Mardi Himal Trek  |  12 Days

Trip Note

MARDI HIMAL TREK

Sheltered by the Annapurna Massif, is the Mardi Himal Trek harbors bewitching natural wonders and graceful ethnic communities. Annapurna, literal meaning in Nepali being the giver of food and nourishment, has civilizations that have flourished in its lush hills and the dry rain shadow areas alike. To trek through this region is a dream for most trekkers as it combines most things they seek for in one package.  Iconic peaks such as the Machhapuchhre (6997m) and Hiunchuli (6441m) along with the notoriously dangerous and massive Annapurna (8091m) lie in this region. Dotted around the trails are villages of the charming Gurung, Manangi and the Thakali communities.

ACCOMMODATION ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

Nepali are known to be naturally graceful in nature. It's no different in the Mardi Himal Trek. Teahouses have sprung around the trekking regions, where you go from one teahouse to the next till you complete the trek. Tea houses offer basic accommodation and meals. These lodges are located along the routes and offer basic twin rooms, attached or common bathrooms, a dining room, and the ability to use wifi or take a hot shower at an extra cost. In addition to this, there are options for luxury treks where you can spend time on wonderful lodges and mini-hotels, which provide you with the most luxurious experience if you are ready to pay.       

TRANSPORTATION ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

You can take a flight, bus or hire a vehicle to travel to the Mardi Himal Trek. The most famous starting point of any trips in the Annapurna region is Pokhara. There is an established trekking infrastructure, with an easy access to start the trek at around an hours’ distance from Pokhara. From Pokhara, you have a choice if you want to start your trek right away or travel to the next destination by a vehicle. You will find plenty of buses leaving for different places every day at different times. You will need to get tickets to travel by buses in order to get a seat. After you reach the higher altitudes in the region, you find comparatively fewer vehicles.

FOOD & MEALS ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

You may not get the fanciest meals as you head to remote areas, but you sure will get the fascinating taste of food and a variety to choose from even in such places. The most popular meal you can get here is the Dal Bhat set. It includes Rice, lentils, vegetables and even meat in some places. Three Dal Bhat meals a day and you are ready to go. You will also find various other food items such as soups, momos, noodles etc. Look out for bakeries, they will have items such as bread and doughnuts.

BACKPACK LIST ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

You have to keep in mind that you must carry only what is needed. Even if you have a porter, there are weight limits in such agreements. Thus, you should only care to take the essentials that will be used on your trip. The ideal backpack would consist of:

• Proper clothing: Strong durable warm jackets, sweat absorbent clothes for trekking, inner layers, undergarments, trousers, and socks.
• Gears: hats, beanies, buff/balaclava, gloves, and Hiking/trekking shoes.
• Accessories: trekking poles, sunglasses, lamps/headlamps, water bottles, first aid kits, medication tablets, toiletries etc.
• Additional items: snacks, electronic gadgets (power bank, kindle, tablets), game cards etc.

You should have a proper bag that can accommodate all the necessities. If you hire a porter, you can add another bag under the weight limit for your porter to carry.

GUIDES & PORTERS ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

It is completely up to you to hire guides and porters. But it surely is highly recommended that you do so. Not only will the guide help you in the trek by leading you to your destination, but he will also be your Nepali companion for the trek.  He will help with dealings to be made in lodges, communicate in Nepalese in the villages and other necessities during the trek. The number of guides and porters vary depending on the number of guests and the amount of luggage. This may not be fixed precisely in advance due to unpredictable conditions in the mountains.

ELECTRICITY/ RECHARGE & INTERNET ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

Wi-Fi is now widely available in most of the teahouses and lodges in the trekking area, albeit the speeds are lower, but as you trek to higher altitudes the speed may be far slower than what you may be used to.  The connection may also be disrupted by weather conditions. The lodges generally sell Wifi card for NRs. 350 or NRs. 500. As you climb further in altitude, the standard lodges there are very cheap, and one of the factors is they don’t provide electricity for luxuries like charging your electronics. You need to pay hourly up to 2-4 USD for that, it is advised to take a fully charged power bank so you have something to rely on when you climb higher.

