Mardi Himal Trek Cost: How to Plan Your Budget
Want to know how much the Mardi Himal Trek costs?
When planning a trek in Nepal, one of the first things you wonder about is how to budget for the trek. This Spring I got to trek Mardi, and here is how you can plan your budget for the trek!
On average, the Mardi trek costs Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) per day per person which includes food, accommodation, permit, transport, and extras like wifi and charging. If you go on a 5-day Mardi Trek, it costs around Rs. 15,000 (USD 110).
In addition, if you trek with a guide or porter, you should budget an extra USD 30 per day for the guide, and USD 20 per day for a porter. If you are trekking in a group, then the guide and porter fees are split between the group members.
If you want to have beer or snacks during the trek, you should budget minimum an extra Rs. 1,000 (USD 7) per day.
Total Cost of Mardi Himal Trek
The total cost of Mardi Himal Trek is Rs. 12,000 (USD 88) for a 4-day Mardi Trek, or Rs. 15,000 (USD 110) for a 5-day trek.
It excludes guide and porter fees. So, if you want guide and porter services, you should budget USD 30 per day for a trekking guide and USD 20 per day for a porter.
Alternatively, if you book a trek package through a trekking agency, it can cost between USD 475 – 1,200 depending on the group size.
The costs on the Mardi Himal Trek is similar like costs on other trekking routes in Nepal, but it is slightly cheaper as Mardi is not as popular like EBC or ABC.
Mardi Himal Trek Cost Per Day
The Mardi Himal Trek costs around Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) per day. It includes 3 meals per day, room, tea, and extras like wifi, charging and hot shower.
In lower altitude, it may be a little bit cheaper, and in higher altitudes, the prices are higher. But on average, you spend around Rs. 3,000 if you don’t splurge on extra snacks.
For extra snacks or if you want to drink beer, you should budget more. Beer costs around Rs. 800 (USD 6) per can, and snacks are around Rs. 500 (USD 4) for a chocolate bar.
Mardi Himal Trek Cost
Accommodation Costs
The accommodation in teahouses along the Mardi Himal trek route costs between Rs. 500-1,500 (USD 4-11) per night.
However, in many teahouses you can get the room for free as long as you eat your meals there. Not all teahouses give the room for free (especially for foreigners) but if you are on a budget, you can ask around a couple of places.
There is also a so called “package deal” on the trekking routes in Nepal, which is generally provided for Nepali trekkers. The package deal comes with a room free of charge, Nepali meals, and extras like charging, wifi and hot drinking water.
With the package deals, it is more affordable and sometimes they even provide it to foreigners, but you have to ask about it.x
Food Costs
The food costs in the Mardi Himal Trek is similar to other trekking routes in Nepal, maybe even slightly cheaper than on more popular trekking routes like ABC or EBC.
The prices are slightly lower (but not by much) as Mardi Himal is less visited by trekkers, so the prices have not gone up that much yet.
Food Prices on the Mardi Himal Trek
- Set Breakfast: Rs. 750 (USD 5.50)
- Pancake: Rs. 450 (USD 3)
- Omlette: Rs. 300-450 (USD 2-3)
- Tibetan Bread with honey/jam: Rs. 400 (USD 3)
- Dal bhat (veg): Rs. 800 (USD 6)
- Fried Rice: Rs. 500-800 (USD 3.50-6)
- Pizza: Rs. 700-1000 (USD 5-7)
- Thupka: Rs. 600-800 (USD 4-6)
These food and drink prices are from High Camp (the highest point with a teahouse) on the Mardi Trek. So, prices are a bit cheaper in lower parts of the trek.
Drink Prices on the Mardi Himal Trek
- Black Tea (1 cup): Rs. 110 (USD 1)
- Black Coffee (1 cup): Rs. 150 (USD 1)
- Coke/Fanta/Sprite: Rs. 450 (USD 3)
- Beer: Rs. 800 (USD 6)
- Rum: Rs. 1,100 (USD 8)
- Local alcohol (raksi): Rs. 200 (USD 1.50) per cup
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✔️ Mardi Himal
✔️ Annapurna Base Camp
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Permit Cost
Foreigners have to get the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) for the Mardi Himal Trek. It costs Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) and you can get it at the permit office in Kathmandu, Pokhara or online.
When you are trekking Mardi, there is a checkpoint in Pothana where you have to show your permit.
Transport Cost
The transport costs to and from the Mardi trek is very affordable.
- Pokhara to Kande bus ticket price: Rs. 150 (USD 1).
- Sidhing to Pokhara shared jeep: Rs. 1,000 (USD 7) if jeep is shared by 7 people.
There are buses and taxis that go from Pokhara to Kande (the trek start point). The buses go from Hari Chowk and Baglung Bus Park in Pokhara and costs around Rs. 150 (USD 1).
Then, most people finish the Mardi Himal trek in Sidhing, from where you can take a shared jeep back to Pokhara. The shared jeep costs Rs. 7,000 (USD 50) in total from Sidhing to Pokhara, and if there are 7 people to share the jeep, then it costs Rs. 1,000 (USD 7) per person.
Once you get to Sidhing, just wait until a couple of other trekkers show up to share the jeep with. Otherwise, if you are in a hurry, you can also just take a jeep by yourself, then you’d pay the full price.
Other Amenities
Apart from the basic costs like meals, accommodation, permits and transport, you should also budget for other costs.
Charging, wifi, hot shower, and hot drinking water are costs that most people are likely to spend on. I did find though that Nepal Telecom had some network coverage even up at High Camp, so you may be able to save on wifi charges.
