Altogether an absolutely fantastic trek - can't wait to do a another one!
Caroline C, 2023
Location
Difficulty
Accommodation and Meals
Hotel, Teahouse
Duration
9 days
Meeting Point
Kathamandu
Annual Leave
5 days
Group Size
16
Seasons
April to May, October to early December.
Walking Distance
52km
Trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4300 - 4500m), surrounded by towering, snow capped Annapurna peaks.
Experience distinct changes in scenery as you progress higher; beginning in 'jungle' with bamboo and semi-tropical trees, through expansive rhododendron forests which bloom in Spring, eventually reaching an Alpine environment, with grassy and rocky tops.
Enjoy Nepali hospitality as you stay in friendly teahouses along the way, and try momo and dal bhat!
Explore the hustle and bustle of Pokhara
All the info you need
Trip Details
The Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek is a challenging trek in the Annapurna region that offers breath-taking views of the Himalaya mountain range.
Reaching an altitude of 4300 - 4500 metres, this once ancient route has been restored and was officially reopened as a trek in its own right a few years ago. The trail takes us along winding paths and up steep steps, through small villages, rice fields, rhododendron forests and past the teahouses, where we will stay. We gain a unique insight into Nepalese life and culture and you will be able to experience the delicious meals prepared by our teahouse hosts. As we ascend, we reach Alpine like terrain and we have exceptional views of the Annapurna massif, including ‘Fishtail’, or Machhapuchhre, to give it its proper name.
**Please note that single rooms are not available in teahouses on the trek**
Trip Details
Departing from the UK on overnight flight to Nepal.
When you arrive in Kathmandu, you will be met by our local team and will be transferred to your hotel. If you arrive in the morning, you will have lunch, then there will be time for some sightseeing in the afternoon. Dinner will be in local restaurant near the hotel.
Accommodation and Meals
Overnight in 3* plus hotel in Kathmandu. Dinner.
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your internal flight to Pokhara
On the flight, if the weather is clear, we should enjoy spectacular aerial views of the Annapurna range and the Kathmandu valley. Pokhara is in central Nepal, standing on the edge of the enormous Phewa Lake and is well known as a gateway to the Annapurna range. There will be time to explore Pokhara in the afternoon before dinner.
Accommodation and Meals
Overnight 3* Hotel Pokhara. Full board
The first day of our Mardi Himal trek, we transfer to the village of Phedi to begin our adventure.
We have a short transfer to Phedi, where our trek begins. It is a steep start! We have 45 minutes of climbing up steep, stone stairs, but we quickly reach a plateau where we can rest and enjoy the views down the valley to Pokhara. We carry on trekking for a short while, through rice and millet fields, past little shrines and stupas, and then we can stop for a well-deserved breakfast in a tea house. After breakfast, we continue climbing, up many stairs, until we reach Damphus village, which is a long, strung out village, with spectacular views of Fishtail. We have lunch there, and we can enjoy the legendary Dal Bhat for the first time – Nepal’s national dish!
After lunch, we continue our trek onwards, through lush jungles, and past the fork for the main Annapurna Circuit path. We reach Deurali, where we find our teahouse for the night. Deurali is located on a ridge, with spectacular views over the Pokhara Valley and the Annapurna range. This is probably the last time you will be able to have reliable WiFi signal.
Starting altitude 1146m, finishing altitude 2170m. 10km distance, 6-8 hours trekking.
Accommodation and Meals
Full board and overnight in teahouse in Deurali.
After breakfast, we begin trekking on the ridge, hiking through lush green semi tropical forest, with vines, noisy birdlife including wild chickens.
After lunch, we continue our trek onwards, through lush jungles, and past the fork for the main Annapurna Circuit path. We reach Deurali, where we find our teahouse for the night. Deurali is located on a ridge, with spectacular views over the Pokhara Valley and the Annapurna range. This is probably the last time you will be able to have reliable WiFi signal.
Starting altitude 1146m, finishing altitude 2170m. 10km distance, 6-8 hours trekking.
