Mardi Himal Trek is doable in 5 days from Pokhara, whereas Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes between 7 and 11 days. However, our precisely hand-picked itinerary is 11 days. In 11 days, you’ll complete this combined adventure in a single go.

On average, you’ll walk 10-12 km each day, taking 5-7 hours. However, there are some days when you’ll trek more or less than the average distance.

The entire route of Mardi and Annapurna Base Camp is scenic with mountains and lush forest. Moreover, the trekking routes aren’t difficult to walk on, ensuring less strain and more comfort.

Mardi Himal Trek became popular around COVID-19, and since then, it’s been trekkers’ favourite short adventure from Pokhara. Annapurna Base Camp Trek, on the other hand, is a commercial trek, popular since 90’s.

Combining these two treks, the itinerary provides the finest experience: the ridgelines of Mardi and the mountain’s amphitheatre of Annapurna. The 11-day itinerary is packed with spectacular mountain scenery, timeless culture, serene trails, and amazing vantage points, all at a steady pace.

Another reason for this trek being popular and rewarding is the trek’s difficulty. Despite being an 11-day adventure, this trek is an absolute favourite for novice trekkers. Any novice trekker with adequate physical fitness can embark on this trek and complete it comfortably.

The 11-day Mardi and Annapurna trek is an ideal adventure for novices. A novice adventurer with adequate physical fitness can embark and comfortably complete this trek. The perfectly divided walking, 11 days, natural acclimatization, and safe trails provide a comfortable trek experience. Moreover, guided by experienced trekking guides at NepTrek, novice adventurers will enjoy this trek to the fullest, with safety as a priority.

The Mardi and Annapurna Trek is way easier than any Everest region trek, including the Everest Base Camp Trek. The elevation along the trek makes a significant difference in trek difficulty, with Mardi and Annapurna having an edge over Everest. The highest elevation on Mardi and ABC is 4,130-4,200 meters, whereas it’s 5,345-5,645 meters in the Everest Trek. Moreover, the trekking terrain in Annapurna is gentle and less rugged, a sharp contrast with that on Everest.

Absolutely. Mardi and Annapurna Base Camp are comfortable and low-elevation treks that are doable for anyone with adequate physical fitness. Annapurna Circuit Trek isn’t an easy trek to embark on. Although the novice trekkers can embark on it, the trek demands some high-elevation trek experience.

Annapurna Base Camp, with Mardi Himal, offers an amazing natural, cultural, and scenic experience. Annapurna Circuit is more adventurous, rugged, and involves high mountain passes, such as Thorong La Pass.

Mardi and ABC Trek are popular, safest, and well-established in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Whether you’re a solo, female adventurer or trekking in a group, the trek is safe. Upon hiring a local trekking agency like us, our team offers the utmost trek experience. We practice strict safety standards, including weather monitoring, altitude monitoring, hydration reminders, and precise pacing. We put our clients in the best available tea house, accessible emergency support, and smooth communication networks.

Absolutely. A private trek to Mardi and Annapurna is an exciting and amazing way to explore the best of Annapurna Sanctuary. It allows you the ultimate flexibility, privacy, and a sense of deeper connection to the culture and nature. It gives you the freedom to customize the itinerary, extend the trip, hire experienced guides and porters, etc.

At NepTrek, we offer private trekking for an individual or a group of family and friends.

Here are some benefits of private trekking:

– Set your own pace for the trek
– Customize the itinerary and day-by-day plans
– Explore more about the culture, people, and nature
– Spend more time on viewpoints, photo stops, and rest stops
– Sole attention to safety and comfort
– Personal time in nature

We recommend you book this trek as early as possible to avoid a last-minute rush. Most of our clients book their trek at least 4 months in advance. The adequate time from trek bookings to trek start provides them with ample period for trek preparation.

If you want to reserve the 9 days of Tilicho Lake Trek with us, we recommend at least two months in advance. With this, we’ll get adequate preparation time to allocate trek guides, reserve the tea houses, process the trek permits, and more.

However, at times, trekkers make last-minute bookings. Usually, trekkers in Nepal make last-minute bookings.

Our suggestion: Booking the trek at least two months before the desired start date allows ample time for both you and us to prepare for the trek.

We want you to be 100% sure about embarking on this trek before proceeding with the trek booking. Once you send the confirmation fee and decide to cancel the trek, you’ll be subjected to our refund and cancelation policy.

