Best time to travel to Nepal :
Nepal is a country of differences with various landscapes, including towering mountain ranges, lush forests, and a vibrant cultural heritage. The best time to travel to Nepal depends on your preferences and the type of excursions or events you intend to participate in. Generally, Nepal has four distinct seasons, each with unique charms and challenges.
Autumn Season: September to November is Nepal's best time for Trekking and outdoor activities. Clear skies, pleasant temperatures, and festivals like Dashain Tihar and Chhat make this period ideal for experiencing Nepali culture.
Winter Season: Cold temperatures start in late November or early December, but clear skies suit budget travelers. Lower-elevation treks and skiing/snowboarding in ski resorts are popular activities.
Spring Season: From late February to May, warmer temperatures make it perfect for Trekking. Rhododendrons bloom, adding to the scenic beauty. Celebrations like Holi and Buddha Jayanti occur during this time.
Summer Season: Monsoon rains from June to August make trekking challenging, but it's a great time to experience lush greenery and agriculture. Ideal for peace seekers and cultural tours of cities accessible by road.
Fitness and Training:
Trekking and climbing in Nepal's Hilly region and high-terrain Himalayas require physical fitness and training for a safe journey. Trekking involves walking long distances, sometimes for hours daily, over different terrain and at high altitudes. To build stamina and prepare the body, it's best to start fitness activities a few months before the trip, including cardio, strength, and endurance training.
Your journey to Nepal can be safe and successful with physical fitness, training, and preparation. Be aware of the risks and challenges, and take necessary safety measures for a fun and secure trip.
Trek Booking:
Asiana Treks and Tours is the best and most trusted trek and tour company operator authorized by the Nepal government. We require a 10% advance payment to book your trip, and you'll need to send us a copy of your passport, photos, travel insurance, and flight details as soon as you book a tour with us. You can use bank transfer, or any other way like Western Union, or online via our website, which is easy. The remaining trip cost can be paid upon arrival in Nepal. We offer last-minute bookings, but changes may occur due to circumstances like bad weather.
Trek difficulty :
The Mardi Himal trek presents a moderate Trekking enriching adventure. Your enjoyment of the trip will largely depend on your level of fitness. We recommend building stamina at least two weeks before the trek. Activities include jogging, running, swimming, or taking long hikes for the journey ahead.
Completing this trek is achievable even if you're a beginner, although you must maintain a reasonable fitness level. Prior trekking experience can be advantageous, though it is optional. All you need is the readiness to hike steadily for 4-8 hours, navigating tricky terrain.
Suppose trekkers have pre-existing medical conditions, such as lung or heart diseases. In that case, they are advised to consult their physician before booking the trek to ensure their safety and well-being throughout the journey.
Entry permit and requirements (About Visa)
To visit Nepal, you need a valid passport and a visa. You can quickly get an arrival visa at entry points or Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. However, some people need a permit before they come, so it's good to check with the nearest Nepalese embassy.
Some nationalities that don't get visas from immigration entry points in Nepal are Nigeria, Iraq, Ghana, Afghanistan, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Palestine, and Ethiopia.
There are three types of visas, as in the table below:
Fifteen days, 30 days, or 90 days. The cost varies from $30 to $125 depending on how long you want to stay. You can pay in US dollars or other significant currencies, sometimes even Nepalese rupees.
If you're coming for business, you can get a suitable visa for up to 5 years. The fee depends on how much money you're investing. If you invest less than 10 million Nepalese rupees, it's $35 per month, $400 per year, or $1000 for five years. If you invest more, the fees are lower; if you invest more than 100 million Nepalese rupees, you don't have to pay any fees.
People from SAARC countries get a free 30-day visa. Indians don't need a visa, but they must show ID, like a passport or citizenship card. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months. And it's a good idea to have travel insurance which covers medical treatment and emergency evacuation.
Some places in Nepal require a separate permit to visit.
Tims and Permit :
TIMS and permits are compulsory to travel to the Annapurna region or visit the Mardi Himal trekking. These permits include the TIMS card and the Annapurna Conservation Area permit. You can get these permits in Kathmandu or Pokhara from registered trekking companies.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permits foreigners 3000 Rs per person, which is $26$ in equivalent.
The TIMS card is 2000 Rs Per person (USD 17). in equivalent.
The ACAP permit for Indians is 1500 RS per person, and the TIMS is 600 RS per person.
Travel Insurance:
Asiana Treks and Tours strongly advises our valuable clients to have travel insurance that protects adventurous activities at high altitudes above 5,000 m. This comprehensive coverage, which includes accidents and emergency help, will provide you with the peace of mind you need during your high-altitude adventure.
However, you can get this insurance online from different companies. Here are some popular trekking choices for Everest Base Camp.
USA and Canada: Tugo, United Health Care, World Nomad, Blue Cross
Australia and New Zealand: Fast Cover, Allianz Australia
Singapore: Ergo, World Nomad Explore plan level 3.
Europe: Europe Assistance, Austrian Alpine Club, Allianz Europe.
