Mardi Himal Trek Transportation Guide | How to Get There by Bus, Jeep, and Flight

30 Jul 2026

If you are planning a trip to Nepal and want incredible Himalayan views without spending three weeks on the trail, the Mardi Himal Trek is an absolute jackpot. You get jaw-dropping, eye-level views of Mount Machhapuchhre (the Fishtail Peak) and the Annapurna range in just 4 to 6 days, which perfectly answers the common question of how long is the Mardi Himal trek. But before you can lace up your hiking boots and hit the forest paths, you have to solve one practical problem: how exactly do you get to the trailhead, and how do you get back once you’re done?

Let’s be honest navigating mountain roads, bustling bus stations, and local jeep schedules in Nepal can feel overwhelming if it’s your first time. Over the last 12 years of trekking across the Annapurna region, I’ve tried just about every transportation option out there: bumpy local buses, VIP tourist buses, scenic flights, and dusty off-road jeeps.

In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through every step of the journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara, up to the starting points at Kande or Phedi, and back down from Siding Village. You’ll get exact prices, real travel times, honest pros and cons, and practical tips so you can plan your ride with total confidence.

How do you get to the Mardi Himal Trek?

First, travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara by tourist bus ($8–$25 USD, 7–9 hours) or a quick domestic flight ($80–$150 USD, 25 minutes). From Pokhara, take a local bus ($1.50–$3.00 USD) or a shared/private jeep ($5–$30 USD) to Kande (1 to 1.5 hours), the most popular starting trailhead. When you finish your trek at Siding Village, take a private off-road jeep ($70–$100 USD total per vehicle) or a shared jeep ($5–$9 USD per person) back down to Pokhara.

Complete Transportation Cost & Time Cheat Sheet

To help you budget and plan your itinerary, here is a quick-reference table of up-to-date travel costs and durations for every leg of the Mardi Himal journey:

Route	Vehicle Type	Estimated Cost (USD)	Estimated Cost (NPR)	Travel Time	Key Departure Notes
Kathmandu to Pokhara	Tourist Bus	$8 – $25	1,000 – 3,300	7 – 9 hours	Leaves daily at 7:00 AM from Sorakhutte Bus Park.
Kathmandu to Pokhara	Private Car / Jeep	$100 – $150	13,500 – 20,000	6 – 7 hours	Flexible departures; hotel pickup & drop-off included.
Kathmandu to Pokhara	Domestic Flight	$80 – $150	10,500 – 20,000	25 – 30 mins	Quickest option; sit on the right side for mountain views.
Pokhara to Kande (Top Start)	Local Bus	$1.50 – $3.00	200 – 400	1 – 1.5 hours	Frequent departures all day from Baglung Bus Park.
Pokhara to Kande	Shared Jeep / Taxi	$5 – $9 (Shared)$20 – $30 (Taxi)	650 – 1,200 (Shared)2,500 – 4,000 (Taxi)	45 mins – 1 hour	Faster, direct, and much more comfortable than the bus.
Pokhara to Phedi (Fast Start)	Local Bus / Taxi	$1 – $2 (Bus)$15 – $20 (Taxi)	150 – 250 (Bus)2,000 – 2,700 (Taxi)	35 – 45 mins	Phedi begins immediately with a steep stone stair climb.
Pokhara to Landruk (Off-Road)	Jeep / Local Bus	$8 – $10 (Shared)$50 – $60 (Private)	1,000 – 1,300 (Shared)6,500 – 8,000 (Private)	2 – 3 hours	Skips the first day of hiking; bumpy dirt road.
Siding to Pokhara (Return)	Shared Jeep / Bus	$5 – $9	650 – 1,200	3 – 4 hours	Leaves when full; less frequent after 2:00 PM.
Siding to Pokhara (Return)	Private Jeep	$70 – $100	9,500 – 13,500	2.5 – 3 hours	Holds 6–7 passengers; picks you up right at the trail end.

Step 1: Getting from Kathmandu to Pokhara (The Gateway City)

Every trek in the Annapurna region begins in Pokhara, a relaxed lakeside city located about 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of Kathmandu. Because international flights land in Kathmandu, your very first step is making the journey across the central hills to Pokhara. You have three reliable choices, depending on your budget, comfort level, and how much time you have.

Option 1: Tourist Bus (Best for Budget Travelers)

For solo backpackers and budget-conscious trekkers, the tourist bus is by far the most popular choice. It strikes a great balance between affordability, safety, and scenic road travel.

