Mardi Himal Trek with Chitwan Jungle Safari, 9 Days is a 9-day jungle safari and trek for fit walkers who want a high ridge trek and a few days in the jungle. It reaches 4,500 m (Mardi Himal Base Camp) and is graded Moderate: two flat jungle days, then a steady ridge climb with a 6 to 7 hour descent on the last trekking day. It costs from USD 1,530 per person (Budget, couple). The price per person is the same for a private trip and a group of the same size, and it falls as the group grows.
Mardi Himal with Chitwan at a glance
| Duration | 9 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu |
|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | 4,500 m / 14,764 ft (Mardi Himal Base Camp). You sleep no higher than 3,580 m at High Camp |
| Grade | Moderate. Five trekking days of 4 to 7 hours on a forested ridge. No technical skill needed |
| Best months | November, late March to April, and the second half of October |
| Group size | 1 to 20, always private |
| Starts and ends | Kathmandu. Road to Chitwan and Pokhara, fly Pokhara to Kathmandu |
| Wildlife | Jeep safari, dugout canoe, jungle walk, birdwatching and Tharu culture. No animal rides |
| Permits | Annapurna Conservation Area, TIMS, Chitwan National Park fee. All included |
| Hotels | 2 nights at a Chitwan jungle lodge and 2 nights in Pokhara are included. Kathmandu nights are not |
| From price | USD 1,530 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 1,985, Luxury USD 3,060 |
Why I built it this way
Mardi Himal is the trek I send people on when they want the Annapurna range up close without the crowds of Poon Hill or the length of the Circuit. You climb a forested ridge to High Camp at 3,580 m, rise before dawn for Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 m, and walk down to Siding. It is a five-day walk from Pokhara, and I have added three days of jungle before it.
The jungle first, then the mountain, for a reason. Two nights in Chitwan give you flat, warm days to settle in. Then you drive to Pokhara, rest in a hotel, and start the ridge fresh. The mountain is harder than Poon Hill. The nights at High Camp are cold, day 6 is a full day on a narrowing ridge, and the descent to Siding on day 7 is six to seven hours that your knees will remember. If you want a gentler trip, our Poon Hill version is easier. Read Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal: Which Short Trek Should You Choose? (2026/2027 Comparison), Mardi Himal Trek: The Complete Guide to Itinerary, Cost, Permits and Difficulty and Mardi Himal Trek Accommodation: Where You Sleep Each Night, Rooms and Food before you choose.
We do not sell animal rides. Our Chitwan days are a jeep, a dugout canoe, a walk with a naturalist, Tharu culture and birds. If you would like to add a day of white-water rafting on the Trishuli, ask me and I will price it as an extra.
Hotel nights in Kathmandu are not included, so you choose your own. Two Pokhara nights are, and so are all the road transfers and the flight back. Every booking helps pay the teacher's salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum. The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
Best time to go, month by month
Temperatures and rain are 1991 to 2020 averages for Pokhara, and the notes on the ridge come from our guides, as set out in our Mardi Himal month-by-month guide. Chitwan notes come from our Chitwan seasonal guide. Neither is a forecast.
| Month | What it is like | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| January | Clear, very cold, snow possible high up, few trekkers. Pokhara 19.9 C by day and 7.1 C at night, 21.6 mm of rain. Chitwan has cool, foggy mornings. | Only if you want the cold and the quiet |
| February | Clear and cold, snow can linger on the ridge. Pokhara 22.7 / 9.7 C, 35.1 mm. Chitwan is cool and quiet. | Only if you want the cold and the quiet |
| March | Spring begins. Rhododendron starts below Low Camp, mornings are clear. Pokhara 27.1 / 13.1 C, 63.7 mm. Chitwan is getting hot. | Good |
| April | Warm, flowers on the ridge, more afternoon cloud, busier. Pokhara 30.0 / 16.1 C, 141.7 mm. Chitwan can reach 35 to 40 C. | Good, hot in Chitwan |
| May | Hot low down, cloud and storms build, views are a morning gamble. Pokhara 354.7 mm and 18.3 rain days. | Not my first choice |
| June | Monsoon: cloud, rain, leeches and a slippery trail. Pokhara 648.2 mm, 22.2 rain days. | No |
| July | Monsoon, the wettest month: 941 mm at Pokhara, 25.6 rain days. Not recommended. | No |
| August | Monsoon. Views are mostly lost: 839.4 mm at Pokhara. | No |
| September | The rains are easing but the trail is still wet and leechy: 635 mm at Pokhara. | No |
| October | Drying out and clearer each week: 159.2 mm at Pokhara. Busy around Dashain. Chitwan is lush and clear at 25 to 30 C. | Best, from mid month |
| November | The best month of the year for clear skies: 17.2 mm at Pokhara. Cold nights at High Camp. Tihar falls early in the month. | Best |
| December | Clear and cold, first snow possible on the upper ridge: 11.5 mm at Pokhara. Chitwan is cool with near-certain rhino sightings. | Good, if you pack warm |
Chitwan is best from October to March and Mardi Himal is best in November, the second half of October and late March to April. November is the month that suits both. One price applies all year.
