Mardi Himal Trek – 5 Days

Useful Info

Best Time to Do Mardi Himal Trek

 If you are keen on taking part in this short but glorious Himalayan adventure, the best time to do this trek would be during the peak seasons like autumn season (September, October, and November) and spring season (March, April, and May).

Both of these seasons are an ideal period for any kind of Himalayan adventure in the country, the stable weather factors, dry land, warm temperature, and the unique specialty of each season make the Mardi Himal Trek in these months a truly exhilarating experience.

The autumn season is particularly known as the most favorable season for high-altitude and outdoor adventures. The moderate temperature which is around 10°C to 18°C on average makes it the most suitable time for trekking adventures, it’s neither too cold and freezing nor too hot which can result in excessive sweating.

Similarly, the wide clear unobstructed views of the Himalayan vistas blending well with blue sky, lush landscapes, rivers and waterfalls nourished by the monsoon rain, and wildlife exploration, makes this one of the most suitable time for the Mardi Himal Trek. Trekkers will also have the opportunity to immerse in the festival vibe of the country as some of the grandest festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Chhatth etc are celebrated in the autumn season.

On the other hand, the spring season can be a tad bit warmer than the autumn season as the temperature of the region hovers around 15°C to 21°C, but the exploration and the magical moments in this season are limitless.

Known as the blooming season, the spring season welcomes the trekkers with finely lit natural trails dotted with rhododendrons and wildflowers. The weather is stable, temperatures are on the warmer side, there is lush greenery everywhere and you will also have higher chances of witnessing the endangered Himalayan wildlife enjoying the blooming season in their natural habitat.

Furthermore, if you want to take the perfect shot of the scenery in the perfect vibrant natural color setting or of wildlife in the region, nothing beats the photography prospects of this season.

How Challenging is Mardi Himal Trek?

The Mardi Himal Trek has been graded as a ‘moderate’ trekking experience, so you won’t need any kind of technical skills or prior trekking experience to do this trek. But, still, this is an Himalayan exploration that takes you on a high-altitude adventure to the secluded part of the region.

So, you will still need a good amount of preparation to do this trek, generally, anyone with a basic level of fitness and good health conditions can easily complete this delightful trekking experience.

In case you are curious about the difficulty factors of the adventure and what you have to deal with while doing this Himalayan adventure, we have broken down the major challenges in this trek so you have a proper understanding of the overall adventure.

High Altitude

As this is a Himalayan adventure that takes place in the higher region of the country, the altitude can be a major challenge in this adventure. As the high altitude and altitude go hand in hand, it is one of the major obstacles that the trekkers have to overcome in their adventure.

There are high risks for the human body to get affected by altitude sickness over the altitude of 2,500 meters, thus you need to be wary of any signs of altitude sickness like headache, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, loss of appetite, etc.

Starting your adventure from Pokhara at 820 meters, you move along the gradual inkling trekking route overcoming Forest Camp (2,600 meters), Low Camp (3,000 meters), High Camp (3,600 meters), and the highest elevation point of the entire expedition, Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 meters (14,763 feet).

It all comes down to how well your body is able to cope with the rising altitudes, if you live in a high-altitude region then acclimatizing might not be of big deal for you. However, people living at low sea levels might have a hard time dealing with it.

That’s why proper training, eating a balanced diet, and staying hydrated throughout the adventure is the most effective way to deal with this difficulty factor.

Trekking Route

The trekking roads in the remote part of the Himalayas are not well-developed, you will mostly walk on the rocky trails, dirt, and loose soil segments in your Mardi Himal Trek. The steep trekking parts with several ascending and descending sections are another difficulty factor that can be really draining.

During this Himalayan adventure, you will cover an approximate distance of 40- 50 km (25- 31 miles), thus you will be covering 5- 6 hours of trekking distance during each day of your adventure. Moreover, you will be walking on the rugged rough trails ascending to the higher altitudes, just a note here that even just simple walking at higher altitudes can be more draining than the lower sea level.

Unless you have prepared adequately for the adventure, trekking on the remote rugged trail stretching to higher elevation points carrying your baggage can vexing. And you might have to drag yourself from one to another without being able to truly relish the experience.

Weather Factors

Although it is true that Mardi Himal Trek is a remarkable adventure in the peak seasons like autumn and spring, it can also feel like eternal damnation during the off seasons like winter season (December, January, February) and monsoon season (June, July, August).

Even if the Mardi Himal Trek is a year-round adventure, you also need to understand the weather difficulty factors of the off-seasons before doing this Himalayan adventure. The monsoon season in particular is considered to be the most unfavorable season for the Himalayan adventures.

Continuous downpour doesn’t only dampen the adventurous spirit, but it also makes the trekking trails muddy and you will have to spend a significant amount of time scraping the mud off your boot. Similarly, the slipper terrains at high altitudes carry the potential risk of injuries and even fatality.

