Hello friends, welcome back to my blog. As usual I have come up with new Trekking Itinerary and experiences. In this blog, I am writing about my recent Mardi Himal Trek. Finally I went my way alone. Always wondering about the solo trek and how it feels so I went Mardi all alone. This is my third trek after Langtang and Poonhill. So Let’s get into all about Mardi Himal Trek.
About Mardi Himal
Mardi Himal is located in Kaski district of Nepal. It is just beside the Fishtail mountain (Machhapuchhre) having its tremendous beauty. It is also a part of Annapurna Region and the great ABC trek route also aligns with this. The altitude of Mardi Himal is 5587 meters whereas Base Camp is only about 4500 meters.
Mardi Trek is considered a beginner’s Trek. It has short and easy trails. It is approximately 40-50 km of hiking. One needs to take a maximum of 3 days of hiking which will be sufficient to enjoy the breathtaking views of Mardi and its trails. So let’s start with the itinerary of Mardi Himal Trek.
Itinerary of Mardi Himal Trek
I have covered this itinerary considering Kathmandu as the starting point. If you want to start from anywhere else filter it making Pokhara as Center.
Day 1 : Travel to Pokhara from Kathmandu and stay at Pokhara.
Day 2 : Take one hour drive to Kande early in the morning and start hiking to Low camp passing Australian Base Camp, Pitam Deurali and Forest Camp and stay at Low Camp.
Day 3 : Start Hiking to Badal Danda slowly to reach High Camp where you can stay the night.
Day 4 : Take an early hike of View point and Base Camp and come back to Sidhing and take a drive to Pokhara
Day 5: Drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara
Alternatively, if you are good at hiking and want to reduce one day then you can reach Australian Base Camp at Day 1 and stay at night which leads you to High Camp on the Day 2.
Best time to visit Mardi
So, you must be wondering what time will be the best for this Trek. Basically in summer, March to May will be the best to enjoy the great rhododendron forests and September to November will be best before winter. However you are suggested to avoid monsoon seasons for this Trek as monsoon season will be too dirty and leeches will be there.
Budget For this Trek
Basically, Mardi Trek needs to be less costly as compared to other Trek but I personally found out that it is slightly costlier than required. Further, direct menu rates are suggested at some hotels there where service is the worst. It will be too costly for a Nepalese traveler to pay at menu price. Menus price for Veg Khana (Dal Bhat) is about NRs. 700 and it is NRs. 1,000 for Chicken Khana after Badal Danda. Normal black coffee was Rs. 150 which is five times more than normal coffee at Kathmandu. So keep your pocket tight before you start hiking.
Things you should have in your bag for this Trek
- Water Bottle as water is very essential in higher altitude
- Snacks like Bread and Jam, Coffee pouches, snickers, etc.
- First Aid Kits like Moov, Bandages, including your regular medicines
- Raincoat for surprised rains
- Power bank and Speaker
Now, Let’s dive into the interesting part, My Experiences. On the first day, I reached Pokhara at 5 PM and moved to Baglung Bus Park to catch the Bus for Kande. After reaching there, I saw the last bus was about to go but there was no seat nor an easy place to stand. So I thought about going on the next bus. The Conductor of the bus was like let him come in the Taxi with a higher fare and I was like, it’s okay I can stay in Pokhara only if such things happen(Thought). I learned that if nature plans for you to go, You will definitely go.
After some time, I found an empty Micro going to Baglung, where I took a good rest up to Kande and also the fare was normal (Where is the conductor☺?). About 6:30 PM, I reached Kande and asked how long is the way up to stay tonight. One uncle told me American Base Camp is One and Half hour away. It was already dusk, so I thought about staying at the Hotel which I have already googled for staying at Kande. The name of the Hotel is Kande Inn Guest House. Talking about the Hotel, the room charge was NPR 500 only. I ate once a day, So I drank milk which I ordered and slept that night there.
