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A Short Himalayan Excursion to an Excellent Peak in the Annapurna Region of Nepal:
Mardi Himal 18,330 feet / 5,587meters
Description:
Mardi Himal is considered to be an ideal introduction to mountaineering in the high Himalaya, particularly if you have limited time available. No previous experience of high altitudes is necessary, as every precaution will be taken to ensure gradual and thorough acclimatization during the trek to the mountain.
Although Mardi Himal is the shortest and probably the easiest of our expeditions to Nepal, to maximize both your enjoyment and your chances of success, you need. A major benefit of Mardi Himal is the ability to climb it in a round trip of a little over 2 weeks. It therefore makes a visit to the Himalaya a real possibility for those who hitherto have not been able to find the time to join a longer expedition.
This peak is located in the east of the Modi Khola, across the valley from Hiunchuli. It is separated from Machhapuchhre ridge by a col. and usual route of ascent reaches this col (about 5,200m. /17,060 ft.) and reaches the summit via a route on its east flank. Although the mountain rises above the entrance to the Annapurna sanctuary it is not often visited. The trek reaches and then follows the Mardi Khola for 2 days before turning and climbing the ridge line for 3 more days before reaching base camp around 4,100 m. /13,451 ft.
The climb has problems with route finding and effort but little technical difficulty: the couloirs leading to the col on the East Face can present an avalanche danger with fresh snow. The climb begins by heading steeply towards the col on the connecting ridge between Mardi Himal and Machhapuchhre. High camp is usually placed just below the final steep (45 degrees) couloirs leading to the col (about 4,650 m. /15,256 ft.) From high camp, climb to the col and turn west, ascending steep snow slopes to the summit. Descend the same route.
Itinerary:
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu airport meets and transfers to hotel rest and welcome dinner (typical Nepali food with culture program) in the evening.
The Kathmandu Valley:
It is surrounded by a tier of green mountain wall above which tower mighty snow-
Capped peaks. It consists of three main towns of great historic, artistic and culture interest. (Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur). The Kathmandu valley covers an area of 218 sq. miles. It is actuated 4223 ft. above sea-level. The ancient Swasthani scriptures tell of Lord Shiva, supreme among Hindu gods, who came down to the Kathmandu valley to escape boredom. He came as a tourist, if that is the appropriate word, but he was neither among the first nor the last of the gods to visit the Valley. Visitors have come to Nepal since time forgotten. And though the country is much different today then it was in ancient times, it has not diminished in charm; the increase in the number of visitors over the years is a living proof. Those who came to the Valley today will appreciate a lot more then Lord Shiva did in his tour. The architecture started here by the Lichhavi and Malla Kings is one such example. Much of the greenery that Lord Shiva is gone, but the forest surrounding Pashupatinath, where he stayed, is still intact. The seven World heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and cultural Organization (UNESCO) are the highlights of the Valley.
Day 02: after breakfast sightseeing tour in Kathmandu with guide,
Swoyambhunath.
The history of the Valley, according to the legends, begins with Swoyambhunath, or the “the self-existent”. In times uncharted by history, Bodhisattva Manjusri came across a beautiful lake during his travel. He saw a lotus that emitted brilliant light at the lake’s center, so he cut a gorge in a southern hill and drained the waters to worship the lotus. Men called it the Kathmandu Valley. From then on, the hilltop of the Self-existent Lord has been a holy place.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
It is easy to be overwhelmed by the seemingly uncountable monuments in the durbar square, the house of the Living goddess, the ferocious Kal Bhairab, the red monkey god, and hundreds of erotic carvings are a few examples of the sights at the square! The building here is the greatest achievements of the Malla dynasty, and they resulted from the great rivalry between the three palaces of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. The valley was divided among the children of Yaksya Malla. For visitors today, and for the Nepalese, it was serendipitous that they, and later their off springs, began artistic warfare trying to outdo each other in splendid constructions. Kings copied every thing their neighbors built in an even grander style. A visitor who wanders around the Square will see a round temple in the Pagoda architectural style, the temple of goddess Taleju (who played dice with King Jaya Prakash Malla), and an image of Shiva and Parbati sitting together among the many monuments.
The Square is teeming with colorful life. Vendors sell vegetables, curios, flutes, and other crafts around the Kathmandu rest house. This rest house is said to have been built with the wood of a single tree and is the source from which the Kathmandu valley got its name. Nearby are great drums which were beaten to announce royal decrees. All woodcarvings, statues, and architecture in this area are exceptionally fine, and Durbar Square is among the must important sights for Travelers to see.
