Mardi Himal Climbing - 12 days

Our journey begins with a 45 minutes drive from Pokhara to Kande which is the starting point. The trail is good, first slowly up, then a bit steeper to Australian Camp (2060m – About one hour), then after that slightly downhill to Pothana (1950m). You have to climb up the stone stairs passing through terraced cultivated fields, settlements and forests taking you to Pothana where you will have great mountain views of the Annapurna Range . Overnight at normal tea house or lodge.

On the following day, we walk on the plain way for around one hour then there is a right turn in Deurali sign posted “Forest Camp” the trail is through Pine forest. The Forest is covered with the most unique flower called Rhododendron. At first, we have to walk up undulating on the top of a ridge, there is a section just over half way where the trail drops steeply and then slowly gains height and then back onto the ridge and into Forest Camp.

Leaving forest camp, we trek towards Low camp for lunch. Initially, the trail is quite steep leaving Forest Camp but soon gets less steep as we get towards the ridge. We can see the most amazing and clear view of Mt. Fishtail here. After about 6 hours walk, we reach middle camp where we will spend our overnight.

From Middle camp, our trail passes through the hilly ridge ways again. The trees soon start to get smaller and after about one hours trekking broke out of the jungle and onto the open ridge with spectacular views of Machhapuchhre ahead and Annapurna South to our left. In between the journey of middle camp and High Camp there is a place called View Point where you can see various snow-capped mountains and villages like South Annapurna, Himchuli, Chhomrong Village, Ghandruk Village, Mt. Fishtail, Annapurna region, flora and fauna, beautiful village view, alpine forest, Gurung and Thakali culture, eco friendly villager as well as the least touristy trek. We will be walking around 3 hours through a series of steep, rocky climbs separated by leisurely walk through lush, green, High Mountain before reaching High Camp. 

After 3 hours trek we reach in High camp and make lunch, then we following for pre climbing trainning with our instructor. Our Guide / instructor will teach you some methods/techniques for climb and brief you on details.

Commencing trek from High camp, we climb up about 5 hours to Mardi Himal Base Camp which offers spectacular views of the entire Annapurna Range. It is also possible to return to high camp in around 5 hours which make it a long day walk. There is also a viewpoint approx half way where imaging view can be seen. 

After reaching at Mardi base Camp, we make luch at Camp(the food is prepared by our staff in Mardi Base Camp). then we back down to high camp for the night. 

You ascend steeply towards the col between the East Face of Mardi Himal and the connecting ridge of Machhapuchhre. From camp, you reach a snow color leading to the col with a steep section of perhaps 45 degrees. At the cool further steep snow slopes lead to the summit of Mardi Himal (5587m). After enjoying your hard-earned climb, you then descend by the same route to the Base Camp. 

As instructed by our guide, if the weather is perfect then early about 2/3 AM we wake up and have breakfast then ready to leave to achieve our dream on the top of the summit (5587m). This climb is of little technical difficulty, where route finding and effort are the major problems. Late in the day, this might present avalanche danger under fresh snow conditions. Today the main highlight day, hard day , Long day, ready to achieve the dream. 

Our expert climbing supporter fixing the rope line before the group leaving  base camp.

This day we most kept for the reserve day for the unforeseen condition as weather problems or weaknesses then you can take this day as your reserve day. 

Wake up early in the morning to have the most precious Sunrise view. Have your breakfast at High camp and descend towards Middle camp.

Wake up early in the morning to have the most precious Sunrise view. Have your breakfast at High camp and descend towards Siding village for Lunch. Siding is a simple traditional local village. Walking back straight descend to the same fine forest you can again see the beautiful red Rhododendron forest.  After Luch at  Sidding,  we drive to Pokhara by Jeep for 4 hrs.