Compare Mardi Himal Trek – 11 Days by Ace the Himalaya vs Annapurna Trails & Chitwan - Premium Adventure by Exodus Travels
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 11 days | 13 days |
| Price From | $ 990 | $ 6,225 |
| Price Per Day | $ 90 | $ 479 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
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| Meals Included |
10 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches and 7 Dinners |
All breakfasts, eight lunches and eight dinners are included. The five Mountain Lodges of Nepal (MLN) and Barahi Jungle Lodge in Chitwan are on a full-board basis. Accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara is on a bed and breakfast basis. Please allow approximately 4,000 - 5,400 rupees (US$30-US$40) per day for meals not included in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Dhal bhat is the staple diet in Nepal and comes in many different forms but generally comprises curried lentil dhal and meat or vegetables, rice, and a pickle/chutney. Another popular snack is momos; a Nepalese dumpling, fried or steamed, filled with meat or vegetables. Meals in the lodges range from traditional Nepalese food to Chinese and Western dishes. The food served is of good quality and is usually buffet style. You will be provided with safe drinking water whilst on trek and in Chitwan. |
| Description |
Mardi Himal is an unseen gem and an unexplored trekking destination in Nepal. Lying south to one of the most popular trekking route which is Annapurna Base Camp trail, not many has set their foot in the trail of Mardi. This trek can be a best route to trek because of the least crowd during the favorable seasons unlike the other trails. You won’t be meeting tourists or trekkers frequently like in other treks. The major attractions of this trekking is the Mardi Base Camp, the traditional Nepali village Landruk, the up close view of the mountains and the green luscious forest at Forest Camp. |
The lovely lakeside town of Pokhara and the Annapurna foothills to the north hold the most beautiful mountain scenery in Nepal. Rice terraces and rhododendron forests lead the eye to the timeless peaks of Machupuchare, also known as Fishtail Mountain, and the high Annapurnas. Our six-day trek takes us through the prettiest villages in the region, including Birethanti, Landruk, Majgoan and Gangruk, and we stay in five lovely mountain lodges, built in the local style, but with the creature comforts not normally found on Himalayan treks. Moving on to the tropical lowlands, we’ll stay in boutique eco-cottages at Barahi Lodge in Chitwan, which are sandwiched between the jungle and the Rapti River. Glimpse wildlife from the infinity pool, spot birdlife and crocodiles as you ride a traditional dugout canoe, and encounter the endangered Indian one-horned rhinoceros on a jeep safari. Return to Kathmandu to round off your adventure.Explore the landscapes, wildlife and culture of Nepal on foot and with extra comfort |
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu Airport (1,400 m)
Accommodation: Overnight at a Hotel
Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu. S/he will be displaying an “Ace the Himalaya” signboard outside the airport terminal. You will then be received and transferred to your respective hotel in our private tourist vehicle.
Note: On the day of your arrival, there will be a pre-trek meeting. During the meeting we will introduce you to your trek leader/guide. Please seek this opportunity to ask questions about the trek. We will also supply you with our trek duffel bag and cap. For the meeting, please make sure you bring your passport, three copies of passport-size photos, and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. We will ask you to sign a legally binding trip form as well as a non-liability disclaimer.
Day 2: Drive to Pokhara by tourist bus- 7 Hours.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at a Hotel
An early morning drive on a tourist bus takes you to Pokhara, the city of lakes. Pokhara is at a distance of 200 km from Kathmandu. It takes almost 6-7 hours to reach to this beautiful city. The drive will give you an opportunity to have a look at the beauty of flora, fauna, the diverse demography, beautiful mountain ranges, the raging Trishuli, Marshyangdi Rivers and plenty of rivulets along the way. As soon as you reach Pokhara, you will be transferred to a hotel.
