So what is the best short trek in Nepal?
Now I’m talking less than 7 days in and out of Kathmandu if you're super pressed for time this is my recommendation.
I'm reviewing the Mardi Himal Trek in this video. So stick around
Hey guys Chase here keeping you informed and shape for the mountains and on this channel, I share with you my gear advice
Fitness tips for trekkers and knees as well as Trek review videos just like this one
So if you are new here, hi, let's get into it. So
In this video, I'm reviewing the Mardi Himal Trek
I believe it's the best short track in Nepal. Its main competition would be the Poon Hill trek
Which is currently the most popular short track in Nepal
but in my opinion Mardi Himal offers more variety, less crowds and
Overall just a better experience with arguably better views where you're closer to the mountains
so in this video
I'm covering my pros and cons as well as some handy tips for you if you want to do this trek or perhaps any other trek
In Nepal as well
Mardi Himal is the perfect trek for you if you're new to hiking or trekking or if you're short on time
Some treks in Nepal can take multiple days of travel by bus plane and Jeep
For you to get to the trailhead. So just keep that in mind when you're booking your trip to Nepal
Part of the reason why Mardi Himal is so accessible is because of its proximity to Nepals second-largest city Pokhara
Which is soon to get its very own international airport
So, it's my prediction that this track will really blow up when that airport is finished because you can fly
directly into Pokhara without having to deal with the craziness of Kathmandu
One of the main reasons why I chose to do this trek is because if it's all about the ridge. The ridge is amazing
I'm the kind of person that will pick an adventure solely based on what kind of views I'm going to get
I love photography and I love videography. So I always take that into account whenever I'm looking at booking a trip
When I looked at the map of this area and discover that this Trek follows a relatively narrow
Ridgeline the entire time I was super excited because ridge hiking means you're likely to get great views on either side of you
Not to mention that wonderful feeling of exposure and really feeling like you're in the mountains
I also chose to do this trick because of the close-up views that provides of Machapuchare
This incredible Peak is often called fishtail mountain because of the shape of its summit
It is one of the most famous mountains in Nepal and it's also it's so sacred that climbing to its summit has been banned
So in fact, no one to common knowledge has ever stood on top of the summit of this mountain
I just love that concept that I'm looking at a place in the world where no one has ever stood and where
Hopefully no one ever will.
So other than the obvious beauty of the trek
I love the fact that this is a short and sweet Trek
You can get it done in as little as three or four days or you can stretch it out to seven if you like
It's perfect for a beginner who's short on time. It's also a very social trek
There's very few options to stay
So that means that you generally run into the same people throughout the trek and as a solo trekker
That's great because it gives you the chance and the opportunity to form those relationships
And isn't that what traveling is about at the end of the day? I think that's super important and something worth noting
In terms of the weather pattern, it's fairly predictable like the rest of Nepal
You can experience clear mornings through many months of the year
But typically you'll have afternoon sort of clouds and storms roll in which can hinder the views
So, unless you're going in winter when it's very clear. You probably tend to do most of your walking in the morning.
And the flipside of that is that you tend to have these kind of, long boring afternoons when the clouds roll in
But that's kind of just part and parcel of this trip
Now that leads me into what I don't like about this trek, which is not much to be honest
The only thing I can say is that Mardi Himal does kind of have this manufactured feel to it
I get the feeling that no one really lived here before it became a trek
So I think that's a big part of why I noted a distinct lack of culture in this area
So in a way, it kind of feels like a little bit of a theme park
I mean, there's no reason for anyone to live on this weird ridge in the middle of nowhere
There's not really any villages per se only small groups of tea houses along the way which is fine
If you're familiar with Nepalese culture already, but if this is the only thing that you get to experience out of Nepal
I think you'll be missing out on some really important cultural elements
for example
There's a significant lack of those typical Nepali stores where you kind of feel like you're walking into someone's house
those little stores don't really exist along the Mardi Himal trail, which is a shame because you miss out on those great little
Interactions with local people or that I think it's just so special
So that's about it for the pros and cons of the Mardi Himal Trek. If you're still watching you're probably interested in the next part where?