Pashupatinath:
One-day lord Shiva got tired of this glittering palace on Mt. Kailash, his armies of ghosts and spirits, and even Parbati – his beautiful wife. Through his cosmic powers, he searched for a perfect place where he could holiday. Without telling anyone, he ran away from his palace and came to live in Slesmantak forest in the Kathmandu valley. He gained great fame here as Pashupatinath – Lord of the Animals – before other gods discovered his hiding place and came to fetch him. The Pashupatinath where he stayed has received the attention of worshippers for at least fifteen hundred years; it is the holiest Hindu pilgrimage destination in Nepal. There are linga images of Shiva along with statues, shrines, and temples dedicated to other deities in the complex. A temple dedicated to Shiva existed at this site in AD 879. However, the present temple was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1697. A gold – plated roof, silver doors, and woodcarving of the finest quality decorate the pagoda construction. Guheswori Temple, restored in AD 1653, represents the female “force”. It is dedicated to Satidevi, Shiva’s first wife, who gave up her life in the flames of her father’s fire ritual.
Bouddhanath:
Boudhanath is among the largest stupa in south Asia, and it has become the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. The white mound looms thirty-six meters overhead. The stupa is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet, and Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many of them decided to live around Bouddhanath. They established many gompas, and the “Lit the Tibet” of Nepal was born. This “Little Tibet” is still the best place in the valley to observe Tibetan lifestyle. Monks walk about in maroon robes. Tibetans walk with prayer wheels in their hands and the rituals of prostration are presented to the Buddha as worshippers circumambulate the stupa on their hands and knees, bowing down to their lord. Over night at hotel.
Day 03 Fly or Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara arrive in hotel bit refreshment and little sightseeing tour and over night hotel in Pokhara.
POKHARA
Day 04: Pokhara, trek to Gyachok
We make an early start for the 6-hour drive to Pokhara, Nepal's second largest town some 130km to the west. Stopping at the village of Hyenja, we then set off on foot, along the bank of the Mardi Khola which is soon crossed via a rope bridge. We then follow the Seti Kola, through farmed terraces to the village of Gyachok, where we camp for the night. Good views of Machhapuchhre and Mardi Himal.
Day 05: Trek to Sano Khoban (1,600m).
After breakfast we walk through the village with its beautifully built houses and dry stonewalls, and friendly villagers. As we climb higher through the paddy field terraces, the much busier villages on the opposite side of the valley become visible. A good track contours along the hillside to Dhiprang and later we reach a super lunch spot by the river. We then pass two more villages, Mirsa and Kaduwa, which are the last settlements we will see until our return trek. The day finishes with a steep climb to the pastureland of Sano Khoban, where we camp.
Day 06: Trek to Pipa (3,150m).
The trail continues steeply, now through forest. The only clearing in the forest is about 1 ½ hours from Sano Khoban, so we may well stop for an early lunch. Then it is a long up-hill struggle through dense forest until we reach 2,900m, where we break out into the open air. A very steep ridge then leads to the small lake at Pipa.
Day 07: Acclimatization day.
Yesterday was a long day and we ascended 1,500m, so today is a welcome rest day, to help us acclimatize to the altitude. There is a stream suitable for washing about 20 minutes from the campsite.
Day 08: Trek to Thulo Kharka (4,120m).
We continue up the ridgeline, with fantastic views stretching from the Manaslu group in the east, across the Annapurna to Dhaulagiri in the far west. Eventually we arrive at the pleasant grazing area of Thulo Kharka.
Day 09: Trek to Base Camp (4,100m). This is a short day and the whole route to base camp is visible from Thulo Kharka. It takes about 2 hours to reach it, where it sits in the obvious valley, which descends between the south and southeast ridges of Mardi Himal.
Day 10: Acclimatization day.
Another important acclimatization day. It is best to rest during this period rather than try and do too much - there will be plenty of opportunity for exertion later!
Day 11: Climb to High Camp (4,650m).
It takes about 2 hours to reach the high camp, our take-off point for the summit. First we climb straight up for 200m then traverse around the south-east ridge. A steady climb on rocks and perhaps some snow then leads to the camp site. This is in a good sheltered location but water is scarce and may involve melting snow. Make sure your water bottles are full at the beginning of the day!
Day 12: Climb Mardi Himal (5,555m).
With 900m of ascent before us, we need to make a very early start to ensure success. The first part of the climb is the couloir leading to the East Col (5,400m), between Mardi Himal and Machhapuchare. The base of the couloir is at 4,950m, where we will most likely need to put on crampons. The couloir is a very long snow climb, not steep, but it is sustained and tiring, and it will take about 4 hours to reach the col. On the col it will probably be quite windy (unless we are very lucky), but it is only an hour or so to the top, up a pleasant snow ridge. Once on the summit, we can rest and enjoy being on a Nepalese summit in the midst of the Himalaya. After taking photos and perhaps having a bite to eat, we descend to the high camp and then continue to base camp for a good meal.
