Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu As you arrive in the capital city of Nepal, a representative of Himalaya Planet Adventures will be waiting to pick you up from the airport and drop you off in your hotel. After you have freshened up in the hotel, our representatives will accompany you to the main office of Himalayan Planet Adventures. You will be given details about your upcoming trek and feel free to ask questions about anything for your upcoming Mardi Himal Trek. In the evening, enjoy yourself with a complimentary welcome dinner that is a typical Nepali cuisine and entertain with a cultural program. You will stay overnight at Kathmandu.
Day 2 Traverse the Streets of Kathmandu The second day of your trip will explore the beautiful city of Kathmandu and see four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The first one is the Kathmandu Durbar Square where you will observe the old temples and buildings that remain after the damage done by the earthquake of 2015. The place is lively and the construction works for the damaged buildings are underway. The most enjoyable sites here is the Kumari Ghar (where the living Goddesses live), many small temples and large stone statues of Deity, and the freak street with many small vendors selling handmade goods. Next, we head to Swayambhunath Stupa. Also called ''Monkey temple'' due to the many monkeys roaming the temple freely, the Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the most important landmarks for Buddhist people. It is situated on top of a hilltop covered with trees. The Swayambhunath Stupa has two entrances in which the main entrance consists of 365 steps and the main dome-shaped stupa is seen at the last step of the top of the entrance. There are many other smaller temples and big prayer wheels around. The next destination for today is Pashupatinath temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated on the banks of the Bagmati River (Holy river of Nepal). It is a temple complex with more than 500 temples and shrines. It is also the cremation site for Hindu people. Lastly, we visit another pilgrimage site for Buddhist people, Boudhanath Stupa. This 36-meter tall dome-shaped pure white stupa is one of the favorite tourist destination places because of its peaceful environment and energetic vibe. Stroll around the main stupa before heading back to your hotel. You will stay overnight at Kathmandu.
Day 3 Drive to Pokhara Pokhara is the next milestone of your journey to get to Mardi Himal. After breakfast, you will travel to the beautiful city of Pokhara that is famous for its lakes and a starting point for many other treks like Annapurna Base Camp Trek and Poon Hill Trek. Travel along the Trisuli River which is famous for rafting and fishing; enjoy the scenery of terraced fields and villages before reaching Pokhara. Check into your hotel and explore the beautiful lakeside of Phewa Lake in the evening. You will stay overnight at Pokhara.
Day 4 Drive to Kande and Trek to Deurali Today, we drive through the Pokhara-Baglung highway reaching Kande from which point the real Trek to Mardi Himal begins. Your destination for the day is Deurali, a small village with a view of mountains like Annapurna South, Machhapuchre and Mardi Himal. You will be walking through a beautiful Rhododendron forest that is more beautiful during the months of March and April. Ascending must be taken slowly as the challenge increases as you get higher. You will reach Deurali after about 3-4 hours. You will stay overnight at Deurali.
Day 5 Navigating towards Kokara Forest Camp Today, we will also be hiking for 3-4 hours through a dense forest of rhododendron, oak and maple trees. The trail ascend will be easy and refreshing as the forest will provide you with more oxygen to smoothen your climb. Take some food with you as you will travel through the forest. You can see some small villages with teahouses and local people on the way to Kokara Forest Camp. On reaching Kokara Forest Camp, rest in your teahouses or explore the area which is recommended as it has unspoiled natural beauty. You will stay overnight at Kokara Forest Camp.
Day 6 Trek to High Camp After an early breakfast, your journey of 5-6 hours hiking begins. Today's target destination is the High Camp which is reached after crossing low camp and Badal Dada. You will pass through lush full forest and may also see some exotic beautiful wild animals such as the Himalayan Thar, Musk and Spotted Deer, and Snow Leopard. High Camp is a small pasture land with an amazing view of Annapurna I, Manaslu and Dhaulagiri. You will stay overnight at High Camp.
Day 7 Trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp and back to Badal Dada Today's trail is steep, rocky and uneven and will take us about 7-8 hours in total. Take a deep breath until you reach the base camp of Mardi Himal which will be 3-4 hours hike in uneven and steep rocky steps but after that, you will be amazed by the views of amazing Himalayan Vista including Annapurna I, Annapurna III and Gangapurna. After spending some time there, you will be escorted back to Badal Dada via a grassy land. You will stay overnight at Badal Dada.
Day 8 Trek to Kalimati village The trek for today will be 5-6 hours in total. You will reach a small village, also called an echo village with a 360-degree view of the beautiful Himalayas around. You will have homestay here for food and lodging which will reflect a sturdy village life. You will stay overnight at Kalimati village.
Day 9 Trek to Lwang Valley Home The 4-5 hours journey of the day will take you to Lwang Valley Home. It's a very beautiful land with rhododendron and maple forests on the way. The settlement is permanent here with a rich culture inhabited by the Gurung community. The lifestyle is like being in the countryside with amazing organic food that you will love. There is organic tea that will freshen you up and the accommodation is in a homestay. You will stay overnight at Lwang Valley Home.
Day 10 Back to Pokhara Soon after breakfast, we will explore more of the Lwang Valley before driving back to Pokhara with the memories of beautiful mountain vistas, forest and people there. It will be a two- and a half-hour drive. On reaching Pokhara feel free to visit its local clubs and enjoy the night market. You will stay overnight at Pokhara.
Day 11 Return to Kathmandu After breakfast at Pokhara, we prepare for a drive back to the city of Kathmandu. You will drive back through the Trisuli river, but you can also enjoy rafting on your way back to Kathmandu (with additional cost) that will add more memories on your trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp. On reaching Kathmandu, freshen up and get ready for a complimentary Farewell Dinner provided by us. Share your stories of the trip and we are open to your advice that you have to offer to us. You will stay overnight in Pokhara.
Day 12 Departure Day This is the last day of your amazing experience with us. Right after breakfast, enjoy yourself and go for a souvenir shopping at the market of Thamel. In the meantime, we will be arranging your vehicle for the drive to the airport. You will then be dropped off at the airport. We hope you had a good time with us and we hope to see you again soon!