The forest is thick with multi coloured rhododendrons, which will hopefully be in flower if you are trekking during the spring. The flowers are a common sight in Nepalese hills and it is no surprise that its Nepal’s national flower. The trail is very quiet, with more stone steps and beautiful jungle views, which continue until we reach a clearing, which is Forest Camp, where we will have lunch.
After a steep uphill start, the trail levels off, and we continue to walk through dense forests on a mixture of trails and steps, admiring Nepal’s rich biodiversity until we reach Low Camp. From here, the view of Mt. Machapuchhre (Mt. Fishtail) is spectacular, and it suddenly seems quite close! Mardi Himal Base Camp is located on the flank of Machhapuchhre, so it is our ever present reminder of our goal.
Starting altitude 2170m, finishing altitude 2995m. 13km distance, 8-10 hours trekking
Accommodation and Meals
Full board and overnight in teahouse at Low Camp.
Today is the first day that we ascend above 3000m.
As the route will get gradually steeper, we may start to feel the effects of altitude. To combat this, we trek slowly and steadily to ensure that we acclimatise effectively, finishing after lunch so we can rest and get used to the thin air.
From Low Camp we will ascend along ridges towards Mardi Himal and Macchapuchre. We find more beautiful rhododendron shrubs along the trail, as well as more stairs, and we and enjoy more amazing mountain views.
When we reach High Camp, we will enjoy lunch before resting in the afternoon. It is a good idea to have some Netflix downloaded to your phone, and take a pack of cards to play in the warm and cosy teahouse dining room. When the sun falls, the temperature will quickly drop, so make sure you have layers to hand. We will have a briefing after dinner, ready for our final ascent to Base Camp the next day.
Starting altitude 2995m, finishing altitude 3600m, 5km distance, 3-4 hours trekking.
Accommodation and Meals
Full board and overnight in teahouse at High Camp.
Today is the day we aim to reach Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4300 - 4500m - the location of Base Camp varies depending upon the conditions and the time of year.
We will leave High Camp very early and start our trek towards Upper View Point, aiming to get there for sunrise where a cup of tea awaits. The ascent undulates on a trail which can been steep and narrow at times and involves many more steps and a lot of sustained climbing. The view of the Himalayan vista from here is astonishing. We will see Mardi Himal itself (5587m), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna South (7219m), Hiunchuli (6441m), Baraha Shikhar (Mt. Fang) (7647m), Tent Peak (5695m), Singhachuli (6501m), Machapuchhre (6993m) and many others. After soaking up the views, we continue towards Base Camp if conditions allow.
This part of the trek is steep in places, with some airy drop offs and will be above 4000m. There are no stairs, and the route follows a ridge which is beautiful, but narrow in two places. Base Camp is marked by a big, handpainted sign, and we can celebrate when we achieve our goal!
We then return via the same route, to Upper View Camp, High Camp and to Low Camp, having lunch on the way.
Starting altitude 3600m, Base Camp at 4300 to 4500m. Descend to Low Camp, 2995m. 16km trekking, 10-12 hours.
Accommodation and Meals
Full board and overnight in teahouse at Low Camp.
After an early breakfast, we trek down to Sidhing.
This is a tough, steep descent on tired legs! We lose a lot of height rapidly, and while many more stairs are being built as we speak, much of the descent is on loose soil. Walking poles are a must here.
Reaching Sidhing, we meet the jeeps and have a bone shaker of a journey until we reach the main road, where we continue to Pokhara, ready for a shower and a celebration!
Starting altitude 2995m, finishing trekking altitude 1894m. 5km trekking, 3-4hrs
Accommodation and Meals
Overnight in 3*Hotel, Pokhara, full board.
Our final day of the trip.
Today marks the end of our trip, after breakfast we say farewell to the local team.
We can arrange onward travel back to Kathmandu airport on request.
Accommodation and Meals
Breakfast
Trip Details
The dates below are available for booking now. If you're planning a private adventure with friends, tap the enquiry button and let’s build your perfect trip on dates to suit you.
Trip Details
In a nutshell, almost everything!
This is what you will need to pay for/ buy/source yourself.
It is important that you read the itinerary carefully, and take account of the rating we have given it.
