Mardi Himal Trek Food and Guide: Complete 2025 Update

Mardi Himal Trek Food and Guide (Complete 2025 Update)

Mardi Himal Trek is a short trek in Nepal that is one of the most beautiful treks. Nestled in the Annapurna region, it is one of the less commercialized treks offering quiet and serenity in diversity of terrain. Communing with nature meant for less interaction with the crowd. For this trek, the scenery includes beautiful rhododendron forests, high ridge dwarfs and stunning views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli. Its moderate length and difficulty do not mean one can ignore the management of water and food. A little knowledge about food options, altitude safe eating, and access to clean drinking water is critical for trek comfort. With less focus on the more commercialized Annapurna Base Camp route, this guide aims explain the best options for prospective trekkers to eat and hydrate on the trail.

Mardi Himal Trek Itinerary

For Mardi Himal Trek, a popular starting point is Kande or Deurali. It starts with a trek from the Kande or Deurali to the base of Mardi Himal, through lovely villages and wooded trails, and then to the Forest Camp, Low Camp, high camp and lastly to the Mardi Himal Base Camp. The entire route is supported by a growing network of tea houses, which are family-owned and provide simple lodgings and home-cooked meals that highlight the local cuisine.

The variety of food is limited, but the options are wholesome and satisfying. Each tea house has a small kitchen, which utilizes locally grown vegetables, grains, and eggs for every meal. The ascents become more expensive and cumbersome to carry supplies to higher camps and this lower variety menu becomes higher in altitude. Higher up you may encounter the added specialty of enjoying the company of home-cooked meals. Each lodge employs traditional home cooking of the area. Every lodge serves meals that are prepared with the regionally sourced greens, grains, and eggs and even tea. Cooked to order, meals are accompanied by some family-style dining.

Mardi Himal Trek Food

Mardi Himal Trek cuisine captures the spirit of Nepali mountain culture- uncomplicated, heartwarming, and satisfying. Dal Bhat is the most loved and preferred option, as it is a revitalizing and wholesome combination of rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry, spinach, and spicy pickle. The dish is ideal for regaining strength after a tiring trekking day. The tea houses provide assorted pans of fried rice, noodles, and pasta, as well as momo (dumplings) and various soups. For trekkers, the breakfast includes porridge, omelets, Tibetan bread, chapati with honey, and pancakes.

As you go higher, the range of dishes offered shrinks. At lower camps like Forest Camp or Low Camp, menus are broader, and ingredients are fresher. At High Camp and beyond, due to limited resources, tea houses primarily serve Dal Bhat and simple fried dishes with noodles. The cost of food also increases with elevation which is NPR 500-700 for a meal at lower altitudes, and at higher lodges, it can increase to NPR 1200.

Vegetarian And Vegan Options

Those who are trekking and follow vegetarian or vegan diets can be catered to on the Mardi Himal Trek. Every tea house offers a fully vegetarian Dal Bhat. Throughout the trek, vegetarians can also have lentils, rice, potatoes, vegetables, and eggs. It is suggested for vegans to communicate their dietary restrictions by saying “no milk, no ghee, no eggs” at the beginning of the trek, as dairy and eggs are staples of Nepali cuisine. As the mountains don’t have tofu or plant-based milk, feel free to bring snacks to supplement meals, such as nuts, protein bars, or seeds. The diet on offer, while simple is well suited for trekking at altitude and provides balanced nutrition.

Is Non-Vegetarian Food Safe?

Some of the lower elevation tea houses offer non-vegetarian options, including chicken and yak meat. However, above Forest Camp, meat is not recommended due to the lack of refrigeration. As you ascend, meat is often carried undeveloped and without cold storage, which can lead to gastrointestinal tract infections that are difficult to treat while trekking. Due to safety and hygiene, most trekkers will not eat meat and tend to stick to vegetarian meals. If you are intending to try meat dishes, lower villages like Deurali or Siding offer fresh meat.

Snacks & Energy Foods

While trekking between tea houses, hours-long stretches requires energy boosters. There are small shops along the route selling chocolates, biscuits, and instant noodles, and chips, but keep in mind that prices rise sharply with altitude. To save money and save on expensive snacks that might not meet your nutritional needs, bring your favorite snacks from Pokhara or Kathmandu before the trek. Energy bars, nuts, dried fruits, chocolates, and trail mix are good choices. It is also advisable to bring ORS packets or electrolyte powders to replace lost minerals from sweating and combat fatigue. Small energy boosters like ginger candies or herbal tea bags can also make a difference at altitude.

