Mardi Himal and Khopra Danda Trek - 14 days

You can fly into Kathmandu from any of the international hubs sharing air connectivity with Nepal. Once you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you can make your way to the immigration counter and get your visa. If you have already obtained your visa, then you can get your passport stamped and head out towards the exit. You can also buy a SIM card and exchange your money for local currency at the airport. You can do this in Thamel too, but it will be less of a hassle for you to get the seat the airport.

Walk out to the airport's terminal, where you will find our guide holding a placard with your name or company's name (Third Rock Adventures) printed on it. He will greet you and transfer you to your hotel by private vehicle. At the hotel, you can enjoy a welcome drink and check-in. Take a rest and get refreshed.

In the evening, you will meet your trekking guide, who will brief you about your trek. If you have any gear to buy or rent, you can do so in Thamel. Thamel has many shops and rental outlets where you can shop for cheap knockoffs or high-quality trekking gear and equipment. Do not forget to get local currency, as mountain teahouses and shops on the trail only accept payment in local currency. You can also stock up on your favorite snacks, as food and drinks cost more in the mountains due to high transportation costs.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Wake up really early in the morning and head to the airport after breakfast. You will be catching one of the first flights to Pokhara. The flight duration is really short and lasts for only 25 minutes. During the flight, weather permitting, you can enjoy awesome views of the Himalayan mountains-theLangtangRange, Dorje Lakpa, Ganesh Himal, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and the Annapurna Range. While checking in, request that the airline staff give you a seat with a view of the mountains.

After landing in Pokhara, you will board a private vehicle and drive towards Kande, which lies about 28 kilometers away. The road to Kande is smooth, and the drive is comfortable. You will enjoy picturesque views of mountains, green hills, and terraced farms. Mesmerizing views of Annapurna South and Fishtail Peak can be seen stretching across the horizon from the highway. On reaching Kande, you will start your hike to Pitam Deurali via Australian Camp and Pothana. The trek begins with a steep descent and a levelpath to Goldanda. Later, the trail follows a long stone staircase. It's a steep climb. After about an hour (it can take longer if your pace is slow), you will reach Australian Camp.

Australian Camp is one of the popular stops along the Mardi Himal Trekking Route, and it has good facilities for food and accommodation. You can stop here for a brief rest and refreshment. The mountains look breathtaking from the camp. Later, you will continue your journey and proceed towardsPothana. After walking for about thirty minutes, you will reach the village of Pothana. After the village, you will reach an intersection where one trail leads to Landruk and the other to Pitam Deurali. The trail leading to Pitam Deurali is flat and goes via lush forest. Ascend a flight of stone staircases to reach the first day's destination, Pitam Deurali. The views open up, and the mountains appear closer to the settlement. You will spend the night at a comfortable teahouse.

Overnight in Pitam Deurali.

After breakfast, you will begin your trek and head towards Forest Camp. Ascend some stone steps and leave the village behind. As soon as you walk out of Pitam Deurali, the trail gets enveloped by a pristine forest filled with tall trees. The trail goes up and up through a lush forest and small streams. On the way, you will cross Surya Danda, from where you will get mesmerizing views of the surrounding hills and mountains. After a steep ascent, you will come to a section where the trail evens out and climbs gradually. The forest filled with moss-covered trees looks enchanting, especially if it's misty. After a long hike, you will finally reach Forest Camp.

From Forest Camp onwards, there are no villages en route. However, local entrepreneurs have opened lodges and teahouses to facilitate the tourists walking along this route. Forest Camp is made up of a number of newly opened teahouses. The camp lies in an open glade filled with pleasant views of the forest. You will rest overnight at a new teahouse with modern amenities.

Overnight in Forest Camp.

You have a long day of hiking today, so you start your trek as early as possible. Leaving Forest Camp, you will make your way towards Low Camp. Along the way, you will crossChubrung View Point or Rest Camp. The walk to Low Camp involves a steep climb on stone steps. The path is well-laid and non-technical. The trail weaves past a thick forest, and the mountain views are hidden by the dense growth of vegetation.

