Mardi Himal Trek Cost

Mardi Himal Trek is a recently opened trekking route in the Annapurna region that leads to the beautiful Mardi Himal (5,587 meters), which is right beneath the towering Machhapuchhre Peak (6,993 meters). Introduced in 2012, this incredible experience in the mainstream Annapurna region became an instant hit for its wilderness aspects. For the trekkers who are looking for a distinct journey away from the crowd of the mainstream route and a tranquil experience that guarantees an authentic Himalayan experience, this enchanting route is an esteemed prize. The overall short duration and the easy-graded difficulty level make this trekking adventure makes it an exceptional fit for a trek beginner and adventures who have time constraints. So, if you are planning to take on this short and exciting Himalayan journey and wondering about the overall Mardi Himal Trek cost, you have landed on the right page.

The Mardi Himal Trek cost for a standard package is around US$ 600 to US$ 900. However, the overall package cost will be influenced by several factors, and you may find packages with costs higher or lower than the mentioned standard margin. So, to understand more about the cost aspects of this short and sweet adventure, let’s dive into the article. We will discuss all the major aspects of the Mardi Himal Trekking expenses so you can properly structure your budgeting for the trip whether you are managing this Himalayan exploration on your own or doing it via an agency.

Mardi Himal Trek Cost- Package Cost

Mardi Himal Trek is one of the short and wonderful trekking adventures in the Annapurna region. The standard duration of this short exploration in the central Himalayas is around 7 to 9 days. Depending on the route, pace of the journey, and other highlight explorations, the overall trip can be shorter or longer. The Mardi Himal Trek cost for a standard duration package is somewhere between US$ 600 to US$ 900. The cost factor of the package will mostly depend on the overall length, side detours around the region, and quality of the services provided.

If you are looking for a best value package that doesn’t compromise in experience and quality, Exciting Nepal is offering a 9 Day Mardi Himal Trekking package at just US$ 650. This package handles your itinerary plans from your arrival date to the trek completion date and is a complete exploration that doesn’t miss out on anything in the region. We also offer further discounts for group bookings; considering the value, length, and overall service provided at a reasonable price, it’s hard to find other packages that top this deal. For any kind of questions regarding the package or booking, please feel free to get in touch with us via our Contact Page.

Package Includes and Excludes

If you are surfing the internet to find out the best Mardi Himal Trekking packages, you should always be mindful of the cost included and excluded sections of the package. You may be happy to find a low-cost package,, but after checking out what the package includes, you will find the reason why it is so low-priced. Some agencies also have hidden costs that aren’t added up to the total cost. So, for the best Mardi Himal Trek cost package, you should always book your adventure with a reputable company.

Also, for cost-efficient travel, you should avoid third-party agencies. In Nepal, only government-licensed agencies are allowed to operate, so even if you book the trek with any third-party agency, the one in charge of your trip will be a Nepali company. So, in order to avoid paying high middle-person charges for a reasonably priced package, you should definitely avoid third-party agencies and websites. Moving back to the cost includes and excludes aspect, let’s check out what the agencies offer to the trekkers in general.

Mardi Himal Trek Cost- Package Includes

Trekking Permits

Trekking permits are mandatory requirements for high-altitude treks in Nepal. During the higher region explorations, you will usually cross paths with conserved areas and restricted areas. So, permits are issued for such regions to moderate tourism activity and conserve the regions. For this Manaslu Circuit Trek as well, you will need to obtain two permits, which are as follows:

Permits Required for Mardi Himal Trek

• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit– costs US$ 30 per person
• Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) Card– costs US$ 20 per person

As this is one of the significant aspects of the Mardi Himal Trek cost, it is mostly covered by the package cost as well. If you trek with Exciting Nepal, we will also collect the necessary permits on your behalf so you can relish a seamless experience.

Transportation

The starting point of the Manaslu Himal Trekking, Pokhara (820 meters), can be easily accessed with the land transport mode. Driving to Pokhara from Kathmandu will take approximately 6 to 7 hours. However, there is also a flight option available to Pokhara if you don’t want to spend long hours on the road; the flight takes about 30 minutes. As air transport is not mandatory for joining the trekking trails of this package, the agencies will cover your Mardi Himal Trek cost for the land transport. But, if you are planning to take the flight, you will have to pay for it on your own.