Once you find this trek right for you, you can proceed to book this trek with us. For this, you must contact us. You can email us at mailtoneptrek@gmail.com or send an instant message on WhatsApp (+977-9818553880).

Once you contact us, you’ll get the necessary trek booking information. Moreover, you can request itinerary customization, add-ons, if any, personal preferences, trek cost and details, and more.

And with all things clear, you can proceed to book the trek. We’ll send you our bank account details for the trip confirmation payment.

The advance trek booking confirmation fee is 50% of the total trek cost.

To book your spot on 11 days of Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you must deposit at least USD 500 (unless specified).

We use advanced trek confirmation payment to purchase trek permits, reserve the tea houses along the trek, appoint a trek guide, manage transportation, and more.

After paying this amount, you’ll get a confirmation email or message regarding the payment.

We respect your trek cancelation decision. However, we have a refund policy regarding the trek cancelation. We hope you’ll be clear with our policy listed below.

–  50% refund on confirmation payment upon canceling the trek a month before
–  25% refund on confirmation payment upon canceling the trek a week before
–  No refund on confirmation payment upon canceling the trek within a week of the trek
–  No refund on confirmation payment upon canceling the trek after starting it for reasons

Note: The deductions include the administrative fees, hotel reservations, and trekking permits (if we purchase before you cancel the trek).

We recommend you arrive in Nepal at least 48 hours prior to the trek’s starting date. Arriving early gives you adequate time for trek preparation, understanding Nepali culture, getting to know your trek guide, and visiting the best heritage sites in Kathmandu. Moreover, you can buy the trekking gear at the local shops if you intend to buy it in Kathmandu.

Moreover, this trek starts from Pokhara, which requires trekkers to travel to Pokhara a day before the trek.

Thus, to avoid the last-minute rush, it’s better to arrive at least two to three days before the trek.

Nepal gives a visa-on-arrival for most nationals. The Immigration Department at Kathmandu Airport issues an on-arrival visa. Hence, you must fill out the required forms at the booths provided at the airport.

To learn more about the Nepal on-arrival visa, we recommend you visit this blog. Or, you can refer to the Department of Immigration’s official website for authentic information regarding the Nepal visa.

Absolutely. We provide an airport pickup service on your arrival in Kathmandu. For timely pickup, we suggest providing your travel tickets prior to the flight.

Our team member will be at the airport’s arrival, waiting to welcome you to Nepal. Our team member takes care of your luggage and transfers you to the hotel in a private vehicle. This ensures a smooth and hassle-free start to your adventure in Nepal.

Our 11-day Mardi and ABC Trek starts from Pokhara. Hence, all our clients must travel to Pokhara at least a day before the trek departure.

Getting to Pokhara is convenient, as you have options to take a flight or a tourist bus. Oftentimes, our trek guide leads groups from Kathmandu. But on most occasions, you’ll meet the trek crew at the hotel in Pokhara.

Our associates in Kathmandu will assist you in getting to Pokhara by flight or bus, with add-ons for the respective commute.

No. Mardi Himal Trek with Annapurna Base Camp Trek cost doesn’t include the transportation from Kathmandu to Pokhara (flight/overland). It’s an 11-day itinerary from Pokhara, and thus, the trek cost covers your expenses only for the 11 days.

However, if you want us to organize the flights or tourist bus ticket for you, they’ll be subject to add-ons. Alternatively, if you would like us to include Kathmandu-Pokhara transportation, we’ll provide you with an updated trip quote.

Please let us know your preference while booking this trek.

To get to the trailhead and back to/from Pokhara, we use local and private jeeps. We use local shared jeeps for smaller groups of trekkers (2-3 pax). However, private jeeps are provided for a group of at least 4 or more trekkers.

The road to the trailhead is a mix of blacktop and off-road. Thus, the jeeps we use are comfortable and reliable on such terrain. It’ll be bouncy at times, but it ensures a safe and relaxed transfer.

You’ll get an airport pickup upon arrival in Kathmandu. It’s a complimentary service from us.

However, we don’t provide:

–  Airport pickup and drop in Pokhara
–  Transfer to/from the hotel from/to the tourist bus park in Pokhara.
–  Airport drop in Kathmandu

However, these services are available as add-ons.

