Mardi Himal cost by nationality
Per person, 5 days, in rupees, from Kathmandu by the first way listed (local bus to kande), teahouses and dal bhat, gear rented. Nepalis trek on their own; foreigners and SAARC nationals with the licensed guide the rules require, the cost split by a group of two.
Indian / SAARC
Rs 40,172
₹25,084 · Rs 28,031–52,314
SAARC rate on rupee permits; a licensed guide is required.
Work out mine →Foreigner
USD 283
Rs 43,172 · Rs 31,031–55,314
Full rate on permits; a licensed guide is required.
Work out mine →| Nepali | Indian / SAARC | Foreigner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permits | Rs 100–200 | Rs 2,000–2,500 | Rs 5,000–5,500 |
| Getting there and back | Rs 2,166–2,856 | Rs 2,166–2,856 | Rs 2,166–2,856 |
| Rooms and food | Rs 10,540–21,120 | Rs 10,540–21,120 | Rs 10,540–21,120 |
| Guide and porter | none | Rs 8,525–17,538 | Rs 8,525–17,538 |
| Gear rental and extras | Rs 4,800–8,300 | Rs 4,800–8,300 | Rs 4,800–8,300 |
| Total | Rs 17,606–32,476 | Rs 28,031–52,314₹17,503–32,665 | Rs 31,031–55,314USD 203–362 |
Mardi Himal permits
| Permit | Nepali | Indian / SAARC | Foreigner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP)NTNC. Online or an NTNC counter. Double at a check-post. | Rs 100 | Rs 1,000 | Rs 3,000 |
| TIMS cardNepal Tourism Board, through a registered agency. Your trekking agency, online. | not needed | Rs 1,000 | Rs 2,000 |
| Machhapuchhre municipality feeMachhapuchhre Rural Municipality. Lupruk, below Low Camp. Reported by an agency (notice of 27 Oct 2023); not confirmed by the municipality. | up to Rs 100 | up to Rs 500 | up to Rs 500 |
Children under 10 enter parks and conservation areas free. A conservation-area permit bought at a check-post costs double.
Mardi Himal route and altitude
- 1Kande1,727 m
- 2Australian Camp2,060 m
- 3Forest Camp2,440 m
- 4Low Camp2,970 m
- 5High Camp3,550 m
- 6Siding1,945 m
Highest point: Mardi Himal Base Camp, 4,500 m.
Guide rule and documents
NTB lists the Mardi Himal Trek among the routes where foreigners, SAARC nationals included, need a licensed guide and an agency TIMS card. Nepali citizens are exempt.
Everyone
- Each permit, carried the whole way: check-posts ask for them, and a conservation-area permit bought at a check-post costs double.
- Travel insurance that covers helicopter rescue at your highest altitude. No rule found makes it compulsory for an ordinary trek, but a rescue charter costs about USD 4,000–5,000.
Nepali citizens
- Citizenship certificate or national ID card, to pay the Nepali rate (Rs 100 at park and conservation-area counters).
Indian and SAARC nationals
- Passport, to claim the SAARC rate. Indian citizens need no Nepal visa; by air they need a passport or a voter ID card (Aadhaar is not accepted).
- Other SAARC nationals: a Nepal visa (free for 30 days on the first visit of the year, except Afghanistan).
- A registered trekking agency and a licensed guide: they issue the TIMS card or restricted-area permit for you.
- Two passport photos, in case a counter asks. No official page requires them for online permits; agencies still list them.
Foreigners
- Passport and Nepal visa (15 days USD 30, 30 days USD 50, 90 days USD 125).
- A registered trekking agency and a licensed guide: they issue the TIMS card or restricted-area permit for you.
- Two passport photos, in case a counter asks. No official page requires them for online permits; agencies still list them.
Common questions
How much does the Mardi Himal trek cost for a Nepali?
About Rs 25,041 per person for 5 days (Rs 17,606–32,476), trekking without a guide and renting a sleeping bag, down jacket and poles. Permits are Rs 100–200. The planner above changes it for your days, transport and group.
How much does the Mardi Himal trek cost for an Indian?
About Rs 40,172 (₹25,084) per person for 5 days, at the SAARC rate for permits (Rs 2,000–2,500) and with the licensed guide the rules require.
How much does the Mardi Himal trek cost for a foreigner?
About USD 283 (Rs 43,172) per person for 5 days with a licensed guide, before Kathmandu hotels, insurance and any agency margin. Permits: Rs 5,000–5,500.
Do I need a guide for Mardi Himal?
Yes, for foreigners and SAARC nationals. NTB lists the Mardi Himal Trek among the routes where foreigners, SAARC nationals included, need a licensed guide and an agency TIMS card. Nepali citizens are exempt.
Which permits do I need for Mardi Himal?
Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP), TIMS card, Machhapuchhre municipality fee. ACAP asks trekkers not to carry plastic bottles on Mardi Himal either.
Where the figures come from
Fees set by an authority are fixed; prices nobody publishes are ranges from the sources below, which the planner lets you overwrite. A fee the sources dispute counts in the high end only. All read 2026-10-30.
- Agency and trekker pages, 2025–26: teahouse rooms by region and altitude · agency or trekker page
- Trekker and agency pages, 2025–26: dal bhat and a day's food by route · agency or trekker page
- Setopati, Asoj 2081: glass and plastic bottles banned at Annapurna Base Camp · news
- Agency pages, 2025–26: Pokhara–Nayapul bus Rs 300, shared jeep USD 8–10 · agency or trekker page
- NTNC e-permit (ACAP, MCAP): tax included, double at check-posts · official
- Nepal Tourism Board, park entry fees · official
- Nepal Tourism Board, TIMS card · official
- Third Rock Adventures (agency): Machhapuchhre fee notice, 27 Oct 2023 · agency or trekker page
- TAAN wages from 17 Jul 2023 (Himalayan Times, 21 Jun 2023) · news
- TESA rental table 2025–26, via North Nepal Trek (30 Apr 2026) · agency or trekker page
- Department of Transport Management fares, 2 Jul 2026 · official