Cost & Planning
Mardi Himal Trek Cost: Full 2026 Price Breakdown
The Mardi Himal trek is one of the best-value high-viewpoint treks in Nepal. Because it starts and ends near Pokhara with no domestic flights, the cost is lower than almost any other trek that gets you this close to the big Annapurna peaks.
Here is exactly what a guided Mardi Himal trek costs with 6K in 2026, what that price includes, and where you can trim the budget without cutting the experience.
Key takeaways
- Guided Mardi Himal trips start at USD 400 per person and drop as your group grows.
- The only mandatory permit is the ACAP, at NPR 3,000 (about USD 25) for foreign nationals.
- Permits, guide, porter, teahouse rooms, and all trail meals are included on the Standard package.
- Backpacker is the stripped-back option: permit fees are not included, and it covers breakfast and dinner rather than all three meals.
- International flights, Nepal visa, and travel insurance are the main costs not included.
Mardi Himal trek price by group size
We price every trek per person, and the rate falls as your group grows because guide and logistics costs are shared. The table below shows our 2026 Mardi Himal rates across the three packages we offer.
| Package | Solo | 2 people | 3 to 5 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | $400 | $300 | $290 |
| Standard | $500 | $380 | $360 |
| Luxury (Full Nepal DMC) | $1,000 | $760 | $720 |
Per-person price in USD. Standard is our most popular package.
What is included in the price
The list below is what the Standard package covers. Luxury adds city hotels, sightseeing and the best lodges on the trail.
- All Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) permits and TIMS cards, with paperwork handled for you.
- A government-licensed, English-speaking, first-aid trained guide.
- Porter support, one porter shared per two trekkers.
- Teahouse accommodation on the trail, twin-sharing.
- All meals on the trek: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Private ground transfers between Pokhara and the trailheads.
What the Backpacker package leaves out
Backpacker is the same trail with the same licensed guide, priced down by trimming two things. Permit fees are not included: we still handle the paperwork for you, but you pay the ACAP and TIMS charges yourself, which is about USD 25 plus the TIMS fee.
Meals are also lighter. Backpacker covers breakfast and dinner at your teahouse, and you buy lunch on the trail yourself. Budget roughly NPR 600 to 900 per lunch depending on altitude. Transport is by shared local bus or jeep rather than a private vehicle, and porter support is an optional extra.
What is not included
A few costs sit outside the package because they vary so much by traveler. Budgeting for these up front avoids surprises.
- International flights to Nepal and the on-arrival visa (from USD 30).
- Travel insurance with high-altitude and helicopter evacuation cover, which is mandatory.
- Personal trekking gear, although down jackets and sleeping bags rent in Pokhara for USD 35 each.
- Drinks beyond meal times, hot showers, WiFi, and device charging at higher teahouses.
- Tips for your guide and porter, which are appreciated but never compulsory.
How to trek Mardi Himal on a budget
The single biggest lever on cost is group size, so trek with friends if you can. Beyond that, our Backpacker package keeps the essentials, the licensed guide and your teahouse rooms, and trims the extras: you cover your own permit fees and buy lunch on the trail. Travelling in the shoulder months also avoids peak-season room pressure.
We do not recommend skipping a guide to save money. Since 2023 a licensed guide is required in the Annapurna region, and the ridge above High Camp is genuinely safer with someone who reads the weather.