The weather conditions make a significant impact on the overall trek experience. Getting to the trailhead in a jeep can get tricky due to landslides during or late Summer. Moreover, the scheduled constructions can halt traffic for hours or even for a week. Thus, at such times, our team rearranges the schedule and plans the trip with alternative options. We may need to customize the itinerary and adapt to the trip plan whenever needed.

Absolutely. The jeep ride to/from the trek trailhead is safe, comfortable, and reliable. We work with the most experienced drivers with reliable vehicles. Moreover, the local jeep drivers drive on the track almost every day, boasting extensive experience.

Recent upgrades of the road have enhanced the overall safety and comfort of the jeep rides.

Absolutely. We take care of our clients even after completing their trip with us. To make our clients’ transfer easier and hassle-free, we arrange the transportation services. Whether you’re returning to Kathmandu by flight or overland or extending your trip to the next destination, we’ve got your back. All our post-trip transportation services are available as add-ons, giving you full flexibility.

Your stay throughout the trek will be at the lodges and tea houses. They offer basic to standard twin-sharing rooms with attached bathrooms (limited places) and hot showers (everywhere).

Here’s how the tea houses are on the route:

–  On the Mardi Himal route, the tea houses provide basic accommodation with no attached toilets.
–  On the ABC route, tea houses provide standard accommodation with attached bathrooms (at some places)

Overall, you’ll find the tea house accommodation comfortable, cosy, hygienic, and warm.

Yes. Gas-heated hot showers are available at every tea house on the trek.

–  A few tea houses on Mardi High Camp may not provide hot showers.
–  Every tea house on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek route provides a hot shower, from Jhinu till the base camp.

Note: The trek cost doesn’t include the hot shower. Hence, the trekkers are required to pay for the hot shower. It usually costs USD 4-5.

Yes. Your accommodations in Landruk, Chhomrong, Jhinu, and Ghandruk come with an attached bathroom.

Attached bathrooms are available at the tea houses, but not everywhere. Due to local regulations and limitations, tea houses in Chhomrong and lower regions provide attached bathrooms. On the Mardi side, no tea houses provide attached bathrooms.

All the tea houses provide WiFi services to the trekkers for a small fee of USD 2-3.

The WiFi works perfectly in Mardi and Annapurna with no interruptions.

Also, with the recent installation of mobile network towers, trekkers can now enjoy cellular data, even at the higher elevations. However, the weather conditions often create a patchy reception of internet signals.

We suggest that you notify your trek guide before purchasing the WiFi services at the tea houses.

Yes. Tea houses allow trekkers to charge their mobile devices on certain fee.

You’ll be able to charge your mobile devices and gadgets up to Deurali in the Annapurna Base Camp route and High Camp in Mardi. However, the availability of charging depends on the weather conditions (for solar-powered).

Instead of charging your devices every day and paying at the tea house, we suggest you bring a power bank. A 20-30k mAh power bank saves you some money and also can charge whenever required.

During 11-days Mardi-Annapurna trek, you’ll get 11 breakfasts, 11 lunches, and 10 dinners at the tea houses. They’ll be hygienic, nutritious, and freshly prepared.

Every tea house serves a meal menu with a variety of choices. Here’s an overview of what you can expect:

–  Breakfast (Toast, omelette, honey, butter, muesli with fruits, oatmeal, tea, coffee, etc.)
–  Lunch & Dinner (Western meals like pizza, burgers, noodles, fried rice, Nepali Dal Bhat, dumplings, Sherpa stew, bread, soup, pasta, porridge, pancakes, etc.)

Since the tea houses in the Annapurna Base Camp Trek route are more sophisticated, you’ll get plenty of meal choices. Mardi, on the other hand, provides a simpler meal menu and choices.

Absolutely. Being a vegetarian is not a problem during the trek. We even suggest that our clients not eat meat during the trek for health and digestive reasons.

The tea house’s meal menu has more vegetarian meal options than those with meat. From fresh vegetables to main courses, you’ll enjoy the vegetarian meals throughout the trek.

We’d be more than happy to guide you through the meal choices if you want to learn more about them.

You’ll be provided with safe drinking water throughout the trek. You have two choices: buy bottled water or pay less for filtered water.

The tea houses in Mardi sell bottled water all the way to High Camp. Annapurna, on the other hand, allows tea houses from Sinuwa to sell bottled water. However, after this, trekkers rely on filtered water, for which tea houses charge a minimal fee.

We suggest you use water purification tablets for additional water safety.