Day 13: Trek to Korchon (3,680m).
We take a different route back to Pokhara which stays high up on ridges to allow us to enjoy the views for longer. From base camp we traverse the south ridge to reach a col at 4,280m. We then stay up on the ridge, following it with wonderful views, to Korchon where we camp.
Day 14: Trek to Riban (1,780m).
The ridge line continues to Odane Hill. The descent is steep and awkward, being on tussock grass with hidden holes, so care is needed. However, the trail is marked and eventually the grass gives way to forest. Soon after we reach the col below Odane Hill, which is a good view point. Following the ridge line south, we emerge out of the forest above Riban. This is our last evening on trek so it is usual to sample the local brew and have a sing-song with the Sherpas - they are always happiest when the hard work is over!
Day 15: Trek to Hyenja, drive to Pokhara.
The final part of the trek is a lovely walk through Riban and on to Lachock. We cross the Mardi Khola and Mardi Pul which is an excellent lunch spot. Then it's a short walk to Hyenja where we are met by our bus whisks us to the luxury of the Fish Tail Lodge, on of Nepal's most celebrated hotels. Its buildings sprawl across a small island in Pewa Tal, the picturesque lake beside Pokhara. From here we can look back towards Machhapuchare and Mardi Himal, while sitting on the terrace drinking beer!
Day 16: Return flight to Kathmandu.
Today we fly back from Pokhara to Kathmandu and the Hotel, where we can celebrate the success of our expedition in fine style.
Day 17: Fly to your destination Your Destination
The following information will allow you to better plan your budget for tours or treks. A range of costs is given. These costs are dependant on:- The mix of Touring and/or general Trekking,
- The remoteness of the areas visited,
- The number of guides or porters required,
- The standard of accommodation required (if there is a choice),
- The type of ground transport used,
- The length of your visit, and
- The size of your group.
Depending on group size the costs of treks and tours range from:
1 to 3 pax US$ 68 to 153 P/p per night.
4 to 8 pax US$ 58 to 138 P/p per night
9 to 14 pax. US$ 55 to 125 P/p per night.
15 to 20 and above US$ 51 to 107 P/p per night
Single supplement US$ 25 to 60 per night.
Note: The itinerary and cost for Peak climbing, Mountaineering, Tibet, Bhutan and India tours and trek are conditional apply.
Notwithstanding the costs shown above, we can tailor tours to suit almost any budget. Feel free to email us for more information.
Note: One tour leader will be free of cost for tours with 15 or more paying guests only.
Children's bellow three years is free if sharing with their parents. And need to pay if they are participating on the trekking, and above three to nine year children half of the price.
Cost Includes: Accommodation in 3 to 4 star hotels in the cites as your choice, basic accommodation in a lodge or tea house or camping (depending on your itinerary and choice) during treks, guides and porters on treks, all land transfers by private vehicle, 3 meals a day on treks, all jungle safaris, all sightseeing tours as per itinerary and all necessary entry fees, permits and airport transfers.
Cost Excludes: Personal expenses, domestic air tickets, airport tax, drinks (soft drink, mineral water and alcoholic beverages and hot-shower on the trek), personal insurance, and extra cost due to natural calamities or accidents outside of our control.
Please note that our guides speak the following English languages and if required we will provide your language spiking guide on extra cost.
Note: Please contact exploretrek@wlink.com.np for more information and prices
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Contact Information:
Explore Alpine Adventure NepalP.O. Box: 4546, Kathmandu, Nepal
+977 1 4700714 / 4700175 / 4701974
Fax: +977 -1 - 4700970
Email: alpinetravel@wlink.com.np
exploretrek@wlink.com.np
Skype Address: explore.alpine
MSN Messanger: explorealpine
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Unlimited Everest Rolwaling Trek with Panorama Views Amazing Annapurna Manang, Tilicho Lake and Thorangla-Pass Jomsom Manaslu and Annapurna Hidden Valley Trek, Manang Everest with High Pass Trekking Upper Mustang TrekWestern Nepal Dolpo Rara Lake Trek
Our Guest Says
SteveAnyon-Smith18 April 2000
This was my third trek in Nepal, having visited the Annapurna Region in 1995 and with Bharat and Dave in the beautiful and wildlife-filled Langstang Valley in1998. Bharat's company "Explore Alpine Adventure"....
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