On the Second day, I woke up early in the morning and left for the Mardi around 7 AM. I reached Australian Base Camp at about 8 AM. I then thought of having breakfast there. First the thing is that I was totally unplanned for anything. I was like either I will do this now or I don’t know when. I ate Omelette toast with honey and black coffee. Also there was a swing to play, which I enjoyed.
At around 8:30 PM, I left Australian Camp after filling my bottle. Even though it was early morning, I put on my sunscreen for the second time a day as the sun was very cruel at the moment. Up to this time, there was no one going up at the moment and when I was about to reach Pitam Deurali, I met some of my unknown friends who were also hiking up. I interacted with them for a few minutes and I kept my way up steady.
After Pitam Deurali, there are two ways to go above. One is a new way made by the tourism board which was a bit straight up at beginning and decreases later and another is plain at beginning and gradually increases later. These both trails meet at Dudh Kharka. If you want to reach the viewpoint (Lovely Hill) with a sunburn, you can go on with the first one and if you want to enjoy the sound of birds and nature escaping sun’s heat, then you can go on with the second way. I was on the second way, which I have no regret as I love to get close to nature(jungles) but I recommend you not to choose this way if it’s raining. During the rainy season, it is safe to go on the Tourism board’s established road.
After Dudh Kharka, the next destination is Mushalbari and later Forest Camp. Enjoying my own company, I finally reached Forest Camp at around 12:15 PM. No wonder the trails are beautiful which made me keep motivated moving alone. l thought to have lunch there at Forest Camp. I had Lunch at our brother’s (Himal K.C) guest house named “Hotel Mardi Gate & Restaurant”. At around 1 PM I thought about leaving the forest camp and moved 10 minutes upward and I found out that I left my Water bottle and face towel, which made me run down and up again.This made me less comfortable as I have just had my lunch. Though I kept moving alone. After Forest Camp, I saw many people going up with whom I just interacted and left them behind because I wanted to enjoy my own pace.
After two hours of walking, I reached the Mardi Low Camp. Before that I also crossed Rest Camp where I forgot to take a rest☺. Many people who were above me had thought to settle that night at Low camp only. But I thought I could go up to High Camp. And after taking a few minutes of rest there, I kept moving and my very next destination was Badal Danda and High Camp later. After the Low Camp, as altitude was increasing and it was too cloudy and close, I felt my energy going down. I had taken several rest after Low Camp till Badal Danda. It took me about 45 minutes to reach Badal Danda’s first hotel (will elaborate about this hotel later).
I stopped there and the main Badal Danda was 15 to 20 minutes away but my immunity was completely down. My legs started shivering and I took a rest there thinking whether to go further or not. After a few minutes of rest, I found out my legs won’t work as well as they should. And I settled at that Hotel called “Twin Peak Guest House and Restaurant”.
I took a bath there as I was wet due to sweat from walking the whole day. I then ordered coffee and sat in a fire chimney to get warmth. I also took honey and ginger to prevent altitude sickness. I played Cards with one guide and the one hotel boy for a few minutes and discussed things and lifes. This place however has a separate view of all Himalayas including Mardi, if the weather was clear but I was a bit unlucky. I ate a Veg Thukpa before going to sleep and went to bed for rest. I was already mentally mapped for waking up early the next morning and going up to the Mardi View Point and coming back and later going to Pokhara on the same day.
Finally, on the third day or last day, my stressed body woke up at 4:30 AM and I left as fast I could i.e. 5 AM. I was with only a water bottle and my mobile phone. As it was morning and I was fresh, I reached High Camp around 6: 30 AM. I was a bit unsatisfied about the weather that day. At first the weather was like it would open but later when I reached High Camp it was fully closed. Due to this my motivation for going to viewpoint went down and I slowed my pace way up. I enjoyed the path instead of the destination and I started enjoying nature alone. I have also shot videos in Nepali to provide information about Mardi Routes and basics. Click here for the Youtube link .