A proper physical fitness level is a must for the Mardi and Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Although the trek is moderately difficult, it’s an 11-day trek, and every day’s average walking distance is 12 km, for 5-7 hours. Hence, proper physical fitness ensures a comfortable walking experience, minimizing the strain.

Mardi has steeper ascents, whereas Annapurna has longer and gradual climbs, mostly on stone-paved trails. And to conquer this trail, one must be in proper physical shape.

Prior trekking experience is a plus, but not mandatory.

It’s a moderate-grade trek with very few demanding sections. Moreover, the highest elevation on the trek is 4,130-4200 meters, which isn’t an extreme elevation. Thus, an active trekker with decent physical fitness can comfortably complete this trek.

To make the trek even for each day, our experienced trek guide sets a comfortable pace, follows the itinerary, prioritizes safety throughout, etc. On top, our amazing support staff(s) help with luggage and backpacks so that you can trek light.

Yes. Children and the elderly can join this trek. But, for this, we have our policies.

– Children have to be aged 8 or above. Other trekking companies often accept clients aged 5-6 years. However, we don’t accept children below 8 years old.
– Elderly travellers, below 70 years old, with decent physical conditions. Any existing illness or health issues put the elderly at risk.

Not really. You’ll feel the elevation, thin air, and fatigue. However, you’ll barely get altitude sickness.

This 11-day trek provides natural acclimatization as you continue trekking. You don’t need to stop for a day at some places for rest and acclimatization. You’ll trek gradually, sleep well, eat, and rehydrate adequately. Moreover, our trek guide monitors your health every 12 hours, reminds you of hydration, and prioritizes your health safety.

A two-month preparation plan works perfectly for physical fitness. Here’s what we recommend:

– Regular hiking or long walks (8–12 km / 5–7 miles)
– Stair climbing to simulate uphill terrain.
– Cardio exercises (running, cycling, swimming)
– Leg strengthening (squats, lunges)
– Core and balance workouts

Remember, you’re building strength, not muscle. Thus, consistent training for at least two months keeps you in perfect physical shape.

Expect to trek for 5-7 hours per day, covering 12-14 km on average. The trek starts at 8:30 sharp and ends around 5 pm.

Here’s a breakdown of the route and terrain along the trek:

–  Through oak, birch, and rhododendron forest mostly
–  Stone-paved stairs (almost 50% of the the Annapurna Base Camp route)
–  Ridgeline trail (Badal Danda-High Camp-View Point in Mardi)
–  Occasional sharp ascents and descents (Chhomrong, Siddhing-Low Camp, Bamboo-Sinuwa)

Together, the terrain offers an amazing experience, testing you to your limits and also offering comfortable walks.

If you want to carry your backpack, it’s completely fine for us. Usually, trekkers love to trek with their backpack to experience the sense of adventure. However, for some, carrying a heavy backpack could be tiring. Thus, for them, we provide support staff (trek porter), who’ll carry the backpacks.

A trek porter carries 8-9 kilograms of your backpack throughout the trek. With this, you can carry a lighter daypack with essentials, such as a water bottle, jacket, sunscreen, snacks, and gadgets.

Trekking with a lighter backpack provides comfort and lets you enjoy the walk without straining your muscles.

Absolutely. Mardi and Annapurna Base Camp are among the most trekked, safe, and welcoming trekking routes in Nepal. As a female trekker, you’ll be safe throughout the trek.

At NepTrek Adventures, we prioritize safety above all else. For female trekkers, we often employ our most experienced female guides, who are vetted, respectful, and adept at handling any situations. Our tea houses along the route are family-run, with a reputation for safety and comfort. Moreover, our trekking crew and administration remain in regular communication, detailing each day’s route.

Absolutely. Your safety is our main priority throughout the trek. Every decision we make during the trek keeps your safety at the center. We believe in safety-first principles, from creating amazing personalized experiences, guided by our profoundly experienced trek crews.

Pre-trek briefings, evening feedback sessions, health monitoring, proper route planning, and emergency readiness are the essential elements we always focus on. With this, we strive to make your adventure inspiring and secure.

Based on our history, none of our past clients have experienced any signs of altitude sickness while doing Mardi and Annapurna Base Camp. Thus, we believe that you’ll complete this trek without any altitude issues.

Said this, everyone can have a different build and experience with altitude. Some trekkers often experience mild headaches, nausea, and vomiting. These are the common signs of altitude sickness.