On top of that, natural disasters like landslides and flooding further elevate the risk factors of the monsoon season. Compared to that, the winter is a stable season however, the harsh climatic conditions make the trek extremely difficult.

Not only you will have to deal with the snow-covered trails, but you will also find yourself often struggling to keep yourself warm. Nonetheless, with the right clothes and equipment, Mardi Himal Trek is doable in the winter, but if you are new to Himalayan trekking, it would be wise to avoid the off-seasons.

Remoteness

When people hear about the Himalayan adventure, the first thing that comes to their mind is the epic journey to the foothills of the majestic Himalayas. But, what many fail to realize is that it is a remote exploration farther from the comfort of modernity.

The trails of Mardi Himal Trek follow the remote part of the region, you cannot expect services and amenities like an exotic vacation destination. Due to the lack of proper transportation modes in the region infrastructural and technological development of the region is at a minimum.

The lower region of the trekking trail is adequately equipped with medical facilities, electricity, internet, and other telecommunication services. But, as you ascend to the higher altitudes these facilities including other services are at a bare minimum or non-existent at all.

So for the Mardi Himal Trek, you need to prepare yourself for the discomfort and inconveniences that you have to face on the trekking trail.

See also:

• Mardi Himal Trek Difficulty
• Best Time for Mardi Himal Trek
• Mardi Himal Peak Climbing

Training and Preparation for the Trek

The best way to overcome the trek difficulty and truly relish the Himalayan ambiance rather than being burned out by every day’s adventure is to train and prepare adequately for the expedition.

It is recommended that you should prepare at least 4- 6 weeks prior to the trekking experience so your body will get accustomed to the physical activity. As you have to overcome rough terrains with several steep sections during the Mardi Himal Trek, it is recommended that you do some practice hikes on the naturally steep landscapes.

This way you will be able to properly understand the day-to-day trekking adventure more effectively. As for the training period you can adjust it after doing a proper physical assessment, if you are in sports or you workout almost on a regular basis, you might not have to put in a lot of hours for the training.

However, if you barely workout, then you need to strictly follow your training regime for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Here are some training exercises that you can include in your training program for the Mardi Himal Trek.

For Strength and Endurance Training

Mardi Himal Trek is a demanding trek with a moderate difficulty level, so you can include these exercises to enhance your physical capabilities.

• Push up
• Pull up
• Planks
• Weightlift
• Deadlift
• Lunges
• Bicep curl
• Barbell curl
• Push down
• Leg press
• Leg extension
• Lateral raise
• Bench press
• Power training

For Cardiovascular Training

As for cardiovascular training, these exercises help your body to efficiently deliver oxygen to your muscles making it easier for you to acclimatize properly in the rising altitude. These exercises also improve your hiking performance and decrease the stress level on your joints.

• Jogging
• Swimming
• Jumping rope
• Cycling
• Rowing
• Dancing
• Aerobics
• Cardio

Food and Accommodation

As the Mardi Himal Trek takes place inside the Annapurna region, one of the mainstream trekking routes of the country, you can expect a moderate level of food and accommodation facilities during your trek.

Even though the eatery menus are not as extensive as you would find in a luxurious restaurant, you will still be able to enjoy the healthy sourced, nutritious balanced local delicacies, Tibetan culture-influenced dishes, and some continental menus as well.

You can expect the following menus during your Mardi Himal Trek:

For Breakfast

• Fresh juice, tea, coffee
• Eggs
• Bread, Tibetan bread, toast
• Oatmeal
• Corn flakes
• Cereals
• Pudding
• Porridge
• Paratha
• Chappati
• Pakoda
• Spring roll
• Pancake

For Lunch and Dinner

• Dal bhaat tarkari (steamed rice, lentil soup, vegetables, and side dishes)
• Noodles, spaghetti
• Chowmein
• Momo
• Pizza
• Pasta
• Macaroni
• Sandwich
• Soup
• Steak
• Fries
• Lasagna
• Shyphale
• Thukpa
• Rhildu
• Tingmo
• Rikikure

As for the water, drinking from the tap directly isn’t safe, and buying bottled mineral water bottles in the higher region can be costly. So, the best way to drink safe water during your trek is to use purification solutions or tablets in the boiled water at the teahouses.

**Note: A minimum of 2- 3 liters of water consumption is recommended for the Mardi Himal Trek**

Accommodation

The teahouses along the trail in the Mardi Himal Trek are run by the local natives, so you can expect the accommodation to be cozy and comfortable of course with few homely touches. Mostly you will be using shared bedrooms with 2 to 3 adjacent beds which are well-equipped with comfortable linens, mattresses, and pillows.

Although the accommodation facilities in the teahouses are warm and cozy, you are recommended to carry a four-season sleeping bag to comfortably settle in for the night.

As for the bathroom facilities, the bathrooms in the lower region of the trekking trail are Western/European-style with showers and a flush system. However, as you ascend to the higher altitudes, you will have to make do with the traditional style bathroom facilities and buckets of hot water for baths.