What it costs, at a glance.
Trekkers from outside Nepal need an ACAP entry permit and, since April 2023, a licensed guide is mandatory inside the Annapurna Conservation Area; the rule is enforced at the Pothana checkpoint on Day 1. The headline numbers for 2026 are below. The full line-item breakdown, budget tiers, where to get the permits, and the hidden costs to plan for are on the dedicated guide.
Headline costs
Per person, 2026 rates- ACAP entry permitNPR 3,000 (~USD 20)
- TIMS cardNPR 2,000 (~USD 13)
- Licensed guide (mandatory)USD 30 – 40 / day, by experience
- Porter (optional)Quoted on request
- Teahouse, food + bedPaid on the trail
- Group package, all-inclusiveFrom USD 220 / person
What to bring, in seven groups.
Target pack weight is 8 to 10 kg with a porter, 12 to 14 kg without. The big-ticket items (down jacket, sleeping bag, shell, poles) all rent in Pokhara Lakeside: a sleeping bag roughly USD 1 to 2.50 a day and a down jacket about USD 1 to 3 a day, so there is no need to fly with them. The item-by-item list with specs, weights, and seasonal additions is on the full guide.
Clothing layers
Merino base layers, fleece mid layer, 650+ fill down jacket, waterproof shell. No cotton.
Footwear
Broken-in mid-cut boots, camp shoes, four pairs of merino socks.
Sleep
Sleeping bag rated -5 °C in autumn, -10 °C in winter, plus a liner.
Pack & poles
30 – 40 L daypack, shared duffel for the porter, two trekking poles for the descent.
Electronics & light
Headlamp, 10,000+ mAh power bank, universal adapter. Charging costs extra above Forest Camp.
Sun & first aid
Category 4 sunglasses, SPF 50+, blister kit, water purification.
Documents
Passport with copies, two photos for ACAP, insurance card, NPR 15,000 – 25,000 cash.
Teahouses every overnight stop.
The Mardi Himal trek is a teahouse trek: no tents needed. Family-run lodges sit at every overnight stop, with rooms simple but warm and communal kitchens on a fixed menu. We pre-book the popular Forest Camp, Low Camp, and High Camp lodges for our groups in October and April. Room standards, showers, charging, and wifi for each stop are on the full guide.
Overnight stops
Standard 7-day route- Pitam Deurali2,100 mEight or more teahouses, hot water on demand.
- Forest Camp (Kokar)2,550 mEight or more teahouses in the rhododendron belt.
- Rest Camp~2,600 mAn hour above Forest Camp, where the forest thins.
- Low Camp2,985 mEight or more teahouses facing the massif. Books out in October.
- High Camp3,580 mEight or more teahouses, plywood rooms, cold nights, no wifi.
- Sidhing1,860 mFamily-run Gurung homestays on the descent.
- Lwang1,460 mTea estate village, the quieter exit.
What to watch for, what to do.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is real on Mardi Himal but rarely severe at the standard 7-day pacing, which keeps daily ascent under 700 metres above Forest Camp. Most cases on this route are mild headaches at Low Camp and High Camp. The full symptom ladder from mild to severe, Diamox guidance, and the evacuation reality are on the dedicated guide.
Climb slow.
Above 3,000 m, walk at a pace where you can hold a full conversation. If you are out of breath, you are going too fast.
Drink water.
3 to 4 litres per day. Dehydration mimics altitude sickness; treating one prevents the other.
Descend if you doubt.
The cure for serious AMS is altitude. Going down even 300 m can resolve symptoms in hours.
Cover that actually pays.
Travel insurance is mandatory for our bookings, and many standard policies cap altitude at 3,000 m, below Mardi Himal's overnight stops. Read the policy schedule before you buy. The policy traps to watch for, the providers we see most often, and how to claim are on the dedicated guide.
- Trekking to 4,500 m (covers the 4,200 m Upper Viewpoint, and Base Camp if you go on)
- Helicopter evacuation, ideally to USD 10,000 minimum
- Medical treatment in Nepal hospitals
- Trip cancellation and curtailment
- Lost or delayed baggage