A good Mardi Himal trek begins long before you step off the jeep at Kande. The people who have the best experiences on the trail are almost always the ones who prepared well: they trained their legs, packed the right layers, sorted their insurance, and arrived in Pokhara rested and ready. Preparation does not need to be complicated, but it does need to start early enough.
This guide sets out a practical preparation timeline, from about three months before your trek to the morning you start walking. Use it as a plan, adapt it to your situation, and tick things off as you go. For a printable version of the essentials, see our Mardi Himal checklist.
Step 1: Decide When to Go
Your season shapes everything else: what you pack, how you train, how busy the lodges are and how clear the views will be. Autumn, from late September to November, is the most popular time, with clear skies and stable weather. Spring, from March to May, brings rhododendrons and warmer days but more afternoon cloud. Winter is quiet and clear but cold, with ice above High Camp. The monsoon, from June to August, is wet, with limited views.
If this is your first trek, autumn or spring is the safest choice. Read the best time for the Mardi Himal Trek and our month-by-month guides, such as Mardi Himal in October, before you decide.
Step 2: Choose Your Itinerary
Next, decide how many days you have and where you will start. Our four itineraries cover most situations:
- The 9-day Mardi Himal Trek from Kathmandu for first-time visitors who want everything arranged.
- The 7-day trek with a direct international flight to Pokhara, for travelers who can fly straight there.
- The 5-day trek from Pokhara for those already in Pokhara or arranging their own travel there.
- The 3-day Short Mardi Himal Trek for fit, experienced trekkers with very little time.
Our comparison of which Mardi Himal trek is right for you helps you choose, and the day-by-day itinerary guide explains how each version works.
Three Months Before: Book and Start Training
Book Your Trek and Flights
For October and November, booking two to three months ahead secures your preferred dates and gives your agency time to reserve lodges. For quieter months, a few weeks is usually enough, but booking early still helps with flights. When you book, check what is included: permits, guide, porter, transport, accommodation and meals. See what's included in a Mardi Himal package and when to book.
Start Training
Fitness takes the longest to build, so start now. Begin with regular brisk walks, stair climbing and a weekly longer hike, and add leg-strength exercises twice a week. If you are starting from a low level, a 12-week plan gives you time to build gradually without injury. Our fitness guide and 12-week training plan set out exactly what to do.
Check Your Passport
Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates and have blank pages for your Nepal visa. If you need to renew it, start now. Check whether your nationality can get a visa on arrival or needs to apply in advance. See our Nepal visa guide.
Two Months Before: Health, Insurance and Gear
Visit a Travel Health Clinic
Book an appointment with a doctor or travel clinic six to eight weeks before departure. Discuss routine vaccinations and any recommended for Nepal, your fitness for altitude, any medical conditions, and whether you should carry medication such as acetazolamide for altitude sickness. If you have heart, lung or blood pressure conditions, this conversation is essential. See our pre-trek medical checklist and vaccinations and health prep.
Buy Travel Insurance
Buy a policy that covers trekking up to at least 4,500 meters, emergency helicopter evacuation, medical treatment and trip cancellation. Read the altitude limit and exclusions carefully. Buy it soon after booking so cancellation cover protects you if something changes. See our travel insurance guide.
Start Gathering Gear
Go through the packing list and note what you already have, what you need to buy, and what you plan to rent in Pokhara. Buy boots now if you need them, so you have time to break them in. Test your daypack on training hikes. Decide whether to bring or rent a sleeping bag and down jacket; see renting gear in Pokhara.
One Month Before: Build Up and Test
Peak Training
This is your hardest training month. Aim for weekend hikes of five to six hours with significant ascent and descent, wearing your boots and carrying your daypack. Try at least one weekend with long hikes on consecutive days to simulate trekking. Practise walking downhill with trekking poles.
Test Everything
Use your training hikes to test every piece of gear: boots, socks, layers, rain jacket, daypack, water bottles and headlamp. Fix hot spots and blisters now rather than on the trail. Check that your sleeping bag is warm enough by reading its comfort rating, not its extreme rating.
Send Documents to Your Agency
Your trekking agency needs a passport scan, photo and insurance details to arrange permits. Send them early so there is time to fix any problems. See documents for Mardi Himal permits.
Two Weeks Before: Final Preparations
- Taper your training. Reduce volume so you arrive fresh.
- Finalise your packing. Pack once, weigh it, and remove what you do not need.
- Prepare a first aid kit. Include blister care, painkillers, rehydration salts and any prescribed medication. See our first aid kit guide.
- Arrange money. Tell your bank you are travelling, and bring a card that works in Nepali ATMs plus some cash in a major currency as backup. See ATMs and money for the trek.
- Download offline maps and apps. See offline maps and GPS apps.
- Save emergency numbers. Agency, insurer, embassy and a contact at home.
- Share your itinerary with family or friends.