Departure Point: All tourist buses leave from Sorakhutte Bus Park in Kathmandu (just a 10-minute walk from Thamel).
Departure Time: Buses depart promptly at 7:00 AM every morning. You should arrive by 6:30 AM to load your luggage and find your seat.
Travel Time: Expect the trip to take around 7 to 9 hours. While the distance isn’t long on a map, winding mountain highways, ongoing road construction along the Prithvi Highway, and two scheduled rest stops (one for breakfast and one for lunch) stretch the day out.
Cost: Standard tourist buses cost between $8 and $12 USD (NPR 1,000 to 1,500). If you want a more comfortable ride, you can book a “Deluxe VIP Sofa Bus” with extra legroom, air conditioning, air-suspension, and bottled water for $20 to $25 USD (NPR 2,500 to 3,300).

My Expert Take: If you aren’t in a rush, taking the tourist bus is a wonderful way to see the real Nepal. You’ll roll past deep river gorges, terraced farmland, and bustling roadside villages. Just be sure to pack some motion-sickness tablets if you’re sensitive to twisty mountain roads!

Option 2: Domestic Flight (Fastest and Easiest)

If you have a short vacation window or simply want to skip a full day of driving on winding highways, flying is the way to go. This is a key part of the Mardi Himal trek route from Kathmandu.

Route: Flights depart regularly throughout the day from Tribhuvan Domestic Airport in Kathmandu and land at the Pokhara Regional International Airport.
Travel Time: The time in the air is only 25 to 30 minutes. Including airport check-in and luggage retrieval, you can eat breakfast in Kathmandu and be relaxing by Phewa Lake in Pokhara before noon.
Cost: One-way tickets for foreign travelers generally cost between $80 and $150 USD (NPR 10,500 to 20,000) depending on the season and how early you book. Major domestic carriers include Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, and Shree Airlines.

My Insider Pro Tip: When checking in for your flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, always request a seat on the right side of the airplane (and the left side when flying back). As the plane cruises above the clouds, you will be treated to one of the most magnificent aerial views on earth: an unbroken panorama of the Langtang, Manaslu, and Annapurna mountain ranges!

Option 3: Private Car or Jeep (Best for Groups and Families)

If you are traveling with a group of friends, your family, or plenty of heavy luggage, hiring a private vehicle offers the ultimate convenience and flexibility.

Travel Time: Around 6 to 7 hours, as private drivers can move slightly faster through highway traffic and don’t need to wait for dozens of passengers at meal stops.
Cost: Hiring a private air-conditioned car costs around $100 to $120 USD, while a larger SUV or 4WD jeep costs between $130 and $150 USD total. When split among four or five passengers, the price per person is surprisingly close to a VIP tourist bus ticket!
Key Benefit: You set your own schedule. You don’t have to wake up at dawn for a 7:00 AM bus departure, your driver picks you up directly at your Thamel hotel, and you can stop for photos or bathroom breaks whenever you like.

Step 2: Pokhara to the Mardi Himal Trek Starting Points

Once you arrive in Pokhara and organize your trekking gear, it’s time to head to the actual trailhead. Unlike longer treks where you have only one entrance option, the Mardi Himal Trek offers three distinct starting points: Kande, Phedi, and Landruk. Here is how to get to each one and how to pick the right route for your legs.If you are still deciding between regions, you might want to check out which is better Mardi Himal or ABC trek, to compare the logistics.

Route 1: Pokhara to Kande (The Most Popular Start Point)

If you ask any experienced trekking guide where to start the Mardi Himal Trek, 9 out of 10 will tell you to start at Kande (elevation 1,770 meters). Why? Because Kande gives you a gentle, steady ascent up through lovely oak and rhododendron forests to Australian Camp and Pothana, allowing your body to warm up without destroying your knees on day one, making it ideal if you are wondering is Mardi Himal trek for beginners.

Local Bus Option: Head to the Baglung Bus Park in northern Pokhara. Local buses running toward Kande and Nayapul depart continuously throughout the day. A ticket costs just $1.50 to $3.00 USD (NPR 200 to 400) per person, and the ride takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. The bus will drop you off right at the highway curve where the stone trail to Kande begins.
Shared Jeep / Private Taxi Option: If you don’t want to navigate the local bus station with heavy packs, you can grab a shared jeep or hail a private taxi directly from your hotel in Pokhara Lakeside. A shared jeep runs about $5 to $9 USD per person, while a private taxi costs between $20 and $30 USD (NPR 2,500 to 4,000) total for the cab. A private taxi gets you to the Kande trailhead in just 45 to 60 minutes.

Route 2: Pokhara to Phedi (The Shortest Drive)

Phedi (elevation 1,130 meters) is geographically the closest starting point to Pokhara Lakeside, located just at the base of the hills along the Baglung Highway.