Day 3: Drive to Kande -1 hour. Trek to Australian Base Camp (2060 m)-3 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
After breakfast we head out for Kande on a jeep. The drive to Kande where our trek begins is of 1 hour. As we reach there, we begin our trek on the beautiful trail and walk upwards to the Australian Base Camp for about 3 hours. Australian Camp is a beautiful village best known, where on a clear day you can see an unobstructed view of the Himalayan Mountains of Annapurna range, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu range and also beautiful green hills.
Day 4: Trek to Forest Camp (2600 m) - 6 to 7 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
After breakfast in the morning, we head out to reach Forest Camp which will take almost 6 to 7 hours of walk. The trail is slightly downhill from Base Camp to Pothana (1950 m) and again ascends to Deurali (2100 m). At Deurali there is a signboard pointing towards right saying “Forest Camp”. This will be the path we follow to reach the destination. The trail enters a quiet jungle of oak trees, maples, rhododendrons etc. After walking for few more hours, we reach Forest Camp.
Day 5: Trek to Low Camp (3050 m) - 6 to 7 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse.
After walking a steep climb for about few hours, we are out of the forest and onto a grassy ridge. The ridge is sometimes full of snow. The mountains seem to grow closer to you as you walk towards the Low Camp. After walking for around 6 to 7 hours you reach Low Camp at the afternoon. Enjoying a good sip of tea, you can acclimatize and capture the best views of the up close Annapurna South and Mt. Machhapuchhre.
Day 6: Trek to High Camp (3900 m) – 4 to 5 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
We wake up early this day for the beautiful view of sunrise through the mountains. After early breakfast, we head on to the trekking trails. We walk on the grassy ridges which during winters are filled with snow. The trail ascends throughout the walk up to the High Camp. We walk above the tree line and the temperature reduces along the path. After walking for almost 4 to 5 hours, we finally reach High Camp.
Day 7: Trek to Base Camp (4500m). Trek to Badaldanda (3250 m) – 6 to 7 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
Today we wake up early and walk for few hours to reach the Mardi Himal Base Camp. The view of the Annapurna Sanctuary can be clearly seen. The panoramic scenes of South face of Mt. Annpaurna and Mt. Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) will be worth every steps taken to the Base Camp. After spending few hours here, we return back to the High Camp for lunch. After having lunch and resting for some time at High camp, we walk down to Low Camp from where it is about an hour or two’s walk to Badaldanda. We will be staying at the teahouse at Badaldanda today.
Day 8: Trek to Landruk (1565 m) – 6 to 7 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Guesthouse
After breakfast we start walking towards Forest Camp from where we will be taking a side trail down to the beautiful village of Landruk. The elevation changes drastically while walking down to Landruk. Landruk is a Gurung village with traditional houses that witnesses the immensely beautiful view of snow peak Annapurna South. After walking for around 6 to hours we reach the village.
Day 9: Trek to Syauli Bazar (1220 m) – 3 hours. Drive to Pokhara – 2 hours.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight at Hotel
Today is the last day of trekking. We start our day with a descent down the trail to Syauli Bazar. The hike will be quite tough with many steep steps down. On arrival at Syauli Bazar we drive to Pokhara in a public vehicle. Upon reaching Pokhara, we celebrate the successful trek to the Mardi Himal.
Day 10: Drive back to Kathmandu by tourist bus- 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a Hotel
We head out for Kathmandu in a tourist bus. Enjoying the last glimpse of the beautiful Himalayas, we return back to Kathmandu. The journey will be of 7 total hours. Upon arrival at Kathmandu, our representative will meet and transfer you back to the hotel.
In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances.
Day 11: Transfer to the International Airport for Your Final Flight Departure.
Meals: Breakfast
The trip ends, our Airport Representative will drop you to the Kathmandu international airport for your flight departure from Nepal.