After walking for around two hours, you will reach Low Camp. You can stop for a brief rest and fuel up your body by grabbing a bite at a local teahouse. You will need the energy as you will have to tackle more arduous ascents to reach High Camp, your destination for the day. From Low Camp, you will take the trail to Badal Danda, or Cloud Hill.

The route to Badal Danda again goes through a thick jungle. The trail is isolated, and there are no villages en route. The charm of the Mardi Himal Trek is its pristine jungle trail. You will be walking inside a pristine jungle left untouched by humans. Strings of colorful prayer flags welcome you to Badal Danda. From Badal Danda, the landscape changes as you walk above the treeline.

The lush jungle vanishes, and the views open up. The trail goes up and down past alpine pastures. Walk along the side of the ridgel. After a tiring walk, you will finally reach High Camp. On reaching High Camp, head to a teahouse and take a much-deserved rest. High Camp is made up of a cluster of teahouses and lodges built for tourists.

Overnight in High Camp.

Wake up before sunrise and head towards the Mardi Viewpoint, which lies above the High Camp. The forked spires of Fishtail Peak and Mardi Himal rear right in front of the High Camp. From this viewpoint, you can enjoy a spectacular sunrise. Later, walk towards the Mardi Ridgeline and proceed to the Lower Mardi Himal Base Camp. 

The walk on the exposed ridge with stunning close-up views of the Himalayan giants is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machapuchhre (Fishtail Peak), MardiHimal, Singu Chuli, Tent Peak, and Gangapurna rise close to the ridgeline. It's an astounding view, one that you will forever cherish. It takes over an hour's hike to reach the Lower Mardi Base Camp. There's a small hut selling tea and coffee. You can celebrate your achievement by having a warm brew at the base camp. The Upper Mardi Himal base camp lies further away. The trail to the Upper Base Camp is a bit hazardous as it involves walking past a steep and narrow slope with a sheer drop-off. If you feel confident about hiking to Upper Mardi Base Camp, you can do it, or else return to High Camp after reaching Lower Base Camp.

After hiking back to High Camp, have a heavy breakfast and retrace your steps to Low Camp. On reaching Low Camp, head to a teahouse and rest your tired muscles.

Overnight in Low Camp.

Today's destination is Ghandruk, a Gurung Heritage Village. The descent is long and punishing, but the cultural experience along this route is interesting. Leaving Low Camp, you will make your descent to First Camp via a thick jungle. The trail follows a steep descent down to the village of Landruk.

Landruk, a Gurung village, is a hub for honey hunters, and its rocky cliffs are home to mammoth beehives rich with honey. The bees make honey after drinking the nectar of rhododendron blooms and wildflowers found at high altitudes. The honey hunters use rope ladders to climb these precarious cliffs to harvest the honey. Marketed as organic Himalayan cliff honey, cliff honey is one of the most popular products exported from Nepal. Himalayan honey has medicinal and hallucinogenic properties that are used to cure several ailments.

Walk down the village, filled with traditional stone houses. You can stop for a brief rest at Landruk or continue your journey towards Ghandruk. Descend down a long stone staircase and reach the Modi River. Cross the river via a metal bridge. You will be walking past a typical Nepalese village landscape filled with paddy fields and farms. Cross the riverside village of Kyuima and take a steep ascent via a stone staircase to Ghandruk. After a tiring ascent, you will finally arrive in Ghandruk, one of the largest Gurung settlements in the Annapurna Region.

Ghandruk is a tourist hotspot, and most treks in the Annapurna Region start from Ghandruk. The large village, filled with new concrete buildings as well as traditional stone houses, looks more like a town. Modern guesthouses and traditional old-style teahouses as well are available in the village. You will be staying at one of the comfortable lodges.

Overnight in Ghandruk.

Leaving Ghandruk, you will move towards Dobato. Today you will be following an up-and-down trail with a few flat sections There will be a lot of ascents on stone steps. Bid goodbye to Ghandruk and start your trek after breakfast. Climb a series of stone steps to get out of the village. Stop at intervals to drink in the charming views of terraced fields and hilltop villages.