Although our challenges are not technical, they do require a good degree of physical fitness. The conditions will require stamina and strength, which you should recognise and train for. This will be a much better experience if you are fit and prepared. You should feel comfortable walking 6-8 hours per day.
Please inform us of any dietary requirements or allergies before you travel, and preferably at the time of booking and no later than 4 weeks prior to departure. We can cater to almost any diet, but only if we know about it beforehand.
For up-to-date vaccination information, please visit Travel Health Pro to see the most recent recommendations for your itinerary.
Although we are travel experts, we are not medical specialists, so we cannot explicitly recommend what vaccinations you should or shouldn't have. Always seek the advice of a medical professional if you are unsure. They will likely want to see a copy of your itinerary, and can then best advise whether they think an advised or 'to consider' vaccination is appropriate for you.
Please note that information on vaccinations can change at short notice.
In setting the maximum size of our groups, we take a number of factors into account.
Altitude, degree of difficulty, the terrain, the climate and time of year, all determine the maximum group size. Sometimes it will be 20, sometimes it will be 8-14, but safety is always our priority.
You will be accompanied by a Tribal Tracks UK Leader, Mountain Leader qualified, as well as supported by our local, in-country guides.
It is a requirement of Tribal Tracks booking terms and conditions that each supporter must hold their own travel insurance, which covers the trip and the activities they are doing. Read more here.
We advise you to put insurance in place as soon as possible, ideally on booking so you are covered immediately. There have been instances where someone has signed up, broken their leg a few weeks later, and been deemed unfit to travel. If travel insurance were in place, the non-refundable deposit could be claimed back from the insurance policy. Without this, your money is lost.
Your insurance must be valid and in date, covering the entire period that you are travelling for, including the return journey home. It must cover medical and personal accident risks, and should include repatriation costs and air ambulance or helicopter rescue services, where appropriate.
We will need to know the travel insurance provider, your policy number and the 24 hour medical/emergency assistance number.
Tribal Tracks has 100% Financial Protection and has a trust account with the Protected Trust Service, member number 5566.
This means that all client monies paid to Tribal Tracks are held in our dedicated trust account, which is supervised by an independent trustee. This means that in the very unlikely event that Tribal Tracks ceases to trade, your money is safe. For more information, please visit this link. Any flights booked for you by Tribal Tracks will be ATOL-protected under our own ATOL certificate.
Tribal Tracks considers the safety of all of its participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have thorough safety systems in place.
In the event of an injury, we have an evacuation plan in place for all elements of the trek route. We do ask that you look after yourself during the trek in the following way, as this will help avoid unnecessary problems:
We know that the unexpected can happen.
While you are away, things can happen at home and people may need to get in contact with you. This can be tricky when you are in remote areas. So, shortly before departure, we provide you with an Emergency Procedure document to distribute to your nearest and dearest. This sets out how to contact Tribal Tracks and the steps Tribal Tracks will then take to get in contact with you.
It is really important that you are well prepared for your physical challenge and that you are confident that you will be able to fully participate.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely partake in the trek, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to step out of the trek. Although this is a very rare occurrence, by booking this trip you agree to section 11 of our Booking Conditions which clearly states that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these circumstances, we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
At Tribal Tracks, Responsible Travel is enormously important to us, and our commitment to responsible travel is evidenced in every itinerary that we prepare.
Core to our business is the belief that holidays can and should be enjoyable to the traveller but should be conducted in a socially, environmentally and economically responsible manner which brings benefit to local communities. This is implemented through a variety of measures which can be found in our Responsible Travel policy. We encourage you to read this and to play your own part in travelling responsibly.
If you're not happy with something, please talk to the Tribal Tracks Leader. They are there to ensure your experience is as enjoyable as possible. They can only act on what they know, so please don’t be afraid to raise anything that needs addressing with them and certainly don’t wait until the end of the trip. If you’re travelling with a charity, someone from there will be on the trek too, if you’d feel more comfortable liaising through them.
If you are feeling unwell on this trek, tell your leaders and listen to their advice, they are professionals who will know the best course of action for you. If you need to be taken off the trek, or if there is an emergency, our experienced leaders and local guides carry phones and can call for help. No one will be left unaccompanied. If necessary, we hold details of your next of kin and travel insurance and will help organise next steps and onward arrangements.