Day 1 Start Kathmandu
The tour starts at our hotel in Kathmandu this afternoon. Free arrival transfers are available for any flight, provided you have supplied your sales representative with your flight details in advance and have requested one. This evening there will be a trip briefing followed by a group welcome dinner, a great early introduction to get to know your Leader and fellow travellers. Premium accommodation: Hotel Yak & Yeti
Day 2 Kathmandu sightseeing tour including Durbar Square and Boudhanath Stupa
For those who wish, there is the chance to do an optional Everest sightseeing flight early this morning; this can be booked locally through your leader on Day 1 We will leave the hotel late morning for our Kathmandu sightseeing tour. We will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Boudhanath to see the famous Buddhist stupa with its huge mandala; one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal and indeed in the world. After lunch overlooking the stup, we visit the Kathmandu Durbar Square (which also has UNESCO status), one of three royal palace squares in the Kathmandu Valley. Although the Kathmandu Durbar Square was heavily damaged in the 2015 earthquake the many palaces, temples and courtyards in the Newari style are interesting. There is also the chance to stroll through the bustling markets of Asan Tol, the oldest bazaar in Kathmandu, into the Thamel area, the newer main tourist area of Kathmandu. There will be a full trip briefing today. Premium accommodation: Hotel Yak & Yeti
Day 3 Fly to Pokhara; orientation walk
We fly to Pokhara this morning, a pretty lakeside resort at the foot of the Annapurna Range. The flight takes about 30 minutes and on a clear day offers great views of the Himalaya from the right hand side of the plane. We should arrive by lunchtime and in the afternoon your leader will take you for an orientation walk along the shore of Phewa Lake. Premium accommodation: Atithi Resort & Spa
Day 4 Walk through farmland and forest down to the Modi River Valley to Sanctuary Lodge, offering fine views of the sacred Fishtail Mountain
We have a short drive to our trek start point, from where we follow a ridgeline in the lower foothills of the Annapurnas with views of the Pokhara Valley. This route then drops to the Modi River Valley, where Mountain Lodges of Nepal's Sanctuary Lodge is located. The lodge has magnificent views of the sacred and unclimbed Fishtail Mountain (or Machhapuchhare, as it is locally known). Lunch will be in the lodge and in the afternoon we can either relax in the wonderful garden or your leader will take you on a bird watching walk to Birethanthi village. Accommodation: Mountain Lodges of Nepal (Sanctuary Lodge, 3,363ft/1,025m)
Day 5 Picturesque trek through villages, rice fields and forests to Himalaya Lodge in Ghandruk
After breakfast, you will leave the lodge to start the trek through the scattered small farms. Following the Modi Khola and with constant views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre ahead, you will soon climb the valley towards the mountains. Today is quite a long climb up stone steps passing through the rice fields and forest, but we take plenty of stops and have lunch en route. Finally, we arrive at Himalaya Lodge in Ghandruk in the afternoon. Tea and snacks are served on arrival as you enjoy the spectacular views of Annapurna South, Huinchuli and Machhapuchhare. Accommodation: Mountain Lodges of Nepal (Himalaya Lodge, 6,601ft/2,012m)
Day 6 Descend to cross the river by suspension bridge, then climb to La Bee Lodge in Landruk
Although we can see Landruk across the valley, we have to descend to the river and climb up the other side to get there. Leaving the Ghandruk village, the trek descends steeply to the banks of Modi River. Crossing the suspension bridge, we trek up a stone staircase to Landruk village, enjoying the views of the Annapurna range and passing under the cliffs where honey hunters climb up ropes to harvest wild bee honey. Lunch will be ready as we arrive at our lodge. After lunch, you may either rest and enjoy the spectacular views of Annapurna South and Huinchuli or go on a sightseeing tour in the village with your guide. Accommodation: Mountain Lodges of Nepal (La Bee Lodge, 5,135ft/1,565m)
Day 7 Gentle walk to Gurung or Mala Lodge at Majgaon; afternoon free to relax in the garden or explore the village