I'm gonna go through how to get there and what to expect along the way
Okay how to get to the start of the trip
Well, most people will fly into Kathmandu then you can either get a bus or fly to Pokhara
Like I said soon enough, you'll be able to fly internationally directly into Pokhara
But at the moment, it's just a short flight (from Kathmandu)
then you can hop on a local bus it cost about a hundred and fifty rupees so like two US dollars or
from the Pokhara Baglang bus park and
You'll be jumping on a local bus with
Local people which is cool experience. It'll take less than an hour
I will drop you off at Kande which is 1500 meters above sea level and that's where you will begin the trek
From here climbs up through rice paddies and some scattered forest until you reach a little place called
Australian camp. Obviously being Australian I was super excited to get there
So I had to go and check that out
Since the late morning cloud moved in by the time I arrived I didn't really get to see many views
But I decided to stick around chat to the locals and I decided to grab a coffee
Mainly because they'd hiked up a 60 kilogram espresso machine from Kande
So yeah, you can get an espresso coffee there. Quite good as well
I wouldn't have expected anything less from a place called Australia Camp. From here
You'll most likely head to Bhichok, which is 2100 metres above sea level
Most people will stop there for a night, but I was feeling pretty fit at the time
So I continued all the way to Forest Camp which is 2500 metres more or less. Doing some training
Beforehand could be especially helpful as the lower terrain offers a few challenges
There's some slippery root systems and big steps up through some very muddy oak
rhododendron and bamboo forests which actually makes for quite
Spectacular jungle trekking. It's really beautiful
One great thing is that you really have a lot of freedom of choice about how much hiking you do every day. =
For instance from forest camp you can choose to walk just to Low camp which is like a moderate day
But if you're feeling pretty strong and pretty fit you can continue all the way through to middle camp
Which is what I chose to do. You'll probably start to really feel the altitude
once you reach Middle Camp
Which is at 3,000 metres around 9,000 feet
And I highly recommend staying put for an extra night here
If you're not feeling too good my advice is that you listen to your body. Take your time
Let yourself acclimatize and don't be in a rush. Just enjoy the trip
If you're not sure about the symptoms, please go and watch this video very important stuff
Now if you're not feeling too good doesn't matter. This is a great place to stay for an extra night
It's where the tree line ends. So from here, you've got open ridgeline up ahead of you. You can see Machapuchare
you've got Valley to the left and to the right and
Even if you turn around you can see the ridge where you walked up. So it's pretty much a 360 degree
Extravaganza view at this point once you pass the treeline the weather is generally a lot clearer
especially in the early mornings you remain on this increasingly narrow ridge that
Faces the epic Machapuchare. The trail takes you through the final village on the ridge
Which is called high camp, at around 3500 metres some maps incorrectly state
3900 so just be careful of that. And for almost everyone this is the highest point at which you sleep on the trek
Unless you're planning to climb Mardi Himal itself
Once you've spent the night here at high camp
It's common to get up early, maybe even in the dark and head up to the real highlight of the Trek
Which is simply called the Upper Viewpoint. It's at this point where I took these photos
We had an incredible clear morning and you can check out more of those on my Instagram account
From the upper view point you can choose to continue up higher to a Mardi Himal Base Camp at
4500 meters which is 100% worth it as the ridge becomes increasingly narrower and kind of turns into this
Scrambling climbing little adventure not too sketchy. I think anyone can do it as long as it's a clear day
But I'm telling you if the weather comes in and it gets cloudy
You should probably turn around and go back to High Camp because it's just not worth it
Just a couple of days before I was there a Russian hiker went missing, she was on her own
So things like this happen a lot in this area
So, please please please be careful
Make sure you know how to hand yourself in the wilderness
If you're going to solo
If you choose to go all the way up to Mardi . Himal Base Camp though, be aware that there's not a lot there
There's no tea house there. You can't stay there
it's basically just a guy huddled under a tarp whose sole purpose is to
provide you with a hot drink when you get there. Take a packed lunch from high camp
So you've got something to snack on during the day, because there is nothing. Nada.