India: ICICI Lombard
But make sure the policy covers trekking up to 5985,000 m altitude. These are just suggestions, so the policies and what they cover might vary. It's best to contact these insurers directly to ask about what they offer before you buy anything.
Trip Safety:
We highly give top priority. We provide experienced guides with first aid kits and necessary safety gear to ensure a safe hand. Our team monitors weather and trail conditions and takes precautions to avoid risks. Before starting the trek, we discuss the trip to provide a clear understanding and ensure a reliable experience.
Guide and Porter Arrangement:
Our company, Asiana Treks and Tours, focuses on responsible tourism in Nepal. We make sure our guides and porters are well-trained in Trekking and mountaineering. They know a lot about the areas we go to, including geography, history, customs, and culture. We train them regularly in safety, first aid, and environmental conservation. We follow guidelines to treat our porters fairly, providing them with good pay, accommodation, and meals during treks. Our guides and porters are essential team members, and we appreciate their hard work. When you trek with us, you support ethical tourism in Nepal, making your trip meaningful and memorable.
Asiana Treks and Tours prioritizes your safety and enjoyment. Our knowledgeable guides, reliable equipment, and safety measures ensure a great trekking experience in Nepal.
Packing Check list :
When planning a trip to Nepal, packing the right gear is crucial for a successful journey, which includes clothing, equipment, and accessories tailored to your trek and the time of year. If you're trekking, pack light unless you're hiring a porter. Consider renting or buying gear in Nepal to save space. Ensure your equipment is high-quality and in good condition to avoid problems in the mountains. Take our suggestions to prepare your baggage correctly. Lastly, double-check the weather forecast and ensure you have all the necessary items for a safe and comfortable trip.
Teahouse Facilities:
Guest houses are familiar places to stay while trekking in Nepal. They're simple lodges with rooms, eating areas, and toilets. Guest houses vary in quality but are affordable and convenient for trekkers. They offer a cozy place to rest after walking and serve Nepali and international food. Rooms usually have twin or bunk beds, and bathrooms are shared. They provide blankets and pillows. Our company offers sleeping bags, but bringing one for extra comfort is a good idea.
Safe drinking water:
Drinking more than three liters of water daily is essential when trekking in higher terrain to prevent dehydration. Staying hydrated while trekking in Nepal's Himalayan region is crucial for your safety. You can find water taps in some areas but must ensure safe drinking. While mineral water is available in guest houses along popular routes, it can be costly. However, in the Annapurna region, safe water stations allow you to refill your water bottle safely. Your guide can assist you in purchasing boiled water from guest houses, which is cheaper than mineral water. A good suggestion is to bring a water filter, iodine drops, water purification tablets, and a Steri pen to treat water from streams or other natural sources along the trail. You must ensure that your water is safe to drink.
Toilet Facilities:
Most teahouses have Western-style flush toilets during mountain treks, especially at lower elevations. But as you go higher, find simple squat toilets along the trails and teahouses at higher altitudes. These toilets usually have water or toilet paper, but it's a good idea to bring your toilet paper just in case. You can also use restrooms at nearby teahouses or find a private spot along the trekking routes.
Internet Connectivity:
While trekking in the Himalayan region of Nepal, connecting with your family and friends is also a good idea. You can find internet access at teahouses and lodges, but it might be extra minimal cost. The signal might be weak because of the remote location. You can also get internet access using a local SIM card and data packages available at Kathmandu airport or nearby shops in Thamel and Pokhara. You'll have a passport-sized photo and a copy of your passport to get a SIM card. It's a good idea to compare prices and data packages from telecom companies like Ncell and Nepal Telecom before buying. Knowing about teahouse connectivity. Our guide will suggest connections for you.
Altitude Sickness and Acclimatisation:
Altitude sickness is common among hikers in Nepal's Himalayan Region. It happens when the body doesn't get enough oxygen at higher elevations, causing headaches and dizziness. Acclimatization is essential to prevent this. It means gradually getting used to higher altitudes by resting, drinking fluids, and ascending slowly. Spending an extra day at lower elevations before going higher is the best way to avoid altitude sickness. Hydration is the main issue during Trekking to prevent dehydration, which can worsen altitude sickness. Drinking plenty of water, tea, and soup can help. Trekkers can also take medicines like acetazolamide or dexamethasone to relieve symptoms. However, it's best to consult a doctor first. Proper acclimatization techniques are like "climb high, sleep low," and please keep in mind that during your trek, you should always stay hydrated, which would reduce the Risk of altitude sickness. Booking with an experienced guide can ensure you get the right advice and help during your trek.
About the sensitive zone in Mardi Himal trekking:
There are not many risky areas for Mardi Himal trekking. Certain parts of the trail, such as the steep descent and the ridge walk, are little Risk, especially during snowfall or heavy rains in winter and March. Our guides are familiar with these risky spots and can help navigate them safely. Travelers sometimes run into difficulties, and sadly, some have even lost their lives while trekking to Mardi Himal trekking without a guide and proper information.