An easier walk today on a wide trail with no steep up or downhills and no stone steps passing through village and farmlands with views of the Annapurnas behind. Today is a great day for bird watching in the forests above us. We will arrive at the lodge by lunchtime and in the afternoon, you can enjoy the views of the mountains from your room itself or spend time in the wonderful garden with views of Annapurna South. There is also the option of a guided village walk to Thanchok, an old traditional Gurung village and home to many blacksmith families. (Occasionally if Gurung Lodge is full we walk on another 20 minutes to the equally wonderful Malla Lodge in Tomijun village). Accommodation: Mountain Lodges of Nepal (Gurung/Mala Lodge, 4,593ft/1,400m)
Day 8 Trek through sub-tropical forests to Basanta Lodge at Dhampus, with spectacular views of the entire Annapurna range, Machhapuchhare and Lamjung Himal
After a spectacular sunrise on Annapurna South we walk along a wide forest track ascending gradually for a couple of hours. A short section on a forest trail brings us to the main trail at Potana. Half an hour further on we come to Australia Camp, a collection of lodges with magnificent panoramic views of the Annapurna, Machhapuchhare, Lamjung Himal and the Manaslu Himal. We can stop here for a tea break before descending the ridge to Dhampus. Once at the lodge you will be served hot lunch after which you can take a short walk into Dhampus village. The sunset and sunrise from the lodge garden are not to be missed. We can see all the way from Annapurna South, Huinchuli, Machhapuchhare, Annapurnas 4 and 2, and the Lamjung and Manaslu Himals. Accommodation: Mountain Lodges of Nepal (Basanta Lodge, 5,003ft/1,525m)
Day 9 Short descent through wooded hillside to Ghatte Khola; transfer to Pokhara; free afternoon (optional boat trip on Lake Phewa)
After breakfast, we depart along the ridge and descend on a stone staircase through the wooded hillside and terraced farmland to the valley floor. The trek time is 90 minutes to two hours. We then transfer by vehicle to the hotel in Pokhara (one hour). The afternoon is free to explore Pokhara. You may want to visit the interesting Mountain Museum, take a boat ride on Phewa Lake or hire a bike for a cycle along the lakeshore. Or you may simply want to relax by the hotel pool or wander along the lakeside browsing in the shops. Your leader will brief you on the various options available. Premium accommodation: Atithi Resort & Spa
Day 10 Drive to Barahi Jungle Lodge in Chitwan; boat ride to sunset point. In the evening see traditional Tharu dancers
We drive from Pokhara to Barahi Jungle Lodge in Chitwan, which will take about 4-5 hours. On a clear day, we look to the left as we leave Pokhara for magnificent panoramic views of the Annapurna range. The road takes us back to Mugling, from where we turn south to the lowlands of Nepal and our jungle lodge in Chitwan. We should arrive by lunchtime, after which we’ll meet our naturalist guide who will go over the activities. In the late afternoon, we take boat trip on the river looking out for crocodiles and birds to sunset point. After the sun has gone down, we drive back to the lodge. Before dinner there will be a traditional cultural dance programme. Our naturalist from the lodge will accompany us on all the excursions. Premium accommodation: Barahi Jungle Lodge
Day 11 Explore the jungle and village life on a bird-watching walk and afternoon, jeep safari in the park wildlife spotting/
Activities may be offered in a different order but usually, the programme today will include a village and bird watching walk and a jeep safari. We will do one activity in the morning and one in the afternoon. The naturalists are very knowledgeable and can spot the many birds for you. We will also visit a traditional Tharu house. The jeep safari will take us into the National Park where as well as great bird life there is a chance to spot several species of deer, wild boar, the one horned rhino and hopefully, the rare Bengal Tiger. Before dinner there will be a different cultural programme at the lodge. Dinner is served inside or outside by the pool depending on the time of year. Premium accommodation: Barahi Jungle Lodge
Day 12 Morning drive to Kathmandu; free time
For those who wish, there is a bird-watching walk early this morning. After a leisurely breakfast, we depart Chitwan and head on the road for Kathmandu. The drive is approximately five hours and we should arrive in Kathmandu early afternoon with the rest of the day at leisure. Premium accommodation: Hotel Yak & Yeti
Day 13 End Kathmandu
The trip comes to an end after breakfast. If you are flying out today, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. However, if you’d like a little more time to explore Kathmandu, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
