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Mardi Himal – Machapuchare Trekking

Nepal Nepal

Trekking Map

The Mardi Himal Trek follows a mountain trail with daily breath-taking views of the snow-capped peaks and offers you a varied and shorter alternative to the Annapurna Base Camp trek. The hike takes you to the foot of Machapuchare (6,997 m), the most beautiful and sacred mountain in the region.

The path meanders along small paths through incredibly beautiful landscapes, ancient rhododendron forests, tea plantations, traditional villages with friendly locals. The mountain views at Mardi Himal Viewpoint (4,200m) of Annapurna South (7,219m), Hiunchuli (6,441m) and Machapuchare will take your breath away and make you dream of many more Himalayan adventures.

This beginner trekking tour is ideal for those who are short on time but still want to immerse themselves in the world and culture of Himalayan mountain trekking. A certain level of fitness should be present.

 

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu – Introduction, equipment check and welcome dinner
Arrival in Kathmandu. You will be picked up at the airport and driven to your hotel. In the afternoon we will explain the details of the trip with you, and in the evening you are invited to dinner with your guide. Overnight in Hotel Tibet or similar category, (D).

Day 2: Kathmandu sightseeing and preparation for trekking
Today we explore Kathmandu with a local guide. This day can be designed flexibly according to your wishes. The most popular places and most impressive sights include Pashupatinath – a Hindu temple with cremation places, Swayambhunath – also known as the monkey temple -, Boudhanath Stupa, Durbar Square and Thamel – the tourist center of Kathmandu. You should return to the hotel in the late afternoon and pack for the trek the next morning. You can also leave a bag at the hotel with items you won’t need on the tour. The rest of the day can be used as free time. Overnight in Hotel Tibet or similar category, (B).

Day 3: Flight to Pokhara – drive to Phedi and trek to Pothana (1.925m) – 4 hours hike
After breakfast we take the morning flight to Pokhara. Upon arrival we drive to the starting point of the road in Phedi and start the trek to Pothana, where we spend the first night in a tea house. Overnight at the Tea House Lodge, (B|L|D).

Day 4: Trek to the Forest Camp near Kokar (2,600m) – 4 hours hike
From Pothana we hike up to a place called Pitam Deurali, where we deviate from the main route of the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek and then continue on a quiet path through a dense oak, maple, hemlock and rhododendron forest. Today we spend the night in a hut in a cleared area, the Forest Camp, also known as Kokar among the locals. The cabins at Kokar are simply furnished so that you may have your meal with the owner of the cabin. That seems more like a stay in private accommodation. It offers you the opportunity to get to know a friendly family from the Siding Village. Overnight at tea house lodge, (B|L|D).

Day 5: Trek to Low Camp (3,150m) – 5 hours hike
From the Forest Camp to the Low Camp, the path continues through the forest, with the vegetation changing during the ascent. More rhododendrons appear and the trees are covered with mosses, lichens and ferns. In the Low Camp there are two huts with simple basic equipment, one of which even has a dining room with an open fire. The view from the Low Camp on the Machapuchare (6,997 m) at the end of the valley is fascinating. Overnight at tea house lodge, (B|L|D).

Day 6: Trek to the High Camp (3,600m) – 4 hours hike
An hour above the Low Camp, the path branches above the tree line and heads west, where we enjoy a beautiful view of the Annapurna south face and the Hiunchuli. The path continues along the Mardi Himal ridge, mostly on grass-covered ground with a few isolated rhododendron bushes lining the path. Look out for the colourful Danphe Pheasant in this section of the trail! The view of the Annapurna south face, the Hiunchuli and the Machhapuchhre (fishtail) from the hut is impressive. Overnight at tea house lodge, (B|L|D).

Day 7: Day trip to the Mardi Himal viewpoint (4,200m) – and back to the Low Camp (3,150m), 6 – 7 hours hike
If we want to experience an atmospheric sunrise today, we have to get up early. After a very early breakfast, we hike up the ridge to the Mardi Himal viewpoint at 4200 m. The moderately inclined grass path has a few steeper, exposed sections, but generally not too much of a challenge. Look out for both the dzos (cross of yak and cow) grazing up there and again for the danphe pheasants. In summer, the sheep and goats are driven from the lower-lying villages to the higher-lying grassy areas to graze. This means that you will come across many cattle huts along the way. After three hours we should reach the upper vantage point at 4,200 meters, where we can look at the huge Annapurna massif and have a spectacular panoramic view of its south face and its many peaks, as well as the Hiunchuli and the Machapuchare (fishtail), which is considered particularly sacred. Overnight at tea house lodge, (B|L|D).

Day 8: Trek to Kalimati (1,900m) – approx. 5 hours
We climb the path downhill through Lumre until we reach Kalimati. Kalimati is mainly inhabited by the Brahmin ethnic group. Overnight at tea house lodge, (B|L|D).

Day 9: Trek to Lwang (1,400m) – 5 hours
The way to Lwang leads you through beautiful cardamom fields with easy ascents and descents. The inhabitants of this village belong to the Gurung ethnic group and know how to cultivate their culture. Overnight at tea house lodge, (B|L|D).

Day 10: Hike through tea plantation and drive to Pokhara – about 3 hours drive
From Lwang we climb uphill for about 30 minutes to look at the beautiful tea plantations of this region and continue hiking through oak forests, rhododendrons and white birches, with again unbelievable views of the Annapurna south face, Hiunchuli and Lamjung until we reach our previously organized jeep that will drive us back to Pokhara. Overnight at Hotel Mount Kailash Resort or similar category, (B).

Day 11: Flight to Kathmandu – rest of the day free time
Transfer to Pokhara Airport for the flight back to Kathmandu. Pick up from Kathmandu airport and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure, which you can spend with further sightseeing or shopping in Thamel. Overnight at Hotel Tibet or similar category, (B).