GROUP SIZE & CREW MEMBER MARDI HIMAL TREK

Your group size can vary according to your preference. However, you have to note that the larger the group, the more porters and guides are required for the smooth operation of the trek. If you are going on camping treks, you will be needing crew members skilled in navigating along with guides, porters and cooks. Other than this, the normal teahouse treks warrant reasonable guides, assistant guides, and ample porters. There will not be other difficulties as the routes are already well established, and can accommodate even larger groups. Apart from this, you may travel alone if you wish but that depends upon the agreement that you are responsible for your own safety.

MEDICAL FACILITY ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

We recommend that you bring some medications that you would normally use for a headache, flu, stomach problems, and other common sicknesses along with you. In addition to this, your trekking guide will also most likely be traveling with a first aid kit. Most guides are also well versed in first aid procedure and basic medical and life aid, which they have garnered through training and experience. There are small medical stations around the villages, which can help with primary treatment.  The prominent hospitals are down in Pokhara, which you can get to through helicopter rescues if things go very uncharacteristically awry.

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS & DELAY (INTERNAL) ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

Traveling by the domestic airlines in Nepal can be a real headache. Due to the unpredictable weather changes, you can face flight delays and even cancellations. This might disrupt your trekking schedule. Thus it is best to schedule your flight a day ahead so that if in any case your flight is canceled, you can take the next flight and reach in time for your trek. Or, the best next alternative is to travel by road. You can get tickets for public buses or hire private jeeps/vans to travel to your destination. Traveling by bus can be extremely cheaper than traveling by air or hiring vehicles. The alternatives to any unpredictable situations during travel are usually arranged by travel agencies. However, the additional costs of these services have to be paid by you since they are not covered by the agreement between you and the travel agency.

ALTITUDE SICKNESS ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

Altitude sickness can happen to anyone. At high altitudes, you have to maintain a slow and steady pace giving your body the least amount of work to do. Once you ascend an altitude of 3000 meters, you have to take a step further in being careful. The worst part here is that altitude sickness cannot be cured or removed in an instant. It can lead to other problems such as high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE)! As soon as you see the symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue, insomnia, headache, nausea, etc.) of it, it is best to descend right away. Medications such as Diamox can help you to minimize the effects of the altitude sickness. It is better to stay hydrated, get adequate rest and acclimatize to the location to avoid this sickness.

BEST SEASON TO TRAVEL ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

One of the most important things you must know before going off a trek is to know the best time to go on the trek. It isn't as easy as going off whenever you want to. The climate and the unpredictable weather during particular seasons can make a big difference in your experience of the trek. It is best to avoid the monsoon and peak winter season for treks in the Mardi Himal Trek. The ideal time to trek is considered to be around October to early December and late February to April. There is a lower risk of heavy snowfall and dangerous slippery trails. You'll find the perfect weather, dry trails and the best possible views.

INSURANCE & RESCUE ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

When you are traveling at altitudes like that of the Mardi Himal Trek, you can face unexpected circumstances at any time during the journey. You must get yourself a good insurance policy that covers such situations. Many travel insurance companies do not have policies that cover high altitude traveling. Be sure to check your insurance policy. If you get injured or if you need immediate evacuation, you will require a rescue team to come for you. In dire cases, one might require a helicopter rescue, or might have to be carried back by a yak or horse. Rescue services such as hiring a helicopter can be really expensive. It is best to have insurance to cover all of these charges. You can find insurance providers who also cover your insurance at high altitudes.

BOOKING & PAYMENTS ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

You will not have a hard time finding a travel agency that will arrange for you a decent journey to the Mardi Himal Trek. You can schedule a trek at your choice of destination online or in person. Or you can also place your interest and the travel agency will give you the perfect time to leave for your trek. Terms and agreements applied, you will have to comply with the demands set by the agencies before booking your trip. You will be required to send necessary documents such as passports, and advanced payment for your confirmation. You can be charged a certain amount of money depending upon the agency if you want to cancel a booking.

ACCLIMATIZATION ON MARDI HIMAL TREK

Acclimatization is a vital aspect of any high altitude travel. It is a process by which your body develops an increase in the number of red blood cells which increases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. This lowers your risk of getting altitude sickness. Acclimatization may require several hours up to a day or two. Your body needs time to adjust to the new climate and thus function accordingly. It is recommended that you spend a night or more at every checkpoint you reach so that your body can acclimatize to the climate. You can get enough rest and also enjoy the surroundings while you're at it. 

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