Now in the market research for this video one of the main questions was do I need a guide for this trip and
Given everything that I've just mentioned I should say yes, but really you don't need it
If you are one of those people that just likes to travel on your own then fine
Go ahead and check it solo. But unless you have that kind of experience
I'd really recommend getting a guide for this trip
Not only is it going to prevent you from making any terrible decisions,
But it's also nice to have a guide to get a cultural insight to have a translator and to just generally make sure
Everything goes smoothly. If you're looking for guiding and porter services
I'd love to recommend my friend Puru from the Himalaya Hub Adventures of known Peru for a decade
He was just a youngin' when we met in 2011 since then he's built this business with his friends. They're all young guys
They've got a lot of energy and they're just great fun to be around. So that's kind of your vibe
Check out the link in the description below
And anyone who is a part of our group Trekking FAQs on Facebook will get a 10% discount with Puru
So check that out in the link below
If you do choose to go out this solo
Then you'll have to make a few difficult choices along the way
About whether you return by the same route that you came up
Whether you descend to the valley either to the east or to the west I chose to descend to the west
I went into a town called Siding and I got a jeep from there and back to Pokhara
Keep in mind that can be quite expensive as well somewhere between 2500- 6000 rupees
Your other option is to descend into the valley to the east from here
You can even link up into the Annapurna Sanctuary/Base Camp which would be an incredible trip
probably one of the best treks in the world or you can head to Tatopani
And go to the hot springs and then get back to Pokhara from there
The best time to trek here is probably from October to January
That's when you're going to get those clear winter days offering spectacular views and definitely less proud
post-monsoon like September
can be problematic if the monsoon remains a little longer like it did for me
But as long as you get up early, you will still get some great views
Springtime like, March through early May would be an excellent choice as well. That's when you're gonna get
rhododendron
Roget rhododendrons flap
The rhododendrons will be flowering at this time. So that's gonna make for an extra beautiful trip
Contenders of the tea houses along the way they're basic but comfortable
within the tea houses
You'll be able to get everything you need like water, snacks, tea, coffee, all your main meals obviously.
Like I mentioned earlier there's no stores in this area to buy clothing or equipment
So if you forget something or something breaks, you're gonna be in a bit of a pickle
So to prevent that make sure you download my trekking gear list. It's in the description below
Also, check out this video which goes through all the equipment you can buy on the cheap in Katmandu so you can save some cash
Another common question that I got in the research phase was how hard is the trip and how fit do I need to be for it?
Well, honestly,
I didn't find it a very difficult trek but having said that putting in some specific preparation
Beforehand is going to boost your overall enjoyment of the trip.
There is some steep difficult sections and some long days on this trip
So, out of our programs the most appropriate one would probably be the Uphill Endurance program. I'll put a link in the description below
It's about 8 weeks of very specific trekking and hiking training
It's very light on the gym side of things so you can do it anywhere. Basically perfect for a trip like this
So that's about it for this Mardi Himal trek review
I really believe it is the best
short trek in Nepal under 7 days and if you're watching this and you've been to Nepal before and you have a
Suggestion of a trip that you love, please put it in the comment section below. I'm sure everyone would love to hear about it
If you've got any other questions about altitude, gear, fitness, or anything to do traveling and trekking in Nepal or anywhere around the world
Please join
The link is in the description anyone in that Facebook group automatically gets a 10 percent discount with Himalayan Hub Adventures
Just talk to Puru and tell him I sent you. Please let me know if there's anything you think I missed in this review
So I can improve these videos in the future If you found this video helpful
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And here's a couple of other videos you might find useful. Most of all, thanks for watching. Thanks for getting involved
I'll see you on the summit.