The Week Before: Rest and Check
In the final week, keep active with light walks but avoid anything that could cause injury. Sleep well, eat well and stay hydrated. Check the weather forecast and seasonal conditions, and confirm arrival details with your agency. If you catch a cold, rest and give yourself time to recover. Pack your hand luggage with essentials, including your boots if you are worried about checked luggage going missing.
Arriving in Nepal
If you arrive in Kathmandu, give yourself at least one full day before heading to Pokhara, especially after a long-haul flight. Use it to recover from jet lag, walk around, and pick up any last items in Thamel. See arriving at Kathmandu airport and beating jet lag. If you fly directly to Pokhara, rest on arrival day and use the afternoon for gear and briefing.
The Day Before the Trek in Pokhara
Your last day in Pokhara is for final checks:
- Attend the pre-trek briefing with your guide, who will explain the route, check your gear and answer questions.
- Rent any missing items such as a sleeping bag, down jacket or trekking poles.
- Withdraw enough Nepali rupees for the trek, as there are no ATMs on the trail.
- Buy snacks, which are cheaper in Pokhara than on the trail.
- Pack your duffel for the porter and your daypack for the trail.
- Leave spare luggage at your hotel.
- Eat a good dinner and go to bed early.
See your arrival day in Pokhara for more.
If You Only Have Four Weeks
Not everyone plans three months ahead. If your trek is only a month away, you can still prepare well by focusing on what matters most. Book immediately, buy insurance the same day, and send your documents to your agency. Train four or five times a week, prioritising hikes with a daypack and stair or incline sessions, and add two short leg-strength sessions. Wear your boots on every walk. Rent bulky gear in Pokhara rather than hunting for it at home. If you are starting from a low fitness level, choose a longer, gentler itinerary such as the 9-day version and accept that the climbs will feel hard. See our 4-week training plan.
Preparing as a Solo Traveler
If you are travelling alone, a few extra steps help. Choose an agency with strong reviews and clear communication, and ask whether you will trek privately or join a group. Share your full itinerary, agency contacts and insurance details with someone at home, and agree when you will check in. Keep digital copies of all documents in your email and on your phone. Solo trekkers often enjoy the trek most when they join a small group, which also reduces costs. See Mardi Himal for solo travelers.
Preparing for the Base Camp Morning
The pre-dawn hike from High Camp is the hardest and most rewarding part of the trek, so it deserves specific preparation. Make sure your headlamp is bright and you have spare batteries. Bring warm gloves, a hat, a buff and your down jacket, as the first two hours are the coldest of the trek. Practise one or two early-morning starts during training so a 4 a.m. alarm does not come as a shock. On the evening before, lay out your clothes, fill your water bottles with hot water and pack snacks, so you can leave quickly and calmly. See the night before summit day.
What to Leave Behind
Almost every hotel in Pokhara and Kathmandu stores luggage for trekkers. Leave behind anything you do not need on the trail: city clothes, spare shoes, laptops, extra toiletries, souvenirs and valuables. Lock the bag and get a receipt or note from the hotel. Travelling light on the trail makes the climbs easier and saves your porter's back.
Mental Preparation
Preparing your mind is as important as preparing your body. Expect basic facilities, cold nights and a hard pre-dawn climb. Accept that weather might hide the mountains on some days. Decide in advance that turning back at the Upper View Point is a perfectly good outcome if conditions or your body say so. A flexible, patient mindset makes every part of the trek more enjoyable. Read mental preparation for the Mardi Himal Trek.
Learning a Little About Nepal
A little cultural knowledge goes a long way. Learn a few Nepali phrases, such as namaste for hello and dhanyabad for thank you. Read about Gurung culture, the people whose villages you pass through. Understand basic etiquette, such as walking clockwise around Buddhist shrines and asking before photographing people. Our guides to useful Nepali phrases and cultural dos and don'ts are a good start.
Preparing for the Trip Home
Preparation also means planning the end of the trek. Keep at least one spare day between finishing the trek and your international flight, in case of weather or road delays on the way back from Siding. Plan something relaxing for that day in Pokhara or Kathmandu, and think about how you will get your laundry done and repack your bags. See things to do in Pokhara after the trek.
Budgeting for the Trip
Beyond the trek price, budget for international flights, visa fees, insurance, gear, meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara, snacks and extras on the trail, tips for your guide and porter, and souvenirs. A clear budget prevents surprises. See our cost guide and hidden costs of the trek.
Common Preparation Mistakes
- Starting training too late.
- Buying boots a week before the trek.
- Insurance that does not cover 4,500 meters.
- Arriving in Pokhara the same day the trek starts.
- Booking the flight home for the day you finish.
- Packing too much.
- Not carrying enough cash.
Our guide to mistakes to avoid covers more pitfalls.
Ready to Start?
With good preparation, the Mardi Himal Trek becomes what it should be: a few days of beautiful walking, warm tea houses and unforgettable mountain mornings. When you book with us, we send a detailed pre-departure guide, answer your questions along the way, and meet you in Pokhara for a full briefing before you start. Explore the 9-day Mardi Himal Trek or the 5-day trek from Pokhara, or contact us to start planning.