Mardi Himal Trek Packing List: What You Need to Pack!

What to Consider When Packing for Mardi Himal

When preparing your Annapurna Base Camp Trek packing list, it is good to consider the weather, and if you carry your backpack or go with a porter.

Weather

The weather can be unpredictable in the mounains. One minute it can be hot and sunny, and another, it can rain or snow.

So, depending on when you go on the trek, you need to pack for hot and cold days, rain or snow.

Especially as you get to higher altitudes above 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), you need to have warm clothes that you can wear in layers.

Whether You Carry Your Own Backpack or Have a Porter

The Mardi Himal trek is short and generally, it is fine to pack a few essential items and carry your own backpack.

However, if you want to make the trek easy for yourself, hiring a porter makes it even easier. In this case, you would just have a day pack with a few items that you carry, and the porter carries everything else.

If you plan to carry your backpack, then just take backpack maximum 30L. You can fit all essential items into a 30L backpack and it won’t be too heavy for your trek. It is better to wear the same T-shirt for 2-3 days, than to overpack and struggle to carry your backpack.

What to Pack for Mardi Himal Trek

When planning what to pack for Mardi Himal, the must-have items are a good backpack, footwear, clothes (including thermal base layers), electronics, toiletries, re-usable water bottle and thermos, first aid kit, trekking snacks, and some cards for entertainment.

Here is everything I packed in a 28L backpack for my Mardi Himal trek:

Backpack

The Mardi Himal Trek is a short one, so you can pack light and take a 30L backpack. Especially if you carry your own backpack and go without a porter, you want your backpack to be as light as possible.

I usually trek with a 28L backpack, and it is big enough to fit the most necessary items for a trek up to 10 days. Trekking Mardi Himal takes generally 4-5 days in total, so a 30L backpack definitely works well.

I recommend the 28-30L Osprey backpack as it is lightweight, breathable and has back support. It also has straps for trekking poles and comes with a rain cover.

✅ Get your backpack here!

Footwear

You walk around 4-5 hours per day during the Mardi Trek (depending on your itinerary), so it is important to have comfortable hiking shoes.

For footwear, only take one pir of hiking shoes and a pair of slippers that you can wear in the evenings or for taking showers.

HIKING SHOES

• How many to pack: 1 pair

For trekking in Nepal, you can either wear hiking shoes or trail runners, just make sure it is waterproof as weather can be unpredictable.

I recommend to trek in mid hiking shoes, so you have ankle support. There are not that many stairs on the Mardi trek (except for the last day when you go down to Sidhing), but it is still better to have hiking shoes with ankle support.

It is best to get the hiking shoes before coming to Nepal and break it in, so that you can trek comfortably. There are also trekking shops in Thamel, but it can be difficult to find good quality shoes in all sizes.

SLIPPERS/FLIP FLOPS

• How many to pack: 1 pair

Slippers come handy at the end of each day while you trek – it is much comfortable and lets your feet rest without having to wear hiking shoes.

Plus, you also need (or better) to have slippers for taking a shower.

✅ Shop slippers here!

Clothes

The Mardi Himal trek is short, so you don’t have to pack many clothes. Generally, people complete the Mardi trek in 3-5 days.

The below items are recommended for a 5 day trek, so in case you plan to trek it in a shorter amount of time, you can reduce the number of certain items.

If you carry your own backpack (without a porter), the best is to pack light. You can wear the same T-shirt or trousers over 2-3 days, so that your backpack is not too heavy.

WINDBREAKER JACKET (WATERPROOF)

• How many to pack: 1

The weather can be unpredictable on a trek, but a waterproof jacket is a must in case it rains. I have been using my North Face windbreaker jacket for treks and it is one of my must-have items for treks in Nepal.

It is great as it is waterproof, windproof, easy to layer up underneath, and can be folded into a small pack. You can layer up underneath with thermal layers and fleece, so it keeps you warm.

TREKKING PANTS/ YOGA PANTS

• How many to pack: 2 (1 trekking trousers, 1 yoga pants)

As Mardi Himal is short trek, you can pack just 2 pairs of trousers. You can take 2 pairs of trekking trousers, or pack 1 pair of trekking trousers and 1 pair of yoga pants.