Travel Time & Cost: You can reach Phedi in 35 to 45 minutes. A local bus from Baglung Bus Park costs $1 to $2 USD (NPR 150 to 250), while a private taxi from Lakeside costs around $15 to $20 USD (NPR 2,000 to 2,700).
Crucial Warning for Trekkers: While Phedi saves you 15 minutes of driving, it greets you with a brutal, steep climb of nearly 2,000 stone steps right out of the vehicle! Climbing straight up from Phedi to Dhampus village under the morning sun can be exhausting for beginners. Unless you are training for endurance or love steep staircases, start at Kande instead for a much more pleasant first day.

Route 3: Pokhara to Landruk or Dhampus (Off-Road Jeep Start)

If your vacation days are tight and you want to bypass the lower village trails entirely to get into the higher alpine forests on day one, you can take an off-road jeep directly from Pokhara up to higher trailheads like Dhampus or Landruk (1,565 meters).

Travel Time & Cost: This drive takes about 2 to 3 hours because once you leave the paved highway, the road turns into a bumpy, rocky dirt track that winds up the mountainside. A seat in a shared jeep or rural bus costs $8 to $10 USD (NPR 1,000 to 1,300), while hiring a private 4WD jeep for your group costs $50 to $60 USD (NPR 6,500 to 8,000).
Who Is This For? Trekkers on a compressed 3-days or 4-days Mardi Himal express itinerary often take a jeep straight to Landruk or Forest Camp (via Forest Camp road access points) to save 5 to 6 hours of lower-altitude walking.

Step 3: Getting Back from the Trek (The Return Journey)

Reaching the upper viewpoint, sitting just below the altitude at 4,200 meters, is an unforgettable triumph. But once you’ve taken your summit photos and descended back into the tree line, you need a smooth plan for getting back to hot showers and pizza in Pokhara!

Almost all standard Mardi Himal itineraries finish by descending along a ridge branch down to the picturesque Gurung settlement of Siding Village (elevation 1,700 meters) or slightly lower at Lumle/Lumre. Here is how to handle your return transport.

Option 1: Siding Village to Pokhara by Jeep (The Standard End)

When you hike down to Siding Village on your final day, you will arrive at a small rustic jeep terminal where rural mountain roads meet the trail. From here, jeep transportation is your main gateway back to civilization.

Private Jeep (The Most Reliable Choice): Hiring a private 4WD jeep right at Siding is the most comfortable and convenient option, especially after several days of hard hiking. A private jeep costs around $70 to $100 USD (NPR 9,500 to 13,500) total and comfortably fits up to 6 or 7 passengers with backpacks. The drive back to Pokhara Lakeside takes about 2.5 to 3.5 hours. If you are trekking with a group or make friends at the teahouse the night before, splitting a private jeep comes out to just $12 to $15 per person!
Shared Jeep or Rural Bus: If you are trekking solo and on a strict budget, you can grab a seat in a local shared jeep leaving from Siding for $5 to $9 USD (NPR 650 to 1,200).
Important Timing Advice: Shared jeeps only depart when every single seat is full, which means you might wait anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Furthermore, local shared vehicles become very scarce in the late afternoon. Always aim to arrive in Siding Village before 2:00 PM to ensure you catch a shared ride down before dusk.

Option 2: Walking Down to Lumle / Lumre (For Budget Trekkers)

If you arrive in Siding late in the afternoon, or if shared jeeps aren’t available and a private vehicle stretches your budget, you have a solid backup option: continue walking downhill.

The Route: From Siding Village, follow the rural dirt road and footpath downhill for another 2 to 3 hours alongside the Mardi River until you reach the bustling roadside market town of Lumle (often spelled Lumre) on the paved highway.
The Ride: Because Lumle sits directly on the main Baglung-Pokhara highway, public buses and passing shared vans run toward Pokhara every 15 to 20 minutes right until dusk. A bus ticket from Lumle to Pokhara costs just $2 to $4 USD (NPR 250 to 500), making it a reliable and dirt-cheap way to finish your trek.

Essential Permits You Must Buy Before Taking the Bus

Before you board a bus or taxi toward Kande or Phedi, there is one critical detail you cannot overlook: trekking permits. The Mardi Himal Trek sits inside the protected Annapurna Sanctuary region, and local police and park rangers operate strict vehicle checkpoints along the road at Kande, Dhampus, and Pothana. If you arrive at a checkpoint without permits, you will be turned back or forced to pay double penalty fees on the spot!

You must secure two official documents before leaving Kathmandu or Pokhara:

ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit): This permit funds trail maintenance and environmental conservation across the Annapurna range. It costs NPR 3,000 (about $22 USD) for foreign tourists (and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals).
TIMS Card (Trekkers’ Information Management System): This digital tracking card ensures your safety and registers your entry and exit from the mountain zone. It costs NPR 2,000 (about $15 USD).
Where to Buy Them: You can purchase both permits in person at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) offices located in either Kathmandu (Bhrikutimandap) or Pokhara (near Damside, 15 minutes from Lakeside). If you hire a licensed trekking guide or book through an agency, they will handle all permit paperwork for you before your departure.

