Trek: Mardi Himal. Duration: 10 Days Max Elevation: 4500 meters Grade: medium Cost: USD$ 1250

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Caroline Day
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1 Trek: Mardi Himal Duration: 10 Days Max Elevation: 4500 meters Grade: medium Cost: USD$ 1250 Trip Introduction Mardi Himal Trek is located just east of one of the most legendary trekking destination of Nepal, the Annapurna Base Camp trek. Mardi Himal trek is an unseen gem yet. Few trekkers make their way to the Mardi Himal Base Camp outstandingly positioned at the base of Mardi Himal and the Annapurna region s most iconic mount Machapuchhre literally meaning Fish tail. The trail goes along small winding paths, through enchanted rhododendron forests until you climb out of the forest at an elevation around 3,300 meter. The landscape changes quite abruptly into a rugged high mountain landscape, with amazing views of Mardi Himal, Machapuchre, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. From High Camp (3580 m; some maps incorrectly mention 3900 m) you can climb up to Mardi Himal Base Camp in about 3-4 hours, which offers spectacular close up views of the entire Annapurna Range. There are simple guesthouses and homestays along the entire route. If you plan to do this trek in the winter months please check with a us Wilderness Excursion Kathmandu based registered adventure trekking company operated by enthusiastic trekking pioneers.

2 Day-to-Day Itinerary Nov 19: Arrival in Kathmandu (1300m) Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport (KTM). After completing your custom formalities (Visa, etc) and collection of luggage You will met our representative at the arrival section and will be transferred to hotel. After check in, you can either take a rest, wander around in the city, it all depends upon your interests and condition. Nov 20: Fly to Pokhara & trek to Pothana (1925m, about 4 hours trek) You will have an early departure from the hotel today for your flight to Pokhara. The flight time is about 30 minutes with spectacular views of the main Himalayan chain to the north. In Pokhara you will be transferred by road (private bus) to the starting point of the trek at phedi. We will trek to Pothana at the elevation of 1810m. The trail is steep until Dhampus and pleasant easy walk up to Pothana, where you stay in a teahouse lodge for the first night Nov 21: Trek to Forest Camp at Kokar (2,600m)- 4 hours walking. From Pothana you walk up to a place called Pitam Deurali where you will turn off the main Annapurna Sanctuary trek and continue along a quiet trail through a dense forest of oak, maple, hemlock and rhododendron. Tonight we stay at one of the lodges in a clearing of the forest at Forest Camp or also known by the locals as Kokar. The lodges at Kokar are quite basic and there is no dining room so you will probably have meals in kitchen with the owner, so in some ways this is more like a homestay and is a good opportunity to get to know this friendly family from Siding village.

3 Nov 22: Trek to Low Camp (3,150m)- 5 hours trekking. The trail continues from Forest Camp to Low Camp through the forest however as we ascend the vegetation starts to change with more rhododendron and the trees are covered with moss, lichen and tree ferns. At Low Camp there are two basic lodges one with a dining room with open fire. The view from Low Camp is superb with Mount Machhapuchhre visible up the valley. GUIDED Nov 23: Trek to High Camp (3,700m)- 4 hours trekking. An hour or so above Low Camp the trail breaks out above tree line and towards the west there is a good view to Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. The trail continues along the Mardi Himal ridge mainly on grass with some isolated rhododendron bushes along the way. Look out for the colourful Danphe pheasant on this section of the trail. The lodge at High Camp is larger than lodges at Low Camp and Forest Camp, this one has eight rooms and a separate dining room with heater. The view from the lodge is superb to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). Nov 24: Excursion to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m)- 4 hours Trekking. The plan for today is to wake early for sunrise view of the mountains then after a early breakfast walk up the ridge towards Mardi Himal Base Camp. There is a well-established trail through the grass with a couple of steeper sections however overall not too challenging. Look out for the dzokpo (yak/ cow crossbreds) grazing up here as well as Danphe pheasant. In the summer the sheep and goats from lower villages are brought up to graze in this area so you will pass a number of herder s huts along the way. After three hours you should reach Base Camp at the elevation of 4500m this is where one can look into the

4 Annapurna Sanctuary and the panorama view is spectacular looking at south face of Annapurna and all of the peaks in the Sanctuary as well as Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). Nov 25: Trek to Siding village (1,750m) -6 hours walking. On the way back we take a different route so completing a circuit, from Low Camp there is a trail that goes down to Siding village rather than going back down Mardi Himal back to Kokar. Siding is a traditional Nepalese village and still very much away from the busier modern tourist treks and it is likely you will stay at a homestay in Siding owned by the person who runs one of the lodges at Low Camp. It is a wonderful cultural experience finding out more about village life and you will probably eat dhal baht in the evening with the family in their kitchen. Nov 26 : Trek to Lumre and drive to Pokhara- 3 hours walking and 2 hours driving. From Siding you walk out to the road head at Lumre, on the way from Siding you will pass the villages of Kalimati and Ghalel. Kalimati is mainly a Brahmin village with Ghalel and Siding mixed Brahmin and Gurung. At Lumre you will meet jeep organised by Wilderness Excursion in advance to drive you back to Pokhara. Nov 27 : Fly back to Kathmandu After breakfast we have free time till our flight to Kathmandu, which is at afternoon. (If interest you can book a paragliding or ultra light flight, our guide will assist you). 2 pm we will fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.

5 Nov 28: Kathmandu After breakfast you can slowly check out from hotel and we will help you with transfer to your designate hotel (hotel you have booked for the IFMGA 2017 general meeting). GUIDED

6 WHAT IS INCLUDED? - All airport/hotel transfers - Accommodation in Kathmandu 2 nights and pokhara 1 night with bed and breakfast basis - Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara to Kathmandu - All trekking permits and TIMS card - NNMGA guides - Trekking and teahouse arrangements on full board basis on trek (Food & accommodation on trek) - Insurance for all Nepalese staffs - All government taxes and agency service charge WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED? - Personal trekking gears - International round-trip airfare to and from Kathmandu - Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu and pokhara (and also in the case of early return from mountain than the scheduled itinerary) - Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary - Nepal Visa fee - Tips for Guides and other staffs - Personal communications (Satellite phone, phone, fax, ) - Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, bottle water, shower, heater, etc.) - Nepal Custom Duties - Personal travel /medical cancellation/rescue insurance - Any rescue costs or costs of early departure from the expedition - All the accommodations are in twin sharing basis.

Trek: Khopra Trek via Gorepani

Trek: Khopra Trek via Gorepani Duration: 12 Days Max Elevation: 3700 meters Grade: Medium Cost: US 1400 Trip Introduction This spectacular adventure treks through the Annapurna foothills to the wild and