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 450 (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.

1. 50% refund on confirmation payment upon canceling the trek a month before
2. 25% refund on confirmation payment upon canceling the trek a week before
3. No refund on confirmation payment upon canceling the trek within a week of the trek
4. 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 two days 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.

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 office 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.

Yes. Our representative will be at the arrivals at Kathmandu airport to receive you. Following, you’ll get a taxi or a private vehicle transfer to the hotel where you’ll stay in Kathmandu.

Let us know if you want us to book the hotel in Kathmandu.

The flight/drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara is not included in the trek cost. However, upon request, we’ll purchase the flight tickets or bus tickets from Kathmandu to Pokhara. We’ll reimburse the flight/drive ticket price later.

This trek starts from Pokhara. Thus, all our clients must reach Pokhara before starting the trek.

To make your Kathmandu to Pokhara commute easy, we’ll send our trek guide along with you.

We usually provide private transportation for groups of five or more. However, for individual trekkers, private vehicle transfer is expensive.

In this trek, you’ll drive from Pokhara to Siddhing, before starting the trek.

For an individual, following ad-ons is a must when opting a private transport.

–  Pokhara-Siddhing: USD 50

–  Ghandruk-Pokhara: USD 50

Note: A group of five or more gets a private vehicle transport.

The number of trek guides depends on the number of trekkers or group size.

We employ one trek guide for a group of at least four trekkers. However, for groups over five pax, we send additional guides to assist the trek leader. And, for groups of 8-10 trekkers, we typically employ three trek guides.

Two trekkers share one porter. Thus, a porter carries a combined weight of 20 kilograms, max. For any additional luggage or private porter, a USD 150 add-on is a must.

Note: For individual trekkers, Trek Porter is available as a USD 250 add-on.

You’ll get an experienced trek guide for 11 days Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek. We’ll send you a trek guide who’s completed this trek on multiple occasions.

By the way, all the trek guides at NepTrek Adventures are experienced, with extensive trekking over Nepal.

Obviously. We understand the comfort of female trekkers when they embark on a trek with a female guide.

If you prefer a female trek guide over a male trek guide for Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek combined, we’ll send you our female trek guide. We have some of the finest female trek guides with extensive trekking experience in Annapurna and Everest.

Note: Since this is a special requirement, we recommend you contact us at least two months before the trek start date. Female trek guides are often in demand, and thus, we may not allocate one to you in a short period. With adequate time, we can find the right female trek guide for you.

Yes. You’ll get a legally licensed trekking guide for this trek. We employ licensed trekking guides to ensure 100% trek safety, comply with regulations, and complete the trek on a good note.

Moreover, all our guides are certified wilderness first-aid responders. It ensures your utmost safety throughout the trek.

No. You don’t have to pay for the salary and trek expenses for trek guide and porter (unless you hire private porter).

We pay our guides and porters salary, including expenses incurred during, before, and after the trek.

Yes. You’re highly recommended to tip your trek guide and porter once you complete the trek and reach Pokhara.

Tipping to the trek guide and porter is a way of expressing gratitude for the efforts they put into the trekking to make your dream adventure wholesome.

How much you want to tip is up to you. However, in practice, trekkers tip at least USD 8-10 per day or Rs. 1000. In this way, for 9-day trek, you’re highly recommended to tip at least Nepali rupees 10,000 for trek guide and porter.

During this 11-day trek, you’ll get 11 x breakfast, 11 x lunch, and 10 x dinner.

Your meals along the trek will be at the tea houses, which are locally owned lodges.

You’ll be surprised by the variety of meal choices, even at higher elevations like Annapurna Base Camp and Deurali.

As mentioned, the meal choices you’ll get on this trek are extensive, fresh, and savory.

Toast, omelet, pancakes, pies, muesli, oatmeals, porridge, potatoes, tea, coffee, and yak milk (seasonal) are the most common breakfast items. You can enjoy seasonal, fresh juice at the tea houses, which feature locally grown apples.

Other than these, you’ll have noodle soup, Gurung bread, and more.

You’ll get a meal menu at the tea house to choose lunch and dinner item(s). Since these are the heavy meals of the day, the choices can be similar, but you can opt for different meals.

Typical lunch and dinner meals are:

Dal Bhat, a staple Nepali dish consisting of lentil soup and rice, is highly recommended for adequate energy replenishment.

Pizza, burgers, sandwiches with fries, spaghetti, macaroni, fried noodles with egg veg, Thendek (local dish), and Sherpa stew, are popular meals.

