Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek & Exploring the City of Temples

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • An experienced, local trekking guide with extensive knowledge of the area, along with porters
    • Local tour guide for sightseeing in Kathmandu
    • Local guide for boat ride tour and Peace Stupa tour
    • 10-day Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek and City of Temples (Kathmandu) exploration in Nepal
    • Airport transfer upon your arrival in Kathmandu
    • 4-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara based on double occupancy (single rooms available for an added fee of $360 per person) — 5 nights
    • Accommodation in mountain lodges during the trek (dormitory-style rooms) — 4 nights
    • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
    • All transfers during the adventure, except for Kathmandu-Pokhara flights
    • Entrance fees for monuments and boating fees at Phewa Lake
    • Trek permit and TIMS card for Trekking

  Add-ons (available to add at checkout):

  • • Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara on Day 3 and from Pokhara back to Kathmandu on Day 9
    • Mountain flight with views of Mount Everest on Day 2

  Not included:

  • • Transportation to Kathmandu
    • Meals not indicated in the itinerary (lunches and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara, except for the farewell dinner)
    • Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara on Day 3 and from Pokhara back to Kathmandu on Day 9 (approximately $205, can be arranged with your guide upon booking)
    • Mountain flight with views of Mount Everest on Day 2 — optional and available for an added fee of $250 per person during the booking process
    • Guide gratuities — customary
    • Travel and medical/rescue insurance
• How fit do I need to be?

  The Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek is a moderate trek suitable for most people with a reasonable level of fitness. Participants should be comfortable hiking for several hours a day, carrying a backpack, and staying in remote areas. No prior trekking experience is necessary, but being physically prepared will enhance your enjoyment of the trek.

  The trek involves several hours of walking each day on varied terrain, including steep uphill and downhill sections. Expect to walk 5-7 hours a day with breaks, with the maximum elevation being 4,500 meters (14,764 feet). While most trekkers do not experience severe altitude sickness, some may have mild symptoms. It’s important to ascend gradually and stay hydrated.

  Engaging in cardiovascular exercises like running, cycling, or swimming before your trip will improve your stamina and endurance. Incorporating strength training exercises like squats, lunges, and weightlifting will help build muscle strength, which is beneficial for the trek’s uphill and downhill sections. Throughout the journey, you’ll have a guide to set the pace, ensure regular breaks, offer encouragement, and make the experience enjoyable for everyone.

• What do I need to bring?

  Here’s a list of personal equipment you need to bring:

  • • Backpack or duffle bag (50-70 L)
    • A small daypack/backpack for carrying your valuables, should have good shoulder padding
    • Trekking poles — recommended
    • Valid passport & passport scanned photocopies
    • Visa (easy to obtain on arrival)
    • 2 passport-sized photos for your permits
    • Sleeping bag
    • Waterproof bag for your clothes
    • Headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs
    • Sunglasses with UV protection
    • Sunscreen
    • Personal toiletries
    • Camera — optional
    • Power bank
    • Water bottle and thermos
    • Ear plugs
    • Small personal first-aid kit (simple and light) — first-aid tape, Band-Aids, alcohol-free wipes for cuts, personal medications, etc.
    • Toilet paper
    • Medium-sized quick drying towel

  Here’s a list of clothing you need to bring:

  • • Waterproof hiking boots with a sturdy sole
    • Waterproof jacket & pants (GoreTex recommended)
    • Warm hat that covers your ears (wool or synthetic)
    • Polypropylene shirts (1 half sleeve and 2 long sleeves)
    • Lightweight thermal tops and bottoms
    • Fleece windbreaker jacket or pullover
    • Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket and pants
    • Hiking pants (1-2)
    • Short sleeve t-shirts (3)
    • Long sleeve t-shirts (2)
    • Hiking shorts (1)
    • Non-cotton underwear briefs
    • Heavy polyester or wool socks
    • Trainers or running shoes and/or sandals
    • Lightweight wool or fleece gloves

  Please do not bring sleeping pills as they are a respiratory depressant. Your guide will contact you about any additional equipment at the time of contracting the trip and give you suggestions. Keep in mind that the exact packing list depends on the season, but that you will need to be prepared for different weather conditions.