You can book the flight for around US$ 80 to US$ 150 (one-way), depending on the flight operator and schedules. Avoid international third-party agencies if you don’t want to spend extra bucks. As for other necessary land transportation such as hotel transfer, airport pick-up and drop-off, the agencies will oversee it.

Cost of Land Transporation (Kathmandu to Pokhara route): US$ 12 for normal vehicle

US$ 20 to US$ 60 (tourist bus)

US$ 150 (for jeep)

Accomodation

As the Annapurna region is one of the mainstream trekking destinations in Nepal, there are several accommodation options that you can choose from. Teahouses are the most popular accommodation mode for the standard treks, and as for the luxurious experience, you can stay at the lodges on the trailside. You can also choose the camping mode, and your choice of accommodation will influence the overall Mardi Himal Trek cost. During this trekking adventure, you will spend two nights at star hotels in the city areas and six nights on the mountain.

The standard accommodation option will be paid for by your trekking package. However, in case if you feel like upgrading the service, then you will have to pay for it by yourself if it is not included in your package.

Cost of Accomodation in City Areas (Kathmandu and Pokhara): starts at US$ 25

Cost of Accomodation on Mountain: starts at US$ 7

Food

Like accommodation facilities, food is a general expense of the Mardi Himal Trek cost, which is covered by the trekking packages. If you are doing your trek with an agency, the three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be covered by your trekking package. The coverage for the three meals will start after you start your trek, and during your stay in Kathmandu, the package may include only dinner. As the Mardi Himal Trek will take you across a world-renowned trekking destination, you can expect a good level of food during your trek.

Primarily, the traditional dishes are the most popular options among the locals and tourists. They are healthy, nutritious, and filling, perfect for fueling your long walks during the explorations. However, in case you want a taste of home, there are also several popular international dishes available that you can choose from.

(Note: If you are curious about the vegetarian and vegan options, you will find it at every teahouse along the trail. You will also be able to make requests to remove any ingredients you don’t prefer from your meal)

Cost of Standard Food Menu in City Areas (Kathmandu and Pokhara): US$ 10 to US$ 20

Cost of Accomodation on Mountain: US$ 10 to US$ 15

Guide and Porters

For high-altitude treks in Nepal, the authorities have made it mandatory to hire a government-licensed guide even if you are not trekking through an agency. This step has been implemented considering the safety and well-being of the trekkers as well as the impact of tourism on the environment. Both guides and porters are valuable members of the long adventures as they add immense merit to your overall experience. Guides take care of all the important details of your trek, so you don’t need to worry about anything during your trip and can just focus on enjoying the experience.

Guides will handle all the logistic details of your trip, provide information, and take care of your health and safety, as well as your comfort level. Similarly, porters take care of your heavy luggage, and you will be able to move around more freely. Generally, a guide will carry about 30kg (66 lbs) of luggage during the trek. Both the expenses of guides and porters are covered by even the standard packages.

Cost of Guides for Mardi Himal Trek: US$ 30 to US$ 35

Cost of Porters for Mardi Himal Trek: US$ 20 to US$ 25

First Aid Kit

Things may not always go as planned while doing high-altitude explorations in the remote part of the mountains. So, it is also important to be prepared for the unexpected and take the safety and health factors seriously. While trekking with an agency, they will take care of the first-aid and health-related emergencies. However, if you are managing the trek on your own, you should be well-prepared for first-aid care and be familiar with the steps and procedures involved in emergencies. That’s why you should definitely bring a first-aid kit and get insurance for your high-altitude journey.

Normally, the trekking crew provided by a trekking agency has capable members who have received training for first aid and high altitude care. So, it will be much safer to travel with a professional team that has capable members. In case of any kind of emergency as well, they will follow up the procedure with the parties involved to execute the rescue operation efficiently. An extensive first-aid kit can cost somewhere around US$ 150 to US$ 200.

Trekking Gear

Most of the trekking agencies don’t provide this lovely perk where you don’t have to worry about trekking gear for your trip. We understand that not everyone is a serious trekker who loves to set out on explorations quite often. There are also people who are looking for an incredible Himalayan experience. So, if you don’t have trekking gear of your own, Exciting Nepal will provide personal trekking equipment such as sleeping bags, duffle bags, trekking poles, and down jackets. You don’t have to bother yourself with buying or renting the gear in Kathmandu; you can use our equipment during the trek.