Permits and costs
We apply for every permit and pay for all of them. You send us your passport details early.
| Permit or fee | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area permit | NPR 3,000 | Included |
| TIMS card | NPR 2,000 (NPR 1,000 SAARC) | Included, we issue it through our agency |
| Chitwan National Park entrance | NPR 3,000 | Included, on top of the lodge and activities |
The price per person falls as the group grows, and a child pays the same as an adult. Private or group, the price per person is the same. Here is the full table.
| Group size | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 guest (solo) | USD 2,505 | USD 2,955 | USD 5,200 |
| 2 to 4 guests | USD 1,530 | USD 1,985 | USD 3,060 |
| 5 to 8 guests | USD 1,070 | USD 1,545 | USD 2,600 |
| 9 to 12 guests | USD 960 | USD 1,425 | USD 2,490 |
| 13 to 20 guests | USD 930 | USD 1,395 | USD 2,465 |
Not included: international flights, your Nepal visa (USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, paid in cash on arrival), Kathmandu hotel nights, travel insurance, tips, personal spending and any extra porter (USD 25 per day plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge). You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance in Kathmandu. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card, and card payments carry a 3.5% bank charge.
Getting there and getting back
On day 1 we drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan, five to six hours along the Trishuli river. On day 3 we drive on to Pokhara by private vehicle. On day 4 a short drive takes us to Kande and we walk. After the trek your vehicle meets you at Siding and drives you to Pokhara, 3 to 4 hours, and on day 9 you fly to Kathmandu. Pokhara flights can be delayed by cloud, so keep a spare day before your international flight. The Pokhara to Baglung road lost about 150 m at Sahasradhara on 27 September, and repairs began on 29 September (position as at 7 October). Our Pokhara trailheads are on that road. We check 48 hours before departure, and if the road is not open we move your dates free of charge.
Visa on arrival is USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, and your passport must be valid for at least six months. Read Dhampus and Kande: The Two Roadside Starts for Mardi Himal and Australian Camp for the start village and Siding: The Mardi Himal Exit Village and Why We End the Trek There for the exit.
Safety and altitude
You sleep at 3,580 m at High Camp and walk to 4,500 m on day 6. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide at once if you get a headache or feel unwell. Your guide checks everyone's oxygen level every evening with a pulse oximeter. If someone's reading is low or symptoms appear, we do not go higher, and if they worsen we go down. On the safari you follow your naturalist, keep to the jeep and the canoe and never walk into the forest alone.
The ridge is narrow in places, and if heights on exposed ridges frighten you, tell me before you book. The long descent on day 7 is hard on the knees, so I suggest trekking poles. Buy travel insurance at home that covers trekking to 5,000 m and helicopter evacuation.
What to pack
- Broken-in walking boots (not trainers) and sandals for the lodge
- Neutral clothes in greens and browns for the jungle days, and insect repellent
- A down jacket or warm fleece for High Camp, thermal layers and a waterproof jacket
- A warm hat, gloves, sunglasses and SPF 50 sun cream
- A head torch for the pre-dawn climb to base camp
- A day pack of about 25 litres. Your duffel goes with the porter
- Trekking poles for the descent to Siding
- Binoculars if you have them
- Plasters, blister care and any personal medicines
- Our full list is in Nepal Trekking Packing List: What to Bring, What to Skip, What to Buy in Kathmandu
Budget, Standard or Luxury
All three tiers do the same route and activities. What changes is how you sleep, what you eat and who carries your bag.
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooms | Shared rooms in simple teahouses | Private twin rooms, attached bathroom where the lodge has one | Private deluxe rooms, ensuite where the lodge has one |
| Porter | None. You carry your own pack. An extra porter is USD 25 per day plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge | One porter for every two trekkers, 20 kg each in total. A solo guest has no porter: the guide carries up to 10 kg | One dedicated porter for every trekker |
| Chitwan and Pokhara hotels | Simple lodge and hotel, twin share | 3-star jungle lodge and 3-star hotel, private room | Deluxe jungle lodge and deluxe hotel, ensuite |
| Meals | Breakfast at the lodge and hotels. Trek meals not included | Breakfast, lunch and dinner | All meals, fruit and nuts, soft drinks, tea and coffee whenever you want |
| Vehicle | Private car or van sized to your group | Private car or van sized to your group | A more spacious air-conditioned private vehicle |
| Guide | Licensed guide, one per group (a second from 13 guests) | Licensed guide, one per group (a second from 13 guests) | Licensed guide, one per group (a second from 13 guests) |
Read before you book
- Mardi Himal Trek: The Complete Guide to Itinerary, Cost, Permits and Difficulty
- Mardi Himal Best Time: Month by Month, With Rainfall and Sun Figures
- Mardi Himal Trek Accommodation: Where You Sleep Each Night, Rooms and Food
- Chitwan Jungle Safari: Tigers, Rhinos, and What to Actually Expect
- Things to Do in Chitwan: Jeep Safari, Canoe, Jungle Walk, Tharu Culture and Birds
- Mardi Himal Trek Cost 2026/2027: What You Actually Pay, Tier by Tier
The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
