The Mardi trail runs through villages where the same families have farmed for six generations. The mountain itself is one of the most fragile ecosystems in the Annapurna massif. Below is what we do about it, in concrete terms: porter wages, sourcing policy, plastic ban, waste handling, carbon offset, and the community contribution from every booking.
Our porters are paid USD 22 per day on the trek and USD 28 on the climb, including food, lodging, and a return-leg jeep. The 18 kg load limit (per IPPG guidance) is enforced by the lead guide. Insurance with full medical and rescue cover is mandatory and paid by us, not the porter.
Where the route allows it, we eat at family-run teahouses and source vegetables, eggs, dairy, and grain from villages along the way (Sidhing, Lwang, Pothana, Kalimati). Imported items above Low Camp are limited to staples that cannot be grown at altitude.
We do not hand out plastic water bottles. Every client gets a 1 L SteriPen-compatible refillable bottle and a litre of refill water at every teahouse stop, included in the trip. Sachet shampoos, single-use cutlery, and styrofoam packaging are banned on group orders.
Group waste is sorted at every teahouse: organics composted by the lodge, recyclables carried down to Pokhara on the porter return leg. Non-recyclable rubbish is logged at the Sidhing checkpoint and weighed on the way out. We aim for under 0.4 kg per person per day on group rubbish.
We use shared jeeps for Pokhara to Kande and Sidhing to Pokhara on every group trip; private vehicles only for medical or schedule reasons. Aviation offsets are the client's call (we do not include them).
USD 5 from every trekking booking and USD 25 from every climbing booking goes to the Sidhing Community School and the Lwang Health Post. Annual report published in February covers spend and outcomes; we will email it to you on request.
Every booking includes a fixed contribution to two local projects on the Mardi trail. We publish the breakdown every February and email it to clients who walked or climbed with us in the previous year, on request. There is no upsell, no opt-in, no extra charge: the contribution is built into the trip price.
Books, classroom repairs, teacher supplements. USD 5 from every trek booking.
Basic medicines, oxygen cylinders, and the porter-on-call stipend. USD 25 from every climbing booking.
Audited spend and outcomes published every February. Available by email on request.
The 6 reviews below are all Mardi Himal treks, each rated 5 out of 5. Every one is on TripAdvisor or Google and links back to the original. Quotes are shortened excerpts; names, dates and trek lengths are taken from the source. Counts as of April 2026.
Our recent trip to Nepal and trek to Mardi Himal turned out to be one of the most memorable adventures of my life. Our guide Max was friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly supportive, especially during the steep sections. The views along the route were breathtaking.
We had an excellent five-day trek on the Mardi Himal trail. It is frequented primarily by Nepali tourists. The views are incredible all along the trail, and many guest houses have spectacular views. Our guide was a joy to be with.
We were considering trekking to Annapurna Base Camp, but changed to the Mardi Himal based on Raj's advice. This was probably the best advice we got in Nepal. Mountains were fully covered in snow, the lower fields were green, and the rhododendron trees were flourishing.
Prakash was our trekking guide for the Mardi Himal trek. Even when we arrived feeling unwell, he showed immediate sympathy and organised a range of Pokhara-based activities for us. We can't recommend him enough. Prakash has completed over 500 trips on this route.
Our Mardi Himal trekking experience was great because of this team. Our guide Gautam was so professional, cordial and hospitable. We enjoyed it a lot. Looking forward to our next adventure with them.
Truly exceeded our expectations and made our trip to the Himalayas absolutely memorable. From the moment we inquired until the day we returned, their professionalism and attention to detail were outstanding.
We run scheduled departures from Pokhara, September to May. Most weeks the 5-day itinerary leaves on a Sunday and the 6-day on a Thursday, plus extra dates as groups form. Every other trip on this site runs privately, on your own dates. A 20 % deposit holds your place, and the balance is paid in Kathmandu before the trip starts.