5 Smart Transportation Tips for a Smooth Trip

After more than a decade of navigating Nepal’s mountain transport systems, I’ve learned that a little foresight saves hours of frustration. Here are five expert tips to make your Mardi Himal travel days effortless:

1. Check Monsoon Road Conditions (June to August)

If you are trekking during the summer monsoon months, weather changes everything. Heavy rainfall quickly turns unpaved dirt tracks above Phedi and around Siding Village into deep, slippery mud. Local buses frequently stop running on rural roads during heavy rains, and even 4WD jeeps can get bogged down. During monsoon or post-monsoon repairs, expect the drive from Siding back to Pokhara to take 4 to 5 hours instead of 3, and always have a flexible backup day before any international flights, especially if you are reading the Mardi Himal trek off-season guide or planning a Mardi Himal trek in winter.

2. Book Peak Season Rides at Least One Day Ahead

The Mardi Himal trail experiences two major peak trekking seasons: Spring (March to May) when rhododendrons bloom in vibrant reds and pinks, and Autumn (September to November) when mountain skies are crystal clear, which is widely considered the best time for Mardi Himal trek. During these peak months, tourist buses between Kathmandu and Pokhara and private jeep drivers in Siding book up very quickly. Secure your Kathmandu bus or flight tickets at least 24 to 48 hours in advance so you aren’t stuck with undesirable rear-axle seats on a crowded local bus.

3. Store Extra Luggage in Pokhara for Free

Do not make the mistake of hauling rolling suitcases or heavy city backpacks up to Kande! You only need a light trekking backpack (30 to 45 liters) containing your hiking layers, water bottles, and toiletries for the 4-day loop. Almost every hotel, guesthouse, and hostel in Pokhara Lakeside offers secure luggage storage for free (or for a nominal $1/day fee) while you are out on the trek. Drop off your city clothes and travel gear in a locked storage room, grab your claim tag, and travel light to the mountains.

4. Always Carry Small Nepali Rupee Notes

While hotels and fancy restaurants in Pokhara accept credit cards, mountain jeep drivers, local bus conductors, and roadside tea shops operate 100% on cash. Furthermore, bus drivers often do not have exact change if you try to pay a NPR 300 bus fare with a crisp NPR 1,000 note! Before you leave Pokhara, visit an ATM and break larger bills into smaller denominations (100, 200, and 500 NPR notes). Having exact change handy will make paying for shared jeeps and local transport totally stress-free.

5. Get Your Jeep Driver’s Phone Number and WhatsApp

If you arrange a private jeep or taxi from Pokhara to drop you off at Kande, ask the driver if they are willing to pick you up at Siding Village four days later. If they say yes, save their cell phone number and WhatsApp contact immediately before hitting the trail. If you are deciding between Mardi Himal trek solo vs guided options, having a direct driver contact is crucial for independent hikers. While cell coverage can be patchy up at High Camp, you will catch strong Ncell or Nepal Telecom cellular signals once you descend into Siding Village. Sending your driver a quick WhatsApp message on the morning of your descent ensures your ride is waiting for you at the trail terminal when your legs are tired!

Final Thoughts: Ready for the Mountains!

Getting to the Mardi Himal Trek doesn’t need to be stressful. By taking the morning tourist bus or a quick flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, grabbing a comfortable taxi to Kande, and budgeting for a shared or private jeep out of Siding Village, your logistics will run like clockwork.

If you want to know is Mardi Himal worth it, this seamless logistics plan will show you it absolutely is. You can also read a detailed Mardi Himal trek review to see what past trekkers say about the journey.

Grab your ACAP and TIMS permits, pack exact cash in small Nepali rupees, and get ready for one of the most breathtaking ridge walks in the Himalayas. Happy trekking!

Explore More Mardi Himal Trek Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a direct bus from Kathmandu to the Mardi Himal trailhead?

No. First travel to Pokhara by tourist bus or flight, then take a local bus or taxi to Kande, Phedi, or Siding.

Is the jeep road from Siding Village safe?

Yes, it is generally safe in the dry seasons (autumn, winter, and spring). During the monsoon, use a 4WD jeep due to muddy roads and possible landslides.

How much is a taxi from Pokhara Lakeside to Kande?

A private taxi usually costs USD 20–30 (NPR 2,500–4,000) and takes about 45–60 minutes.

Do jeeps and buses operate during winter?

Yes. Winter (December–February) is a reliable time for road travel, as lower mountain roads remain dry and accessible despite colder temperatures at higher elevations.