To reduce the risk of altitude sickness, our itinerary provides a perfect pacing with natural acclimatization. The reason we do Mardi first is to acclimate properly before embarking on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. After completing Mardi, your body adjusts to the elevation, lowering the risk of altitude sickness.

If our clients get altitude sickness, we follow a standard set of health safety standards.

– Health monitoring (O2 saturation and symptoms review, from Day-1)
– Immediate descent (on severe symptoms)
– Gradual walking pace & rehydration reminders
– Altitude medications (acetazolamide)
– Emergency helicopter evacuation coordination (backed by your travel insurance)

Our guides are first aid responders. Thus, they’re self sufficient on minor first aid and illness management.

Yes. Travel insurance is mandatory for this trek. It provides you with additional safety and benefits during emergency situations during the trek. You’ll get emergency helicopter evacuation, medical treatment at the hospital, and other emergency support, all covered by the insurance.

On your 11-day Mardi and Annapurna Base Camp Trek, the maximum elevation you’ll reach is 4,200 meters. Thus, you should get a travel insurance with helicopter search and rescue upto 4,200 meters elevation.

Should you need help finding an insurance policy, we’re more than happy to assist you.

We follow immediate action after assessing the situation.

– Assess and stabilize the client’s condition
– Begin a safe and controlled descent if necessary
– Communicate with our support team in Kathmandu and Pokhara
– Arrange helicopter evacuation asap (backed by your travel insurance)
– Coordinate with hospital care

We strive to do our best to arrange everything in place so that nothing worse happens during the emergency.

Yes. Our guides carry a well-equipped first-aid kit during the trek. Our guides are first aid responders and handle minor injuries, altitude issues, gastrointestinal discomfort, sprains, headaches, and more. Some tea houses along the trek also provide basic first-aid kits and support whenever needed.

We also recommend that you bring personal medications and a personal first-aid kit.

The severity of medical conditions determines whether you can trek or not. On top of that, your physical fitness level and your doctor’s advice also matter a lot.

The Mardi and Annapurna Base Camp Trek is 11 days, which is a long duration. Moreover, the trek involves long walking days at higher elevations over uneven terrain. For people with physical issues, this can put them at risk.

Thus, if you have manageable physical issues, let us know. We’ll customize the itinerary, pace, support, and health monitoring. However, if you have chronic health issues and a history of altitude sickness or other problems, it’d be best not to embark on this adventure.

Guides at NepTrek have years of high-altitude guiding experience, a deep understanding of the mountain, people, culture, a safety-first approach, and welcoming hospitality. We don’t just assign the guides based on availability. Our approach to selecting guides depends on the group sizes and trekking region. We employ the region-specific trek guides so that our clients can have an amazing trek experience. Once you embark on the route, you’ll find our guide as a companion, a leader, and a support system to rely on throughout the trek.

Absolutely. Our guides are Nepal government-licensed, leading every trek at NepTrek Adventures with due diligence. The licensed trek guide has completed the mandatory trekking guide license training course and other certifications, such as first-aid responder certification. Moreover, our guides are expert navigators and practice responsible tourism.

Your trek safety is our top priority. Hence, we only employ a full-time, licensed trek guide.

Most of our guides have over five years of experience, leading groups in Annapurna, Everest, and around most trekking destinations in Nepal. Their extensive trek experience comes in handy on the trails, tea house bookings, weather patterns, and mountain conditions.

Our guides are very friendly and respect every client. They have experience of guiding individual, big groups, female trekkers, couples on honeymoon, and families, across various altitudes and time of the year.

Yes. All our trek guides speak fluent English, making communication easier and more comfortable throughout your trek. Even our trek porters speak fluent English more fluently than most guides from other agencies.

Our guides communicates about the mountain conditions, trek briefings and plans for the day, cultural insights, safety protocols, and response to your queries in the best possible way.

Yes. Trek porters (support staff) are available and highly recommended. The 11-day trek involves significant elevation changes, terrain, long distances, and lengthy walking hours. Thus, to reduce fatigue and achieve proper natural acclimatization, trekking light is a must. For this, we provide trek porters to our clients.

We provide a trek porter for a group of two or more trekkers. However, for individual trekkers, the trek cost doesn’t include the trek porter and is only available as an add-on.

Our porters carry 18-20 kilos during the trek, shared between two trekkers. While most trekking agencies  make porters carry 35-40 kilos, we strictly allocate them carry an 8-10 kg backpack per trekker. This ensures a safe workload and less strain on them.

