trip itinerary - willamette university...mardi himal trek- 6-day route trip itinerary there is no...

Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary | 1

Mardi Himal Trek- 6-day Route

TRIP ITINERARY There is no other place like it on Earth. The majestic, celebrated Annapurna region is the most distinct and popular trekking area in South Asia’s legendary Nepal. There you will find diverse scenery, hill culture, and pristine views to enhance both physical and mental agility. Peace and wonder will sustain you. This area of Nepal beckons travelers to come and experience soul-stirring vistas, the breathtaking surroundings of countryside and villages, and vibrant, welcoming local cultures. Memories of a trek in the Annapurna region will be held in travelers’ hearts forever. Hidden away in this region is a gem of a journey, the Mardi Himal Trek, calling out to hikers who want a Himalayan experience off the beaten path. With elevations ranging from 4,500 ft. to 14,600 feet, this journey is the lowest of the trekking routes in Nepal, making this path one of the most accessible, yet least visited—and one of the most stunning to experience. For those who prefer less traveled roads to adventure, the Mardi Himal Trek is the perfect choice for finding restorative quiet and reverential respect in nature. It offers awe-inspiring views of the entire Annapurna Range, from celestial peaks to icey-blue glaciers, and the opportunity to delve into a beautiful geography, including vast Pine and Rhododendron forests, simply not found anywhere else on our planet. .


Schedule OCTOBER 5 Arrive Kathmandu Welcome to Kathmandu, gateway to the Nepalese Himalayas! Nepal’s capital city and largest metropolis, the city is the center of Nepal’s history, art, culture, economy, and religious life. Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, our Nepalese representatives will greet you and then transport you to your hotel. For many, stepping off a plane into Kathmandu is a sensory-popping experience, with its riot of sounds, sights, and smells. You are free for the rest of the day to explore beautiful downtown Kathmandu.

OCTOBER 6 Full Day Sightseeing Tour of Kathmandu This will be a full day of sightseeing with a tour of Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath Stupa. For 2,000 years, Kathmandu has been a center of trade,

culture and religious life in Nepal. We will visit several of the city’s best-known sites, starting with the Pashupatinath temple, a World Heritage Site, which is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu and one of the most sacred Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world. It is famous for its two-tiered golden roof and silver doors, as well as a richly ornamented pagoda, which houses the sacred Linga of Lord Shiva. Chronicles indicate its existence prior to 400 AD. Devotees can be seen taking ritual dips in the holy Bagmati River flowing next to the temple. We will also visit the 5th Century Boudhanath stupa, the largest in the valley, known for its all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. The more than 50 Buddhist monasteries nearby have earned Boudhanath the nickname “Little Tibet.” The ancient stupa is one of the largest in the world. The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet


has created an ethnic Tibetan culture inside of the city of Kathmandu. Hundreds of Buddhists spend their days praying at the various temples in the area. OCTOBER 7 Fly Kathmandu to Pokhara

After breakfast you will be driven to airport for your flight to Pokhara. In Pokhara you will have a couple of hours for yourself, to row in a boat on the lake, or to take a stroll along its shores. You will spend the night in Pokhara. If Kathmandu is the cultural hub of Nepal, then Pokhara is its center of adventure. An enchanting town nestled in a tranquil valley. It is the starting point of many of Nepal’s most popular trekking and rafting destinations. Pokhara is a place of remarkable beauty. The serenity of Phewa Lake and the magnificence of the fish-tailed summit of Machhapuchhare (22,890ft) rising behind it create an ambiance of peace and magic. OCTOBER 8 Kande to Forest Camp

Elevation (ft) 4,500ft to 8,200ft

Hiking Time Approximately 6 hours

Our journey begins with a 45 minute drive from Pokhara to Kande which is the starting point. The trial is good, first slowly up then a bit steeper to Australian Camp (6,750ft), then after that slightly downhill to Pothana (6,400ft). You have to climb up the stone stairs passing through terraced cultivated fields, settlements and forests taking you to Pothana. We walk on the plains for about an hour at which point the trail guides us into a pine forest. The forest is covered Rhododendrons. We follow a ridgeline the rest of the way until we arrive at Forest Camp.

