The Mardi Himal is a relatively new route in the foothills of Annapurna and has developed into a full scale trekking route in the last few years. It now has a series of lodges at different camps and for a short five day trek rivals the traditional Ghandrung-Poon Hill loop. It has great views reaching almost to the bottom of the Fishtail Mountain Macchapucchare along with Annapurna South, Huinchuli and Gangapurna.
Suitability: A good choice for most walkers, reasonable level of fitness required.
Walking times: average 5 to 7 hours walking per day
Altitude: up to 3550m at High Camp.
Terrain: for most of time following well-travelled trails, there will be daily ascent and descent on steps which are part of any Nepal trek.
Remoteness: usually not too remote and often there is a reasonable level of infrastructure such as lodge accommodation and cell/ mobile phone reception and wifi reception every day at the lodges.
Day 01 Kathmandu to Pokhara by early morning flight and the drive to Kande and trek to Deorali 2100 metres 3 – 3.5 hours We fly into to Pokhara 30 min and then drive for 75 min to Kande. From Kande we climb to Australian camp in around two hours and then walk to Pothana in half an hour for lunch. From Pothana the trail climbs uphill to Deorali in an hour and we stop here for the night making it a short first day.
Day 02 Trek to Forest Camp (2550 metres) 4-5 hours walking This is a longer day than before and we walk mainly through the forest with bird calls and typical Himalayan vegetation. We stop at Dudhkunda for a cup of tea and then reach Forest Camp in time for a late lunch.
Day 03 Trek to Badal Danda (3220 metres) 6-7 hours walking This is again a longer day. The trail climbs gently and reaches Rest Camp in around 45 minutes. It then continues to climb gently and in about 3 hours reaches Low Camp where we can break for an early lunch. From Low Camp in around 45 minutes Middle Camp is reached and in another 20-30 minutes we reach Badal Danda our night stop.
Day 04 Trek to High Camp (3550 metres) 3-4 hours walking This is a very short day and well before lunch we are at High Camp with views of the great mountains all around us.
Day 05 High Camp to View Point 4500m and back to High Camp 6 to 7 hours walking We leave early in the morning to walk to the View Point which is on a difficult walk with a rough trail. We should be back in High Camp by early afternoon and if we are not too tired can descend to Low Camp on the same evening.
Day 06 – High Camp to Low Camp 2970m and then down to Siding 1900m 5-6 hours – jeep Siding to Pokhara 3 hours We reach Low Camp in two hours and after a tea stop begin the long downhill descend to Siding. After a quick lunch at Siding we take our transport down to Pokhara.
Day 07 Pokhara to Kathmandu by morning flight and then onto home destinations
December 7th to 14th 2024
The cost of this trek is USD 975 for foreign passports and INR Rs 55,000/- for Indian citizens. Meals not included. Please budget an additional US $ 200-250 for meals, battery charging in lodges, wifi charges, hot water in flasks etc. Exclusions apply.
Costs include
- :
- Two internal flights Kathmandu to Pokhara return.
- Drop and pick up from trailhead
- ACAP national park permit and TIMS permit for trekking in the Annapurna region
- Travel from Pokhara to start of trek and back
- One night accomodation at Pokhara and one night accomodation in Kathmandu on the way in and out on twin sharing basis
- All accommodation on the trek on twin sharing basis
- Cost of porters/guides for the trek. Please note that porters will carry one duffel bag or backpack not exceeding 10 kgs in weight for each trekker comprising of personal items, clothing, sleeping bag etc.
- Please budget an extra USD 25 per day for meals not included in the cost above
Costs not included:
- Meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara and fooding on the trek is not included
- Airport taxes at Kathmandu and Pokhara airports in case of flights.
- Desserts, drinks, and exotic items listed in the lodge menus are not included.
- Alcohol, cold drinks (coca cola, sprite, beer), juices, ice cream etc on the trek and in Pokhara.
- Client travel and medical insurance of any kind.
- Emergency evacuation costs if needed.
- Video camera fees in National Parks (where applicable).
- Bottled drinks; boiled, filtered or bottled water; alcohol; snacks; tea/coffee;
- Hot showers (Rs 200-300 per shower);
- Personal clothing and equipment; sleeping bag; douvet/down/goretek jacket, medicines for personal use etc.