The route goes past a small tea garden and forests filled with ferns and rhododendron trees. You will come across small streams and waterfalls flowing gently down the hillside. Stop for lunch at Tadapani, a beautiful Gurung village set amidst a lush forest

After lunch, you will continue your trek and proceed towards Dobato. En route, you can take a tea break at the village of Isharu. From Isharu, the route follows a narrow path along the hillside. With an exposed side and a sheer drop, the path can be slippery and dangerous during bad weather. So one has to be cautious while walking past this section of the trail. Before reaching Dobato, the path evens out, and you can walk on a gentler trail. After a steep ascent, you will finally reach Dobato.

Dobato is not a proper village and has only a few teahouses to cater to trekkers who walk along theMuldai Viewpoint and Khopra Danda routes. You will be spending the night at a teahouse run by a local family.

Overnight in Dobato.

Dobato lies very close to Muldai Viewpoint, one of the popular viewpoints in the Annapurna Region. From this viewpoint, you can enjoy three sixty-degree views of the Annapurna Range, Dhaulagiri Himal, and other mountains. If the weather is clear and you wish to visit the viewpoint, you can do so early in the morning, or else you will proceed towards Khopra Danda right after breakfast.

The path goes up and down and follows the side of a ridge. You can see yaks grazing on the grassy hillsides. After a tough hike, you will reach Bayeli Kharka, where you can stop for lunch. With only a few teahouses, Bayeli Kharka is actually a grazing pasture for yak and cattle herders.

From Bayeli Kharka, you will make a make a steep descent of about five hundred meters and again climb up about seven hundred meters on a steep incline. While technical climbing is not required, the path is narrow and exposed with a sheer drop. The path snakes along the side of the ridge and passes through rhododendron and pine forests. The rhododendron forest on this route looks captivating during the spring season. River crossings, waterfalls, and the snowcapped view of Dhaulagiri will refresh your tired mind and body.

Like on the Mardi Trail, the way to Khopra Danda is also completely secluded and isolated. Only a few trekkers choose this route, and most of the time, the trail remains empty of human traffic. You can take a breather at Chistibung or Dhankharka and rest for a while before making the final ascent to Khopra Danda.

The last bit of ascent to Khopra is pretty tough. But once you reach the top, you will feel as though you are standing on top of the world. Facing the Khopra Danda is the mighty Dhaulagiri Himal, the seventh-highest mountain in the world, rising majestically. From the ridge you will be able to view the entire mountain from the base to the summit.

At Khopra, you will be staying at the community lodge, run by the local villagers. One of the perks of staying at Khopra Community Lodge is the free and fast wi-fi. Khopra Danda was introduced as a trekking destination for tourists in 2012 through the efforts of Mahabir Pun. He is responsible for bringing wireless technology to the remote villages and rural areas of Nepal. The free wi-fi in Khopra Danda is a gift from him to tourists as well as locals.

Once you reach the Khopra Ridge, you can head to the community lodge and take a well-deserved rest.

Overnight in Khopra Danda.

Wake up early in the morning and have your breakfast. Today you will be hiking to the sacred KhayerLake, a high-altitude mountain lake that lies close to Annapurna South. The whole Khopra Danda area and KhayerMountain Lake are sacred to the locals. Before the Khopra Trail was introduced as a trekking destination, only villagers, pilgrims, and cattle herders from the lower villages used to walk this path. AtKhopra Danda, there were only a few temporary shelters for cattle and sheep herders at the spot where the teahouses stand presently.

On the way to Khayer Lake, you will see more ruins of the summer camps of the cattle herders. You will start your hike by climbing up to the viewpoint above the lodge. From here, the trail snakes along the side and top of the ridge. Enjoy the ridge walk, filled with stunning views of the mountains and hills. Climb stone staircases and walk past huge boulders to reach the Khayer Khola, a glacial river that flows down from the Khayer Lake.

