasons

The best season to experience the 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek is spring. During this period of the year, the trees grow greener, offering a trek through lush hills in addition to the wild flowers and rhododendron flowers that bloom along the way. Furthermore, the day temperature is very mild, and the scene of the valley seems brighter due to the clear visibility of air.

The next great option is the autumn season. This season offers great visibility, nice sunny weather with little chances of rain, and a dry trekking experience, meaning no slippery moss and icy patches. However, there might be icy patches as we get closer to the Mardi Himal Base Camp. You can also do this trek in the summer season, but get ready for hot and humid temperatures in the lower regions, especially the city areas.

Can a beginner join this trip?

Absolutely, this 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek is especially meant for beginners; the easy-going trails and the trivial maximum altitude are a great combo for first-timers and beginners. If you are someone who has never been to any trekking destinations, we highly recommend you start with this trekking experience. If you are unsure about reaching a Himalayan Base Camp, you can go for a trek to Poon Hill which another great beginner option the Glory Adventure offers.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude Sickness generally starts from 3500 meters, but it is not something to worry a lot about unless we reach 5000 meters and over. Until around 5000 meters, the effects of altitude sickness are very minimal, with little inconvenience, such as a slight headache or lightheadedness, nothing major. The maximum altitude we will reach during this trek is 4500 meters at the Mardi Himal Base Camp, this elevation is closer to the extreme altitude sickness elevation, but not close enough.

Also, we will not be spending much time at the base camp, barely even an hour. The guides at Glory Adventure are trained professionals who are capable of seeing early signs of altitude sickness by measuring the oxygen levels of each trekker. You are in safe hands when you are traveling with us.

Accommodation, Food and Drink

Basic lodges and tea houses are the standard accommodation options during the trekking days of the 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek. Homestays are also a great option, but they are not generally available at the exact time we need them, and they are not as “serviceful” as the other options. Homestays are actual houses of the locals where we stay as guests, which translates to no other services than food, water, and a bed. Some might have WiFi connections, but that is the limit of extra services.

While food items like sandwiches, burgers, spaghetti, noodles, pasta, etc. are available at most of the eateries we will stop at, we urge you to try the local dishes at least once. Your drink options are warm tea, cold drinks, energy drinks, seasonal fruit juice, and locally made alcohol.

Transportation

A ride to Kande at the beginning of the trek and the ride back to Pokhara at the end of the 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek are the only transportation expenses this trek package covers.

Permit

Trekkers are required to have an Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit to legally do this trek and roam around the Annapurna Conservation Area freely. This permit is obtainable at the Tourism Board Office in Pokhara and Kathmandu.

Trip preparation and fitness

Although the 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek is short and easy, it does not mean that you can just join the trek. It requires you to train physically for 3 to 4 weeks before the start of the trek. You will be trekking for 3 to 4 hours per day, which is not difficult but can be very taxing if you are not well-prepared for the trek. You can simply go on short hikes, walk around a long distance, or do cardio exercises to strengthen your leg muscles and gain stamina.

The preparation requirements for this trek are very minimal in comparison to other Annapurna region trekking destinations. If you are not sure how to prepare, you can also ask the guide for tips.

Cost & Budget

The cost of this 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek is USD 450 per person. At this price, your transportation costs, permit fees, daily fees of guides and porters, their insurance coverage, daily meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner), local taxes, and more will be covered. As we move further up to the base camp, the prices of everything rise, even a simple daily need item will cost twice or thrice the original price.

Gadgets charging & Internet

The Annapurna region is one of the best-facilitated trekking highlands in Nepal, all thanks to its popularity. The infrastructure and range of services are better than Everest’s, primarily because of the lower elevation and easy accessibility. However, the internet connectivity is still not reliable; you might get good coverage in the lower region villages, but it’s very unstable at higher altitudes.

The region also faces power outages mostly during the daytime, but the frequency of it happening is very low. The locals have learned to rely on solar power when power outages occur during the nighttime.

Your Extra expenses

Accommodation in Pokhara before or after the 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek, your personal travel and medical insurance fee, any kind of flight expenses, any kind of beverages, additional and upgraded accommodation, tips for the porters and guides, emergency medical services, etc., are considered to be extra expenses.

Things to Remember Before Trekking 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek

• Not many travel agencies talk about it, but after high camp, you are less likely to find shower availability. You might have to skip a day of shower since it is not sustainable for tea houses to prepare your hot bath water with burning logs.
• Your rooms during the entirety of the 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek are on a twin-sharing basis, meaning every two trekkers will share a single room with 2 separate beds.
• Since it is a remote experience, the limited food options are to be expected. It’s not a highly stocked region where you find lots of canned and frozen goods.
• The climb to the base camp starts very early in the morning since we have to avoid the strong winds that usually occur in the afternoon.
• Pack your sunglasses, sunscreen, beanie, down jackets, boots, trekking poles, etc., to ensure a well-prepared trekking experience.

Upgrade Your Accommodation in Pokhara

For the majority of your trekking days, you will be staying in basic lodges and tea houses, but there are upgrades available for your stay in Pokhara. The standard accommodation is a 3-star hotel that your 5-day Short Mardi Himal Trek package will cover. However, 4-star and 5-star accommodations are also a viable option that many trekkers choose to go for. If you would like an upgraded accommodation, you should let us know about it at the booking phase.

If you request us for an upgrade after a while of booking your trek, we might not be able to provide you with your preferred accommodation choice. While there are not many upgrade options, we can arrange some high-end accommodations that are available at certain villages during the trekking days.

Note: This trek package does not cover your accommodation expenses in Pokhara at all.

Sightseeing Day Trip in Pokhara

The city of Pokhara is the starting point of this journey, but it is more than just a city; it’s the most beautiful city in all of Nepal that offers a lot of fun activities and scenic viewpoints. Your Pokhara sightseeing trip will begin with an early morning drive to Sarangkot Viewtower to catch a stunning scene of the sunrise.

From there, we will go to Bindabasini Temple, a highly-revered temple sitting atop a small hill right below Sarangkot. Likewise, we will visit a bunch of places, including the World Peace Stupa, the Pumdikot Shiva Statue, Begnas Lake, Kristy viewpoint, and more. We can also visit a couple of museums if you are interested in learning about the Gurung culture or mountaineering history.

You can also go for a couple of extreme sports such as bungee jumping, paragliding, rafting, ziplining, etc. Activities like mountain biking, paddle boarding, canyoning, hot air balloon ride, and more are other lighthearted options.