Trip Highlights of Mardi Himal Short Trek
- A scenic drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
- Walking through deep jungles and forest filled with rhododendron.
- A get to explore some of the beautiful villages of the Annapurna region such as Phedi, Siding and Lwang.
- Witnessing majestic mountains of the Annapurna region such as Mount Annapurna, Mount Dhaulagiri, Mount Machhapuchhre and Mount Makalu.
- A chance to know more about the culture and tradition of the people living in the Annapurna region.
Mardi Himal Short Trek Best Season
Mardi Himal Trek is one of the popular treks to do in western Nepal. Mardi Himal weather and temperature are quite bearable. You can trek to Mardi Himal in every season as the different season will provide you with unique trekking experience.
For example, Autumn and Spring are considered as the most popular and the best for trekking. But the trek will be equally enjoyable even during monsoon and winter seasons. The temperature during December to January which falls during the winter season, may not be too chilly in the Annapurna region. The average temperature ranges between 9-12 degrees which are bearable if you carry proper trekking gear.
Likewise, monsoon has its own pros and cons. The fragrance of the plants, flowers, and soil after the monsoon rainfall is something that will make you feel alive. Walking on the muddy and slippery trail is a challenge but a wonderful experience to test your ability during the trek.
So, if you are probably thinking about a perfect time for Mardi Himal Short Trek, I would suggest you during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods which falls during Spring and Autumn seasons respectively. So, to have the vivid views of the snow-clad mountains and overall scenic beauty of the Annapurna region, it would be best to trek during the Autumn and Spring seasons.
Short Mardi Himal trek Difficulty
Have you ever thought of trekking to the Mardi Himal but fear about its difficulty? Well, Mardi Himal Short Trek is a moderate trek in Nepal and is not as difficult as other high-altitude treks. However, there are some factors that make the trek difficult.
Some of the factors for Mardi Himal Trek Difficulty are as follows:
Duration of the Trek
Mardi Himal Trek distance is 162 kilometers which will take you into the lush jungles and forest of the Annapurna region. During this trek, you will have to walk through different steep slows and take some ascends and descends throughout the trail. This short Mardi Himal Trek officially starts from Phedi to Deurali.
During the Mardi Himal Trek, you will walk an average of 6-7 hours per day. But this also depends upon the routes you will be taking. For example, you will walk for about 4-5 hours to reach Deurali from Phedi and from Phedi, it will take you around 6-7 hours to reach the Forest Camp.
So, you should be able to walk for about 6-7 hours continuously during this trek. You do not have the required physical strength; this trek may be difficult for you.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude Sickness can begin from the height of 2000 meters in some case. It is a very common difficulty faced by many trekkers when high altitude trekking. What happens is, the oxygen level in the air becomes thinner when you ascend to a high altitude. As the amount of oxygen lessens, you will have shortness in breathing.
Some of the common symptoms of altitude sickness are headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. On reaching the Mardi Himal Base Camp that sits at the height of 4500 meters, you may face the difficulty of altitude sickness. If this happens, immediately descend to lower elevations.
Weather and Temperature of Mardi Himal
The weather and temperature during the trek play a vital role in determining the difficulty level of the trek. Trekking during winter and monsoon seasons are challenging than trekking during Autumn and spring. This is because, during winter, the region faces maximum snowfall. The temperature of the Annapurna region reaches to -5 degrees during the winter season.
Likewise, during monsoon, rainfall showers throughout the region and makes the trails wet and slippery. So, it may be difficult to walk on such trails. Due to this reason, weather and temperature during winter and monsoon may be a problem while trekking.
Tips to Minimize the Difficulty during Mardi Himal Short Trek
As we have discussed above, there are many difficulties that you will face during Mardi Himal Trek. Such difficulties can be minimized to some extent if you follow the following points:
- The first thing you need to do before your trek is engaging yourself in physical activities. Mardi Himal Trek does not require any technical training but doing some physical exercises such as running, cycling and swimming before the trek would be beneficial.
- Carry appropriate trekking gears with you. Do not forget to pack raingear when you trek during the monsoon season. You do not have to carry bulky clothes during autumn and Spring seasons.
- Keeping yourself hydrated when trekking is very important when trekking. Carry a water bottle with you so that you can drink water in the middle of your trek.
- Do not walk continuously for hours. Take small breaks between your trek.
- Checking the weather forecast before your trek will save you from getting caught in the occasional rain.
- Mardi Himal Short Trek Without a Guide
- Hiring a guide to Mardi Himal can be a good option for you. But, this also depends upon the type of trekker you are. If would be a necessity to hire a guide if you are a beginner trekker and haven’t trekked to any region of Nepal. However, many experienced trekkers get themselves a guide when trekking to Mardi Himal.
When you talk about comfortability, hiring a guide would make your trip a lot easier and comfortable. They will help you to find the best teahouses and lodges for you. Along with this, you will get a chance to interact with the local people with the help of a guide. So hiring a guide can be a very good option during Mardi Himal short trek. But, this does not mean you cannot trek without a guide. Of course, you can. If you are on a budget trip, trekking to Mardi Himal without a guide would save your cost.
You can also hire a porter to Mardi Himal Short Trek if you want to. They will help you to carry your bags. In this way, you will not have a lot of pressure on your back and can move easily.
Food and Accommodation during Mardi Himal Short Trek
You will come across several teahouses and lodges along the way to Mardi Himal trek. So, finding a proper place to eat and rest would not be a matter of problem during Mardi Himal Trek. However, if you are planning on trekking during the peak seasons, make sure you book for your food and accommodation as early as possible.
The most common food that you will get during this trek is Dal Bhat and Tarkari, which is the national food of Nepal. Along with this, there are several options in food items such as pizza, pasta, noodles, porridge, bread, eggs, and beverages. The number of teahouses and lodges lessens as you move to higher elevations.
The type of accommodation during Mardi Himal trek is teahouse accommodation. The rooms may not be fully equipped but you will have a standard bedroom that includes a bed, a mattress, a pillow, and a warm blanket. During the peak seasons, you may also have to share your room because most of the teahouses and lodges get packed.
Mardi Himal Trek Final Review
The short Mardi Himal Trek would be a great destination if you want to avoid the crowd of some of the most popular treks. Mardi Himal Trek would truly give you a unique experience walking through the settlements inhabited by people of different ethnic groups such as Gurungs and Sherpas.
Although the trek was not known to many people before, in recent years it has gained a lot of popularity. Trekkers especially beginners and the ones who have limited time choose this trekking destination.
Need Help Planning a Trip to Nepal?
If you too want to have a wonderful experience trekking to the Mardi Himal, we can provide you a suitable Mardi Himal itinerary. Mount Mania promises to serve its customers faithfully. If you have any queries regarding your trip, you can contact us at Mount Mania.