We follow the trek porter welfare, meals, accommodation, and backpack weight limits.

We’ll provide you with a waterproof duffel bag to keep your gear and clothes.

Our guides and porters depend on the group size. Here’s how we maintain the guide-client and clients-porter ratio.

– 1 experienced, licensed trek guide for a group of 6 trekkers.
– 1 experienced, licensed trek guide and licensed assistant guide for a group of more than 6 trekkers.
– 1 porter for every two trekkers

Solo trekkers get an experienced guide. However, hiring a trek porter subjects it to add-ons.

Yes. Most of our senior trek guides and leaders are Wilderness First Aid trained and certified. Moreover, they are efficient in altitude sickness management, handling injuries, CPR, and safe evacuation techniques.

Our trek guides carry a well-stocked first aid kit and are trained to use it in emergencies. Moreover, they participate in refresher training, keeping them upto date with the safety standards.

Guides are more than just the trek leaders. They do:

– Monitor your health and rehydration
– Set pace, timing, and trek safety
– Arrangements of meals and accommodations at the tea houses
– Trek briefings every day
– Encouragement and support to trekkers
– Coordinate with the team in Kathmandu about the daily trek progress
– Gap the bridge, interpret culture and local life

Throughout the journey, your trek guide becomes your friend and biggest cheerleader, motivating you on every step.

Tipping is a culture that has long been standing in the Nepali trekking scene. Trekkers find it a meaningful way to appreciate the hardwork put on by the guides and porters, making their trip successful.

Tipping can be done individually or in a group. Exceptional services by the crew deserve a little extra. However, it’s always at your discretion.

For the 11-day Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you’ll need a daypack and a duffel bag.

–  We’ll provide you with a duffel bag to put most of your clothes and trek gears, which the trek porter carries throughout the trek.
– You need to carry 30-litres daypack for essential items like a water bottle, soft shells, jacket, snacks, sunscreen, etc.

Ensure that your daypack has ample airspace, a padded back, a rain cover, and rigid straps.

Yes. We’ll provide a trek porter to help you carry the main backpack throughout the trek. We’ll provide you with a company duffel bag you can use as your main backpack. With most of the items carried by a trek porter, you can trek comfortably with a lighter daypack. For many, this is the preferred way of completing the Annapurna region trek.

11-day Mardi with Annapurna Base Camp Trek involves multiple climatic zones, from warm lowlands to chilly mid-hills and freezing higher elevations. Thus, layering is a must for various weather throughout the trek.

Here’s what we recommend you bring for the trek:

– Base layers (moisture-wicking, lower and upper body)
– Warm fleece or down jacket
– Windproof and waterproof shells
– Quick-drying t-shirts and trekking pants
– Thermal inner layers (for higher elevations)
– Neck buff, beanie, gloves
– Moisture-wicking socks
– A pair of comfortable trekking boots

For a complete packing list, please visit Annapurna Base Camp Trek Packing List. It has everything you need to know about backpacking, gear, and clothes.

You need a reliable, comfortable, and proper trekking boot for this trek. Since it’s a lengthier trek, your trekking boots must be comfortable and reliable. We suggest you bring a pair of mid-ankle, waterproof boots with a proper grip.

The trekking trail is a mix of rugged, stone-paved, off-road, and forest; broken-in boots are a must for safety and comfort. We recommend you put on worn-out boots instead of brand-new ones, as your feet take a few days to adjust to the new boots’ performance.

Yes. You’ll need a sleeping bag for the trek.

The tea houses provide blankets that might not be sufficiently warm at higher elevations during cold months. Thus, to keep yourself warm, we recommend a -15˚C rated sleeping bag.

It’d be best if you bring a personal sleeping bag for size fit and personal hygiene. However, if you wish to rent, we’ll be happy to help you with that. Our trusted trekking gear shop in Kathmandu rents amazing sleeping bags that are clean and warm.

Absolutely. If you’re a first-time trekker or prefer renting gear instead of buying, that’s completely fine. There are some great gear rental shops in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Here’s what we recommend you rent for this 11-day Mardi and Annapurna Base Camp Trek.

– Sleeping bag
– Down jacket
– Trekking poles
– Trekking boots
– Micro spikes/crampons (for snow)
– Headlamps and other accessories

For thermal layers, base layers, fleece, and shells, we recommend bringing your own personal items instead of renting, for hygiene and a better fit.