You’ll have dessert options at a USD 150 add-on for the entire trek.

Yes. All the tea houses along the trek provide hygienic and nutritious meals to trekkers. They get fresh supplies every day during the trekking season.

The tea houses use mules to transport the materials from lower elevations upto Sinuwa. And past Sinuwa, the porters carry the fresh supplies every day. Moreover, at Annapurna Base Camp, tea houses even use helicopters to transport fresh vegetables and other supplies.

With fresh supplies, you can have healthy and nutritious meals each day.

You can eat meat at lower elevations like Low Camp, Ghandruk, and Chhomrong. However, we don’t recommend you to eat meat on the trek at higher elevations for reasons.

The primary reason is that you may get food poisoning by eating meat, as the tea houses in higher elevations don’t use refrigerators.

Moreover, digesting meat at altitude can be a problem. Due to digestion problems, eat easy-to-digest meals, and if possible, avoid cheese and butter for 2-3 days at higher elevations.

Another reason is that the entire trekking region is a Buddhist area. And in Buddhist areas, the locals don’t kill animals for meat. Instead, they import meat from lower elevations. Thus, it’s advised not to eat meat during the trek.

Our recommendation: Avoid meat at all costs to prevent food poisoning and digestion issues, and respect the local culture.

You’ll be accommodated at the tea houses along the trek for 10 days. And on the 11th day, you’ll return to Pokhara.

You’ll get a twin-sharing room throughout the trek. The rooms with attached toilets are subject to availability. But at most places, the tea houses provide the attached bathrooms.

You’ll get a tidy room with clean and warm blankets, a pillow, and a mattress.

No. You won’t get heated rooms anywhere on the trek.

The tea houses light fire ovens in the dining halls. It is where you can get warm.

As the tea houses are not heated, you need to carry a sleeping bag with a -20˚C rating. If you have your sleeping bag, bring it. Otherwise, we’ll help you to rent one in Kathmandu.

Yes. If you’re an individual on Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp Trek with us, you’ll get a room. However, if you’re trekking with the group, you’ll have a private room accommodation upon availability.

Note: Private room while trekking in a group subject to USD 200 add-on. For individual trekkers, there’s no add-ons.

It’s best to understand that during the trekking season, the tea houses get flooded with trekkers. Thus, at such times, the tea houses get fully occupied and are left with no private rooms.

Absolutely. Trekking in Nepal is safe for all the trekkers, prioritizing the female trekkers. Whether trekking in a group or individually, as a female adventurer, you can feel secure and expect warm hospitality throughout the trek.

With us, you’ll get a male/female trekking guide for this trek. Hence, throughout the trek, with our experienced trek guide, you’ll be safe. Also, you’ll have an amazing time throughout this ten-day adventure in Annapurna Sanctuary.

Read our Annapurna Base Camp Trek Safety guide to learn more about the trek safety and more.

Absolutely. We prioritize your safety more than anything on this trek.

You’ll get an experienced licensed trekking guide throughout the trek. With expert guide and guidance, you’ll be safe on the trek.

Moreover, we set a proper trek itinerary and arranged accommodation at the best available tea house. Moreover, you’ll get first aid and helicopter rescue during minor and major health injuries and issues.

Usually, the drinking water you’ll get on the trek is safe. If you prefer drinking cold water, you’ll get filtered water at the tea houses. Also, if you love drinking warm water, you can get it for Rs. 200-300 per liter.

We recommend you bring water purification tablets, oral rehydration salts, and a water bottle with an in-built filter.

No. You’ll not get altitude sickness during the ten days of Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poon Hill.

While trekking to Ghorepani and Poon Hill, you’ll trek to 3,200 meters which provides proper acclimatization. Moreover, you’ll descend to Chhomrong and then gradually trek to Annapurna Base Camp.

During these six days, you’ll gain proper acclimatization. Hence, you’ll not get altitude sickness on the trek.

If you get altitude sickness, the first thing will be your trek guide assessing the situation. If you’re experiencing minor symptoms, you may continue the trek after a good rest.

However, if the symptoms worsen, you’ll abort the trek and return to Pokhara/Kathmandu. Also, after assessing the situation, your descent will be on the horse/helicopter.

Note: We’ll manage the rescue on time. However, you must pay for the helicopter/horse rescue.

Yes. We insure all our staff (trek guide and porter).

While guiding at high altitudes, things can change unnoticed. Hence, to keep our field staff safe, we provide health insurance including helicopter evacuation.