PACKAGE DETAIL
Mardi Himal & Machhapuchhre Trekking
Duration: 15 days | Grade:
This trek offers the opportunity to escape Nepal's tourist trails to venture in to the deep forests and roam the high alpine pastures that flank the Annapurna ranges.
The emphasis of the trek is on the forest and wilderness zone of these mountains. Some villages are visited on the last days of the trek and these receive few visitors and retain much of their traditional charm.
There is an essence of exploration on this trek. The trails we follow are not well used and sometimes hard to identify. Sometimes shepherds and pilgrims pass by. Our Annapurna /Machapuchare trek is designed to provide outstanding mountain views, and to get away from the tea-house trails and into the forests and villages that have not felt the impact of tourism.
Itinerary - Outline
Day 01 Arrive at Kathmandu
Height: 1300m meet by out representative at the airport. Transfer to Hotel.
Day 02 Day in Kathmandu
Half day sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley. O/N Hotel.
Day 03 Kathamandu – Pokhara
Duration: 6 hrs
Height: 960m
Drive or fly to Pokhara and transfer to the Hotel.
Day 04 Pokhra-Dhampus
Height: 1600m
After break fast drive to Phedi via Tibetan camp and steep climb up to Dhampus village, one of the big Gurung villages. Spectacular panoramic views of Annapurnas.
Day 05 Dhampus – Forest camp
Height: 2480m
Today we will start our secret trail leaving tourists, other trekkers and even villagers behind. The route enters an enchanted forest of birch, giant rhododendron, mountain oak, maple, hemlock and daphnia, camping in a small clearing far from the beaten trail.
Day 06 Forest camp-Humal
Height: 3150m
As we climb, the flora has turned to classic cloud forest with mosses and lichen, tree ferns and orchids hosted by the hardier trees. There are natural windows in the woods that look out on to thrilling panoramas towards Hiunchuli and the knife-sharp traverse towards Annapurna South. Far below, you can see the Modi Khola valley leading up into the Annapurna sanctuary. Though still surrounded by forest, enjoy spectacular northerly views of the ever-closer Fishtail.
Day 07 Humal – Guhe
Height: 4100m
Just a short steep climb and out of forest. A ridge, now grassy and sometimes under snow, takes us up to our high camp which we shall reach at lunch time and where a second consecutive afternoon is spent awestruck with the views and acclimatizing. Annapurna South seems near enough to touch.
Day 08 Day Hike to Machapuchhare Base Camp
Height: 4100m
Hike up to 5000m Breakfast will be earlier than usual. Then with packed lunch, set off to reach the objective. Conditions being favourable, the trip can reach up to 5000m and only the crest of Mardi Himal itself separates from the south face of Machhapuchare. The great ice fields and blue glaciers of the Sanctuary Wall lie below. Annapurna I, highest of all is beyond, and around, in an arc from horizon to horizon, from Dhaulagiri to the Mustang, are a dozen or more glistening snow- bound giants. Stand on the spot that has been our constant aim for days now. A place, a time, a view that is almost impossible to equal and you have earned it. Whatever the achievement, by 1:00pm we must return to camp.
Day 09 Ghue – Sedding
Height: 1500m After a relaxed breakfast, we make an unhurried descent through the shade of the forest, and out onto terraced fields, down 1600m in all. This is a different route down-down to the upper Mardi Khola, the torrent that has been the ice and snow of the Mardi Himal. Although remote and still away from the much used �Tea house' trekking routes, our expedition enjoy the warm valley and the friendly villages. Here, we make our way along the banks of the Mardi Khola from through the lovely fields, past the simple farms and over the interesting bridges. There is no doubt this is indeed idyllic Nepali countryside.
Day 10 Sedding
Height: 1500m
Mardi Pul 1160m
So the Nepal does have flat places! The path from sedding now follows the contour of the river valley gradually down between the pastures and through the Tamang and Gurung villages. Our tents, familiar to us in rugged mountain landscapes, look a little incongruous this evening planted here among the paddy.
Day 11 Sedding – Thulo Chaur
Height: 1600m
Day 12 Thulo chaur – Ghachock
Height: 1150m
Day 13 Ghachock – Pokhara
Height: 960m
There are just a few hours of walking the trail skirts an outcrop and there's the road, there's our transport, and soon we're back in Pokhara for our last lunch. This last afternoon is spent showering and relaxing. Some have enough energy for rowing on the lake, others only for lounging in pie shops.
Day 14 Pokhara – Kathamandu
Height: 1300m
Day 15 Depart Kathamandu
Itineary Rating: As deserted – Off the beaten track. Real Place, Real People. Mediuim difficulty with an objective.
