Permits Required
| Permit |
Issued By |
Foreign Nationals |
SAARC Nationals |
Children Under 10 |
| Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) |
NTNC |
NPR 3,000 (USD 22) |
NPR 1,000 |
Free |
Trekkers must carry their permit at all times. There are checkpoints at multiple points along the Mardi Himal and Khopra Danda trails where permits are inspected. The ACAP fee is included in the trip price.
Best Time to Trek
Autumn (October to November) is the most popular window: skies are typically clear after the monsoon, trails are dry, and visibility to the high peaks is at its best.
Spring (March to May) is the second-best season. The rhododendron forests between Forest Camp and Tadapani bloom through March and April, with red and pink flowering trees lining the trail for several days. Temperatures are mild at lower elevations, though late April can bring afternoon cloud build-up at altitude.
Monsoon (June to August) is technically possible but not recommended. Persistent cloud cover limits mountain views and the trails above 3,000 m can be slippery.
Winter (December to February) sees snow above 3,000 m, which can make the Khayar Lake section difficult or impassable without crampons. Experienced trekkers with appropriate cold-weather gear can complete the lower sections in winter, but the Khayar Lake day-hike should be assessed on current conditions.
Difficulty Level
This is a moderate to challenging trek. No technical climbing skills are needed. The route follows established trails throughout.
Day 3 (High Camp to Mardi Himal Base Camp and back to Low Camp) is the most taxing day on the Mardi Himal section: 7-9 hours on an exposed ridge, gaining altitude to 4,500 m.
Day 8 (the round trip to Khayar Lake) is the hardest day on the full itinerary: 8-10 hours, 17-18 km, reaching 4,660 m on steep terrain with an early 6 AM start required.
Regular hiking experience and good cardiovascular fitness are expected. Trekkers should be comfortable walking 5-9 hours on consecutive days at altitude. The itinerary builds acclimatisation naturally across 11 days, which reduces altitude risk compared to faster ascent schedules.
What to Pack
The following personal gear is not included in the trip price and should be brought from home or rented in Pokhara before the trek:
- Waterproof trekking boots (broken in before the trek)
- Trekking poles (especially useful on the Poon Hill descent on Day 11)
- Warm down jacket (essential above 3,500 m, particularly evenings at High Camp and Khopra Danda)
- Sleeping bag rated to -10 degrees C
- Warm gloves
- Thermal base layers (top and bottom)
- Sun hat and warm hat
- Sunscreen SPF 50+
- UV-protection sunglasses
- Personal first-aid kit including altitude medication (consult your doctor before the trek regarding acetazolamide and any personal prescriptions)
- Headlamp with spare batteries (essential for the early 6 AM start on Day 8 and the pre-dawn Poon Hill hike on Day 11)
- Reusable water bottle or water filter
Food on the Trek
Meals on this trek are served at the teahouses and community lodges where we stay, so you will eat freshly cooked food each day rather than packed rations. The itinerary includes breakfast, lunch and dinner on Days 2 to 10. Day 1 includes lunch and dinner, and Day 11 includes breakfast and lunch before the drive back to Pokhara.
Breakfast is usually eggs (boiled, fried or omelette), porridge, muesli, Tibetan bread, chapati or toast with jam and honey, served with tea or coffee.
Lunch and dinner follow the standard teahouse menu. Dal bhat (steamed rice with lentil soup, vegetable curry and pickle) is the most popular meal on the trail and is usually served with free refills, which makes it a good choice for energy on long days. Other options normally include noodle and vegetable soups, fried rice, fried or boiled noodles, momos (dumplings), pasta, potato dishes, pizza and spring rolls. Vegetarian meals are available everywhere. Meat is limited on the higher sections, so we recommend vegetarian dishes above Low Camp.
Dietary needs: vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free requests can usually be handled with advance notice, but choices become narrower at High Camp and Khopra Danda, where all supplies are carried in. Please tell us about any allergies or dietary requirements when you book so your guide can brief each lodge.
Drinks and extras: bottled water, soft drinks, hot chocolate, alcohol, desserts and snacks are bought by the trekker and are not part of the meal plan. Prices rise with altitude because everything is carried up on foot or by animal. We recommend carrying a reusable bottle and a water filter or purification tablets, and drinking 3 to 4 litres of boiled or treated water a day to help with acclimatisation. Hot boiled water is sold by the litre at the lodges. A small amount of cash in Nepali rupees is useful, as there are no ATMs on the route.
Accommodation on the Trek
All nights on the trek are spent in mountain teahouses or community lodges. These are simple, family-run or community-run guesthouses, and the standard becomes more basic the higher you go.
- Night 1 - Forest Camp (2,550 m): teahouse lodge at the edge of the treeline.
- Night 2 - High Camp (3,580 m): teahouse lodge on an exposed ridge. It is cold at night and in the early morning, so warm layers and your sleeping bag are essential.
- Night 3 - Low Camp (3,050 m): teahouse lodge. Sleeping lower after the Mardi Himal Base Camp day is part of the acclimatisation plan.
- Night 4 - Landruk: teahouse lodge in a Gurung village.
- Night 5 - Tadapani: teahouse lodge.
- Night 6 - Bayeli Kharka (3,450 m): community lodge.
- Nights 7 and 8 - Khopra Danda (3,660 m): community lodge, with two nights here before and after the Khayar Lake day.
- Night 9 - Swanta: teahouse lodge in a quiet village.
- Night 10 - Ghorepani (2,860 m): teahouse lodge, ready for the Poon Hill sunrise.
Rooms are normally twin-share with two single beds, a mattress, a pillow and a blanket. Rooms are not heated, so a sleeping bag rated to -10 degrees C is important, particularly at High Camp and Khopra Danda. Bathrooms are usually shared and are basic, with squat or simple Western-style toilets. Hot showers, where available, are normally charged separately and may be limited at higher camps. Charging for phones and cameras and Wi-Fi, where offered, usually cost extra, and the supply is limited on the ridge, so bring a power bank. Mobile signal is patchy and often absent at Khopra Danda.
The dining room is the only heated, social space in most lodges, and it is where trekkers gather in the evening. During the busy autumn and spring seasons the lodges at the camps fill up, and the community lodges at Bayeli Kharka and Khopra Danda are small, so please tell us early if you have specific requirements. If you want a single room, tell us in advance. This is not always possible at the high camps, and it may carry an extra charge.