- Air fare from home country to Nepal and back
- Tips to porters/guides at the end of trek estimate at US $ 50 per person
tbo
| ITEMS | REMARKS | |
| Duffle Bag | All the equipment listed below other than what you need for the day should be packed into a duffle bag, locked and handed over to the porters in the morning. In case you cannot get a duffle bag in your home country these are available very cheap in Kathmandu and I can help you with this. The duffle bag should not weight more than 10 kgs! | |
| 1 | Sleeping Bag | Warm sleeping bag is needed at least three season rated to 15F |
| 2 | Daypack or Hipbelt | To carry water, one jacket some nuts, chocolates, cap, camera to keep with you in the day, maybe gloves and cap as well, hiking poles etc. |
| 3 | Boots or Trekking Shoes | one pair |
| 4 | Slippers or Sandals for camp | lightweight to wear in the evenings |
| 5 | warm Socks | 2 pairs to carry and one pair to wear |
| 6 | Gloves | one pair |
| 7 | Underwear | 1 to wear and 2 to carry |
| 8 | Warm Cap | one- Wool or fleece is usually good |
| 9 | Heavy jacket | the warmest you can get as nights and early mornings are cold - down is usually preferred otherwise a warm synthetic filled jacket. |
| 10 | Thermal Underwear ( top and bottom) - long johns | inner layer to wear at night and early morning ; |
| 11 | Mid Layer | Usually a jacket of fleece or wool which can be worn over a thermal layer or by itself while walking |
| 12 | T shirts for walking | one to wear and 2 to carry - if the sun is hot you can walk in a T shirt |
| 13 | Trousers /tights etc | one to wear and one to carry light weight preferred |
| 14 | One Rain Jacket /Wind Jacket/Soft Shell jacket | useful in case of wind ... you may need it in light rain though we would usually take shelter and wait for the rain to stop. Our trek is not in the rainy season though some light rain/snow in the late afternoon evenings cannot be ruled out. |
| 15 | Torch or headlamp | one small needed carry one set spare batteries |
| 16 | Sun bloc | one small tube should be ok spf 30 or 50 |
| 17 | some essential medicines | vitamins, headache, fever, pain killers, diamox for altitude, your own specific medicines etc |
| 18 | Hiking poles | if you have bad knees then this is recommended especially on the down hills!! |
| 19 | Water bottle | one no 500 ml or 1 litre is ok you can use the 500 or 600 ml empty coke or pepis bottles |
| 20 | Sun glasses | the sun is strong in the day |
| 21 | Cap for the sun | ditto! |
| 22 | small towel | for baths and wash up in case you can use the hot shower |
| 23 | toothbrush, paste, soap, shampoo, vaseline, comb | and any other toilet items you may need! |
| 24 | wet tissues - wet ones for bathroom | called wet ones in India |
| 25 | some washing powder surf etc small | to wash clothes en route if needed |
| 26 | Nuts, raisins etc all mixed up | can be divided into small packets for daily use |
| 27 | Chocolates /Energy Bars/Amul cheese slices/tea bags | Carry some chocolates or energy bars to have on the way. Amul cheese slices are very useful and can be had as snacks when you are tired of sweets! |
| 28 | Sweets | for energy |
| 29 | Volini gel/ Bengay etc for aches and pains | or any other equivalent |
| 30 | Iodine or chlorine tablets for water purification | available in Kathmandu- this is important as mineral water bottles are expensive; for overseas visitors you can get iodine tablets in REI and other large outdoor outlets |
| 31 | Electral or any other rehydating salts | Carry a few small packets of electrolyte - useful to have mixed with water if dehydrated |
| 32 | some spare plastic bags to pack wet stuff, dirty clothes etc | |
| 33 | Book in case you want to read on the way and IPOd for music optional! | |
| 34 | Two small locks one for your duffle bag and one for your room in case the lodge does not have a lock | |
| 35 | Clothes line with hooks on either side in case you want to hang up your wet clothes to dry outside!! | |
| 36 | Super Glue | To patch up boots that may give way! |
| 37 | Face mask | For dust, cold winds etc available in kathmandu |
| 38 | Extra shoe laces | one pair |
Sujoy Das
India: +919831054569; Nepal: +977 9818037020
Lok Silwal
Nepal: +977 9851022984
CANCELLATION POLICY The cancellation policy and refunds available are given below: 0-7 days before the start of the trek =75% 8 -15 days before the start of the trek = 50% 16-30 days before the start of the trek = 35% 31-45 days before the start of the trek = 25% 46 days and above = 15%
IN CASE OF LEAVING THE GROUP If due to illness or any other reason a client has to leave the group and go down or wait at a campsite for the group to pick him/her up on the way back, all expenses including lodging, fooding and any porter/guide related expenses if any are to be borne by the individual client over and above the trek fees paid for the trek. There are also no refunds for leaving a trek before completion.
HIRING OF PONIES ETC In the eventuality of a client needed the services of a pony to come down to lower altitudes, the cost of hiring the pony will be paid by the client.
CAMPSITES ON THE TREK The choice of campsites to be used on the trek will be decided by South Col and clients will have to stay at these designated campsites. Clients are not permitted to choose their own campsites on the route.
TREK ROUTE The trek route and day wise schedule will be fixed by South Col and will have to be followed by the client.
RISKS AND LIABILITY The trek is in a remote mountain area and has certain additional dangers and risks, some of which include: physical exertion for which the client should be prepared; weather extremes subject to sudden and unexpected changes; remoteness from normal medical services; evacuation difficulties. In the event of injury or illness South Col Expeditions (Sujoy Das) or its Staff can, at the clients cost arrange any medical treatment and emergency evacuation service as it or they deem necessary for the health and safety of the client. Waiver of liability form as per link attached to be signed by the client. https://www.southcol.com/waiver-of-liability-release/