Typically, you find the following prices for amenities along the Annapurna Base Camp trek:
- Wi-fi: Rs. 300 (USD 2)
- Charging: Rs. 200 (USD 1.5)
- Hot shower: Rs. 300 (USD 2)
- Hot drinking water (refill for 1 litre water bottle): Rs. 200 (USD 1.5)
- Toilet paper (1 roll): Rs. 300 (USD 2)
Mardi Himal Trek Prices for Solo, Guided & Group Package Treks
The cost of Mardi Himal trek differs whether you trek it solo, hire a guide/porter or book it through a trek package.
The most budget option if you trek solo, however, if you have never trekked before, it is good to hire a guide.
Cost for Solo Trekking Mardi Himal
If you are trekking Mardi Himal solo, then it costs around Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) per day for accommodation, meals, and extras like wifi and charging.
It means that if you trek Mardi Himal solo and follow a 5-day itinerary, you spend around Rs. 15,000 (USD 110) in total.
If you like to have a beer in the evening or want extra snacks, then also budget an extra Rs. 1,000 (USD 7) per day.
Cost for Hiring a Guide (+ Optional Porter)
There is also an option to hire a guide and you pay the guide fees, plus any other costs you spend during the trek.
For example, if you follow a 5-day itinerary, you’d pay the food, accommodation and extra costs (Rs. 3,000/USD 22 per day) for yourself every day, plus you pay the trekking guide around USD 30 per day.
In total, if you trek Mardi Himal in 5 days with a guide, you are likely to spend around USD 260 in total:
- Guide fees: USD 150 total for 5 days (USD 30 per day)
- Food, accommodation, charging, hot shower, wifi: USD 110 in total for 5 day (USD 22 per day)
In addition, if you hire a porter, then add USD 20 per day for porter fees to the above costs.
When hiring a trekking guide, make sure he/she speaks good English. It is good if they are from the area of the trekking route as they tend to have lots of stories and information about the trek.
If you trek with a group of friends, the cost of the trekking guide and porter is split between the group.
Mardi Himal Trek Group Package Cost
The trek packages are a good option if you don’t have time to organize a trip to Nepal. It covers everything from the moment you arrive in Nepal to the moment you leave.
The trek packages tend to be the most expensive, but if you don’t want the stress of planning a trekking trip for yourself, the trek package is a good option.
When selecting the trekking agency, make sure to read reviews from pervious trekkers and ask to book it with a guide who speaks good English and is from the local area.
The trek packages cost between USD 475 – 1,200 depending on the group size and the trekking agency.
The trek packages cover airport transfers, accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara with breakfast, permits and transport to and from the trekking route. Once on the trek, your food and accommodation is also covered, however, you have to spend for extras like snacks or beer.
Sometimes trekking agencies also put people together into one group (especially if you are just 1 person). In this case, you sometimes have to go faster or slower, to keep pace with other group members.
Make sure to check with the trekking agency that you are not being put into a group with other people if you don’t want to.
Tips for Reducing the Costs
I found that Mardi Himal was overall affordable, and it is a short trek that you can complete in maximum 5 days.
Some ways to reduce the costs is to go with a group of friends, or at least go in a group of 2. It means that you can share the costs for the accommodation as well as the guide costs if you hire a trekking guide.
Additionally, I also came across “package deals’ during my trek on both Mardi Himal and ABC. It is mainly for Nepali trekkers, but you can also negotiate it as a foreigner.
The package deals usually include free room, Nepali meals and extras like wifi and charging. If you can go without wifi or charging, and can negotiate a free room (without the package deal), then you’d only have to pay for your meals.
You should also pack energy bars (1 bar per day) as they are much cheaper to get in Pokhara then once you are in the villages on the trail.
Nepal Trekking Itineraries
Looking for some inspiration? Check out my itineraries and posts about trekking in Nepal:
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Mardi Himal Trek
- Langtang Valley Trek
- Pikey Peak Trek
- Australian Camp Trek
- Panchase Trek
- The Best Short Treks in Nepal
- Solo Trekking in Nepal
- Teahouses in Nepal: What Accommodation is Like on Treks
- Trekking in Nepal Costs: How to Plan Your Budget
- The Best Time to Trek in Nepal
FAQs: Mardi Himal Trek Cost
How much does the Mardi Himal Trek Cost?
The total cost of Mardi Himal Trek is Rs. 12,000 (USD 88) for a 4-day Mardi Trek, or Rs. 15,000 (USD 110) for a 5-day trek.
It excludes guide and porter fees. So, if you want guide and porter services, you should budget USD 30 per day for a trekking guide and USD 20 per day for a porter.
How much does Mardi Himal Trek cost per day?
The Mardi Himal Trek costs around Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) per day which includes food, accommodation, permits, transport and extras like charging, wifi and hot shower.
If you want to hire a trekking guide or porter, you should budget an extra USD 30 per day for the guide, and USD 20 per day for the porter. These costs are split between the group members if you are trekking with friends.
Is the Mardi Himal Trek Worth it?
Yes, the Mardi Himal Trek is definitely worth it! It is a short trek from Pokhara, and it is also good for beginners as the trek route is not so difficult.
How much the Mardi Himal trek cost from Pokhara?
The Mardi Himal trek costs around Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) per day if you start the trek from Pokhara. It includes food, accommodation, transport, permits and extras like charging and wifi.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Mardi trek costs Rs. 3,000 (USD 22) per day per person on average. It includes food, accommodation, permit, transport, and extras like wifi and charging. If you go on a 5-day Mardi Trek, it costs around Rs. 15,000 (USD 110) in total.
The prices are a bit cheaper in lower altitudes, and then a bit more expensive in higher altitudes.
In addition, if you trek with a guide or porter, you should budget an extra USD 30 per day for the guide, and USD 20 per day for a porter. If you are trekking in a group, then the guide and porter fees are split between the group members.
If you want to have beer or snacks during the trek, you should budget an extra Rs. 1,000 (USD 7) per day.
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