Mardi Himal Trek Cost- Package Excludes

Nepali Visa and International Flight

The package coverage of any trekking adventure will start after you land in Nepal. So, for the expenses for your international flight and Nepali visa, you will have to pay for these expenses by yourself. The cost of the international flight will depend on the airline of your preference and the overall route. So, you can estimate the overall cost for a two-way journey considering those factors. As for the Nepali Visa, the cost will depend on the duration of your stay. There are generally three types of visas that you can get for your adventure in Nepal.

Types and Cost of Nepali Visa

 

• 15 Day Nepali Visa– US$ 30
• 30 Day Nepali Visa– US$ 50
• 90 Day Nepali Visa– US$ 125

(Note: If you plan to extend your stay, you can also apply for a visa extension, which will cost US$ 45 for 15 days. For more information about the visa process, please visit the official site from this link).

Drinks, Snacks and Water

Drinks, snacks, and water are other aspects of the Mardi Himal Trek cost that the trekkers will have to pay for on their own. In a standard trekking package, the expenses of only three meals for the day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and a normal drinking water will be covered. Thus, you will need to pay for the snacks, desserts, drinks, and mineral bottled water from your pocket. Normally, for high-altitude treks, you are not recommended to drink any kind of alcoholic beverages as they affect the acclimatization process.

You will be able to buy snacks and dessert at the teahouses on the trailside during the trek. However, the cost may vary depending on the altitude, so it will be best if you stock the supply in the major city areas such as Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Cost of Snacks, Dessert, and Mineral Water: starts at US$ 2

Cost of Alcoholic Beverages: starts at US$ 5

Sightseeing Expenses

Both of the cities that you will explore in this Himalayan adventure, Kathmandu and Pokhara, are the major trekking destinations in Nepal. Both of these cities have incredible tourist landmarks that you shouldn’t miss during your travel. As the reference of acuity differs from person to person, the trekking agencies don’t generally cover these expenses aspects of the Mardi Himala Trek cost. Most of the popular landmarks in both of these major tourist hubs charge entrance fees, and the price differs depending on the significance of the site and location. The normal entrance fees for entering these sites start at US$ 2 and can cost upto US$ 15.

Tips

Like in Western countries, tipping is not mandatory in Nepal; however, it is certainly expected. After exploring the mountain with your companions for over a week, you can take this factor of the Mardi Himal Trek cost as a way to show gratitude and thank them for their services. As there isn’t any specific amount or percentage set for the trek, you can tip as you wish, depending on how much you enjoyed the journey. However, while tipping the Nepalese guides and porters, make sure to put the money in the envelope and hand it to them, which is a respectful way to tip.

General Tipping Practise for Guides: US$ 10 to US$ 15 per day

General Tipping Practise for Porters: US$ 5 to US$ 10 per day

Personal Natured Expenses

Besides the mentioned factors above, you will have to bear all other personal-natured expenses of your Mardi Himal Trek cost. During your stay in the city areas, the hotel will provide all the basic amenities free of cost. However, during your stay at the teahouses on the mountain, use of different facilities such as charging, using the internet, hot showers, laundry, boiled and filtered water, etc are charged by the teahouses. Thus, these aspects will be counted as personal expenses of your trip and you will have to pay for them out of your own pocket.

Cost of Personal Natured Expenesed During Mardi Himal Trek: US$ 2 to US$ 5 (price will depend on the altitude of the region)

Some Helpful Tips to Manage Mardi Himal Trek Cost Efficiently

• Make sure that you have checked out what your package includes and doesn’t to understand the pricing, don’t just go for the low-cost package after overviewing the face value
• Get proper insurance that has health coverage and includes emergency rescue operation
• Book leisurely; don’t just hoard the last-minute deals at expensive prices
• Buy snacks and supplies for the trek at the city areas such as Pokhara and Kathmandu as the same products cost more on the mountain
• Take good care of your health, hygiene, and sanitization so you don’t get sick during your trip
• If possible, travel in groups, there are heavy discounts for group bookings
• Eat filling, healthy, and nutritious meals; luxurious meals are overpriced on the mountain
• Research your itinerary plans and route to plan an efficient budget for the trip\
• Properly manage and optimize your packing so you don’t have to hire extra porters to carry your luggage
• Bring enough cash by converting it to local currency; the exchange rate can be higher on the mountain