En route, you will see several ' manes' or stone shrines that the locals have built for the guardian deities. During the summer full moon festival of Janai Purnima, sheep herders bring their sheep here to be sold to pilgrims who wish to offer a sacrifice to the guardian goddess of Khayer Lake. There's a small teahouse at Khayer Khola where you can stop for refreshment.

Leaving Khayer Khola, you soldier on towards Khayer Lake. After a stiff climb over a steep path, you will finally reach Khayer Lake. It takes about four or four and a half hours to walk to the lake from Khopra Danda.

Khayer Lake, fenced by craggy blackhills, lies beneath Annapurna South. It's one of the few places in the Annapurna region from where you will be able to enjoy a close-up view of theAnnapurnaSouth’ssummit.

Khayer Lake is a sacred pilgrimage spot for locals, as the Tal Baraha Goddess, who fulfills the wishes of her devotees, resides here. During the Janai Purnima festival (celebrated in July or August), devotees from as far as Kathmandu come to this lake to seek blessings from the goddess. It is believed that one should return and thank the goddess after the boon is granted.

Devotees offer blood sacrifices to the goddess by butchering sheep and fowl. A priest stands knee-deep in the water of the lake and acts as a medium to deliver the wishes and gratitude of the pilgrims to the goddess. Jhankris, or shamans, also come to this lake to worship and make their offerings.

While the lake is abuzz with activity during the Janai Purnima Festival, the rest of the year he lake remains tranquil and peaceful. Located at an altitude of 4500 meters, you will find several small shrines on the shores of the lake. It is a beautiful and serene spot, and one can feel the power and majesty of nature here.

Take photos and savor the beauty of the lake before returning to Khopra Danda.

Overnight in Khopra Danda.

Leaving Khopra Danda, you will head towards Swanta. Swanta is a large Magar village where the Magar culture and customs are still preserved. The village has some traditional Magar houses, with unique architecture. These circular stone houses were widely used in the past, but now the locals prefer to reside in conventional square houses.

The trail to Swanta village goes downwards past a lush rhododendron and oak forest. Apart from some yaks and herds of sheep, the trail remains secluded. En route, you will stop at Chistibung or Dhankharkafor lunch and rest. Later, you will continue your journey on a steep downward path.

Before reaching Swanta village, you will come across a beautiful waterfall and the micro hydropower plant at Dhuse Phore Khola. The power plant supplies electricity to the lodges and teahouses of Khopra Danda, Bayeli Kharka, and Chistibung (Dhankharka). The hydropower plant was established by MahabirPun, a native of this area and a Ramon Magsaysay awardee.

Walk past a dense forest before reaching the picturesque Magar village of Swanta. Swanta is surrounded by paddy fields and vegetable patches. There are many lodges and teahouses where tourists can stay overnight. You will be staying at one of the community lodges.

Community lodges are run by the locals, and the profit earned by these lodges is used to fund the village's development projects. The funds also aid needy villages in need of financial support.

Overnight in Swanta.

From Swanta, you will hike down to the valley floor and cross a suspension bridge to reach the other side of the valley. From here, you follow an up-and-down trail and ascend a steep path till you reach Ghorepani.

This trail is rarely used by tourists, and you will find very few tourists walking along this route. Only local villagers use this path. There is also a rough jeep track connecting Ghorepani and Swanta, and for a little while you will be using this track. The trail goes past paddy fields, farmland, and a forest filled with rhododendron, oak, and bamboo trees. Enjoy the mesmerizing view of Dhaulagiri and Tukuche from the trail. Compared to the other days of your trek, today's walk is fairly easy and less challenging. Enjoy the beautiful village landscape as you make your way to Ghorepani.

The Ghorepani-Poon Hill trail is an ancient trail that was part of the old Tibet salt trade route. In bygone days, large caravans of merchants and pilgrims heading to Tibet used to travel through this route. The King of Mustang and his entourage also traveled through this trail on horseback to get to Pokhara, or Kathmandu.

Ghorepani is a large Magar settlement filled with lodges and teahouses. The lodges offer modern amenities like private rooms with attached western washrooms, internet, and hot showers. The lodges also offer a wide selection of food items. After days of staying at basic mountain teahouses, you can enjoy the modern amenities at the Ghorepani lodge.

