Key Information
Book this Nepal trek and get a complimentary one hour Trekker’s’ massage after the trek is over. The masseuses will be from a marginalized community. This is part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Imagine hiking up to 3,550 meters to Mardi Himal high camp and then flying off tandem on a paraglider to Pokhara. Yeah! It is now a reality. Responsible Adventures has teamed up with the best paragliding pilots in Nepal to do a unique adventure combination of trekking and paragliding.
The paragliding pilots were named the NATGEO adventurers of the year in 2012. They are Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tseri Sherpa. These two Nepali guys climbed Everest, took off on a paraglide from the summit to the Sun Koshi River, and kayaked to the Bay of Bengal, setting a new world record. You will be paragliding with the adventurer legends. The paraglide pilot meets us on day six, hiking from Pokhara for the flight the next day.
The Trek to Mardi Himal has only been a favourite in recent years. Previously, only expedition-style trekking used to be run on this route by some of Nepal’s trekking companies. The individual hikers stayed off the trail as there were few lodging facilities.
Thanks to some enterprising locals, now the path has some lodges and guest houses, making it possible for FIT to trek this route. The trail takes you east of Annapurna Base camp trail and eventually to the Mardi Himal Basecamp, close to Mount Fishtail.
We are pioneers in gourmet trekking in the Himalayas. We provide a varied, exciting menu on treks throughout the Himalayas. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be catered for upon request, and other special diets can be accommodated with advance notice.
Trekking is not only fun, but it is beneficial for you. It helps in detoxifying the body while also nourishing the soul. Although to provide a better experience, we also tailor our meals to include superfoods as part of the ingredients to keep you fit and healthy while assisting in acclimatization to high altitude. The combination of hiking in the pristine mountain air and healthy food makes trekking with us a complete gourmet adventure. Read More on Food and nutrition on our treks.
Arrive in Kathmandu. You will be met by our representative and brought to your hotel. You will meet the rest of the group during your trek briefing.
We go to the domestic airport in Kathmandu after breakfast. This is a short but scenic flight to Pokhara. We take a vehicle and drive to our trek starting point of Dhampus. We have an uphill hike to Pitam Deurali. We hike through a lovely thick forest, passing by Pothana village. You have one more hour of an uphill walk to Pitam Deurali.
We start our hike uphill through a lush forest. This was once a shepherd’s trail bringing their sheep, goats, buffaloes, and cows to higher grazing pastures. We will continue to ascend most of the way, passing by a couple of small “shops” selling snacks and tea on the way.
It is a lovely walk listening to birds chirping in the woods. We will have late lunch when we get to Kokar or Forest Camp.
We shorten our day’s hike and stay at Badal danda for acclimatization and to be in a quiet place. The Panorama is another advantage of staying at Badal danda. We can have a relaxing breakfast before starting our trek as we only had about a 4-hour hike on this day. The trail is uphill in a lovely rhododendron forest. It takes about three hours to reach an opening in the forest called Low Camp. We stop here for lunch. Views of Annapurna South and Machapuchare are good when it is not cloudy.
We have about an hour to get to Badal Danda (Cloudy Hill); as the name says, clouds usually rise from the lower valleys in the afternoon. This place is on a ridge, and the view of the valleys on both sides is impressive.
We have another short morning of trekking to High Camp. We climb for about one hour on a ridge. The trail combines ascends and descends in rhododendron forest, with openings providing lovely views. You will be hiking with Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machapuchare in front of you. On your left, the Annapurna base camp trail is way below where you are walking.
The paraglide pilots would have trekked from Pokhara two days before with their gliders. We will take off from the high camp, weather permitting. The paraglide takes between 30-45 minutes, depending on your weight. The heavier one is, the faster you glide to your destination. The pilots pack up their gliders and load them on the jeeps. The drive to our hotel at Lakeside is about one hour.
We are in a remote part where the cell phone networks don’t work. However, we will try to contact our paragliding company to be updated on the latest weather forecast, etc.
We have this extra day if the weather isn’t ideal for paragliding. If the weather is still unclear, we will start hiking down the road, which takes about 5-6 hours. The drive from the road head takes two hours to get to Pokhara.
You can chill out, go shopping, or take a boat ride. Late afternoon flight back to Kathmandu.
Morning walking tour of Swayambhunath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Ason Market ending in Thamel – the tourist hub for lunch.
You will be brought to the airport three hours before your international flight.
Despite the exceptional circumstances in which we find ourselves at the moment, we don’t want you to give up your holiday – and we want you to be able to book your trip without any worries.
To provide additional security for your booking, we have introduced a new rebooking and cancellation policy so that you can easily rebook or cancel your trip free of charge if the worst comes to the worst.
For new bookings made between May 10th 2021, and December 31st 2022, you may cancel your complete package (activities, hotels, tours, excl. flight) free of charge up to 30 days before your departure and get 100% of your money back. However, to stay flexible, we recommend that you choose a flexible fare when booking your flight.
Stay flexible with our new rebooking service until shortly before your departure. For new bookings made between May 10th and December 31st, 2021, you may rebook your package (activities, hotels, tours) free of charge up to 30 days before your departure (subject to availability). Rebooking is only allowed once, and you must inform us 30 days before your planned departure. Any additional costs incurred due to changes in your schedule or upgrades, such as additional fees in high season or upgrades to your accommodation, will still apply. To remain flexible, we recommend that you choose a flexible fare when booking your flight.
Trek FAQ
Most of our clients have completed their treks from 3 years old to some in their 70s with almost no exercise or training.
Do you offer hotel/airport pick-up?
We offer hotel and airport pick-up. As you continue with your booking, there will be an option to input flight details or hotel names.
Do I need a Visa?
A visa for Nepal can be acquired on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, and at border entry points in Kakadvitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Gaddachowki on the Nepal-India border, and Kerung on the Nepal-China border.
A visa can also be obtained outside of Nepal at the nearest Nepal Embassy or Diplomatic Mission.
For more information, go to the Department of Immigration, Kalikasthan, Kathmandu.
What should I bring on a Trek?
Being adequately equipped is one of the keys to a successful trek. For information to help you select the best type of clothing and equipment for your trip, please see our Clothing and Equipment Guide.
Also, see our Links page for details of specialist retailers who will offer further advice and assistance with purchasing new clothing or equipment.
If you have more questions, please check this article to reference equipment to pack or contact us.
Is this trip safe for solo/female/LGBT+/minority/POC travelers?
You are safe as long as you respect the culture, do not show affection in public, and dress decently (this won’t pose too much problem as you will be covered up in layers to stay warm).
Here are some helpful articles:
Am I too old to go trekking?
Arriving at Kathmandu airport.
Should I bring cash or ATM cards?
What to pack for a trek?
Do I need to train for a trek?
What is a typical day on a trek like?
What is the food like on the trek?
The Benefits of using trekking poles.
What do I need to know about high altitudes?
High altitude myths.
How to trek safely?
For more articles, you can go to our blogs.