After enjoying for more than an hour alone at a few (half hour) below Mardi viewpoint, I was satisfied that the weather won’t be fine and thought to go back. However, while going up I have seen enough mountains including Mardi. I reached Hotel at around 9: 30 AM. Talking about the hotel, the price being charged was too much as the price of one Veg Thukpa is Rs. 600 which was three times more than Langtang Trek. I was totally unsatisfied with the owner and discussed it with him for a few minutes. He charged me Rs. 150 for a single apple and I was shocked. He asked me for the full amount but I gave him which average Nepalese Traveler can afford. I left him unsatisfied but I also disliked the way he was speaking. Now you know the name of the Hotel and his behavior. Think twice before entering there. I suggest only after 15 minutes upward, there are more Hotels and Guest Houses at Badal Danda which will be easy to negotiate without monopoly.
Later, at around 10:15 AM, I left there with my bags downward to the Low Camp again. Up to Low Camp, I have met all the people with whom I have interacted yesterday. All of them were planning to stay at high camp that day. I reached Low Camp at around 11 AM slowly and steadily eating my snack (Potato biscuit).
After Low Camp, to go down, there are two ways. One is which I climbed up yesterday and another is via Sidhing. I chose the trail of Sidhing as it will make me explore more. While going down, everyone was like it will take two hours to reach Sidhing. After a few minutes of walking down, I met one brother, with whom I interacted and found out that he has a hotel and he also requested me to have lunch at his place. And I took details of his hotel and also asked him to tell someone to start preparing food for me. The name of his Hotel was Kalpana Hotel which I can’t find in Google Maps also. But talking about the food, I loved the chicken masala being used there. The taste was totally different than I ever had. It was only half an hour away from Sidhing from that place so I did not rush. At around half past one, I reached Sidhing Jeep Station. It was about to rain since I left that place and exactly after 5 minutes of reaching Sidhing, heavy rain started. I was lucky this time. I had my raincoat in my bag but never opened.
Talking about the jeeps at Sidhing, It goes only on reserves or on the amount equivalent to reserves. The reserve amount was Rs. 7,000. For that, anyone has to wait for the 7 people to be fulfilled or have to reserve on their own. As my total trek budget was less than the total fare, I decided to wait for others to come down but sadly no one is coming. After waiting for one hour, two foreign girls came and they wanted only to go to Lumre and I found out that the last bus of Lumre will go at 4 PM to Pokhara. So I asked the driver to take me to Lumre along with him with Rs 500 and he agreed.
Again I was lucky there, we reached Lumre at exactly the time when the bus was leaving. I took the bus. That bus was the last bus and it was also Saturday so it was full more than its capacity. At around 6 PM, I finally reached Pokhara. However, I thought about going to Kushma for Bungee but that plan did not work. I reached Street no. 16 for staying that night at Lakeside. After being freshened up, I left for Lakeside and wandered there alone too. I also played games there and later came back to sleep at my hotel (Nimto Hotel and Guest House). I always stayed in that hotel only, when I was in Pokhara.
Next morning, I woke up late and left for Chitwan, my hometown via bus. I reached Chitwan around 3 PM.
So, concluding about this Trek, though I was alone, I have enjoyed my own company and getting my space for getting close to nature. I can’t mention but I have learnt many things from this Solo Trek. Walking alone, thinking about several things of the past, present and future of life, obviously makes you broaden your thoughts.. And also talking about Mardi, It is a beautiful trek. However, it is a beginners trek and we are never late to begin something. So, if you want to go on the Mardi, you can pack your bag and start trekking.
In case any help or further information is required to you, you can reach me through my Instagram page. I will be there for your any help regarding any Trek. Feel free to reach me.
Thank you for reading!
Also Read: https://tourbabari.com/2024/03/10/beautiful-trekking-places-of-nepal-for-2024/