Absolutely. Once you confirm the trek, we’ll provide you with a detailed packing list for the trek. Our packing list features the clothes and gear you’ll need for different seasons. Moreover, if you need one-on-one guidance, our team supports that too.

For a comprehensive packing list, we have a blog on the packing list for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. It’d be amazing if you went through our well-crafted blog, curated exclusively for travellers.

The best times of the year to trek to Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp are Spring and Autumn. Trekkers often trek in Summer and Winter. However, with rainy days in Summer and cold days in Winter, the trek experience won’t be perfect.

Here’s what the Spring days offer:

– Stable weather and mild temperature
– Rhododendron blossoms in March and April
– Clear skies all day, offering some spectacular mountain views
– Absolute time to trek for novice trekkers

Autumn days are great as they offer:

– Crystal clear weather with dry trails
– Spectacular views of Annapurna and Machhapuchhre, all day long
– Mild daytime temperature, perfect for long walks
– Absolute time for landscape photography

April and November are the best months of the year for this trek.

The weather depends on what time of the year you trek to Mardi and Annapurna Base Camp.

If you trek in Spring and Autumn, the mornings are usually chilly and clear. Afternoons often get cloudy and foggy at higher elevations. The evenings get magical with sunset colors, a bit chilly, and cold nights.

On average, the daytime temperature at lower elevations is 15-25˚C, and the nighttime temperature is 8-15˚C. The higher elevations remain cold, chilly, and freezing in different seasons. For example, the early Spring/late Autumn days at higher elevations are cold with an average daytime temperature of 8-10˚C. The nighttime temperature falls below freezing, between 0˚C and -5˚C. Early Autumn and later Spring are warmer with an average temperature of 10-12˚C.

Despite being in the same region with similar topography, on a given day, the weather at Mardi is slight different than in Annapurna.

Mardi High Camp, View Point, and Base Camp are windy on the ridges and thus, are colder due to exposure. Annapurna Base Camp is surrounded by mountains from almost all sides. Due to this, you’ll experience the lesser cold blow effect. However, the nights at base camp get colder.

The snowfall at both places happens around the same time of the year. Also, trekking to both regions requires warm layers and proper trekking gear.

Absolutely. The weather on a given day can influence the trek itinerary, with safety as the priority.

Here are some factors that affect the itinerary or trek duration:

– Heavy rain
– Heavy snowfall
– Alternative trekking route from Deurali to ABC
– Acclimatization stop

Off-season times are when the weather creates problems. For example, the summer rain often washes away the wooden bridges with few landslides. Moreover, the winter snowfall blocks the route entirely and often forces the avalanches (frozen waterfalls).

The itinerary adjustments will be shorter walking on heavy rains and snow, alternative trek routes on landslides, and additional rest days.

Yes. Microspikes are highly recommended for use in snow conditions. How would you know if it has snowed on the mountains, or not? Well, our trek guide figures out that way before you start the trek from Pokhara. We reach out to the tea houses along the route to learn the recent conditions of the route with snow.

When does it snow? Well, snowfall in recent years has been delayed from late February to early April. Thus, if you’re trekking to Mardi and Annapurna in these months, microspikes are highly recommended.

Other than microspikes, you’ll need:

– Trekking poles
– Insulated layers and down jackets
– Wind and waterproof outer shell
– Warm sleeping bag (-20˚C rated)

The Mardi and Annapurna Base Camp Trek is doable all year round. However, for the best experience, Spring and Autumn are the best times.

But, if you’re trekking here in the off-season (not-recommended time), be ready to expect:

Summer (June-August)

– Heavy rain, slippery trails
– Leeches and bugs at lower elevations
– Cloudy and foggy skies, with limited to no mountain views at all
– Risk of landslides and weather delays

Winter (December-February)

– Extremely cold nights with freezing mornings and evenings
– Snow-covered trails
– Frozen waterfalls and avalanches risk
– Temporary route closures or alternate longer routes

Yes. Mardi Himal Trek with Annapurna Base Camp is doable throughout the year. However, the trek experience varies with each season, with an amazing experience guaranteed in Spring and Autumn. These months offer comfort, safety, and an unmatched viewing experience. However, trekking here in Summer can get overwhelming with rain, leeches, bugs, and no mountain views. Moreover, winter trekking can get challenging with cold, snowfall, and proper equipments.