Mardi Himal Peak Climbing (5587m) – 15 days

We complete our customs formalities at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Afterwards, there will be a representative from our company who will take you to your hotel. We can then spend the rest of the day resting. In the evening, we get to try Nepalese cuisine at a welcome dinner hosted by our company. Overnight in Kathmandu. 

Today we will drive to Pokhara. Be sure to catch the beautiful views of the Himalayas along the way. Pokhara offers magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapurche, the five peaks of the Annapurna range and others. Pokhara is famous for its numerous lakes, which also offer boat rides. After arriving in Pokhara, we will be transported to our hotel and in the evening, we will explore the surrounding lakeside areas. 

From Pokhara, we will take another short drive towards the village of Hyenja, the starting point of the trek. We will start our trek from Hyenja, following the trail that goes along the bank of Mardi Khola before crossing the river. We will continue our trek along the banks of Seti Khola, passing through beautifully terraced farmlands to reach the village of Gyanchok. From Gyanchok, we can enjoy great views of Machapuchare (Fish-tail) and Mardi Himal. 

Leaving Gyancho, we will continue to trek higher up through paddy field terraces towards the village of Dhipang. We will pass along two more villages- Mirsa and Kaduwa, which are the last settlements that we will come across. We will continue to follow the trail that gradually ascends at first and then steeply at the end to reach the pastureland of Sano Khoban, where we will set up our camp for the overnight stay. 

From Sano Khoban, we will make a steep climb through the dense forests. We will continue to ascend to higher altitude through dense forest until we reach a breakout point into the open air. During our uphill struggle, we will have an opportunity to spot several species of birds and wild animals. A final climb over a steep ridge will lead us towards a small lake at pipa where we will be camping for the overnight stay. 

Acclimatization is essential, especially in higher altitudes. Both mental and physical sickness may arise while gaining higher altitudes. So, today we will spend our day acclimatizing and exploring around Pipa before heading further up to the higher altitudes. Besides, proper acclimatization is a must for a successful peak climbing experience. 

After spending a good acclimatization day at Pipa, we will continue our trekking that climbs up the ridgeline with striking views of the Manaslu Himalayan ranges of the east and the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himalayan ranges to the West. Our forward trekking eventually leads us to the pleasant grazing grounds of Thulo Kharka, where we will set up our camp for the overnight stay. 

We will leave the base camp and start climbing steeply up for 200 meters and then traverse around the south-east ridge. From there, we will continue to make a steady climb over the rocks and perhaps with some snow towards a good camping site. As soon as we reach our campsite, we will set up our camps, check that everyone is properly acclimatized and make necessary arrangements for climbing the summit tomorrow. 

Today is the day that we have been waiting for. We will start early for the successful climb, as the strong winds after midday will make it almost impossible to summit this peak. The first part of the climb leads to the East Col at 5,400 meters between Mardi Himal and Macchapurche (fish-tail), which is approximately 4 hours of tiring climbing. 

Using our climbing equipment and following the footsteps of our experienced climbing experts, we will make a very long snow climb, which is not steep but very tiring. So, resting now and then is very important as we head towards the top of Col. From here, it will take about one more hour of climbing over a pleasant snow ridge to the top of the summit. Once at the summit, we are rewarded with great views of the Annapurna mountain range and surrounding high peaks. After spending quality time at the top, we will descend following the same route and head back to reach Base Camp. 

From the Base Camp, we will follow the trail that traverses around the south ridge towards a col at 4,280m with magnificent views of the surrounding high peaks. Along with the great views, we continue to trek towards the grazing pastures of Korchan, where we will camp for our overnight stay. 

Leaving the pastures of Korchan, we will descend steeply downhill towards the col below Odane Hill. During our trek today, we will have magnificent views of Machapuchare, Annapurna I, II, IV, Manaslu, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Dhaulagiri. We will continue to follow the ridge line that heads south, and passing through dense forests, we will arrive at Reeban.

From Reeban, it is a pleasant walk as we pass through Lachok. From there, we will cross the Mardi Khola and Mardi bridge to reach Hyenja. From Hyenja, we will take a scenic drive over zigzag hilly roads that will take us back to Pokhara. Pokhara is home to thick forests, emerald lakes and a remarkable natural beauty. The reflection of Fish Tail Mountain over the serene few lakes makes this place truly magical. Besides visiting sacred places and sightseeing around the city, Pokhara could be a good way to spend our day. 

On this day, we will drive back to Kathmandu along the Prithvi Highway. The drive presents beautiful roadside settlements and gorgeous landscapes all the way to Kathmandu. Upon reaching Kathmandu, we will transfer you to the hotel, and then you can rest or shop for souvenirs to mark the end of the adventurous journey. Stay overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Your adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! We will take you to the airport, approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight. On your way home, you will have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.