If your flights are included in the trip price you will automatically be booked on to the same flights as everyone else in the team, unless you let us know before or on booking. If you want to book your own flights, you need to ensure that you coordinate your arrival and departure times with the trip’s itinerary. If your dates/timings don’t align with the itinerary, you will be responsible for costs incurred for additional airport transfers or accommodation arrangements.
Tribal Tracks can book alternative flights for you (for example, from a different departure airport) but this may incur an extra charge. We will liaise with you about costs before booking to ensure you’re happy to proceed.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) monitors all overseas destinations and offers advice to British citizens. In order to be fully informed of safety issues, crime rates, political stability and local customs you can view the advice here. We monitor FCDO advice carefully and may, on occasion, be required to cancel trips, reroute itineraries, or make other changes to trips based on the FCDO advice. Any decision will always be made in the interests of your safety and security and will be fully communicated to you.
If travelling with a child and only one parent is present, please be aware that you must have the permission of everyone with parental responsibility before that child can be taken abroad. You automatically have parental responsibility if you’re the child’s mother, but you still need the permission of anyone else with parental responsibility before you take the child abroad. A letter from the person with parental responsibility for the child is usually enough to show you’ve got permission to take them abroad. You might be asked for the letter at a UK or foreign border. The letter should include the other person’s contact details and details about the trip. If you are travelling with a child who has a surname different to your own, for example you are a single parent, you are advised to travel with evidence of your relationship (eg a birth certificate) and a divorce or marriage certificate if applicable. In other scenarios, for example, you are a grandparent taking your grandchild on a trip, or you are taking your child’s friend on a trip, you should be able to provide evidence that you have permission from the child’s parents to do this. You should also check the requirements of the country you are travelling to, as they may have additional specific requirements and the age limit up to which a person is considered a child may vary.
Trip Details
Trip Details
The trek is a challenge. We will be walking for a long time over sometimes challenging terrain with steep ascents and descents.
The best way to build endurance fitness is to start with some gentle walks and gradually build up both the distance and duration over the next few months. In the last 2 months, we would recommend to go out and do long days, ideally in the hills, to build up the strength in your legs. About a week before the trek, limit any training to short walks – you want to have fresh legs at the start!
For the trek you should be comfortable trekking between 6 - 8 hours per day, but remember we have all day to achieve the distances and will not be going at racing snake pace. It may sound obvious, but make sure that you are walking properly, hitting the ground with your heel first, then rolling onto your toe, which pushes you onto the next step (this will help reduce the risk of shin splints and tendon pulls). Walk with your head up, eyes forward and shoulders level.
It is a good idea to develop a level of cardiovascular fitness (exercising and strengthening your heart and lungs). This comes from running, cycling or swimming for between 20 minutes and an hour, and will really help develop your endurance fitness. Three sessions a week is normally advised, increasing time and distance over time.
Replicate conditions in training i.e., use all the kit you will be using and try your walking poles if you want to use them.
It is important to pack so that you know where everything is. Here at Tribal Tracks, we are big fans of separating kit into different packing cubes (compression ones are great), or even just individual plastic bags can really help with this.
You can pack by item (e.g., socks and pants in one cube, tops in another, waterproofs in another etc.) or by day, putting your entire outfit for that day together in one place. We recommend taking an extra bag or cube to separate the dirty kit from your fresh clothes, too.
Teahouses are lodges in Nepal. They are wonderful places to meet other trekkers and usually have cosy, communal dining rooms with a good choice of local food. Some sell beer, soft drinks and some basic snacks such as Pringles and chocolate bars. The sleeping accommodation is usually basic, with twin share, or sometimes triple share rooms, with beds, bedding and pillows, but we suggest you take your own sleeping bag. The rooms are usually not heated, and while they will have electricity, the supply can be intermittent. There are usually charging facilities in the dining room if you cannot charge your phone in your room. There is usually a mix of squat and Western toilets, and while there may be a shower, it is better not to depend on this. Please note that single supplements are not available in teahouses as all rooms are shared, usually by 2-3 people, but they can also be dormitory style rooms.