Your trip day starts today when you arrive to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Upon your arrival, you will be received by our representative at the airport. He will be carrying a signboard with our company’s name on it. Then you will be transferred to the tour hotel and checked in. A trip briefing will follow later today and the time will be notified to you by the representative who picks you up from the airport. We will come to meet and brief you about the trip at the fixed time. Until then just relax or explore a bit of surrounding.
We take you for a day tour of cultural heritage monuments in Kathmandu valley after breakfast. The tour will give you a mixed insight of history, culture, art, architecture and spirituality of Kathmandu valley. The sites include; Swoyambhunath aka Monkey Temple: The oldest of all sites in Kathmandu valley, Swoyambhunath is an important Buddhist spiritual site having the history over two thousand years old. This site has gained a popular name as monkey temple as this small forested hill is a good habitat for hundreds of monkeys. The visit there will heighten your spiritual and cultural experience. Patan City including Patan Durbar Square: A tour to medieval city of Patan gives you a great insight about ethnic Newari culture, Budhhist spirituality, religious harmony, art and architecture while you stroll around the charismatic alleys taking you to magnificent local community squares known as Bahal and eventually leading you to an incredible medieval palace square. The monuments and skill of the local artisans displayed on those monuments in the square will stun you with their unbelievable charm. Boudhanath Stupa: The largest of its kind in the world, this magnificent stupa is a very important center of faith for the people following Tibetan Buddhism. This place is nice Circular Square with the stunning stupa in the middle of it which spreads a lot of spiritual vibrations around the atmosphere.
We will drive to Pokhara by tourist bus in the morning after breakfast. After driving for about seven hours through scenic countryside of Nepal, we reach an eloquently charming city of Pokhara. The drive will have enough stopovers necessary on the way. Once we reach Pokhara, the charm of the city will capture our attention for a good feeling of being amidst the natural wonders from close up Himalayas to the surrounding lakes. A lake nearby our hotel is a nice place to take an evening stroll and the lakeside town has lots of options to dine.Have an option to fly to Pokhara at an extra cost.
Today is the first day of our trek. We start early morning drive for half hour from Pokhara to Phedi. We set on our first trekking steps on the mountains. The first section of the trek is a steep uphill walk to Dhampus. We spend some time at Dhampus for the lunch and admire the panoramic view of the Annapurna range. After lunch we walk on pace towards Deurali for the overnight stay
The second day of the trek, we trek to Forest Camp today. About 6 hours of walk today takes us to the destination. The trail goes through pine and rhododendron forest giving us a rich experience of nature walk. The trail stretch feels like somewhat a secluded part as there are very less human settlements we come across. We eventually reach Forest Camp to stay overnight today.
A beautiful stretch of the trip, the trekking section brings some spectacular views of the mountains in the Annapurna range including the most dominating Mt. Fishtail towering right in front of us. Once we reach the Low Camp, we will stop for the lunch and at the same time enjoy the spectacular Fishtail. Moving ahead from the Low Camp towards High Camp, we reach the view point that brings incredible Himalayan views again to us. Apart from the Mountain View, we can enjoy the view of several beautiful villages of Chhomrong, Ghandruk in the Annapurna region. Stay overnight at High Camp.
We are going to achieve the highest elevation of the trek today and the day is also the highlight of the trip. We are going to trek to the Mardi Himal Base Camp situated at 4500 meters above sea level. The walk today is characterized by a rocky and steep path which gives us some challenging task yet keeps us at our leisurely pace. The walk brings us wonderful views of Mardi Himal, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Himchuli, Gangapurna, Gandharbhachuli etc. to make our challenging day a little soothing. Once we reach the Mardi Himal base camp and spend some time there, we start descending towards the High Camp for overnight stay.
Today, we are on our journey back towards lower elevation. After an awesome adventure to the Mardi Himal base camp yesterday with incredible Himalayan views, we are leaving all those mountains behind us and heading back down. We are taking only the memories to cherish. We walk to Siddhing village today to stay overnight. The walk today is obviously another incredible nature walk.
We walk to Lwang village today after breakfast. Traversing the trail up and down the hill most of the time, we reach Ghalel village to stop for the lunch. After lunch we head up to go to Lwang village which is an ethnic village in the region. We might get to see some traditional ethnic cultural show in the evening at the homestay that we stay at.
We trek to Astam village today after exploring a tea garden at Lwang in the morning. The trek that starts after breakfast will take us to Astam by the lunch time. So we can have our lunch enjoying the Mountain View of Annapurna region. As we earn plenty of afternoon time by arriving to Astam for lunch, we can go around exploring the cultural and natural beauty of the surrounding.
We trek for about 3 hours to Melbot early in the morning. We will get on a vehicle and drive to Pokhara for more or less about 1 hour. Once we reach Pokhara, we will have free time to relax and wander around the lake side.
We drive back to Kathmandu after breakfast. Or we have an option to fly back to Kathmandu paying an additional cost for the ticket. Check into hotel once we arrive to Kathmandu and freshen up. We will go for dinner later in the evening.
You will be transferred to airport as per your flight schedule. We will pick you up from the hotel three hours prior to your flight time.