Mardi Himal Trek with Chitwan Jungle Safari and Trishuli Rafting, 9 Days is a 9-day rafting, jungle safari and trek for fit walkers who want a river day, the jungle and a high ridge trek in one trip. It reaches 4,500 m (Mardi Himal Base Camp) and is graded Moderate: Class II and III rafting, 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 1,750 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 and rafting 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 |
| Rafting | Trishuli river, Charaudi to Jholungepul, Class II and III, on day 1 |
| Best months | November, and the second half of October. Late March to April also works |
| 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 1,750 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 2,205, Luxury USD 3,310 |
Why I built it this way
Most people who ask me for a trek and a safari also ask whether they can fit in some rafting. This is the answer. Day 1 is the Trishuli river, the classic first rafting trip in Nepal, on the way to the jungle. Then two nights in Chitwan, a drive to Pokhara, and the five-day Mardi Himal ridge trek with a flight back to Kathmandu.
It is the same trip as our Mardi Himal Trek with Chitwan Jungle Safari, 9 Days, with the rafting added on day 1. If you want rafting by itself, we run it as a one-day trip too. The rafting is Class II and III, so it is for beginners and families, and our rafting guide says it suits ages 10 and over. Day 1 is a long day, and I would rather say so now than surprise you at the river.
The mountain is the hard part. 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 something gentler, ask me about the Poon Hill version. Read White Water Rafting in Nepal: Rivers, Rapids, and Which Trip to Choose, Mardi Himal Trek: The Complete Guide to Itinerary, Cost, Permits and Difficulty and Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal: Which Short Trek Should You Choose? (2026/2027 Comparison) 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. 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, the rafting is best in October to December and March to May, and Mardi Himal is best in November, the second half of October and late March to April. November suits all three. One price applies all year.
Starting dates for 2027
This trip needs the river, the jungle and the ridge to agree, so the windows are narrower than for a plain trek. These are the ones I would pick for 2027. Festival dates are the expected ones from public calendars, and the government confirms them each year.
| Window in 2027 | What to expect | My advice |
|---|---|---|
| Late February to mid March 2027 | Clear on the ridge, cold at High Camp. The river is cold and low. | Possible, pack warm |
| Late March to April 2027 (Holi expected 22 to 23 March) | Rhododendron on the ridge. Chitwan is hot, up to 35 to 40 C by April. Good rafting weather. | Good |
| May 2027 | Hot low down, cloud and storms build on the ridge. Rafting season is ending. | Not my first choice |
| June to mid September 2027 | Monsoon. High river, flooded jungle trails, leeches and cloud on the ridge. | No |
| October 2027 (Dashain expected 6 to 10 October, Tihar expected 29 to 31 October) | Clear and lush, busy around the festivals. Book early. | Best from mid October, avoid the festival days |
| November 2027 | The best month for all three: clear ridge, comfortable jungle, good rafting. | Best |
| December 2027 | Clear and cold. Chitwan mornings are foggy. The river is cold. | Good, pack warm |
Tell me your dates and I will tell you what I know for that week. We check the river, the road and the weather before departure.
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 | Included, we issue it through our agency |
| Chitwan National Park entrance | NPR 2,000 per person per entry | 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. These prices hold for 2027.
| Group size | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 guest (solo) | USD 2,725 | USD 3,175 | USD 5,450 |
| 2 to 4 guests | USD 1,750 | USD 2,205 | USD 3,310 |
| 5 to 8 guests | USD 1,290 | USD 1,765 | USD 2,825 |
| 9 to 12 guests | USD 1,180 | USD 1,645 | USD 2,710 |
| 13 to 20 guests | USD 1,150 | USD 1,615 | USD 2,685 |
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 your Kathmandu hotel to Charaudi on the Trishuli river, raft, and then continue by road to Chitwan. 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. We check the road 48 hours before departure. If it 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.
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
- Quick-dry clothes and a change of dry clothes for the rafting day, and sandals that stay on your feet
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
- White Water Rafting in Nepal: Rivers, Rapids, and Which Trip to Choose
- Mardi Himal Trek: The Complete Guide to Itinerary, Cost, Permits and Difficulty
- Mardi Himal Best Time: Month by Month, With Rainfall and Sun Figures
- 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.