You will have two bags on the trip - your main bag and your back pack.
You should operate on the basis that you will not have access to your main bag during the day and while you are trekking. This means that it is important to have everything you need in your back pack. Waterproofs should go in the bottom, together with an extra layer, sunscreen and sunglasses, plus hat and gloves (if you are in a colder climate). You should also have your water bottles, and any specific snacks, medicines or first aid items you want to take, such as zinc tape and blister plasters. Baby wipes/toilet roll and nappy sacks are also essential for going to the toilet while you are trekking - we will explain more in the pre-departure briefing!
In the event of an injury, we have an evacuation plan in place for all elements of the trek route. We do ask that you look after yourself during the trek in the following way, as this will help avoid unnecessary problems:
We will brief you in the pre-departure briefing as to the catering specifically for your trip. However, as a guide, each morning you will be provided with a very filling local breakfast, usually accompanied by tea or coffee. Lunch will be during your trek and will be prepared by the team of cooks or we will utilise local restaurants or teahouses. Food will always be ample and tasty. If wild camping, dinner will be in the dining tent and will be traditional, freshly prepared food. If you are staying in a hotel or teahouse, dinner will be served there. Water, tea and coffee will be served and alcohol will usually not be available, although there will be some exceptions. We will provide 4 litres of drinking water per person per day. You will need to fill up 2 litres at breakfast and another 2 litres at lunchtime.
Please ensure that you have notified us before departure if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies as we can cater for most things as long as we know about them!
Sleeping bags are designed to work by trapping your body heat in the down surrounding you. If you wear lots of layers, your body heat will not escape as effectively, and you will be cold. Wearing a thin thermal layer is ideal. It does sound counterintuitive, but we promise that it works!
Putting your clothes for the next day in the bottom of your sleeping bag will also help with warmth, as it will fill up any spare space around your feet, and it will mean your clothes are nicely warmed up in the morning.
If you find it difficult to sleep without a pillow, we recommend taking a travel pillow and a regular pillowcase with you. Put your pillow in the pillow case, and use your down jacket/layers to fill out the pillowcase. You will end up with a pretty decent pillow!
And as for stuff or roll when it comes to packing your bag away? We are very much in the stuff camp! Read more here.
There will be early morning starts, typically around 0600 - 0700hrs, so that the team can set off on the trek in good time. It is important that you pack up your kit before breakfast and leave your bag outside your tent or accommodation so that the crew can load them onto the jeeps and/or mules. There will be a freshly cooked lunch provided on your trek route. The aim is to get into camp before sunset if possible, when you can enjoy a hot drink and snacks. It is important that you change into your thermals and put layers on when you get into camp as the temperatures can drop sharply and you need to keep warm.
In the morning, the Tribal Tracks leader will wake up the group. When you hear the call, please begin to get ready, and pack all your kit away in your 'main bag' before breakfast. Put this bag outside your tent or accommodation as the crew can then begin to break down the tents/load the luggage. Ensure that you have all that you need in your backpack for the day, as you will not have access to your main bag until the next camp (see 'What do I put in my backpack?).
When you arrive into camp, it is important to get changed into different clothes, usually the ones that you will be wearing the next day. Even if you have had dry weather, you will have been sweating, and your clothes will be damp. As the sun sets and the air cools, you will quickly feel cold. Before this, you will want to freshen up and we recommend the 'baby wipe bath'. As there are no showers while on the trek, having a freshen up with a baby wipe will help keep you clean and will make you feel much better, before you put your clean clothes on. Unpack your sleeping bag and get everything out that you need for nighttime, such as your warm hat, jacket, head torch and book. Sort out your back pack for the next day by removing rubbish and replenishing snacks etc.
Doing this before dinner will mean you can get into your sleeping bag quickly, when it is likely to feel cold.
We recommend that you bring a multi-region adapter plug with you. There will be no facility to recharge electrical items on the trek, so we recommend you bring a power bank to top up the charge. We also recommend putting your phone on Airplane mode during the day to save on power.