In high altitudes, I like to wear the trekking trousers over my yoga pants in the evenings or during sunrise hikes, which is great to keep you warm.

FLEECE JUMPER

• How many to pack: 1

I usually only take 1 fleece jumper with me on any trek. Mardi is a short trek, so you definitely don’t need more than one.

A fleece jumper is great in the evenings as you can layer it with thermals and a jacket to keep you warm.

Make sure you get one with zip pockets, so you can put stuff in your pockets, like your phone, without fear of it falling out of your pocket!

LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT

• How many to pack: 1

You should also pack 1 long-sleeve T-shirt for the Mardi trek. It is best if it is quick dry and breathable.

It is great to use as an extra layer in the evenings, or to wear it on top of a short sleeve T-shirt in the morning as you start your trek and the temperature is low.

SHORT SLEEVE T-SHIRT

• How many to pack: 2

For Mardi, you can pack just 2 short sleeve T-shirts. This means that you’d have to wear each T-shirt for 2-3 days, but it is totally fine during a trek, and it saves you space and have a light backpack.

It can get very hot during the day, but it can also rain from time to time. So, make sure the T-shirts are quick dry, so even if you are caught in the rain. It has the best chance of drying quickly.

THERMAL TOP AND BOTTOM

• How many to pack: 1 pair of top and bottom

Thermal layers are a must for any trek in Nepal, especially for the evenings.

I usually pack 1 thermal top (long-sleeve) and bottom for sleeping. I also layer it up, especially in higher altitudes, so sometimes I wear my fleece jumper and trekking pants on top of it.

SOCKS

• How many to pack: 4 pairs (2 thin, 2 thick socks)

For the Mardi Himal Trek, I recommend packing maximum 4 pairs of socks. 2 thin socks and 2 thick socks, but you may be fine with just 2 thin socks and 1 pair of thick socks.

I used thin socks during the day while trekking, and in the evenings, I usually put on 2 socks (one thin and one thick socks) for sleeping.

✅ Get anti-blister socks here (perfect for long days of treks)!

UNDERWEAR

• How many to pack: 4

Underwear doesn’t take up much space, and it is something I usually pack one each per day.

SPORTS BRA

• How many to pack: 2

I had 2 sports bra with me for the Mardi trek. Mardi is a short trek, so you may able to get by even with just 1 sports bra, but it is better not take chances, so I took 2.

✅ Get sports bra here!

GLOVES

• How many to pack: 1 pair

Gloves are a must in higher altitudes, especially in the mornings and evenings when the temperature is low.

The best is if you have one with touch screen, so you don’t have to take your gloves off all the time you want to take photos!

✅ Get your gloves here!

BEANIE

• How many to pack: 1

While you need a sun hat in lower altitudes, you need a winter hat (beanie) in higher altitudes.

I sometimes even wear the beanie at night when I sleep but only at the highest altitudes on a trek.

✅ Get your beanie here!

NECK GAITER

• How many to pack: 1

A neck gaiter (buff) is also a must for any trek! Make sure that it’s thin, quick dry and absorbs moisture.

I always pack a neck gaiter to keep me warm in high altitudes, but they also come handy to protect against sun and sunburn in low altitudes.

✅ Get a neck gaiter here!

PONCHO

• How many to pack: 1

Weather is unpredictable in the mountains and depending on the season you are trekking, there may be some rain. Spring is the second most popular time for treks in Nepal, and it can have rainfall.

Before starting your trek, check the weather forecast or ask around if rain is likely. If there could be rain, then the best is if you can get a poncho that also covers your backpack. There are separate rain covers for backpacks too, but I found the poncho works much better.

You can also get a poncho in Kathmandu or Pokhara, so there is no need to get it before coming to Nepal. Unless, if you are planning to trek in May/June when rain is definitely expected.

✅ Get your poncho here!

Electronics

When packing electronics, just take the most essentials you need for charging your phone (or camera if you take one).