OCTOBER 9 Forest Camp to High Camp


Hiking Time Approximately 7 hours

Leaving forest camp, we trek towards Low Camp. Initially, the trail is quite steep leaving Forest Camp, but soon gets more flat as we approach a ridge. In fact much of this trek meanders along a central ridge; which is one of the draws of this particular route. We can see the most amazing and clear view of Mt. Fishtail here. After about three hours walk, we reach Low Camp. From here our trail passes through the jungle, however the trees soon start to get smaller and after another hour of trekking we break out of the jungle and onto the open ridge with spectacular views of the Machhapuchhre ahead and Annapurna south to our left. In between the journey of Low Camp and High Camp there is a viewpoint where we can see various snow-capped mountains like South Annapurna, Himchuli, Mt. Fishtail,and the villages of Chhomrong and Ghandruk villages. This particular part of the trek is off the beaten path and we catch a glimpse of Gurun and Thakali cultures.

OCTOBER 10 High Camp to Madi Himal Base Camp

Elevation (ft) 11,745ft to 14,600

Hiking Time 8 hours

Commencing trek from High Camp, we climb up about four hours to Mardi Himal Base Camp, which offers spectacular views of the entire Annapurna Range. Great ice fields and blue glaciers of the range lie below and Annapurna I seems close enough to touch, the surrounding


panorama views sweep from Dhaulagiri to Ganesh Himal. We take in our views the turn back down for our descent and return to High Camp.

OCTOBER 11 High Camp to Siding Village


Hiking Time 7 hours

We wake early this morning to take advantage of sunrise views. We breakfast at High Camp then descend towards Siding Village. Siding is a simple traditional local village. We walk again through Pine and Rhododendron forests.

OCTOBER 12 Siding Village to Lwang Village


Hiking Time 5 hours

We leave Siding Village and continue our trek towards Lwang, which is a gradual incline with some flat parts as well. We will have lunch at Ghalel, a small, traditional village with some small restaurants and homestays. We’ll finish the rest of our journey to Lwang after lunch. Here we will take part in a homestay; where you will be greeted with singing and dancing by the host family.

OCTOBER 13 Lwang Village to Khora Muk, drive to Pokhara

Hiking Time 2 hours

Early morning walk to a tea garden to see the panoranic view of the green tea garden and the mountains. We will return to Lwang for breakfast then continue on towards Khora Muk. On our return we follow a trail leads us along the bank of the Mardi River. After reaching Khora Muk, transfer to Pokhara,

where you have plenty of time to explore the town.

OCTOBER 14 Return to Kathmandu

After breakfast we will return to Kathmandu where you can check into the hotel and rest or explore around the city for the remainder of the day. Tonight we will have a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

OCTOBER 15 International Flight Home


Pricing 6-DAY MARDI HIMAL TREK | 11 DAYS IN NEPAL

$3,325 per person double occupancy.

Single Supplement $210 (only available in Kathmandu)

ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED COSTS TO PARTICIPANTS

Airfare $1000-$1500 per person

Supplemental medical insurance $200-$400 per person (varies widely based on what you want to insure, base cost of just medical insurance is less than insuring the cost of your trip)

Tips for support staff $200- 300 per person

Spending Money $500 per person

Gear $500 (will vary based on personal needs and what you already have)

This pricing is based on 6 days trekking and 5 additional nights in hotels, double occupancy in hotels and tea houses. Extra nights in a hotel are approximately $100 depending upon room type, availability and double-occupancy.


ABOVE COST INCLUDES

● All international airport transfers as per the program by private vehicle

● Domestic transport by private vehicle ● Accommodation for 3 nights in Kathmandu

and breakfasts while at the hotel ● Accommodation for 2 nights in Pokhara and

breakfasts while at the hotel ● All meals and accommodations while on trek ● Accommodation, meals, insurance, equipment,

transportation and allowances of guides and porters.

● Full-day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu ● All applicable government taxes ● Farewell dinner ● English-speaking trekking guide and

non-English speaking porters

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE

● Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara ● International airfare ● Bottled drinks (mineral water, any cold drinks,

and alcoholic drinks). ● Your travel insurance and overseas medical

insurance coverage ● Helicopter flights not detailed in the itinerary

(emergency evacuation, etc.) ● Expenses of personal nature such as tips for

guide, porter and driver, laundry, hot showers in tea houses, bar bill, telephone calls etc.

● Liability for expenses against sickness, flight cancellation, road blockage, accidents and other occurrence beyond our control

● Nepal visa fee ● Any other expenses not mentioned above

Disclaimer The outline itinerary is a guide that the Embark Exploration Co. will adhere to. The final itinerary may differ in the order that you visit areas and the places where you stay overnight. We reserve the right to make changes based on weather, road and/or operating conditions imposed by owners of accommodation facilities, etc.

trip itinerary - willamette university...mardi himal trek- 6-day route trip itinerary there is no...

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