The Important Trip Features:
Duration: The Annapurna Mardi Himal and Khopra Danda trekking on our plan is 18-days trip from beginning to the end. It starts with a drive or flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, and ends the trek at Banthati, then we drive to Pokhara, spend 2 nights in Pokhara, we make one full day sightseeing trip in Pokhara, then drive to Kathmandu. We will arrange some beautiful and comfortable tour packages in Kathmandu in case you have some additional time available.
Permits: You need Annapurna Conservation Area Project permits and a TIMS permit, including trekking insurance for your trekking crews. The permit costs approximately USD 30 for foreigners (non-SAARC nationals) and USD 10 for SAARC nationals
Cash: Have enough Nepalese Rupees (NPR) as ATMs are scarce on the trail, and credit cards are rarely accepted
Transportation: Deluxe tourist bus from KTM to Pokhara- 4x4 Jeep to Kande and Banthanti- Pokhara. And deluxe tourist bus drive back to KTM. If you want to fly from KTM-PKR-KTM, we can arrange domestic flight tickets on your demand with additional flight costs.
Walking Trails: The trail often goes through the beautiful forest, ancient typical cultures villages, waterfalls, staircases, wilder pastures, ridges and several viewpoints till the buttom of the mountains, crosses several suspension bridges, wild bees, natural hot springs, zig-zags up and down, and passes several river streams.
Walking hours per day: The itinerary is always eligible; every day, your trek starts after your breakfast. Take your own speed, enjoy your walking and the views. Normally, walking hours will be 4-8 hours per day. Early starts for Mardi Himal base camp and tough walking of 11 hours if you want to go to visit Khayar ( holy Lake).
Landscape & temperature: There are amazing landscapes on this trek, it is a very comfortable temperature, and a greenery region. Very beautiful hills and hillocks, wide ranges of high mountains with beautiful views. Horizontal meadows and wide valleys with perfect temperatures. Alpine conture with rocky mountains, face to face mountains. Minus 5 degree at night at Khopra Danda in November then everywhere is comfortable temperature.
Accommodations and Food: Everywhere we can find very neat and clean local lodges and hotels with the best food items. We can select the food according to our choices on the hotel's Menu. Almost the Menu is similar to everywhere. They provide normal but rooms with clean beds. They have a very wide, clean, and warm dining room. They provide common hot showers bathroom. Attached bath room in Mardi side and at Khopra Danda is impossible then everywhere it is possible.
Maximum altitude: One overnight at Mardi highcamp at 3500 meters and hiking to Mardi Base camp reach up to 4,500 meters for the best view. One overnight at Khopra Danda at 3800 Meters and approximately up to 5000 meters for next day excurson. If you go to visit Khayar Lake ( holy lake) 4600 meters then, in many parts you should get closer to 5000 meters.
Drinking water: Everywhere you can get fresh running water, but we recommend using some purifier tablets or a filtered water or you can buy mineral water or filtered water.
Altitude Sickness: You should not be worried about altitude sickness in this trek. However, the Mountain has its own discipline, you cannot turn the character of the mountain into your character. Follow the theory of going higher and sleeping at a lower altitude. Go slower, drink enough water, take enough acclimatization, and supply enough energy. You may feel a bit of altitude symptomps at Khayar Lake visit. Other wise you should not be worried about the altitude sickness on this trip. We reccomend for some medicine against altitude sickness or descending at lower altitude if some one get altitude sickness.
Best Time to Trek:
The Annapurna Balcony trekking can be trekked year-round, but the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to December) seasons offer the best conditions:
Autumn (September - November): Widely considered the best time. The weather is generally stable, with clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and excellent mountain views. Trails are not dusty, and the nights are clear for stargazing.
Spring (March - May): Another excellent period. You'll witness blooming rhododendrons completely around the widely spread forests and other wildflowers, with pleasant temperatures and good visibility.
Winter (December - February): It is possible for trekking around this area. There will be clear skies, good visibility and less trekkers. Warm gears are necessary for the Morning and for the night.The higher elevations will be covered with snow, it can be extremely chalenging and cold.
Monsoon (June-August): We do not recommend this trek in the Monsoon due to heavy rainfall, muddy and slippery trails, leaches in the grasses, river streams will be flooded, limited visibility, and the risk of landslides. Also can be stocked the road by landslide.
