Mardi Himal Trek: Self-Launched Independent Version

Land at Tribhuvan International Airport and take a prepaid taxi (~NPR 800-1,000 / £5-6) to your guesthouse in Thamel. Spend the afternoon getting oriented: pick up a local SIM (Ncell or NTC, ~£3-5 for a tourist data pack), buy a TIMS card and ACAP permit at the Nepal Tourism Board office (Exhibition Road) or at the TIMS counter, and draw cash — ATMs charge ~US$4 per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts. Stock up on last-minute gear in Thamel if needed (down jacket and sleeping bag rentals run ~£1-2/day). Evening acclimatisation stroll and dinner in Thamel.

🚌Airport prepaid taxi ~£5-6

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Thamel (dorm ~£6-10, private ~£12-18)

• →Arrival and Thamel orientation walk
• →Buy local SIM card
• →Arrange TIMS card and ACAP permit

DIY the same UNESCO sights the tour visits, using taxis or the local bus and walking between the Patan cluster. Start early at Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple) for valley views, then taxi to Patan Durbar Square with its Newari courtyards and Patan Museum (~NPR 1,000 entry). Afternoon at Pashupatinath for the riverside ghats and sadhus, then finish at Boudhanath for sunset kora (circumambulation) and a rooftop momo dinner. A single-entry ticket covers each site; if you want context, book a small-group walking tour on GetYourGuide rather than a private guide.

🚌Local taxis/ride-hailing between sites ~£6-10 total

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Thamel (dorm ~£6-10, private ~£12-18)

• →Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple)
• →Patan Durbar Square & Patan Museum
• →Pashupatinath Temple
• →Boudhanath Stupa sunset kora

Take the morning tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara (departs ~7am from Sorhakhutte/Kantipath, arrives ~7-8 hours later, ~NPR 1,500-2,000 / £9-12). Book at any Thamel travel agency a day ahead. Alternatively, the night bus or a domestic flight (~£80-100) cuts the journey. On arrival check into a Lakeside guesthouse, take a sunset stroll along Phewa Lake, and sort your trekking permits if you didn't already do so in Kathmandu. Buy a map and top up cash — there are no ATMs above the road head.

🚌Tourist bus Kathmandu–Pokhara ~£9-12

🛏Lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara (dorm ~£5-8, private ~£12-20)

• →Scenic tourist bus journey
• →Phewa Lake sunset walk
• →Final trek supplies and permit checks

Take a local bus or shared jeep from Pokhara's Baglung bus park to Kande (~1 hour, ~NPR 200-400 / £1-3). Start the climb through terraced fields and rhododendron forest to Australian Camp (~2,050m) for your first big Annapurna panorama, then continue via Pothana to Pitam Deurali. Teahouses are simple but comfortable; dinner is dal bhat and ginger tea. Expect 4-5 hours of walking.

🚌Local bus/shared jeep Pokhara–Kande ~£1-3

🛏Teahouse at Pitam Deurali (basic twin, ~£3-6)

• →Trek Kande to Pitam Deurali via Australian Camp and Pothana
• →Annapurna sunrise/sunset viewpoints

A shorter, steeper day climbing through mossy oak and rhododendron forest to Forest Camp, known locally as Kokar (~2,550m). The trail is quieter than the Annapurna Base Camp route and the birdlife is excellent. Walk ~4-5 hours, settle in early, and hydrate well as altitude starts to bite. Note that teahouse prices rise with elevation — menus are fixed by the lodge association.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse at Kokar/Forest Camp (basic twin, ~£3-6)

• →Forest trek to Kokar (Forest Camp)
• →Birdwatching and rhododendron forest walk

Climb out of the treeline to Low Camp (~2,970m), then continue along the ridge through Badal Danda with the first clear views of Mt. Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and the Annapurna range. Push on to High Camp (~3,580m) where the accommodation is sparser and colder — book a room the moment you arrive as beds are limited in peak season. ~5-6 hours walking. Go to bed early for the pre-dawn summit push.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse at High Camp (basic twin, ~£4-8)

• →Trek to High Camp via Low Camp and Badal Danda
• →Views of Mt. Fishtail (Machhapuchhre) and Annapurna South

Leave before dawn with a headtorch for the 2-3 hour climb to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m). Arrive for sunrise over Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli — the highlight of the whole trek. There's no teahouse at Base Camp, so carry water and snacks. After the views, descend the same trail back down to Low Camp (~3,000m), a long but satisfying day of ~7-8 hours. Watch for altitude symptoms on the way up.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse at Low Camp (basic twin, ~£3-6)

• →Sunrise hike to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m)
• →Descent to Low Camp

Trek downhill through forest and terraced farmland to Sidding village (~1,700m), then either walk a further hour to the road or take a shared jeep to the highway. From there, catch a local bus or shared jeep back to Pokhara (~2-3 hours). Back at Lakeside, treat yourself to a hot shower and a proper meal — the trekking is done. ~4-5 hours of walking plus the transfer.

🚌Shared jeep Sidding to highway ~£2-4, then local bus to Pokhara ~£1-3

🛏Lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara (dorm ~£5-8, private ~£12-20)

• →Trek down to Sidding village
• →Return transfer to Pokhara
• →Lakeside evening in Pokhara

Return to Kathmandu by tourist bus (~7-8 hours, ~£9-12) or take the optional 25-minute domestic flight (~£80-100) if you want the extra day in the city. Back in Thamel, you have the afternoon free for last-minute souvenir shopping (pashminas, singing bowls, trekking gear) and a farewell dinner. Book your onward airport transfer for the morning.

🚌Tourist bus Pokhara–Kathmandu ~£9-12 (or optional flight ~£80-100)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Thamel (dorm ~£6-10, private ~£12-18)

• →Return journey to Kathmandu
• →Free afternoon in Thamel
• →Souvenir shopping

Final breakfast and a relaxed morning before heading to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight home. Allow 3 hours for international check-in and the taxi ride (~£5-6, allow extra time for traffic in the morning rush).

🚌Taxi to airport ~£5-6

🛏N/A (departure day)

• →Departure from Kathmandu