Using your mobile overseas can sometimes attract unwelcome, very high tariffs. We recommend that you check with your network provider before you travel, but if in doubt, keep your phone switched to Airplane mode and use it only when there is WiFi. Reception can also be patchy, and unreliable, particularly in remote areas, which is why we carry a satellite phone with us. Please let your nearest and dearest know about this, and warn them that you may not be able to be in regular contact.
We ask that your luggage is kept to the absolute minimum. We will tell you the weights that you should not exceed, but usually (depending on the airline), your main bag should not exceed 23kgs in weight.
It is important that you wear your trekking boots or take them in your hand luggage on the flight, as they are vital for the trek and cannot be replaced if your luggage is lost.
We recommend leaving behind items such as high-value jewelry, watches, etc. Your passport and money should always be kept on your person.
Trekking at high altitude (generally above 2500 metres) involves additional risk not normally associated with lower level treks. This is not something that should prevent you from undertaking a trek to our higher destinations, but it makes sense to learn about the dangers inherent in trekking at high altitude and also the ‘golden rules' to prevent Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
For each of our trips, you can find the maximum altitudes listed on the web site and in the itineraries. You should read the itinerary carefully and use your own judgement to gauge whether your chosen trip is suitable for your level of experience. If you have any doubts at all you should contact us and we are happy to discuss the trip with you.
You can acclimatise to altitude by the process known as acclimatisation. The most important rule is to gain height slowly and it is generally accepted that the maximum safe altitude gain in any one day is 500 metres once above 2500 metres. Where this is not possible, then it is important to have a rest or acclimatisation day at the new altitude before gaining further height. All our itineraries follow this rule. In general the maxim ‘climb high and sleep low' applies. It is perfectly acceptable (and even beneficial to your acclimatisation) to climb higher than 500 metres above your last camp (for example when crossing a high pass) as long as the increase in sleeping altitude remains within the above rule. All of our itineraries are carefully designed to build in optimum acclimatisation.
There is a link between daily fluid intake and successful acclimatisation and you must pay particular attention to hydration during trekking at high altitudes. On treks to 3000 metres and above most people will need to drink between 5 and 6 litres each day to achieve suitable hydration levels and you must adopt a responsible approach to achieving this target. It goes without saying that as alcohol is a diuretic, it is not recommended that you drink alcohol while at altitude.
Before embarking on a trek to high altitude it is important that you familiarise yourself with the signs and symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and that you report any illness to your tip leader straight away. See the links at the bottom of this page for further reading on AMS.
There are a number of untested herbal remedies which claim to prevent mountain sickness. However, only one drug is currently known to have a useful role in preventing AMS and to be safe for this purpose: acetazolamide (Diamox). We recommend that you carry Diamox in your first aid kit for treks where you spend an extended period above 4000m. Diamox can only be obtained from a medical professional on prescription and it is important that you first consult your own doctor so that you know there are no contra indications with other medicines you may be taking and that you do not have an allergy to acetazolamide. Diamox commonly causes some minor side effects, such as tingling fingers and toes, or a metallic taste in the mouth, but more severe reactions are rare. On trek, the decision whether or not and when, you should take Diamox as with any drug, will rest solely with you. If you intend to take Diamox, you must familiarise yourself with the appropriate dosage and regime prior to coming on the trip. The links at the bottom of this page will provide further information on the use of Diamox as an aid to acclimatisation.
Travelling to high altitudes is not something you need to be scared of. Every year thousands of people enjoy the most amazing experiences in the world's greatest mountain ranges. Altitude sickness is entirely preventable if you follow the very simple rules and procedures detailed above. Please make sure you are aware of these before you travel. However, please be assured that we have emergency procedures in place in the event that someone does experience AMS.
For further reading on the above issues we recommend the following websites:
http://www.altitude.org/altitude_sickness.php
Trip Details
If you want to stay on in Kathmandu, please just let us know and we can arrange an extension for you. Similarly, if you want to delay your return to Kathmandu and spend more time in Pokhara or the Annapurna region, that can also be arranged.
Have a question about Tribal Tracks? Get in touch, our small team will be delighted to help.