Overnight in Ghorepani.

Wake up before sunrise and get ready to hike up to Poon Hill. Climb up a stone staircase, walk out of the village, and reach the base of the hill. The climb to the top of Poon Hill involves ascending a long staircase. It's a tiring climb that takes about an hour, but the panoramic views of the mountains from the top are worth the effort. As you walk up, you will be able to see the silhouette of the mountains looming in the dark.

The steps up to the top are well-maintained and in good condition. The hill is covered with rhododendron trees, which look enticing during springtime when the rhododendrons bloom. There's a view tower at the top from where you can catch glorious views of the mountains. Benches have been placed at the viewing spot, and there's a small tea stall that sells tea and snacks.

As the sun starts to rise, the mountains glow and turn into different shades. The warm rays of the rising sun tinge the snowcapped mountains with hues of red, pink, orange, yellow, and golden honey. It's a spectacle that will move you and leave you speechless. Stretching in an unbroken line, you will be able to view the mighty Dhaulagiri Himal (the seventh-highest mountain in the world), Annapurna South, Annapurna I(the tenth-highest mountain in the world), Gurja Himal, Tukuche, Nilgiri Himal, Machapuchhre, Baraha Shikhar, Manaslu (the eighth-highest mountain in the world), etc.

After enjoying the beautiful sunrise and taking pictures, you walk down to the lodge in Ghorepani and have breakfast. Pack your things and hit the trail again. You will be walking down a lot of staircases today.

The last day of your trek takes you deep into a lush rhododendron forest, the largest of its kind in Nepal. The scenery will be heavenly if you make this trip during the spring season. The whole trail will be filled with red and pink rhododendron blooms, and walking beneath the canopy of flower-laden trees will gladden your heart and keep you refreshed.

The trail is easy, involving some descents and walking on flat ground. En route, you will cross Myagdiand enter Kaski District, a Gurung-dominated region. You will stop for brief rests at the villages of Nangethanti and Nayathanti. As you descend to lower elevations, the vegetation changes, and the trail is covered with a lush forest of large moss-covered oak trees and other tropical vegetation.

You can spy monkeys moving around the forest. Walk alongside the Baraudi River and reach the jeep track at Banthanti. Leaving the jeep track fromBanthanti, you will take a long descent to Ulleri. You will be climbing down more than three thousand stone steps today.

While the descent down the unending flight of steps seems punishing for the knees and ankles, the views of the emerald hills and snowcapped mountains keep you motivated. At Ulleri, you will stop for rest and refreshment before continuing your journey down the killer stone staircase with 3000-plus steps. En route, you will walk past the picturesque village of Tikhedhunga and cross streams and rivers via metal bridges.

After a long and tiring descent, you will reach Hile. At Hile, your trek will finally come to an end. You will board a vehicle and ride toward Pokhara. After reaching Pokhara, you will be driven to your hotel. Check in and enjoy a relaxing hot shower and a good dinner.

Overnight in Pokhara.

Since you have an afternoon flight, your morning will be free. You can use the early part of the day to explore the lakeside city. You can book a half-day sightseeing tour or explore the city on your own. If this is your first time in Pokhara, we recommend you enjoy boating in Phewa Lake and a sunrise drive toSarangkot. Other must-visit attractions in Pokhara include the Gupteshwar Cave, the Peace Stupa, the International Mountain Museum, etc.

If your trek has been physically draining, then you can spend the day resting at your hotel. Our guide will drop you off at the Pokhara International Airport, from where you can catch your flight to Kathmandu and return to the capital. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you will be picked up from the domestic airport and driven to your hotel. Rest and relax at your hotel, or head out to Thamel to shop for souvenirs.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

It's time to bid goodbye to Nepal. Our driver will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the international airport at least three hours before your scheduled departure. If you wish to extend your stay and explore more places in the Himalayas, please let us know. We run tours in the neighboring countries of Bhutan, India, and China (Tibet Autonomous Region of China) too. Our travel consultant will help you chart another interesting itinerary.