Trekking Mardi Himal

Drinking Water Options

On the Mardi Himal Trek, drinking water may be plentiful, but running stream water, taps, and spring water need purification before consumption. Most trekkers steam water at the tea houses for a small fee (NPR 100–200 for a liter), and you may also buy bottled water, but it is expensive (up to NPR 300 a liter at High Camp) and environmentally unfriendly as it will contribute to plastic pollution. A reusable water bottle is the best and most eco-friendly option as it can be refilled at the tea houses, and allows trekkers to water for a much lower cost, while also reducing plastic waste.

Water Purification Methods

Staying adequately hydrated is simple with purification methods available. To purify water for test, you can accept one of the following methods

Water purification tablets (like Aquatabs). They are small and convenient. Put one tablet in water, wait 30 minutes, and it is ready for drinking.

Portable water filters (like Sawyer Mini). Filters out bacteria and protozoa directly from the water source.

UV purifiers (like SteriPEN). They eliminate viruses, bacteria, and parasites in seconds, but will need batteries to function.

For heightened safety, some trekkers use a filter and a tablet together. Water from taps, streams, and even boiled sources should still be treated, as altitude can affect temperature and sterilization of water.

The Importance of Staying Hydrated

Trekkers must consider the hydration aspects because of the dry air and quick breathing and the fact that dehydration is prone to happen when in the altitude. The target should be 3 to 4 liters per day. You can achieve this with two double-layer reusable bottles. Fill one while the other is being purified, and clean the two as you take breaks to purify water. Drink water before a thirst is felt to avoid headaches and fatigue. Drink water along with electrolytes in tablet or salt form to maintain energy and prevent altitude sickness. If you experience dehydration symptoms, like dark urine, dizziness, and dry lips, you need to rest and focus on rehydrating. This will be futile, however, if you continue drinking alcohol and caffeine which worsen dehydration.

Food and Water Budgeting

Once the trek starts, the cost of food and water increases gradually,as the provisions are carried by porters or mules. For every full day on the trek, meals including drinking water are priced between NPR 2500–3500. This incorporates breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Here’s a rough estimate of the expenses you can expect on your trek

• Forest Camp: Meals are around NPR 500-700, and boiled water costs NPR 100-150 per liter.
• Low Camp: Meals are around NPR 600-900, and boiled water costs NPR 150-200 per liter.
• High Camp: Meals are around NPR 800-1200, and boiled water costs NPR 200-300 per liter.
• In total, for a 5-7 day trek, you should save about NPR 15,000-25,000 for food and water. If you are trying to minimize expenses, you can bring your own snacks from Pokhara.

Food and Water Safety Tips

The food on the mountains may be simple, but sanitary practices are essential. Eat food that is hot and freshly cooked rather than raw or cold. Steer clear of salads and unpeeled fruits, as the washing water would probably be unsafe. Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water before eating. Bring your own eating utensils for some extra hygiene. Don’t eat meat, dairy, or alcohol at altitude, they can cause dehydration and digestive issues. Drink boiled or purified water and avoid untapped water. Sustainable trekking also means avoiding plastic waste: refill your bottles instead of using packaged drinks, and dispose of your waste sensibility.

One can stop at the various tea houses on the Mardi Himal for great Dhal Bhat and hot tea, a great way to end the day after a long hike. For example, at Forest Camp, “Hotel Forest Camp” serves Dhal Bhat and hot tea. Green View Lodge at Low Camp is famous for serving pancakes and coffee, one can enjoy them with the mountains. Trekkers Paradise Lodge at High Camp serves warm ginger lemon tea and is famous for fried rice and the inviting atmosphere of the dining room. For a true local taste of the region, one can enjoy the traditional Dishes such as Gundruk (fermented greens) soup and buckwheat roti.

Conclusion

Well planned food and water for the Mardi Himal Trek keeps one healthy and safe. Pulsating your meal with freshly prepared foods and drinking purified water is a sure way to avoid illness. Preparing ahead of the trek with purification tools for your water, reusable water bottles, and snacks, will ensure you spend less and not exert as much effort. It is also great to see the effect of responsible trekking at the tea houses. It ensures the pristine natural environment of Mardi Himal is unharmed.