POWER BANK/ PORTABLE CHARGER

While electricity is available throughout most of the Mardi Himal trek, it is useful if you take a power bank.

Most of the teahouses charge extra if you want to charge your phone, and sometimes electricity can be unavailable in higher altitudes on the trek (e.g. High Camp).

I recommend that you take a power bank, but you keep its battery charged until you are at High Camp. In lower altitudes, you can charge your phone at the teahouse, then in case there is no electricity higher up on the trail, then you can use your power bank to charge your phone.

✅ Get your power bank here!

PLUG ADAPTER

There is electricity at the teahouses but the charging outlets are usually limited. In some teahouses, they may only have 2-3 plugs in the dining room which you have to share with all other trekkers.

So make sure that you have a plug adapter that not only fits for Nepal (plug C Type adapter), but that it has multiple USB ports for charging so that multiple people can use it at the same time.

✅ Get a plug adapter here!

HEADLAMP

The Mardi Himal trek is popular for its sunrise hike from High Camp to the Mardi Viewpoint, and to see the sunrise over Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). To get up to the Viewpoint for the sunrise, you have to leave around 3:45 am.

As you leave for the sunrise hike at 3:45 am, it is totally dark yet, so you need a headlamp to navigate the trail. Everyone usually goes up for the sunrise, so you also meet a lot of other trekkers on the trail, but you still need your own headlamp.

Other times, the headlamp also comes handy if you have to go to the toilet late at night, as the toilets are generally outside, and there are no rooms with attached bathroom.

✅ Get a headlamp here!

First Aid Kit/Medicines

For the trek, also pack a small first aid kit. You don’t have to take a lot of medicines, just take the most necessary ones you may need and if there is any personal medicine you take in general.

Some medicines to pack are diarrhoea tablets, Diamox (for altitude sickness), medicine for common cold, paracetamol and plasters.

Toiletries

When packing toiletries, make sure to have everything in its smallest version available, as you want to reduce the weight of your backpack as much as possible.

Toiletries to pack for a trek are toilet paper (1 roll), tissues, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo (you can get small packets in Kathmandu), shower gel, body lotion, face cream, baby wipes, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, lip balm, deodorant, hair brush, nail clippers, and sanitary products (if there is a chance you may have your period during the trek).

You can usually buy toilet paper in the teahouses, but I would say, it is good if you start your trek with 1 roll in your backpack, and if you run out of it, then you can buy more in your lodge.

Snacks

Packing snacks like trekking bars is totally essential! Although you can buy some snacks in teahouses, it is great to pack trekking bars (1 bar per day). They give you energy during the trek and keep you going when you get tired and hungry!

I found that I get hungry more easily in the beginning of a trek as my body adjusts to the altitude and trek. So, in the beginning of a trek, I might eat 2 trekking bars per day, and as I get towards the end of the trek, I can last even without snacking.

Entertainment

Sometimes you have short days of trekking, and you arrive at your destination in the early afternoon. Having some cards or crosswords for entertainment can be great as wifi can be unavailable sometimes.

Others

Travel Insurance

Make sure to have a travel insurance that covers trekking in Nepal (including emergency helicopter evacuation).

Insurance companies like True Traveller, World Nomads, and the Alpine Club are ones that are recommended for trekking in Nepal.

Permit

Foreigners need to get the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) for the Mardi Himal Trek. The ACAP costs Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) and you can get it in Kathmandu, Pokhara or online.

During the trek, there is a checkpoint in Pothana where you have to show your permit.

Cash

You need minimum Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) per day for Mardi Himal for food, accommodation and extras like wifi and hot shower. It is the minimum, but if you want to have beer in the evenings or buy snacks, it is best to budget an extra USD 10 par day (making it around USD 30-35 per day).

In general, it is better to take more cash than what you budget to ensure you don’t run out of money and you can eat and drink anything you prefer.

I found the prices on the Mardi Himal Trek were similar to other trekking routes in the Annapurna region, but the accommodation was slightly more expensive than ABC.

Also, there are no ATMs along the Mardi trek route, so once you leave Pokhara, there is no opportunity to withdraw any additional funds.