All set for your Mardi Himal trek but still confused about how to reach the starting point? I’m glad you’ve landed on my site.
There are actually multiple starting points for this trek.
- Kande: The most popular.
- Pittam Deurali: The one I chose.
- Kalimati: Best for a short Mardi trek.
- Sidhing: Short but a little strenuous for the trek.
And the good news is you can get a shared or reserved vehicle to each of these locations. Their cost varies accordingly, and each place is just about 30 km away from Pokhara.
Yes, you heard that right! To find transportation to Mardi Himal Trek, you first need to reach Pokhara. But if you’re from Kathmandu and willing to start from Kande, a direct bus is also available.
Let me share all the possible ways to reach each of these places.
Pokhara to Pittam Deurali on Van/Jeep/Bus (Best Choice)
| Route | Pokhara > Ghatte Khola > Dhampus > Pothana > Pittam Deurali |
| Vehicle | Bus / Reserved Jeep / Shared Van to Dhampus + Jeep |
| Available From | Hari Chowk |
| Distance | 28 km |
| Time (approx.) | 2 to 2.5 hours |
| Road Condition | Blacktopped up to Ghatte Khola, Gravelled up to Dhampus, Earthen up to Pittam Deurali |
| Motorcycle Last Point | Pittam Deurali |
| Expected Fare (per person) | NPR 1500 (van + jeep), NPR 400 (bus) |
When I did the Mardi Himal Base Camp trek, I completed it in 4 days from Kathmandu. And this was what I opted for:
- Kathmandu to Pokhara on a passenger van a day prior (from Kalanki).
- Pokhara to Dhampus on a shared passenger van (from Hari Chowk).
- Dhampus to Pittam Deurali on a private jeep.
The exact cost varies depending on the season and availability. For me, it cost around NPR 2,000 to reach Pittam Deurali from Kathmandu.
But my story has a twist. We had actually found a Pritam Deurali to Pokhara bus a day prior. While we were promised guaranteed seats, the bus decided not to go. This shows how unreliable the service was and probably is the same even now.
Remember that you should also consider road conditions. In severe cases, the vehicles only reach up to Pothana or Dhampus, and you’ll have to start the hike from there itself.
And for those coming from Kathmandu to Pokhara, there are multiple options other than a day passenger van:
- Night Bus to Pokhara (expect to reach around 3 or 4 AM).
- Day Bus to Pokhara a day prior (many prefer this, considering safety and comfort).
- Evening passenger van to Pokhara (reach at midnight; I prefer this over a night bus journey as you get to sleep comfortably in a hotel).
Kathmandu to Kande Bus: Opt For a Night Journey!
| Route | Katthmandu > Pokhara > Kande |
| Vehicle | Bus |
| Available From | Gongabu Buspark / Kalanki |
| Distance | 230 km |
| Time (approx.) | 7 to 8 hours |
| Road Condition | Mostly blacktopped (but varies) |
| Motorcycle Last Point | Goldanda |
| Expected Fare (per person) | NPR 900 to 1500 (varies based on bus service provider) |
Those of you willing to start your hike from the original starting point of Kande, you can directly get a bus from Kathmandu. While both day and night shifts are available, I suggest choosing the latter so that you can start the trek immediately in the morning.
Just note that Kande is in the Kaski district, on the way to Parbat on the Pokhara–Baglung Highway. So, even though there are no dedicated buses, you just have to get on one that’s going to Kusma, Beni, or Baglung.
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Pokhara to Kande: Most Popular Option
| Route | Pokhara > Dhikur Pokhari > Paudurkot > Kande |
| Vehicle | Bus / Taxi / Jeep |
| Available From | Hari Chowk |
| Distance | 30 km |
| Time (approx.) | 1 hour |
| Road Condition | Blacktopped up to Ghatte Khola, Gravelled up to Dhampus, Earthen up to Pittam Deurali |
| Motorcycle Last Point | Goldanda |
| Expected Fare | NPR 100 (bus), NPR 1000 to 1200 (taxi) |
Those of you already in Pokhara or those who have plans to spend one day or two here before starting the Mardi Himal trek, you can definitely start from Kande. My suggestion would still be to opt for Kalimati or Pittam Deurali to reduce the number of trekking days in the forest.
Choosing Kande has one advantage for sure. You get to visit Australian Camp for lunch. But comparatively, it takes a little more time to reach Forest Camp.
Kande is just 30 km away from Pokhara, which takes less than an hour to reach. You can opt for either a bus or a private taxi, both easily available from Hari Chowk.
