Mardi Himal Himalayan Trek

Welcome to Kathmandu! On our way to the hotel, take in the vibrant colors and fast pace of this bustling city. With a population of just over 1 million people, Kathmandu is by far the largest city in Nepal. Wander through the narrow alleyways of Thamel, looking up at the prayer flags strung between buildings. Enjoy your first of many plates of Dal-Bhat, a popular Nepalese dish including rice, lentil soup, and a variety of prepared vegetables.

We’ll get to know our guide for the week and hear the stories of their family. Over Dal-Bhat we’ll begin to practice our Nepalese, learning basic greetings, thank yous, and cultural customs.

Rise early for the bus ride to Pokhara! Be sure to grab some snacks for the road from the local vendors. We’ll begin winding our way up the mountainous areas surrounding Kathmandu. The bustle of the city quickly falls away as we begin to see the lush nature of Nepal.

Upon arrival in Pokhara, you’ll notice right away that the pace of life here is more mellow than Kathmandu. Take a walk by the famous Phewa Lake, or maybe venture for a short hike up to the World Peace Pagoda. Pokhara has endless options for delicious Nepalese food – stick with the classic Dal-Bhat or try the Momos, a traditional Nepalese dumpling.

It’s the day you’ve been waiting for! Today we will begin our trek into the Himalayas! We’ll begin our journey upward into the mountains, stopping for Dhal-Bhat lunch in the village of Dhampus or Deurali. At this point the elevation remains relatively low, so you’ll likely want to shed some layers as we venture through the jungle trails.

At this point you may notice trash strewed alongside the trail. Many trekkers use single use water bottles which are often discarded alongside the trail. Everything that goes up, must be packed out back down. We’ll begin to learn about the importance of Leave No Trace and the amount of trash that is accumulated by the thousands of trekkers that visit Nepal each year.

Arrive in Deurali in time to watch the sunset behind the towering peaks.

Depart early in the morning from Deurali as you begin your 6 hour trek to Forest Camp (3,051m). Notice the change in temperature as we continue upwards in elevation. You can expect to pass through a few smaller traditional villages, we’ll stop to warm up with a cup of chai and a snack, keeping in mind to pack out any wrappers or waste.

As we get closer to the towering peaks, stand in awe of the magnificent mountain views of Mardi Himal, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli. Arrive at Forest Camp and warm up in the community room, meeting trekkers from all over the world. Regain your energy with a steaming bowl of Thukpa.

Continue your ascent towards the snow-capped mountains as you depart from Forest Camp towards the final stop of High Camp (3900m). You can expect about 7 hours of hiking.

Along the way we’ll stop for lunch at Low Camp. We’re halfway! You may notice the change of elevation as it begins to get much colder with much less vegetation. Since this trek is still relatively new compared to the popular Annapurna Circuit, it is essential that trekkers and trek guides are all participating in the conservation of these trails.

Rise early for what could be one of the most memorable days of a lifetime! In order to catch the sunrise from one of the world’s best viewpoints we’ll get an early start on the trail. The brightness and sheer number of stars visible is unparalleled. At this elevation and depth into the Himalayas the air quality is pristine, and it is a responsibility of visitors to respect and participate in preserving that.

This is the most challenging day of trekking and you can expect a step and rocky route. We’ll make it to viewpoint right at sunrise. Watching the sun peek above the clouds and shine upon some of the tallest points in the world is a truly moving experience. If you’re lucky, watch as frequent paragliders leap off of viewpoint to journey down to Pokhara far below.

We’ll begin our descent down and continue on to Sidhing for the night.

Finish your decent and part ways with the towering peaks as you finish off your trek winding through villages and lush forests to Pokhara. From Pokhara you’ll be able to view the glorious Mardi Himal peak, you were just there!

Enjoy a hot shower and hearty meal in Pokhara as you rest from your epic expedition.

We’ll head back to Kathmandu in the morning. The stark contrast between pristine nature and complex pollution is now visible as you journey back to the chaotic city. There are a number of movements within Nepal towards environmental sustainability and preservation, however there is much work to be done. Learn from your local guide as he explains the complexity of contributions to Kathmandu’s pollution crisis.

Meet with local groups in Kathmandu who are working in efforts to improve the air quality of this city. Learn what you can do to ensure that as a visitor you’re contributing to the movement rather than contributing to the issues.

After the experience of a lifetime and acquiring a world of knowledge about how to be a sustainability advocate, we’ll head back to the airport for final departure home.