Choose Ghorepani Poon Hill if
- you have fewer days
- you prefer to stay lower
- this is your first trek in Nepal
Nepal treks compared
Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal
Both are short walks from Pokhara with big views. Poon Hill is lower and easier, through Gurung and Magar villages and rhododendron forest, with the famous sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. Mardi Himal climbs a narrow ridge much higher, close under Machhapuchhre: steeper and colder, and quieter.
Written by Rujan Neupane, licensed trekking guide from the Kathmandu Valley
Side by side
From each trek's own page.
| Ghorepani Poon Hill | Mardi Himal | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 5 | 6 |
| Highest point | 3,210 m, Poon Hill | 4,500 m, Mardi Himal Base Camp |
| Nights at 3,000 m or more | 0 | 1 |
| Grade | Easy | Moderate |
| Best months | Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr | Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr |
| On the trail | Busy in season | Some walkers |
| Getting there | By road | By road |
| Permits | One permit is needed: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). It is issued in Kathmandu or Pokhara and checked on the trail. It is paid at the official price, and… | One permit is needed: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). It is issued in Kathmandu or Pokhara and checked on the trail. It is paid at the official price, and… |
| Guide fee | $125 for the walk | $210 for the walk |
The guide fee is one fee for 1 to 5 people. Permits, lodges, food and transport are paid at cost: what a trek really costs.
The difference, in short
- Mardi Himal takes 6 days, 1 more than Ghorepani Poon Hill.
- Mardi Himal goes higher: 4,500 m against 3,210 m, so it needs more rest days and warmer nights.
- Mardi Himal is the quieter trail.
Which one for you?
Choose Mardi Himal if
- you have time and want a longer journey
- you want to go high and are ready for the altitude
Not sure which trek suits you? Tell me your dates and what you hope for, and I will say honestly.