Pokhara to Kalimati: Very Few Know About This!
| Route | Pokhara > Milan Chowk > Lumre > Kalimati |
| Vehicle | Reserved Jeep |
| Available From | Baglung Bus Park |
| Distance | 31 km |
| Time (approx.) | 2 hours |
| Road Condition | Blacktopped up to Lumre, Earthen up to Kalimati |
| Motorcycle Last Point | Kalimati |
| Expected Fare (reserved jeep) | NPR 5000 to NPR 7000 |
To those of you who wish to do the trek in just 2 to 3 days, you could even go higher up to a place named Kalimati.
Jeeps can reach up to here only in dry seasons, though. And Forest Camp is just 2 to 3 hours away from Kalimati.
Meaning, expert trekkers can actually reach High Camp on Day 1 itself. However, I recommend staying in Low Camp or Badal Danda for altitude reasons.
Important. While I’m speaking on completing the trek fast, that’d be a bad approach for those who have never acclimated to such high altitudes. So, for utmost safety, kindly allocate at least 5 or more days and go as slow as you can.
Pokhara to Sidhing: Not Really Recommended
| Route | Pokhara > Milan Chowk > Lumre > Sidhing |
| Vehicle | Reserved Jeep |
| Available From | Baglung Bus Park |
| Distance | 31 km |
| Time (approx.) | 2 to 2.5 hours |
| Motorcycle Last Point | Bhimjung |
| Expected Fare (reserved jeep) | NPR 6000 to NPR 8000 |
Some local trekkers prefer the route via Sidhing (even further from Kalimati). Although short compared to our original route, it features more uphill and dense forest trails.
If you have a good pace, you can reach Low Camp within 6 to 8 hours. But from my own experience, I would rather advise this route for the return as it’s more optimal.
Returning From Mardi Himal Trek
The best Mardi Himal trek route starts off from Kande or Pittam Deurali and ends in Sidhing village. Why I recommend this itinerary for all 3 to 8 days Mardi Trek is that you can find jeeps available in Sidhing until dark (cost can go high in the evening).
During peak seasons, kindly do pre-book your jeeps or you may end up spending an extra night in Sidhing. It almost happened to us, but thankfully, we were eight of us and one of the jeep drivers was willing to go.
Those doing the Sidhing to Kande Mardi route, finding transportation on return becomes even more feasible. You could get a public bus, hire a taxi, or even find a motorcycle ride on a ride-sharing application.
And by chance you come back to Pittam Deurali or Kalimati, be sure to get a driver’s number beforehand.
Bonus Tip: Things to Carry on a Jeep Ride
Whether it’s a long bus drive or a short jeep ride, carrying a few essential items can make your travel much more hassle-free. I’m going to share some of the things I usually carry and personally recommend too:
| Item | Recommended Products (with good reviews) | Description | |
| Amazon | Daraz | ||
| Small Daypack | Lightweight Hydration Backpack with 2L Water Bladder | Handmade Natural Hemp Nepal Backpack | Great to keep your water bottle, phone, power bank, make-up items (for ladies), and more. Also useful during your day hikes, including the base camp hike. |
| Power Bank | Anker MagGo Power Bank 10,000mAh, 15W Ultra-Fast MagSafe | X-AGE ConvE Powerbank, 20000Mah | Most local vehicles do not have a charging dock supported. So, in case you run out of power, this will be super useful! Even comes in handy during the Mardi Himal Trek since most places only have solar charging. |
| Neck Pillow | Wolf Essentials Soft Microfiber Neck Pillow for Travel | Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow | Prevents neck discomfort during long bus drives and bumpy jeep rides. A life-saver if you have TMJ or stiff neck issues. |
| Earbuds (avoid speakers) | JBL Tune Flex Noise Cancelling | boAt Airdopes 91 Prime (45 hours playback!) | Long bus/jeep rides without music can be boring. To match your vibe, be sure to carry this in your pocket! |
Final Words
Hope you’ve got the idea to find transportation to Mardi Himal Trek. It’s not that much of a hassle at all.
To sum up, just reach Pokhara a day prior. Early morning, head to Hari Chowk. Here, you’ll find jeeps, vans, and buses that go to Dhampus, Pittam Deurali, Pothana, Kande, and probably even Kalimati and Sidhing.
Remember, Travel Nepal Today is always ready to help. So, if you have any confusion, there’s a comment section below to pen down your queries.
Happy travelling to Kaski!
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