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• What will the accommodation and food be like?

  During your Mardi Himal Base Camp trekking adventure in Nepal, your accommodation will vary between city stays and mountain lodges. In Kathmandu (Hotel Barahi or similar) and Pokhara (Mount Kailash Resort or similar), you will stay in 4-star hotels that offer comfortable double-occupancy rooms and amenities. Single rooms in hotels are available for an added fee of $360 per person during the booking process. During the trek, you will stay in the best available lodges along the route. These lodges provide a cozy and authentic mountain experience with dormitory-style rooms, ensuring you rest well after a day of trekking.

  In Kathmandu and Pokhara, breakfast is included with your hotel stay, featuring a variety of continental options. Other than breakfasts, a farewell dinner in Kathmandu is included as well. On the trek, you can expect a full board, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You will enjoy traditional Nepali cuisine such as Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), along with other common dishes like porridge, Tibetan bread, pancakes, eggs, and tea or coffee for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, you might have momos (dumplings), Thukpa (noodle soup), fried rice, noodles, vegetable curries, and chapati.

  This arrangement ensures that you have a comfortable stay and nourishing meals throughout your adventure, allowing you to fully enjoy the stunning landscapes and culture of Nepal.

• Are Kathmandu-Pokhara flights included?

  Round-trip flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara, the starting point of your trekking adventure, are not included in the package. You can arrange these flights with your guide upon booking the tour, with an expected additional cost of approximately $205. If you want to arrange these round-trip flights, leave a note for the guide during the booking process. Please note that this price is subject to change.

• Will I experience altitude sickness?

  Every 1,000 m/3,200 ft you travel above sea level makes aerobic exercise 10% harder. On the Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek, you will hike at elevations ranging from approximately 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) to a maximum of 4,500 meters (14,764 feet).

  Most trekkers typically do not experience severe altitude sickness on this trek. However, some trekkers might still experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness, especially if they ascend too quickly without proper acclimatization. Here are a few tips on do’s and don’ts for adapting to high altitude and avoiding altitude sickness:

  Do not eat heavy food the day before traveling to Kathmandu. Make sure you drink between 6-8 glasses of water the days before your trip and during your hike along the Langtang Valley Trek and make sure to avoid drinking alcohol or smoking. Once you arrive at your accommodation, lie down a few minutes before going out to explore the area. Once you are ready to go out and explore the area, try not to become agitated climbing stairs or walking fast.

  You should also try to include cardio and strength training in your schedule. Cardio means getting your heart rate up by doing things like running, cycling, skipping and burpees. Strength training means using resistance, weights or your body weight to grow your muscles. The fitter you are, the less oxygen your muscles need to move — something invaluable at higher elevations.

• Why should I go out with a guide?

  Apart from the fact that you’ll have a highly experienced and knowledgeable person by your side—who’ll also make sure you have the best time in the country—trekking in Nepal is no longer allowed without a guide. This decision has been made for the tourists’ benefit, as many tourists have gone missing over the past few years when they went trekking by themselves.

• Do I need a visa for this adventure?

  Yes, to visit Nepal, you must have a Nepalese visa. For the Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek, you will need a 30-day multiple-entry visa, which is valid for 6 months and costs 50 USD. You can easily obtain it as soon as you arrive in the country, which is usually at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For this group adventure, the maximum client-to-guide ratio is 12:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 12 participants.

  Trekking along the Mardi Himal Trek can be arranged for private groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  Your guided Mardi Himal Trek adventure starts in Kathmandu, Nepal. To get there, most people fly into Tribhuvan International Airport.

  Most people arrive in the morning or the afternoon on Day 1. Once you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a representative and transferred to your accommodation.

• Safety measures in Nepal

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.

  With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

  If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

  Basic

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.

  Flexible

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 30-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, there is no refund.

  Super Flexible

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 30 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.