Day 12: Flight back home
Farewell and transfer to Kathmandu Airport and flight back home, (B).

We reserve the right to make program changes due to special events, force majeure or weather reasons.

F = Breakfast | M = Lunch | A = Dinner

 

Our tours start every Saturday:

German guided tour
English guided tour

This trekking tour can also be booked for individual travelers (one person alone) at an additional cost or at the same price for a group at dates other than shown here.

Duration: 12 days
Costs: € 1.490
Group size: min. 2 Persons (all the tour dates are guaranteed with a minimum group size of only two persons)
€ 170 for single room supplement (only for hotel accommodation, for lodge overnight stays during the trek, especially during the high season, single accommodation is not available).

What’s included:

  • Airport transfers in Nepal
  • All relevant surface transfer (with private vehicles)
  • All hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • All meals on trek (B,L,D)
  • All internal flights (with Tara Air, Sita Air, Summit Air or Buddha Air), inclusive Airport Taxes and 15kg free luggage
  • Sightseeing with entrance fees, guide and vehicle
  • Permit, National Park Entrance/Conservation Fees
  • Guide and porters
  • 12 kg free luggage on trekking tours, carried by porter
  • Quality service and trek equipment
  • Oxymeter

Not Included:

  • International flights
  • Additional tours and meals that are not mentioned
  • Beverages
  • Personal bills
  • Visa
  • Excess baggage charge (beyond 15 Kg each)
  • Insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects)

Visa
Your visa can be issued on arrival at a counter at Kathmandu airport. Visa costs on arriving in Kathmandu amount to US $ 50 (stay of up to 30 days) and US $ 125 (stay of up to 90 days).
The fees can also be paid in euros, which are converted by the bank at the airport in accordance with the dollar exchange rate. Two passport size photographs must be provided for the visa. At the time of the trip your passport must be valid for at least a further six months and have at least one blank page.

These visa and passport regulations apply to EU countries, Switzerland and the USA. Other nationals should check with the relevant consular authorities.

Insurance
Travel health insurance (with recovery costs) is essential for your own safety and a precondition for participation in our trips. In the event of an accident in the mountains which requires a helicopter rescue, the helicopter will not take off before the responsibility for the cost is clarified.
The conclusion of travel cancellation insurance is highly recommended. In the case of bargain price flights in particular, changes or cancellations generally can’t be made free of charge. In Nepal complications with the weather or with your health could make it necessary to break off your journey.
We have requested ERGO (Reiseversicherung) to create various service packages for you. You can book travel health insurance at www.reiseversicherung.de.

Please note: ERGO insurance can be booked by residents of Germany and Austria. Those living in other countries are requested to book their travel insurance through an insurance provider in their own country.

It should be noted that geoDiscovery Tours advises its customers to book their travel insurance via ERGO as a recommendation only, and accepts no responsibility for the contractual content between the customer and the travel insurance provider. Customers can book their travel insurance via ERGO or another provider at their own discretion.

The hotels and lodges booked by us
In Kathmandu and Pokhara the hotels we book are good and correspond to medium-level Western standards. Sanitary facilities are clean and functional; the hotel cuisine is adapted to Western eating habits and the food is safe to enjoy. There may sometimes be power cuts, or no hot water may be available for a while. The hotel staff is generally very friendly and looks after the welfare of guests. The hotels booked by us are as follows:

Kathmandu: Hotel Tibet/Manaslu ***+
Pokhara: Mount Kailash Resort, Lake Site Retreat ***
Palpa/Tansen: Hotel Srinagar **
Lumbini: Hotel New Crystal ***
Chitwan: Jungle Villa Resort
Nagarkot: Nagarkot Farmhouse

During the trek and in the interior of the country conditions are very varied, and travelers must sometimes expect basic sanitation facilities. For standard treks and tours you will stay overnight in typical “lodges” (teahouses). These usually offer very small single rooms or double rooms (some with no running water and no private shower / toilet).
In general, during the trekking tour you can select what you wish to eat from the menu. However, at altitudes of 4,000 meters it can happen that on some routes the choice of food is not very extensive. Typical Nepalese cuisine is mostly vegetarian, but very tasty, filling and wholesome. Travelers need to be adaptable, however.

Flying in Nepal
The domestic flights booked by us are with Tara Air, Summit Air, Sita Air or Buddha Air.

Tour program
The travel program for all of our recommended tours is carefully planned. It can happen, however, that roads are closed without advance notice or are impassable, that there are waiting times of several hours because of traffic congestion or fuel shortages and that specific tourist attractions are closed for various reasons. Other restrictions such as flight delays or even cancellations due to bad weather, strikes, the health of participants or unfavorable conditions while trekking may also make the implementation of the travel program more difficult or at worst make it impossible. However, our local guides are prepared for such situations and will make every effort to achieve every aspect of the program to your satisfaction. As a result the inconvenience can normally be kept to a reasonable level. Nevertheless, it must be pointed out at this juncture that for the above reasons program changes are possible at any time and cannot be influenced by the organizers. The resulting costs are borne by the traveler. We ask for your understanding.


Trip Details

  • Duration: 12 days
  • Holiday Type: Lodge Trek
  • Best trekking period: Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan/Mar/Apr/May
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Max Altitude: View Point 4.200m
  • Group size: Min. 2 persons (all the tour dates are guaranteed with a minimum group size of only two persons)
  • Tour guide: English speaking, trained Nepalese mountain guide
  • Difficulty:
  • Fitness:
  • Price: 1.490,00 
  • Single room supplement: 170,00 €
    (only for hotel accommodation, for lodge overnight stays during the trek, especially during the high season, single accommodation is not available)